📝 Episode Description:

In this deeply personal and illuminating conversation, we welcome Pawo Dorje, a recovery coach, dharma practitioner, and the founder of the Middle Path Recovery Project (MPRP). With nearly 15 years of lived recovery experience and decades of spiritual and personal growth, Pawo brings a grounded and compassionate voice to the world of Buddhist recovery.

From his early days navigating addiction to studying Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal, and now living and serving at Tara Mandala Retreat Center, Pawo’s story is one of courage, balance, and transformation.

Together, we explore:

• His path into recovery and the spiritual turning points that shaped his healing
• The origins and vision behind Middle Path Recovery Project Part 1 (coming August 2025)
• How Buddhist teachings and modern wellness practices can co-exist in recovery work
• The power of community, service, and the Middle Way
  

Whether you're on your own path of recovery, seeking fresh insights into Buddhist-inspired healing, or simply curious about how spirituality and neuroscience can meet—you’ll find something meaningful here.

🧑‍🎓 About Pawo Dorje:

Pawo Dorje is the founder and author of the Middle Path Recovery Project, a unique and integrative approach to healing that blends Buddhist philosophy, evidence-based recovery practices, harm reduction, neuroscience, and holistic wellness.

He has spent nearly 15 years walking the path of recovery and has studied with teachers such as Lama Tsultrim Allione and Adzom Gyalse Rinpoche. His journey has taken him through solo retreats, time in Nepal studying at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, and deep work in community mental health and crisis response. He currently lives at Tara Mandala in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where he produces the weekly livestream “Lama Live!” and supports the retreat center’s online offerings and Dakini Store.

Pawo’s upcoming book, Middle Path Recovery Project Part 1, is scheduled for release in August 2025.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• 🌐 Website: middlepathrecoveryproject.com
• 📚 Excerpts from the book: MPRP Book Chapter
• 🧘 Tara Mandala Retreat Center: taramandala.org
• 📺 Lama Live! Sundays with Lama Tsultrim: YouTube/TaraMandala
  

📢 Stay Connected:

• Follow Pawo on social media: @middlepathrecovery (Instagram)
• Sign up for updates about the book and offerings via his website.

Freddie Lara is a Latinx Actor and Acting Coachbased in the LA area and is involved with Recovery Dharma. Growing up in an environment of instability, violence, and shame, he shares about his early struggles and what recovery is like now. 
• instagram.com/freddielaraactorsstudio

Podcast Notes:

Vince Cullen shares his journey into recovery and Buddhism, which led him to develop programs, host retreats, and help others find a new way of life.

An ex-alcoholic, Vince has been involved in Buddhist-oriented drug and alcohol recovery since 1998 and has a long association withWat Thamkrabok monastery in Thailand, where he has twice taken temporary ordination. He founded and facilitatesFifth Precept Sangha meditation-for-awakeningSit-and-Share meetings across multiple countries as part of his ongoingHungry Ghost Retreats.

Vince has served as aBuddhist Prison Chaplain in both male and female prisons in the UK and sat on the board of the Buddhist Recovery Network for nearly three years. He has completed the Committed Dharma Practitioner and Advanced Practitioner programs atGaia House in England and the Mindfulness Teachers Development Programme throughBodhi College in Switzerland and the UK.

Books mentioned: 

“A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life” by Jack Kornfield

“Let Go: A Buddhist Guide to Breaking Free of Habits” by Martine Batchelor

More Links:

Vince's travel blog — Experience his recorded teachings:https://hungryghostretreats.org/

ELSA Recovery

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🪑Need a meeting? 👉 buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠

Check out BRN’s huge compendium of various Buddhist recovery meetings. In-Person & Online!

📺Thirsting for more Dharma? 👉 buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠

The BRN Academy Teacher videos are available. Dharma teachers offering Dharma talks focused — specifically on your recovery.

🤲Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉 buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠

Enjoyed the podcast? Consider supporting BRN as we keep reaching out to those who have yet to discover Buddhist Recovery. Pay it forward just as others paid it forward for you.

