In this episode, host Agnes sits down with Kelsang Sama, a Buddhist nun, to delve into the deeper concepts of freedom and personal transformation. Together, they explore the difference between cutting ties with the external world and cultivating true inner freedom. While society often emphasizes the importance of shedding external constraints—such as material possessions, relationships, or status—Kelsang Sama emphasizes that genuine freedom lies in mastering one’s inner world and breaking free from self-imposed mental limitations. Her story is one of self-discovery, where the external world’s expectations were set aside in favor of exploring deeper, more authentic truths about herself and the nature of existence.

https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z

In this episode, we sit down with Gen Thekchen, a Buddhist monk who was invited to teach meditation to prisoners in Canada. He shares his remarkable journey of teaching controlling the mind behind bars, revealing how the inmates’ surprising resilience and unwavering determination to master their minds in such a tough environment inspired him. Tune in as Gen Thekchen reflects on the profound lessons he learned from the very people society often overlooks.

Gen Gomlam returns to the podcast for a deeply personal and moving conversation about how to heal and find peace after personal tragedy, addressing the feelings of grief, guilt, anger and shame that often arise in the aftermath and how to work through them and find healing.

** Trigger warning: this episode includes discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. Your discretion is advised. **

***

Book references:

How to Solve Our Human Problems

Joyful Path of Good Fortune 

Living Meaningfully Dying Joyfully

Gen Gomlam is the Resident Teacher in Kadampa Meditation Center Florida https://meditationinsarasota.org/. 

The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide: https://kadampa.org

WANT MORE? 

Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en

Listen to teaching clips: 

youtube.com/nktikbu

https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z

Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast 

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TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/519b6d69-b6ed-46b2-ab56-ebaf59adf96e/the-modern-buddhism-podcast 

#modernbuddhismpodcast #buddhism #healing #suicide #grief #meditation #suicidal #buddhistnun #nun 

In this special episode, guest host Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Rabten is in conversation with astrophysicist and lay Buddhist teacher Kadam Peter Kurczynski.

Their wide ranging discussion touches on the common points between science and spirituality - for example, how discoveries in quantum physics correlate to profound Buddhist teachings on the nature of reality - but also how meditation can open us to experiences completely beyond the reach of the physical sciences.

Kadam Peter has an extensive background in science as a post doctorate student, researcher and university teacher and currently works as the chief scientific officer for NASA’s cosmic origins program. 

In parallel to this life in science he has trained in meditation for 30 years and taught Buddhism extensively. He currently teaches classes for Kadampa Meditation Centre Washington DC.

Kadampa Meditation Centre Washington DC's website is: https://meditation-dc.org/

You can watch videos of Peter explaining light from the first stars and the stars within us in these youtube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU6KXoO0NEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFULDp3QHVQ&t=26s

And giving a dharma talk here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXyWeiocwdI 

Gen Rabten has been a Buddhist monk under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche’s guidance since 1994, and currently serves as the National Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU for Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

During the conversation Gen Rabten reads excerpts from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s texts: New Eight Steps to Happiness and Joyful Path of Good Fortune.

These books can be purchased from Tharpa Publications by following these links:

https://tharpa.com/the-new-eight-steps-to-happiness

https://tharpa.com/joyful-path-of-good-fortune

The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide.

See more https://kadampa.org/ 

Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en 

Listen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z 

Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ 

TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast 

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast

#modermbuddhismpodcast #buddhism #podcast #science #QuantumPhysics #Spirituality #Reality #Meditation #Astrophysics #BuddhistMonk 

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individual and do not reflect the views of NASA or the US federal government.

Happy New Year Everyone! While we continue our break from our usual conversation episodes, please enjoy Kadam Adam briefly explaining and then guiding a meditation on how our life is precious, rare and meaningful. This beautiful contemplation energizes us and inspires us to seize the very essence of each day - an excellent way to start the new year. Full epsiodes resume next week.

While we take a brief break over the festive season, please enjoy this bonus episode: a beautiful guided meditation on love and kindness called equalizing self with others.

Full conversation episodes will resume in mid January, but check in again next week for another guided meditation.

We live in a world that constantly tells us we need to do more, be more, and achieve more. We set insanely high standards for ourselves, pushing to be successful in every area of life—yet, even when we reach those goals, we're left feeling like it’s still not enough. The truth is, we’re never truly satisfied. We’re always chasing the next milestone, believing we have to be better to be happy. But this constant pressure, this endless pursuit of perfection, is rooted in a disproportionate sense of self-importance. It’s a mindset that makes true fulfillment nearly impossible. In today’s episode, we dive into the power of accepting failure and embracing success—how both can be stepping stones for growth, learning, and ultimately, happiness. Join us as we explore how to let go of the pressure, enjoy the wins, and learn from the setbacks, creating a more balanced and fulfilling life.

In this episode, guest host Agnes Bednarczyk is joined by Buddhist monk Gen Doryning to explore the deep sense of searching many young people feel in today's world. Surrounded by uncertainty and overwhelmed by modern challenges, many struggle to find meaning and direction through traditional paths. When asked where one can look for purpose, Gen Doryning offers gentle yet powerful guidance, suggesting simple, transformative changes that anyone can make to cultivate a sense of direction and a deep, lasting purpose each day. His inspiring words remind us that small steps can lead to profound shifts, helping us rediscover our true path in life.

Meditation is a popular method to achieve a calm, peaceful state of mind. In this podcast, International meditation teacher, Kadam Morten Clausen, explains how meditation is so much more than just breathing meditation and how you can begin to find answers to the big questions in your life. He explains how Buddha taught meditation as a way to achieve your true potential and life purpose. He explains how to use meditation to increase your inner wisdom and break free from limiting ways of looking at yourself and the world. An excellent discussion revealing how to go deeper in meditation and gain insight into how it can help you to transform your life.

In this Podcast Gen Demo, a Buddhist nun who is dealing with the chronic disease of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), explains how she is learning to let go of worry and accept her illness. Worrying makes everything worse and has a big effect on health. Gen Demo emphasizes how debilitating worry is in her life and how important it is to relax into the uncertainty of her condition and the uncertainty of the future. Worrying makes everything worse and has a big effect on health. She is learning to be gentle and tries to make the most of all situations she meets. An especially inspiring podcast to uplift and help everyone who is dealing with any difficulties in their life.

To watch a video version of this episode see:

https://www.youtube.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast