Buddhist Wisdom, Modern Life

By Claire Villarreal, PhDReligion & Spirituality Buddhism

Buddhist Wisdom, Modern Life episodes

September 03, 2025 Dr. Harvey Aronson on anger, Buddhism and cross-cultural misunderstandings
In this insightful episode, we explore the nuanced teachings of anger within Buddhist practice, particularly how Western students may misinterpret traditional advice like "don't get angry." Join us as Dr. Harvey Aronson, also known as Lama Namgyal Dorje, offers a cross-cultural perspective that bridges Eastern wisdom with Western understanding. Discover how to navigate anger with awareness and compassion, transforming it into a source of personal growth and spiritual insight. Tune in to deepen your understanding of this powerful emotion and its role in your spiritual journey.
Links to resources:
Harvey/Lama Namgyal’s upcoming teaching series at Dawn Mountain: https://www.dawnmountain.org/teaching-tuesdays-2/
Dawn Mountain’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dawnmountain/featured
And their podcast:
https://blubrry.com/dawnmountain/
His book, Buddhist Practice on Western Ground: https://www.shambhala.com/buddhist-practice-on-western-ground-2842.html
Other suggestions:
Outshining Trauma: https://www.shambhala.com/outshining-trauma.html
48 min
February 15, 2025 Why do our 30 trillion cells feel like a self? part 2, from Inner Cosmos
This week, we're sharing the second of two episodes from Inner Cosmos that explore the neuroscience behind our sense of self. Host David Eagleman investigates why our bodies, composed of trillions of cells, feel like a single, unified "me." These episodes offer a compelling scientific perspective on the Buddhist concept of anatta (no-self), providing a fascinating bridge between ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience.
Listen now to all of the wonderful episodes from Inner Cosmos: https://eagleman.com/podcast/

1 hr 3 min
February 07, 2025 Why do our 30 trillion cells feel like a self? from the Inner Cosmos podcast
This week, we're sharing part one of two episodes from Inner Cosmos that explore the neuroscience behind our sense of self. Host David Eagleman investigates why our bodies, composed of trillions of cells, feel like a single, unified "me." These episodes offer a compelling scientific perspective on the Buddhist concept of anatta (no-self), providing a fascinating bridge between ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience.
Listen now to all of the wonderful episodes from Inner Cosmos: https://eagleman.com/podcast/
31 min
November 26, 2024 Fearless compassion guided meditation
This guided practice, recorded for the Jung Center of Houston's MBSI Power of Community series, invites you to turn your attention inward with kindness and understanding. As you listen, allow yourself to be held in a space of warmth and acceptance. This meditation offers an opportunity to connect with parts of ourselves that might feel uncomfortable.
14 min
February 07, 2024 Unwinding from your day: guided meditation
If you've finished your day of work -- or just want to take a relaxing break -- this guided meditation is here for you!
This meditation was recorded live as part of the Mind Body Spirit Institute’s Power of Community meditation series. To learn more and register (for free!), click here: https://geni.us/mbsipoc
May you and all beings be well.

30 min
September 07, 2023 Andrew Holecek on reverse meditations for difficult situations
This week internationally renowned spiritual teacher and author Andrew Holececk about his new book, Reverse Meditation, in which he shares a powerful form of spiritual practice that can transform our relationship to unwanted experiences. In the process, we open more and more fully to the luminous, spacious true nature of the mind. Toward the end of the episode, he offers a guided contemplation you can use next time you feel the urge to complain.
Andrew’s website: andrewholecek.com
Check out his new book, Reverse Meditation, that offers instruction in both foundational practices like calm abiding meditations and open awareness practice, as well as the reverse practices you’ll hear about in this conversation.
On Sound True: https://geni.us/revmedst
On Amazon: https://geni.us/revmedam
If you enjoy our conversation, please share this episode and subscribe!
To learn more about Buddhism through my free courses, click here: https://geni.us/freecourses
Or get my book for beginners, The Buddhist Path to Joy, here: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy
May you and all beings be well.
48 min
August 22, 2023 Guided meditation: two types of focus
In this guided meditation, we'll start with cultivating focus with an object by imagining light flowing down through the body. But then we switch to "object-less" meditation, which is less well known.
As you practice, see if you can notice what it feels like to cultivate each type of focus.
May you and all beings be well.
27 min
July 27, 2023 Buddha... and Barbie?
Barbie might be the last character you'd expect to be similar to the Buddha... but consider this:
The beginning of Barbie's journey into the "real world" comes when she begins to reflect on death and impermanence. Sounds a lot like the story of Buddha's life to me!
This episode offers a few thoughts for anyone about to see the hottest movie of the summer or who's just seen it and wants to reflect on its hidden spiritual meaning.
Want to learn more about Buddha's life story and basic teachings? Check out my free email course on the Four Noble Truths: https://geni.us/4NobleTruths
6 min
June 08, 2023 Tonglen meditation: Tibetan compassion practice with imagery
This Tibetan-style tonglen meditation on compassion was recorded live as part of the Mind Body Spirit Institute’s Power of Community meditation series. To learn more and register (for free!), click here: https://geni.us/mbsipoc
May you and all beings be well.

27 min
June 02, 2023 Manifesting your desires & Buddhism: Do they go together? 🤔
I used to think that Buddhism and trying to "manifest" what you want don't go together. But then I realized that actually Buddhist teachings on karma tell us how to put in place the causes for getting what we want. Mind blown!
Want to learn more about the basic teachings of Buddhism? You can check out my book, The Buddhist Path to Joy, here: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy
And my free courses on Buddhist basics for beginners here: https://geni.us/freecourses
May you and all beings be well.
10 min

About Buddhist Wisdom, Modern Life

From the publisher's feed

The Buddhist tradition began over 2,500 years ago, and its roots are even older. Over the centuries, countless people have benefited from these teachings. But are the beliefs and practices of Buddhism still relevant? Absolutely! If anything, we need this wisdom more now than ever as our world speeds up.