Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast 2o4b63

Jackie Dobrinska and Bruce Damer chat about insight into ourselves and outsight into the world in this recording from the Ram Dass Explorers Club. The Ram Dass Explorers Club is a free virtual group wherein delve into pivotal movements within the psychedelic renaissance while paying homage to the enduring legacy of Ram Dass.  HERE to embark on explorations of expanded consciousness, guided by the themes of awe, transcendence, union, and beyond. Today’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode, host Jackie Dobrinska speaks with Bruce Damer about: Ram Dass’ work and how he continues to inspire others How Bruce came to know Ram Dass The way that Ram Dass hits on the center of things Albert Einstein and thought experiments Entering flows of connection and time The etymology of psychedelics How we create our own realities Coming into embodied wisdom and the serpent of the internet Ram Dass as a beacon to the reality we need Navigating psychedelics and having adequate preparation Knowing that we are always held by love About Dr. Bruce Damer: Dr. Bruce Damer is a scientist, psychonaut, and humanitarian. Dr. Damer is Chief Scientist at BIOTA Institute, UC Santa Cruz. He is an astrobiologist working on the science of life’s origins, spacecraft design, psychedelics and genius. Dr. Bruce has spent his life pursuing two great questions: how did life on Earth begin, and how can we give that life (and ourselves) a sustainable pathway into the cosmos? A decade of scientific research with his collaborator Prof. David Deamer at the UC Santa Cruz Department of Biomolecular Engineering resulted in the Hot Spring Hypothesis for an Origin of Life published in the journal Astrobiology in 2019. Dr. Damer also has a long career working with NASA on mission simulation and design and recently co-developed a spacecraft to utilize resources from asteroids. You can keep up with Dr. Bruce Damer on Twitter. About Jackie Dobrinska: Jackie Dobrinska is the Director of Education, Community & Inclusion for Ram Dass’ Love, Serve, Foundation and the current host of Ram Dass’ Here & Now podcast. She is also a teacher, coach, and spiritual director with the privilege of marrying two decades of mystical studies with 15 years of expertise in holistic wellness. As an interspiritual minister, Jackie was ordained in Creation Spirituality in 2016 and has also studied extensively in several other lineages – the plant-medicine-based Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, Sri Vidya Tantra, Western European Shamanism, Christian Mysticism, the Wise Woman Tradition, and others. Today, in addition to building courses and community for LSRF, she leads workshops and coaches individuals to discover, nourish and live from their most authentic selves.  Learn more about Jackie’s work at asimplevibrantlife.com. “We can create our realities. We’ll determine whether we are constricted or opened at every moment by our choices of what we produce for our fellow humans.” – Bruce Damer See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Moving through the senses, JoAnna Hardy guides listeners in a meditation to acquire stillness of the mind. Today’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode, JoAnna Hardy guides us through: The benefits of having clarity and a still mind The breath-body central focus Gaining self-trust Paying attention to the sounds and sights around us without asg meaning Working the muscle of awareness Reengaging with the breath when the mind gets busy This recording is from the Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center: Mindfulness for Educators. About JoAnna Hardy:  JoAnna Hardy is an insight meditation (Vianā) practitioner and teacher; she is on faculty at the University of Southern California, a meditation trainer at Apple Fitness+, a founding member of the Meditation Coalition, a teacher’s council member at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a visiting retreat teacher at Insight Meditation Society, and a collaborator on many online meditation Apps and programs. Her greatest ion is to teach meditation in communities that are dedicated to seeing the truth of how racism, gender inequality and oppression go hand in hand with the comionate action teachings in Buddhism and related perspectives to social and racial justice.  “It’s important that we start that way, with this breath-body central focus, to really collect, gather, and sustain the capacity of our mind to be more still. From that stillness, this really beautiful self-trust comes. We can trust ourselves more because we are not at the whimsy of that chaotic mind.” – JoAnna Hardy See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Distinguishing commentary from direct experience, Gil Fronsdal helps us break free from the conventions and comparisons that the mind makes. Today's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode, Gil Fronsdal speaks to listeners about: Paying homage to those who have purified their hearts Direct experience versus attempting to describe things The way that comparison arises Self-image and appreciating our own suchness Resting in the part of ourselves that is not an idea or a concept The