Ven. Kusala Bikshu is an American-born monk ordained in the Zen Tradition of Vietnam and head monk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center in the Korea town section of Los Angeles.  Kusala is a member of the Buddhist-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Los Angeles and MID – Monastic Inter-religious Dialogue, a national organization of Buddhists and Catholics.  I was introduced to Kusula through Fr. William Skudlarek, who is a Benedictine monk at St. John’s Abbey and has been active in inter-monastic dialogue.

Episode 24 - Interview with Ven. Kusala Bhikshu

“Contemplate This!” features talks and guided meditations with Dr. Tom Bushlack, plus interviews with guests. Interviews feature leaders and teachers of contemplative practices (mindfulness, meditation, contemplative prayer, etc.) in order to learn about their history, how they became involved in contemplation, what their daily practice looks like, how they teach and share the fruits of contemplation with others – and most importantly – how their practice has transformed them and inspired their work to transform others and the world around them.

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Buddhism

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The Desert Fathers & Mothers of Egypt in the 4th century BCE recognized how the constant drive to always be working can be like a "demon," destroying our physical, emotional, and spiritual health and relationships. In this live talk and guided meditation we'll reflect together on their wisdom to seek balance in our fast-paced world.

Overcome the "Demon" of Work with the Desert Mothers & Fathers

Matthew Mumber, M.D., practices medicine as a board-certified radiation oncologist with the Harbin Clinic in Rome. After entering private practice, Matt attended and graduated from Dr. Andrew Weil’s fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona, where he met Rachel Remen and attended trainings on facilitation of physician-patient retreat groups through Commonweal. 

Subsequently, Matt attended and graduated from a 2-year program on spirituality at the Living School for Action and Contemplation through the Rohr Institute, where he studied with Jim Finley. An author of academic and lay press texts on the subject of healing, Matt has edited an academic textbook entitled Integrative Oncology: Principles and Practice and also co-wrote a lay-press health and wellness book, Sustainable Wellness with Heather Reed. He has served as the president of the Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology. His first book of poetry, In the Awakening Season, was published in fall 2020.

Matt’s poetry, which draws on his personal, professional, cultural and natural-world experiences, stems from his Lectio Divina meditation and spiritual practice. Matt has facilitated groups and retreats focused on transformation and healing for over twenty years.
He lives in Georgia with his wife and three sons.

Episode 31: Interview with Matt Mumber, M.D.

Toni Stogdill is a Realtor and the Director of Communications for the Master Investor's Tribe (St. Louis, MO).  She recently participated in our "Centering for Wisdom" group coaching program and shares her journey of contemplative transformation.

Toni is a real-life busy, overwhelmed, stressed out professional like many of you who has integrated a daily centering practice into her life (she knew absolutely nothing about contemplative prayer before we met).  That has helped her to get crystal clear about the core purpose and intention God has give her to live, and she's experienced improved her relationships with her two teenage daughters.  Today she is living in alignment and congruence between her professional goals with her divinely inspired purpose and intention.

I'll be peppering in some of these client journey episodes into Contemplate This!

Some of you might want to explore taking that in-depth life, contemplative, life-transforming plunge for yourself so you can quickly get out of feeling constantly overwhelmed and recentered in your purpose just like Toni.  If that's the case, then you can go straight to[ thomasjbushlack.com/apply](https://thomasjbushlack.com/apply) to schedule your free Breakthrough Session.  This is totally free and no-pressure call where I'll work with you to craft a step-by-step game plan to get you out of feeling constantly overwhelmed...AND how you can stay centered and aligned with your vocation for the rest of your life.

The cost? Absolutely FREE!

Episode 30 - Interview with Toni Stogdill

Julius B. Anthony is Founder and President of St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature and The Believe Project. He has enjoyed more than 20 years as an early childhood and elementary education professional and has served as a classroom teacher, principal, director of curriculum and insruction, and adjunct professor. Throughout his career, Julius has enjoyed writing motivational poems and short stories for his students and serving as a fierce advocate of literacy-based PK-12 education. In October of 2014, he published his first children’s book entitled “Me! Ten Poetic Affirmations” which debuted at the National Black Child Development Institute’s annual conference in Detroit, Michigan. He is also the Founding Principal of City Academy, a successful independent day school located in north St. Louis City.

One achievement Julius is particularly proud of is his current upstart “The Believe Project” which seeks to ensure all children are confident and competent readers by the end of third grade. On July 3, 2020, The Believe Project premiered as a literacy-based children’s show in response to the regional demands for K-3 remote learning.

Episode 29: Interview with Julius Anthony

Ben Gioia (“joya”) is a two-time best-selling author, speaker, and creator of the Influence With A Heart® Method.  If you have a BIG IDEA, Ben will teach you how to write your #1 best selling book — in 5 weeks — and position yourself for a media explosion (and more) in 3 months. 

Ben helped a Fortune 100 company shift culture, trained leaders at Stanford, launched the world's biggest magazine, and created video game with MIT to transform employee resilience and customer experience.

Ben’s signature talk, The Buddha Smile, shows people how to quit suffering. His teachings are used by 30,000+ people around the world.  
The foundation of Ben’s work, in his own words, is “mindfulness and loving-kindness” and bringing that into the business space openly and publicly.  In our interview Ben talks publicly for the first time about an experience he had with his meditation teacher that allowed him to let go of ALL the doubt and that inner critical voice that holds so many of us back.  I am very inspired by the way Ben integrates his contemplative practice into his professional life as a coach, speaker, and author.

Episode 24 - Interview with Ven. Kusala Bhikshu

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