__________________________________________________

❖ Recovery Meetings: [ ⁠Meetings List⁠ | ⁠List of Programs⁠ | ⁠⁠Newcomers Welcome!⁠⁠⁠ ] 

❖ BRN Academy: [ ⁠Next Event | Videos⁠ | ⁠Podcast⁠ | Donate⁠ ]

•SoulsCenter.com/weekly-offerings.html 👉 join Recovery Dharma & other online offerings

•SoulsCenter.com/SatiSeva 👉 join SatiSeva online: Support for Families, Friends, Professionals, Addicts (All are Truly Welcome)

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Julia Hayes is an ember keeper. She lights small fires wherever she goes as way of illuminating the wonder and joy of life. 

Her focus is spiritual empowerment through practices of mindfulness, creativity, and community. As a Buddhist practitioner for more than 30 years as well as a celebrant of her heritage stemming from ancient Celtic mysticism, Julia’s interactive style is both playful and poetic by design. Her mastery is her ability to bring a sense of peaceful stillness to any environment, which allows her participants access to a simple and profound inner calm. 

Julia is a story-teller and scholar able to convey complex spiritual teachings extracted from ancient myth, parable and personal experiences. She has been part of Buddhist-inspired recovery for nearly a decade serving the local community and participants worldwide. She facilitates well-attended meetings emphasizing warm welcome, belonging, and compassionate listening. 

Julia is the creator and author of SatiSeva©, a mindfulness program designed to reimagine recovery and support. This work was inspired by her first Buddhist teacher, Thích Ñhất Hạnh and his lifelong devotion to Mindfulness. She embodies and teaches carefully curated mindfulness practices to address the complex issues associated with supporting recovery, addiction, and habit energy of any kind. Her devotion is mindfulness as a way to encourage people to shift their relationship to habit energy and awaken to the sacredness of life.

__________________________________________________

🪑Need a meeting? 👉  buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠

Check out BRN’s huge compendium of various Buddhist recovery meetings. In-Person & Online!

📺Thirsting for more Dharma? 👉  buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠

The BRN Academy Teacher videos are available. Dharma teachers offering Dharma talks focused — specifically on your recovery.

🤲Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉 buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠

Enjoyed the podcast? Consider supporting BRN as we keep reaching out to those who have yet to discover Buddhist Recovery. Pay it forward just as others paid it forward for you.

__________________________________________________

❖ Recovery Meetings: [ ⁠Meetings List⁠ | ⁠List of Programs⁠ | ⁠⁠Newcomers Welcome!⁠⁠⁠ ] 

❖ BRN Academy: [ ⁠Next Event | Videos⁠ | ⁠Podcast⁠ | Donate⁠ 

Whether you’re struggling with addiction, grief, or finding your path forward, Chris Beaudry’s story is a beacon of hope: proof that from the depths of despair can emerge profound growth and purpose.

Chris Beaudry is a renowned public speaker and mental health advocate with a deeply personal and transformative story. Drawing from his background in mental health, grief, addiction recovery, and psychology, Chris brings an authentic and compassionate voice to topics that resonate universally. From growing up on a fourth-generation farm to navigating the shadows of childhood trauma and addiction, Chris’s journey is one of resilience and hope.

As a farmer, Chris discovered the profound parallels between healing the soil and healing oneself, weaving this philosophy into his teachings. Through his work, he bridges practical wisdom, Buddhist-inspired mindfulness, and a message of transformation, inspiring audiences to confront life’s challenges with courage and grace.

Find out more atCRBWellness.ca or through theSpeakers Bureau of Canada.

_________________________

🪑Need a meeting? 👉  ⁠buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠⁠

Check out BRN’s huge compendium of various Buddhist recovery meetings. In-Person & Online!

📺Thirsting for more Dharma? 👉  ⁠buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠⁠

The BRN Academy Teacher videos are available. Dharma teachers offering Dharma talks focused — specifically on your recovery.

🤲Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉 ⁠buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠⁠

Enjoyed the podcast? Consider supporting BRN as we keep reaching out to those who have yet to discover Buddhist Recovery. Pay it forward just as others paid it forward for you.

_________________________

❖ Recovery Meetings: [ ⁠⁠Meetings List⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠List of Programs⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Newcomers Welcome!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ] 

❖ BRN Academy: [ ⁠⁠Next Event⁠ | ⁠Videos⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠ | ⁠Donate⁠⁠ 

Today's Guest:Susanna Ahvalo

Susanna Ahvalo is an addiction expert and mindfulness instructor from Helsinki, Finland. She combines Positive Psychology, trauma-informed methods, and mindfulness to explore the roots of suffering behind addictive behaviors and the path to living a values-driven, authentic life. Susanna is training for ordination at the Triratna Buddhist Center.

Check out abeautiful video from Susanna with students about Teaching Mindfulness at Schools

• https://youtu.be/VYVkdwe3dVY

Connect with Susanna:

• Onnellisuuspaja.fi
• [email protected]
• https://onnellisuuspaja.fi/

Facebook |Instagram |LinkedIN |TikTok

_____________________________________

🗺️⁠Need a Meeting?⁠ 👉⁠buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠

Thelargest, up-to-date, comprehensiveBuddhist recovery meeting list.Hundreds of meetings across various Buddhist programs. (Both Online & In-Person meetings.)

📺⁠Looking for a good Dharmatalk (on Recovery?) 👉buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠

Though Dharmatalks are aplenty, it's rare to find ones that speak directly to our addictions. Fortunately, ourAcademy Teachersvideos are available, anytime. Respected teachers share great tools and practices you can apply to your recovery.

🤲⁠Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠

Enjoyed the podcast?Consider supporting the BRN Podcast to help reach suffering addicts who might not be able to afford it yet — just as others paid it forward for you.

❖Meetings: [⁠Meetings List⁠ (various) |⁠Recovery Programs⁠ (list) |⁠⁠Welcome Newcomers!⁠⁠⁠ (info) ]

❖BRN Academy: [⁠Next Event⁠ |⁠Videos⁠ (dharmatalks) |⁠Podcast⁠ ] ❖Resources: [⁠Books⁠ |⁠Safety⁠ |⁠Donate⁠ ]

Today's Guest: Sitaram Dass (K. Sandin, LCSW)

Sitaram Dass spent several years serving his beloved teacher Ram Dass on Maui, where he was shown the path of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of service and devotion.

As the Director of theSacred Community Project, he works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices through affordable, free, and donation-based offerings, spiritual support, and prison outreach. He is also aspiritual counselorwho can provide spiritual and mindfulness coaching worldwide and is a licensed therapist in the states of Oregon and California. His book,From and for God, is an intimate and contemplative collection of writings on the spiritual path.

Podcast Music by Modus Music. For inquires, email: [email protected]

(PREVIOUSLY: Welcome back to the Buddhist Recovery Network podcast! Before we dive in, check out our revamped website atBuddhistRecovery.org for meetings, resources, and more. Don't miss the 2024 Buddhist Recovery Network Summit, happening October 10th-13th at Fairview Lake YMCA in Stillwater, New Jersey. Join us for a transformative weekend featuring speakers like Kevin Griffin, Vimalasara, and Vince Cullen, plus workshops on safer Sanghas, process addictions, neurodiversity, self-compassion, and more. This event will be run like a retreat, with meditation, yoga, and shared meals. Arrive Thursday for networking and meditation, with the main programming starting Friday.)

_____________________________________

🗺️⁠Need a Meeting?⁠ 👉⁠buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠

Thelargest, up-to-date, comprehensiveBuddhist recovery meeting list.Hundreds of meetings across various Buddhist programs. (Both Online & In-Person meetings.)

📺⁠Looking for a good Dharmatalk (on Recovery?) 👉buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠

Though Dharmatalks are aplenty, it's rare to find ones that speak directly to our addictions. Fortunately, ourAcademy Teachersvideos are available, anytime. Respected teachers share great tools and practices you can apply to your recovery.

🤲⁠Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠

Enjoyed the podcast?Consider supporting the BRN Podcast to help reach suffering addicts who might not be able to afford it yet — just as others paid it forward for you.

❖Meetings: [⁠Meetings List⁠ (various) |⁠Recovery Programs⁠ (list) |⁠⁠Welcome Newcomers!⁠⁠⁠ (info) ]

❖BRN Academy: [⁠Next Event⁠ |⁠Videos⁠ (dharmatalks) |⁠Podcast⁠ ] ❖Resources: [⁠Books⁠ |⁠Safety⁠ |⁠Donate⁠ ]

Today's Guest: Shawna Adkins

Shawna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Oakland, California. She supports adults on their wellness journeys, helping them reconnect with their Buddha Nature. She also enjoys dancing, DIY projects, and gardening.