conditioning that can happen from society Wisdom from sitting with physical pain Living in the present moment instead of the stories we tell ourselves Letting things be as they are Seeing God in our simple, direct experiences Coming back to the breath and practicing all throughout the day This 1998 talk was originally published on Dharmaseed About Gil Fronsdal: Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Viana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Viana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011 he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. Gil has an undergraduate degree in agriculture from U.C. Davis where he was active in promoting the field of sustainable farming. In 1998 he received a PhD in Religious Studies from Stanford University studying the earliest developments of the bodhisattva ideal. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma. “Most of us know the wonderful smell of a rose, but if you could try to describe in words what that fragrance is, you’d have a hard time I think. The actual sense, the direct experience of smell, is something we can all experience; seeing this flower as it is. In Buddhism, there is a lot of emphasis on seeing things as they are.” – Gil Fronsdal See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nina Rao interviews Nani Ma about her deep devotion to serving her guru and her service work with Ganga Prem Hospice. If you are interested in donating to Ganga Prem Hospice, you can do so through a donation to End of Life Care International with a memo specifying you would like it to go to Ganga Prem. Today’s podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow This time on the Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast, Nani Ma shares with us: Her religious upbringing into Christianity Being pulled to India from a young age Seeking liberation from suffering and pain The story of meeting her guru, Babaji The beauty and power of the Ganges river Her daily routine and how she meditates How to deal with difficulties by watching our breath Reaching one-pointedness through chanting single-worded mantras Moving through the physical death of a guru Forming cancer clinics in India and Ganga Prem Hospice About Nani Ma: Nani Ma is from the United Kingdom and sought spiritual enlightenment at a very young age. One day, she realized that serving the multitude and helping the needy is also an aspect of spiritual practice. So, she started taking care of the terminally ill cancer patients in the hospital, guiding the people who are suffering from pain and death to embark on a new journey. Together with Dr. A. K. Dewan, she established the Ganga Prem Hospice. Ganga Prem Hospice is a spiritually-orientated, non-profit hospice for terminally ill cancer patients. The Hospice has been constructed at the foot of the Himalayas on the bank of the river Ganga. “When we watch our breath, it slows down. The breath and the mind are connected. Either the breath slows down and the mind slows down, or the mind catches hold of one thing, which is the name, and the name has its power by itself. The name has its own power.” – Nani Ma See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guiding listeners through the seven factors of enlightenment, Trudy Goodman shows us the play of awakening in daily life. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow In this episode, Trudy Goodman holds a talk on: Loosening our grip on self-involvement Living lovingly and joyfully in our daily lives The seven factors of enlightenment The things that torment us and connect us How nature offers metta to us Remaining poised amidst little catastrophes Equanimity and being balanced Trusting in the unfolding of reality About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Viana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats and workshops worldwide. This 2011 talk was recorded at Spirit Rock Meditation center and originally published on Dharmaseed “Being a Buddhist or practicing these Buddhist teachings is to live lovingly and joyfully without getting so caught or identified with the suffering self. And not just out in some fantasy mountain cave that we might imagine ourselves in or on meditation retreat at luxurious Spirit Rock or in the monastery, but in the midst of whatever we’re doing.” – Trudy Goodman See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Taking us on a pilgrimage through Buddhist teachings, Gil Fronsdal describes meeting the dharma in ourselves. This recording from Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on Dharmaseed.org Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil Fronsdal teaches on: Meeting the dharma in ourselves through direct experiences Going into the world with a phenomenal capacity for non-harming Looking at what really motivates and drives us The story of the Kalama Sutta Recognizing what brings welfare vs. what brings harm Breath as a form of assurance and how our easeful, relaxed breath can be our teacher Hindrances and what keeps us removed from ourselves Coming home to our selves, our bodies, our sensations Allowing the flow of experience to move through us Releasing all of the things we hold onto About Gil Fronsdal: Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Viana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Viana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011 he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. Gil has an undergraduate degree in agriculture from U.C. Davis where he was active in promoting the field of sustainable farming. In 1998 he received a PhD in Religious Studies from Stanford University studying the earliest developments of the bodhisattva ideal. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma. “It is so simple and so basically human, the capacity to recognize that we’re suffering or that we’re happy. In relationship to grand religious philosophies and ideas, it can seem maybe inconsequential to base one’s religious life on being able to recognize where is harm and where is welfare. But that relates at the heart to what the Buddha was pointing at. It points to something that we are able to experience and see and know for ourselves directly.” – Gil Fronsdal See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a dharma talk on relative and ultimate reality, JoAnna Hardy discusses how to hold the complexity of life. This lecture was recorded at the Insight Meditation Retreat for 18–32 Year Olds and originally published by Dharmaseed. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow In this episode, JoAnna Hardy offers a talk on: How and why we keep returning to our suffering Dominant paradigms and what is out of our control The way that the Buddhist experience introduces us to ultimate reality Relative reality and what is happening on the ground How we are all invited to be free via the Four Noble Truths The ways we struggle with trying to control other people Anatta, identity, and the way we hold onto our self-hood How we show up in the world through our speech, actions, and thoughts The Eightfold Path as the things we can control Paying attention to who we spend our time with About JoAnna Hardy:  JoAnna Hardy is an insight meditation (Vianā) practitioner and teacher; she is on faculty at the University of Southern California, a meditation trainer at Apple Fitness+, a founding member of the Meditation Coalition, a teacher’s council member at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a visiting retreat teacher at Insight Meditation Society, and a collaborator on many online meditation Apps and programs. Her greatest ion is to teach meditation in communities that are dedicated to seeing the truth of how racism, gender inequality and oppression go hand in hand with the comionate action teachings in Buddhism and related perspectives to social and racial justice.  “I’ve really worked on this practice of looking at a person; I’m not only looking at them. I’m looking at probably thousands of people who stand behind them, who have created them, who have created their way of thinking, their way of being. Every teacher, every friend, every person they come into with creates this being that is in front of us.” – JoAnna Hardy See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this recording from the Ram Dass Fellowship, Jamie Catto describes surrendering to the power of Yin in our daily lives. To learn more and sign up for the Ram Dass Fellowship, visit RamDass.org/Fellowship. To this free offering, please consider leaving a donation at RamDass.org/Donate. This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Jamie and Jackie explore: The difference between Yin and Yang Surrendering to the flow of Yin The benefits of yin parenting Listening receptively in love making Dancing as an example of Yin Curiosity as a quality of Yin The power of Yin in allaying our overworking imaginations Our culture’s avoidance of negative emotions The emotional plumbing system of the body Forging paths through the forest of worry and anxiety Embodying peace for the world A guided mindfulness meditation from Jamie Practicing loving awareness and self-love About Jamie Catto: Jamie’s mission is to make self-reflection hip enough to save us from ourselves. Jamie Catto is the director of the 2019 film Becoming Nobody, the quintessential portal to Ram Dass’ life and teachings (BecomingNobody.com). He is an author and musician running transformational workshops and events to reclaim all the treasure we edited away into the shadows and facilitate everyone daring to be more real, more fallible, more tender, more intimate. His mission is to create a world full of ‘walking permission slips’ where we all lighten up and enjoy the unpredictable human path together with humor, playfulness, and a healthy dose of irreverence. Jamie’s workshops and 1-1s provide a refreshing approach to inner work with the right dose of playfulness and depth. Keep up with Jamie on his website or on Instagram. “So much of the treasure, creativity, lovemaking, parenting, laughing, dancing, the flow of the life is to be experienced when we allow ourselves to be moved and practice the qualities of Yin, which are curiosity, surrender, welcomeness, listening, spaciousness, all of those kinds of things where we let life live us and we become in the flow of the greater river of life.” – Jamie Catto See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exploring mental constructs, Gil Fronsdal describes how we construct the relationships to our experiences. This recording from the Insight Meditation Center was originally published on Dharmaseed.org On this episode of the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil Fronsdal talks about these topics: A four line Buddhist chant in Pali The impermanence of all constructed things Mindfulness and the practice of noticing Exploring one’s relationship to the present moment Moving our attention with a deliberate calmness Meditation instruction as the antidote to relating negatively Our attitudes and how they affect our experiences Non-reactive awareness in order to avoid new constructions Identity and the stories we tell about ourselves Allowing “I am” to stand by itself About Gil Fronsdal: Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Viana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Viana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011 he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. Gil has an undergraduate degree in agriculture from U.C. Davis where he was active in promoting the field of sustainable farming. In 1998 he received a PhD in Religious Studies from Stanford University studying the earliest developments of the bodhisattva ideal. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma. “To quiet these constructions is happiness. To be able to question these things, and slowly perhaps, maybe even imperceptibly, to allow these constructs to calm down, relax, not buy into them as much. Maybe not buy into them as much because we notice them.” – Gil Fronsdal See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trudy Goodman explains how we can practice comionate presence in all moments, even those that are uncomfortable. This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Trudy Goodman delves into: How we often overlook the simple practices that will make us spiritually contented Meditating while doing ordinary things Retreats and being in the present Buddhist cosmology as representation of our own awakened qualities Offering comion to ourselves and to others Tolerating the raw experience of being alive Getting caught in the ideal of being a spiritual person Naming and recognizing negative experiences like hate, lust, etc. Treating the content of each moment as a chance for presence and awakening Forgiving ourselves when our heart runs wild About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Viana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats and workshops worldwide. Learn more about Trudy’s offerings at trudygoodman.com “It’s this loving, caring attentiveness that gives us the courage to come so close to experience, even experiences we most wish we could turn away from.” – Trudy Goodman See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Renowned Buddhist teacher, Frank Ostaseski, discusses death, impermanence, and the principle of non-waiting. Today’s episode was recorded as part of the Ram Dass Fellowship’s regular online gatherings. To learn more about the Ram Dass Fellowship and sign up to a fellowship gathering near you, visit RamDass.org/Fellowship.  Hosted by Jackie Dobrinska, this recording from the Ram Dass Fellowship features Frank Ostaseski discussing: Creation stories and the shaping of humans Why the breath is so important (Including a guided breath meditation!) The five invitations and how these principles are designed to help you embrace life to the fullest Navigating life transitions, coping with loss, facing serious illness, or personal crises Heartfelt real-life stories combined with ancient wisdom How an awareness of mortality can be a ive companion on the journey to living well Regarding death as a final stage of growth Not waiting as an antidote to regret The beauty of life when we recognize and accept impermanence About Frank Ostaseski: Frank Ostaseski, an internationally respected Buddhist teacher and pioneer in end-of-life care, has accompanied over 1,000 people through their dying process. Acclaimed author of The Five Invitations, Frank co-founded the first Buddhist hospice in America—The Zen Hospice Project. In 2005, he founded the Metta Institute, through which he has trained countless clinicians and caregivers, building a national network of educators, advocates, and guides for those facing a life-threatening illness. About Jackie Dobrinska: Jackie Dobrinska is the Director of Education, Community & Inclusion for Ram Dass’ Love, Serve, Foundation and the current host of Ram Dass’ Here & Now podcast. She is also a teacher, coach, and spiritual director with the privilege of marrying two decades of mystical studies with 15 years of expertise in holistic wellness. As an interspiritual minister, Jackie was ordained in Creation Spirituality in 2016 and has also studied extensively in several other lineages – the plant-medicine-based Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, Sri Vidya Tantra, Western European Shamanism, Christian Mysticism, the Wise Woman Tradition, and others. Today, in addition to building courses and community for LSRF, she leads workshops and coaches individuals to discover, nourish and live from their most authentic selves.  