The Wisdom Podcast

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest Eva Natanya. This episode is part of a two-part series discussing the themes in Śamatha and Vipaśyanā. You can listen to Part 1 with Lama Alan Wallace, Lama Alan Wallace: Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: Part 1 (#217). In this episode, join host Daniel Aitken and Eva as they go behind the scenes and discuss the process of bringing Śamatha and Vipaśyanā to publication. Eva shares her deep engagement in solitary meditation retreats and working with Lama Alan Wallace on translating such significant Buddhist texts. Discover the importance of courage and perseverance in the spiritual journey to realize one’s true self and embody genuine well-being. Eva and Daniel also discuss:  The process of translation and the compilation of the texts; the significance of clear light and rigpa;  compassion and pristine awareness; and much more! Mentioned in this episode: Open Mind translated by B. Alan Wallace Fathoming the Mind translation and commentary by B. Alan Wallace Kindness, Clarity, and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, edited by Elizabeth Napper This is part 2 of a two-part series on the release of this volume. Be sure to check out part one featuring fellow Lama Alan Wallace here.   Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Śamatha and Vipaśyanā with code WPODSV through Februrary 15.   The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post Eva Natanya: Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: Part 2 (#225) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

January 7, 2025 In this special video episode of The Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Khamtrul Rinpoche, The 9th Gyalwa DhoKhampa, Shedrup Nyima. Join Rinpoche and Daniel as they discuss the history, teachings, and practices of the Drukpa lineage. Learn about the teachings and meditations associated with the lineage, including mahamundra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. The conversation also explores the nature of mind, the difference between ordinary mindfulness and deeper meditative practices, and the role of dream yoga.  In this episode, Rinpoche and Daniel also discuss:  Practical advice for daily practice; the importance of guru devotion; compassion and mindfulness in daily life; and  so much more! Meet Our Guest The 9th Gyalwa DhoKhampa, Shedrup Nyima The 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche was born on December 6, 1980, in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh. Soon after the death of the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, the Khampagar Monastery requested a prediction and the details of his rebirth. In 1981, a letter was received clearly stating the father’s and mother’s names, the place, and date of birth as Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh. In September 1982, Rinpoche and his family were invited to  Khampagar Monastery in Tashi Jong. Rinpoche reached Tashi Jong on the 7th of November 1982, the day of Buddha’s descent from Tushita Heaven. The previous Khamtrul Rinpoche had also arrived at Khampagar Monastery (in Tibet) on the same auspicious day when Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven. H. H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche enthroned the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche on February 18, 1983, and gave him the name DhoKhampa Shedrup Nyima. The ceremony was attended by representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, heads of the Tibetan Buddhist School, and the royal families of Bhutan and Sikkim. As a young child, Rinpoche was raised by the great Togdens of Khampagar Monastery. He later received lessons from Khenpo Lhawang, Dorzong Rinpoche, and the Togedens, in addition to many sets of teachings and initiations from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse. Currently, Rinpoche spends much of his time doing retreat at Tashi Jong and studies and practices the Dharma and lineage teachings. At all the grand ritual ceremonies in Khampagar Monastery, he presides as the Vajra Acharya. Bio courtesy: https://khamgardrukcollege.org/the-9th-khamtrul-rinpoche-gyalwo-do-khampa-shedrub-nyima/ The post Khamtrul Rinpoche: Exploring the Drukpa Lineage – Special Video Episode (#224) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode, previously recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Professor John Dunne.  John is the distinguished chair in contemplative humanities at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He works with Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice. He is also an author of the winner of the 2025 Khyentse Foundation Prize for Outstanding Translation, Nāgārjuna’s Precious Garland. Join host Daniel Aitken and John as they discuss Buddhist philosophy and the historical significance of the Nalanda tradition. They transition to conceptual thinking and non-duality, exploring the relationship between consciousness and perception, the importance of education in understanding these concepts, and so much more! They also discuss:  Yogic perception and meditation; temporal and spatial experience; the role of education in cultivating wisdom; the intersection of AI and Buddhist philosophy; and so much more!   Additional content mentioned in this episode: The Wisdom of the Nalanda Tradition – A Wisdom Academy course. Available now. This course is offered as pay what you can. Neural effects and phenomenology of nondual meditation and 5-MeO-DMT in an expert meditation practitioner – Winner 2025 Neuroscience of Pure Awareness prize by the Culture of Consciousness Foundation by Thomas Metzinger. Authors: Christopher Timmermann, Tommaso Barba, James Sanders, Stéphane Offort, John Dunne, David Erritzoe, Antoine Lutz. Available in preprint – https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/whqdp_v2 The post Professor John Dunne: Buddhist Philosophy and the Nalanda Tradition (#223) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

December 11, 2025 Please enjoy our special prerecorded episode of Wisdom Dharma Chats featuring Tenzin Choegyal. Tenzin stopped by the Wisdom Studio in advance of the release of his newest album, Be The Sky, digital album available now on Bandcamp. Tenzin’s music is a staple across various Wisdom Publications media. In this episode, hosted by Daniel Aitken, Tenzin recounts his experience of integrating music into his spiritual practice. Go behind the scenes as he discusses his process of creating music and collaborating with other artists, including Philip Glass, with whom he collaborated on Be The Sky. Tenzin also shares how his parents influenced his journey in music, such as his mother’s chanting and his father’s flute playing. Explore the link between cultural roots, spiritual practice, and musical expression on one’s life in this captivating conversation.    SHOW LINKS Learn more about Tenzin Choegyal and his music at  https://www.tenzinchoegyal.com/ Bring home your copy of Be The Sky at https://tenzinchoegyal.bandcamp.com/album/be-the-sky Meet Our Guest Tenzin Choegyal Tenzin Choegyal is one of the world’s finest musicians in the Tibetan tradition. As a son of Tibetan nomads, he feels a particular connection to the music of the high Himalayan plateau. In a career spanning 20+ years Tenzin has performed at festivals across Australia and curated numerous events and concerts including Brisbane’s annual Festival of Tibet. Internationally he has performed in New Zealand, Japan, India, Germany, Bangladesh, Russia and USA, including performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He has also opened many of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Public Talks in Australia, New Zealand and Japan with his musical offerings. While proudly continuing the unbroken nomadic lineage which is central to his repertoire, Tenzin also embraces opportunities to take his music into more contemporary, uncharted territory, both in the studio and on stage. Tenzin has nine independent albums, three of them with his fusion band Tibet2Timbuk2, and regularly performs with Camerata Brisbane’s acclaimed Chamber Orchestra. His collaborative albums include The Last Dalai Lama with Philip Glass, Peradam album by Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith featuring Anoushka Shankar & Charlotte Gainsbourh and the 2021 Grammy-nominated Songs from the Bardo released through Smithsonian Folkways with his longtime friend and collaborator Jesse Paris Smith and Laurie Anderson – a moving interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead.   Bio courtesy of https://www.tenzinchoegyal.com/tenzin/bio   The post Wisdom Dharma Chat | Tenzin Choegyal – December 2025 appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by David M. DiValerio. Join David and Daniel as they discuss David’s newest book, Mountain Dharma: Meditative Retreat and the Tibetan Ascetic Self. David shares his journey into Tibetan Buddhist studies, as well as his experiences and research on Tibetan retreats over the years. They also discuss:  the historical context and modern adaptations of retreat practices; the differences between solitary, individual, and community retreat practice;  the challenges of translating ancient texts; and much more!   Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Mountain Dharma with code CUP20. Code valid when purchased from Columbia University Press.   The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post David M. DiValerio: Mountain Dharma (#221) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.