Podcast Music by Modus Music. For inquires, email: [email protected]

(PREVIOUSLY: Welcome back to the Buddhist Recovery Network podcast! Before we dive in, check out our revamped website atBuddhistRecovery.org for meetings, resources, and more. Don't miss the 2024 Buddhist Recovery Network Summit, happening October 10th-13th at Fairview Lake YMCA in Stillwater, New Jersey. Join us for a transformative weekend featuring speakers like Kevin Griffin, Vimalasara, and Vince Cullen, plus workshops on safer Sanghas, process addictions, neurodiversity, self-compassion, and more. This event will be run like a retreat, with meditation, yoga, and shared meals. Arrive Thursday for networking and meditation, with the main programming starting Friday.)

_____________________________________

🗺️⁠⁠Need a Meeting?⁠⁠ 👉⁠⁠buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠⁠

Thelargest, up-to-date, comprehensiveBuddhist recovery meeting list.Hundreds of meetings across various Buddhist programs. (Both Online & In-Person meetings.)

📺⁠⁠Looking for a good Dharmatalk (on Recovery?) 👉buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠⁠

Though Dharmatalks are aplenty, it's rare to find ones that speak directly to our addictions. Fortunately, ourAcademy Teachersvideos are available, anytime. Respected teachers share great tools and practices you can apply to your recovery.

🤲⁠⁠Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠⁠

Enjoyed the podcast?Consider supporting the BRN Podcast to help reach suffering addicts who might not be able to afford it yet — just as others paid it forward for you.

❖Meetings: [⁠⁠Meetings List⁠⁠ (various) |⁠⁠Recovery Programs⁠⁠ (list) |⁠⁠⁠Welcome Newcomers!⁠⁠⁠⁠ (info) ]

❖BRN Academy: [⁠⁠Next Event⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Videos⁠⁠ (dharmatalks) |⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠ ] ❖Resources: [⁠⁠Books⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Safety⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠ ]

Celebrated Recovery Teacher and Author Kevin Griffin - on Recovery

🗺️⁠⁠Need a Meeting?⁠⁠ 👉⁠⁠buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠⁠

Thelargest, up-to-date, comprehensiveBuddhist recovery meeting list.Hundreds of meetings across various Buddhist programs. (Both Online & In-Person meetings.)

📺⁠⁠Looking for a good Dharmatalk (on Recovery?) 👉buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠⁠

Though Dharmatalks are aplenty, it's rare to find ones that speak directly to our addictions. Fortunately, ourAcademy Teachersvideos are available, anytime. Respected teachers share great tools and practices you can apply to your recovery.

🤲⁠⁠Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠⁠

Enjoyed the podcast?Consider supporting the BRN Podcast to help reach suffering addicts who might not be able to afford it yet — just as others paid it forward for you.

❖Meetings: [⁠⁠Meetings List⁠⁠ (various) |⁠⁠Recovery Programs⁠⁠ (list) |⁠⁠⁠Welcome Newcomers!⁠⁠⁠⁠ (info) ]

❖BRN Academy: [⁠⁠Next Event⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Videos⁠⁠ (dharmatalks) |⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠ ] ❖Resources: [⁠⁠Books⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Safety⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠ ]

Everyday can be a New year - cultivating JOY

🗺️⁠⁠Need a Meeting?⁠⁠ 👉⁠⁠buddhistrecovery.org/meetings⁠⁠

Thelargest, up-to-date, comprehensiveBuddhist recovery meeting list.Hundreds of meetings across various Buddhist programs. (Both Online & In-Person meetings.)

📺⁠⁠Looking for a good Dharmatalk (on Recovery?) 👉buddhistrecovery.org/academy⁠⁠

Though Dharmatalks are aplenty, it's rare to find ones that speak directly to our addictions. Fortunately, ourAcademy Teachersvideos are available, anytime. Respected teachers share great tools and practices you can apply to your recovery.

🤲⁠⁠Share the love + karma! Pay it forward 👉buddhistrecovery.org/donate⁠⁠

Enjoyed the podcast?Consider supporting the BRN Podcast to help reach suffering addicts who might not be able to afford it yet — just as others paid it forward for you.

❖Meetings: [⁠⁠Meetings List⁠⁠ (various) |⁠⁠Recovery Programs⁠⁠ (list) |⁠⁠⁠Welcome Newcomers!⁠⁠⁠⁠ (info) ]

❖BRN Academy: [⁠⁠Next Event⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Videos⁠⁠ (dharmatalks) |⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠ ] ❖Resources: [⁠⁠Books⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Safety⁠⁠ |⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠ ]