Episode #35 - Gautam lives to serve others. Inspired by Buddhist precepts of not killing, not lying, not taking that which is not given, not having sexual misconduct and no taking intoxicants. Established in 2011, Metta Nepal serves the needs of under-privileged groups, especially children.

With 4 teams of volunteers named after the Brahmavihara - the Sublime Qualities - Metta, Loving Kindness; Mudita, contentment for others, Karuna, compassion, Upekha, Equanimity - Gautam lives by the urgency of serving.

Mentioned in the conversation: Phra Visuddhivides - Abbot of Wat Thai Dhammaram - Waterloo, Belgium

Monks and Nuns from Malaysia and Singapore from the Mahayana Tradition.

Contact Gautam Maharjan FB

Contact Metta Nepal FB

Metta Nepal on YouTube

Short Footage of Metta Nepal scholarship program

With Episode #34 we continue the Food Musings - this time adding notes about Verses being chanted before taking a meal. But really, why is food so important?

The Anumodana Chant at the end is from Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and is available here

Find us on FB, IG, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube

Episode #33 - A second meeting with Shiva Rijal, a University professor at Kathmandu University where he reads, teaches and inspires his students on Shakespeare and spirituality with a particular focus on Buddha’s teachings. Shiva loves to analyse and ponder about the human condition and how the human tragedy, a beloved topic of work for Shakespeare, is actually equivalent to samsara - life as it is described in Buddhist wordings.

The conversation is open ended and unfiltered - Hope you enjoy it. ~The book mentioned half-way in the conversation is Ed Douglas - Himalaya - a Human History

Finds us on YouTube - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - FB and IG ( sorry no Tik Tok)

Previous episode on Shakespeare, Shiva and the Buddha is Episode #23.

Episode #32 - Renunciation, the precepts, keeping them. A few more musings.

It is the end of the year - I have had a difficult 2 months - and I emerge with new ideas for 2025 -

Episode #31 - Just a few musings on living on precepts -

Buddhism is not about seeking happiness - rather entraining the mind at removing that which empedes serenity to settle in.

Episode #30 - Experiencing the death of the elder and musing on Bardo chants, funeral chants and lightness of compassion.

Funeral Chanting are available at Amaravati Website: https://amaravati.org/teachings/chanting/

Conversation #29 - Ancient insights on stress, anxiety and suffering for modern living straight. We talk compassion, generosity, kindness and mindfulness with Dr Tony Fernando. Another book on mindfulness?! Life Hacks from the Buddha, is rather a fun and lively book on how to hack your mindset and make contentment the GPS of your mind.

Dr Tony Fernando is a practising psychiatrist, sleep specialist, and former Buddhist monk. With a PhD in compassion, inspired by the HHDL, he has been incorporating the Buddha's teachings into his own life and work as a doctor for the past 20 years

⁠https://tedxauckland.com/people/tony-fernando/#top⁠

⁠calm.auckland.ac.nz⁠

⁠https://www.amazon.com/Life-Hacks-Buddha-content-chaotic/dp/1775542394⁠ 

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-fernando-md-phd-038a33a1/⁠

In this Conversation #28 with Michael Kewley - aka as Pañnadipa - we explore the meaning of Pure Dhamma, in a nutshell and how Vipassana or a practice of being aware and present to what is, can help us simplify our lives and reveal the depth of the Four Noble Truths.

Michael, writes, teaches and conducts retreats, find more about him on his website and FB

Conversation #27 takes us into the magical world of Tantric Buddhism with Thukten Yeshi and his Novel “The Monk without Dhamma”. Embark with us on a journey across the Himalayas and be inspired by how the narrative takes us into the secret realm of Dzogchen. From storytelling to fiction literature, the novel offers an advanced intellectual discourse on Buddhism, delving into subjects such as the true nature of existence and the origin of the universe, while enthralling readers with its story.

The Monk Without Dhamma is available on all major online Outlets (Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Ingramsparks.)

The Monk Without Dhamma on FB

Dhamma On The Sidewalk is on FB, IG, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts

Conversation #25 with Dr Dimple Arora, of Urban Ayurveda ( Bangkok) and Golden Awareness - is a reminder that the core Buddhist principles of Metta, Mudita, Karuna and Upekha (Kindness, Sympathetic Joy, Compassion and Equanimity) are a driving force for wellbeing for ourselves and others.

Find her at www.goldenawareness.com