Learn more about Jackie’s work at asimplevibrantlife.com. “I think when we embrace impermanence a certain grace can enter into our lives. We can treasure experiences, we can feel deeply, all without clinging. We’re free to savor and touch the texture of every ing moment.” – Frank Ostaseski See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a reflection on absorbing the power of comion, Matthieu Ricard shares his meditative story with Rohan Gunatillake. This episode was originally aired on Meditative Story, a podcast that combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice – all surrounded by breathtaking and cinematic music. You can find Meditative Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more! Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow Matthieu Ricard takes us on a meditative journey through: Exposure to extraordinary people The correlation between intelligence, creativity, and human goodness How documentary images of Tibet inspired Matthieu to experience the far east for himself The smells, sounds, and sensations of entering India for the first time Meeting Kangyur Rinpoche and experiencing an aura of peace Leaving after his PhD to study full time with Kangyur Rinpoche in India Allowing presence to permeate our minds Actualizing the Buddha nature About Matthieu Ricard: Matthieu Ricard is a Nepalese-French writer, photographer, translator and Buddhist monk who resides at Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal. He is also the author of Notebooks Of A Wandering Monk. He has spent years of his life in the presence of some of the world’s greatest mindfulness practitioners and felt the weight of their powerful comion. Learn more about Matthieu and his work HERE. About Rohan Gunatillake: Rohan Gunatillake is a writer, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Meditative Story. By artfully crafting meditations to compliment each guest’s story, Rohan blends mindfulness with narrative to create a unique listening experience, encouraging listeners to use someone else’s transformative moment as the basis for their own. He’s also the founder of the best-selling app Buddhify, and author of Modern Mindfulness: How to Be More Relaxed, Focused, and Kind While Living in a Fast, Digital, Always-On World. “We do not need words. We do not need to analyze or even comprehend. The quality of the presence is self-evident. It is best to just experience it, let it permeate your mind and become a part of you. Ultimately, it is up to each practitioner to actualize the Buddha nature dwelling within each of us.” – Matthieu Ricard See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Focusing on the ways that Buddhism points us inward, Gil Fronsdal explains the dharma in a brief and accessible way. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow In this guest episode, Gil lectures on: Emptiness within Theravada Buddhism What happens after our basic necessities are met How we are versus what we do Becoming free from doctrines The importance of practice and heightened sensitivity Suffering and the cessation of suffering Skillful actions and improving the quality of inner life The portability of inner wealth The limitations of obsessing over the self Craving and how we can hold sensations without clinging “You can experience suffering in all of many forms and you can experience the liberation and freedom from it, the absence of it. The guideline here is what you can know for yourself. The inner life, the quality of your life, what you can know for yourself, that’s really what this tradition is pointing to.” – Gil Fronsdal See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In an entire episode of guided practice, JoAnna Hardy leads listeners deeper into the sensations of the body. This dharma talk was recorded at Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center and originally published on Dharmaseed.org. In this episode, JoAnna guides listeners towards: Stabilizing the mind and slowing down Paying attention to the sensations of our bodies Noticing the things our bodies come into with Recognizing pain, being with it, and redirecting our attention if necessary Understanding our choice in how we have experiences A walking meditation practice Remaining connected to the bodies we inhabit About JoAnna Hardy:  JoAnna Hardy is an insight meditation (Vianā) practitioner and teacher; she is on faculty at the University of Southern California, a meditation trainer at Apple Fitness+, a founding member of the Meditation Coalition, a teacher’s council member at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a visiting retreat teacher at Insight Meditation Society, and a collaborator on many online meditation Apps and programs. Her greatest ion is to teach meditation in communities that are dedicated to seeing the truth of how racism, gender inequality and oppression go hand in hand with the comionate action teachings in Buddhism and related perspectives to social and racial justice.  “In this flesh suit of muscle and bone, we can get to know the sensations. What do those sensations feel like without the mind telling us what they feel like? What are the sensations of pain in our body? Tingling, prickly pressure, tension, being curious to knowing it. One of the options can be that we redirect our attention somewhere else in the body.” – JoAnna Hardy See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Explaining loving kindness as the antidote to fear and aggression, Trudy Goodman guides us in two meditative practices. This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.org In this 2017 recording from the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Trudy Goodman leads a talk on: Loving kindness as the antidote to fear Taming our inner aggression Strengthening the Brahmaviharas Offering Metta to ourselves and others The miracle of connecting to each other The jellyroll practice A traditional loving-kindness practice “You are the source of life, and the mystery, and the magic of life itself manifesting as this body and everything it knows how to do and this mind and all the capacities and intelligence that it has and this ability to connect with each other in ways that are so, sometimes miraculous, sometimes painful too. But, all the abilities that we have, this is really what we’re treasuring and offering our respect and reverence to.” – Trudy Goodman See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Offering listeners insights, stories, and guided imagery, Gil Fronsdal describes the idea of the self as an anchor. This recording from the Insight Meditation Center was originally published on Dharmaseed.org This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil teaches us about: Ideas of the self as an anchor The three characteristics of inconstancy, suffering, and not-self The Buddha’s views on the self How thinking about the self actually takes us away from the self Staying with the flow in meditation The suffering found within ‘me, myself, and mine’ A dharma story about zen master Suzuki Roshi How most concepts are based on relationship and comparison The pain in basing our joy off of the comparison to others Conventions, constructs, and rules Becoming wise to the projections of the mind Trusting the practice “The purpose of this deep meditation is to help us to become free, help us to lift up the anchors so we’re not held back, not limited, so we don’t set ourselves up to be washed over by the floods that come.” – Gil Fronsdal ---- In a world that often feels like it's teetering on the edge, it's not surprising that so many of us grapple with feelings of instability and overwhelm.  On Tuesday, December 19th, acclaimed Buddhist meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Ethan Nichtern for a free online conversation on staying grounded, available, and engaged, even when the world is on fire. Sharon and Ethan will also discuss the Dharma Moon Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and offer their insights on how studying Buddhism can help us show up more fully for ourselves and others during these challenging times. Visit dharmamoon.com/event for more info and to reserve your free spot! See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Mindshift Podcast Returns to Be Here Now Network for an interview with Dr. Raghu Appasani on coping skills and the joy of missing out. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow In this episode of Mindshift, Shira and Jordana speak with their guest, Dr. Raghu Appasani about: Loneliness, comparison, and social media Prioritizing our own needs Recognizing our circle of control Showing up authentically for ourselves Making decisions to be in the present JOMO aka the Joy of Missing Out Committing to daily acts of self-care Being mindful of what media we consume Setting time aside to process emotions Negativity and cognitive bias Understanding our emotions and how to cope Boundaries and how to set them Insights on cultivating joy Get a copy of The JOMO Journal HERE “We have full agency and control on the joy of missing out versus the fear of missing out. When we think about what you can do for your own mental health it comes down to what can you control, what can’t you control. When you choose to not go to something or you make a decision to be in the present moment with yourself, you can make an active decision on what type of emotion or feeling you want associated with that.” – Raghu Appasani, MD About Raghu Appasani, MD: Dr. Raghu Appasani is an Integrative & Addiction psychiatrist and psychotherapist known for his innovative approach to mental well-being. With a deep commitment to evidence-based practices, he combines psychotherapy, pharmacology, nutrition, and holistic methods to provide personalized care. Dr. Appasani is also a dedicated neuroscientist, exploring the clinical applications of non-ordinary states of consciousness and delving into the human experience. As an entrepreneur, he founded The MINDS Foundation, a mental health NGO in India, and serves as the Chief Medical Officer at PYM Health. Dr. Appasani extends his expertise by advising various mental health organizations, including MudWtr, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to improving mental health globally. He is additionally the Program Director of Nutrition/Youth/Metabolic Mental Health & Psychedelics at the California Institute for Stress & Resilience. Keep up with Dr. Raghu on his website or on Instagram. About Shira Lazar: Shira Lazar, an Emmy-nominated pioneer in digital culture and emerging trends, is renowned for her impactful web-first news brand, ‘What’s Trending’. With a knack for recognizing the pulse of the digital age, Shira has graced various prestigious platforms including SXSW, VeeCon and CES, earning her a coveted spot on Fast Company’s Most Influential Women in Technology list. As a ionate advocate for digital evolution, Shira’s insights and expertise have resonated with audiences worldwide. Venturing beyond the digital realm, Shira’s commitment to holistic well-being led her to co-found Peace Inside Live. Fusing her profound understanding of the digital landscape with a ion for inner peace and wellness, she has effectively bridged the gap between technology and mindfulness. Through Peace Inside Live, Shira endeavors to bring tranquility and balance to the fast-paced corporate world, highlighting the significance of mental well-being in today’s digital age. About Jordana Reim: Jordana Reim has dedicated her life to expanding consciousness – her own, her community’s, and humanity’s.Her teaching journey began in 2008 after her first Yoga Teacher Training with YogaWorks. She has spent the last decade refining her personal practice through travels and residencies at some of the most sacred and beautiful places on Earth including the islands of Thailand, ashrams of India and the Himalayas of Nepal. On a continual search for higher ground, the New Jersey-native shares her considerable learnings as she coaches others in corporate, group and private meditation, breathing, and other wellness modalities. Trained in the Himalayas of Nepal, Jordana is a facilitator and teacher’s trainer for Vedic Sound Healing, a practice of energy healing through sound & vibration. Jordana’s classes are a retreat for mind. Students call her both calming and enlightening and “a recipe for blissful days and sleep!” Her original meditations have been streamed over 1 million times worldwide.  See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joseph Goldstein s Rohan Gunatillake to share the meditative story of how he first learned to integrate his spirituality into everyday life. This episode was originally aired on Meditative Story, a podcast that combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice – all surrounded by breathtaking and cinematic music. You can find Meditative Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!  Joseph Goldstein shares a personal story about: One of the most transformative moments in Joseph’s life The beginning of Joseph’s enlightenment journey Integrating the spiritual gifts Joseph learned from the east into his everyday life in the west Learning to embrace the uncomfortable feeling of not-knowing How Joseph first connected with Ram Dass Joseph’s first job offer teaching a meditation class Saying yes and allowing opportunities to present themselves A guided mindfulness practice “It’s as if my life exists as two separate strands. One is the strand of my practice, which feels clear and stable. The other is how that practice will manifest and how I can ever hope to apply it to the world. Spiritually, I am flying high. But I have no idea where to land.” – Joseph Goldstein About Joseph Goldstein: Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and loving-kindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where he is one of the organization’s guiding teachers. In 1989, together with several other teachers and students of insight meditation, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. About Rohan Gunatillake: Rohan Gunatillake is a writer, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Meditative Story. By artfully crafting meditations to compliment each guest’s story, Rohan blends mindfulness with narrative to create a unique listening experience, encouraging listeners to use someone else’s transformative moment as the basis for their own. He’s also the founder of the best-selling app Buddhify, and author of Modern Mindfulness: How to Be More Relaxed, Focused, and Kind While Living in a Fast, Digital, Always-On World. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this immersive episode, Sharon Salzberg shares the journey of her spiritual life with the host of Meditative Story, Rohan Gunatillake. This episode was originally aired on Meditative Story, a podcast that combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice – all surrounded by breathtaking and cinematic music. You can find Meditative Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more! Sharon Salzberg shares her story: Sharon’s first trip to India How disappointments and discomforts can lead to self-discovery Being kind to ourselves and allowing slip-ups to happen The initial meeting of Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein Goenka’s non-verbal advice to Sharon and how laughter can release fear and anger Reorienting ourselves when we veer off course A guided meditation "It will take a while before I learn that the skillful response to feeling anger is to feel it, and then, even to take an interest in it. I don’t have to let it carry me into action that I may regret. I already feel the lesson that life is teaching me over and over again: we all face challenges. It’s how we become who we are. You don’t have to judge yourself all the time. Give yourself a break.” – Sharon Salzberg About Sharon Salzberg: Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her forthcoming release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, is set for release in April of 2023 from Flatiron Books. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed five million s and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. Learn more about Sharon and order your copy of her new book at www.sharonsalzberg.com About Rohan Gunatillake: Rohan Gunatillake is a writer, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Meditative Story. By artfully crafting meditations to compliment each guest’s story, Rohan blends mindfulness with narrative to create a unique listening experience, encouraging listeners to use someone else’s transformative moment as the basis for their own. He’s also the founder of the best-selling app Buddhify, and author of Modern Mindfulness: How to Be More Relaxed, Focused, and Kind While Living in a Fast, Digital, Always-On World. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Facing the anxiety caused by climate change, Nina Rao, Allegra Lovejoy, and environmentalist Dekila Chunyalpa, come together to find solutions. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow Nina Rao, Dekila Chunyalpa, and Allegra Lovejoy spend this episode discussing: The source of rising global temperatures Climate migrants and refugees The anthropocentric effect on the natural world Dekila’s conservation work How the value of nature has been consumed by economics Looking to India for answers on environmentalism The validity of anxiety surrounding the environmental crisis Reinforcing our communities for survival Contemplating our relationship with nature The privilege of having access to nature Coping with Eco Anxiety through mindfulness Joy as a means of increasing our resilience Kinship with the environment for a conservation strategy A brief practice in grounding and comion for the earth About Nina Rao: Nina Rao is a devotional singer. She tours with Krishna Das, playing cymbals, singing, and acting as his business manager. Nina has two of her own albums, “Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts” and “Anubhav”. Nina regularly leads kirtan, workshops, and retreats in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York and beyond. Keep up with Nina on her website. “I’m not saying this is the solution for everything, but set aside land for natural habitat and wildlife. We’ve forgotten how to actually live with wildlife so we have to re-learn that, so until we do, we have to give them that space.” – Nina Rao About Dekila Chunyalpa: Dekila is the founder and director of the Loka Initiative. She is an accomplished environmental program director, with 20+ years of experience in deg and implementing global conservation and climate strategies and projects. Known as an innovator in the environmental field, Dekila has expertise in faith-led environmental and climate partnerships, biodiversity landscape and river basin strategy design, and community-based conservation. She began her career in 2001 working on community-based conservation in the Eastern Himalayas and went on to work on climate adaptation and free flowing rivers in the Mekong region for the World Wildlife Fund in 2004. In 2008, she helped establish Khoryug, an association of over 50 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries implementing environmental projects across the Himalayas under the auspices of His Holiness the Karmapa. In 2009, Dekila founded and led WWF Sacred Earth, a 5-year pilot program that built partnerships with faith leaders and religious institutions towards conservation and climate results in the Amazon, East Africa, Himalayas, Mekong, and the United States. She received the prestigious Yale McCluskey Award in 2014 for her work and moved to the Yale School of Environmental Studies as an associate research scientist, where she researched, lectured and designed the prototype for what is now the Loka Initiative. Dekila is originally from the Himalayan state of Sikkim in India and is of Bhutia origin. Stay in tune with Dekila on Instagram. “I really believe that if we can have these dialogues where we show the the ecological interdependence, the karma of climate change, if we can show how it has happened, what karmic actions brought us here, then one of the interesting outcomes of that is that we can connect what people are already doing to environmental and climate solutions.” – Dekila Chunyalpa About Allegra Lovejoy: Allegra Lovejoy is a multifaith chaplain and writer. She is currently completing her MDiv at Yale Divinity School and holds a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale School of the Environment. She earned her BA from Princeton University in International Affairs and Public Policy, concentrating in conflict studies in the Middle East and South Asia. Learn more about Allegra here. “We need both nature-based solutions and major reductions in emissions. That means the way we source energy, how much energy we generate and consume, how much stuff we generate and consume, how we grow food and how we travel.” – Allegra Lovejoy See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.