This is a repost of my conversation with Dr. Larry Ward. Dr. Ward passed away on August 19 at his home in Rhode Island. He was a Buddhist teacher, author, and co-founder of The Lotus Institute. He left behind a legacy of peace and advocacy for healing individual and collective trauma. I only ever interacted with Dr. Ward online, but his big soul, wisdom, and laughter came through with so much heart. My daughter and I tuned into his online memorial which held his spirit… we joined in the prayers and listened to the stories from his students, friends, and loved ones, it impacted us both. Dr. Ward's wife and co-founder of The Lotus Institute, Peggy Rowe, will continue their work. As we lose elders, those we barely know and those we consider kin, a desire to honor them and cherish them in their passing arises, so I am sharing this again. and if you so moved, head over to thelotusinstitute.org and consider supporting their work. With that, please enjoy this rebroadcast of Dr. Ward's timeless wisdom and joy.

Dr. Larry Ward is a senior teacher in Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village tradition, the author of the book America's Racial Karma, and co-author with his wife, Peggy, of Love's Garden: A Guide To Mindful Relationships.

Dr. Ward brings forty years of international experience in organizational change and local community renewal to his work at the Lotus Institute. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies with an emphasis on Buddhism and the neuroscience of meditation, and has trained at the Trauma Resource Institute. Dr. Ward and I talk about humanity's greatest weakness, learning from our teachers, the impact of fragrance as a teaching metaphor and so much more.

Visit Dr. Larry Ward at thelotusinstitute.org | IG: @thelotus_institute

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