In this episode, Cortland Dahl and Daniel Aitken discuss Cortland’s book A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism. As an author and translator, Cortland has published numerous scientific articles and works on Buddhist philosophy and meditation. He is actively involved in scientific research and has published articles on the impact of meditation practices on the body, mind, and brain. They explore crucial themes such as the integration of meditation, view, and application in daily life, and explores concepts like naturalness, spontaneity, and the innate qualities of awareness, compassion, and wisdom. 

You’ll also hear Cortland and Daniel discuss: 

Mentioned in this episode:

The post Cortland Dahl: A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism (#209) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Join Alejandro Chaoul, Richard Freeman, Mary Taylor, and host Daniel Aitken as they discuss their different traditions of yoga and how they relate to meditation. Listen as they provide insights into their yoga traditions, emphasizing historical dialogue between the traditions and shared practices. They touch on practical meditation tips, integrating the body into mindfulness, and much more! 

You’ll also hear Daniel and our guests discuss: 

Wisdom Podcast listeners receive a 20% discount on Yoga For Meditators WPODY4M through July 5th.

Dr. Alejandro Chaoul is dedicated to educating individuals and communities about the ancient practice of Tibetan yoga and its transformative power to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He serves as the scholar and founding director of the Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute (MBSI) and holds a doctoral degree in religious studies from Rice University. For the last thirty years Ale has studied with many Tibetan teachers in India, Nepal, and the United States. Since 1995, he has taught Tibetan meditation and yogic practices under the auspices of Ligmincha International across the United States, Latin America, and Europe. 

Richard Freeman has been a student of yoga since 1968. He spent nine years in Asia studying yoga āsana, prāṇāyāma, Sufism, Sanskrit language, and Indian philosophy. He has studied asana with B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois and has worked with numerous Buddhist teachers to draw insights into the interfacing of Buddhism and yoga as a reflection of life. Richard’s metaphorical, humorous, teaching style appeals to students of many backgrounds and nationalities.

Mary Taylor began studying yoga in 1971 and her studies have grown into a deep interest into how yoga asana, meditation, and the interfacing of yoga with Buddhism combine to support us through complex modern times. Her main asana practice is in the internal forms of the ashtanga vinyasa tradition. She is part of the core faculty of the Being with Dying program at Upaya Zen Center and the senior faculty for the UZIT training program, both of which apply contemplative practices to improved and sustainable wellness within medical settings.

The post Alejandro Chaoul, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor: Yoga for Meditators (#208) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Join Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Daniel Aitken in this special bonus episode of our celebratory Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast series as they discuss The Legacy of Tulku Urgyen and the Path to Kindfulness. During this episode, Daniel and Rinpoche celebrate the rerelease of Blazing Splendor, and Rinpoche shares his memories and insights he gained from the teachings of his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

You’ll also hear Rinpoche and Daniel discuss: 

Wisdom Podcast listeners receive a 20% discount on Blazing Splendor WPODBLAZE through June 27th.

The post Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche: The Legacy of Tulku Urgyen and the Path to Kindfulness (#207) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

In this Wisdom Podcast episode host Daniel Aitken joins Douglas Duckworth as they discuss Douglas’s translation The Great Hūṃ. Douglas Duckworth is a professor of religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. He received his PhD in religious studies (Indo-Tibetan Buddhism) from the University of Virginia in 2005, and he previously taught at Kathmandu University. In this episode, Douglas shares his journey of becoming interested in the text during his studies in India and Nepal, and he shares the challenges and rewards of working on such a monumental text. 

You’ll hear Daniel and Douglas discuss: 

The post Douglas Duckworth: The Great Hūṃ (#206) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Join Daniel Aitken and Ācārya Malcolm Smith as they discuss the roots of Dzogchen and the aural lineage in the Great Perfection tradition as described in Malcolm’s newest translation Yoga Of The Natural State, releasing in the winter of 2025 and available now for pre-order. In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, explore the historical transmission of Dzogchen teachings through the textual and aural lineages and the roles these play in preserving the authenticity and comprehensibility of the teachings. You won’t want to miss this illuminating conversation. 

You’ll hear Daniel and Malcolm discuss: 

The post Ācārya Malcolm Smith: The Dzogchen Aural Lineage (#205) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

In this enriching Wisdom Podcast episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Christopher Ives, a professor and Zen practitioner. Chris is an author, translator, and avid outdoorsman. His writing focuses on ethics in Zen Buddhism and Buddhist approaches to nature and environmental issues. His previous publications with Wisdom include Zen on the Trail and Meditations on the Trail. Throughout the conversation, Chris and Daniel go in-depth exploring the themes in Chris’s newest release, Zen Ecology. They discuss how Zen’s principles of interconnectedness, non-dualism, and mindful living intersect with ecological concerns, and how Zen practice can inspire a sustainable lifestyle with reduced environmental impact. 

You’ll also hear Daniel and Chris discuss: 

Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Zen Ecology with code WPODECO through March 31.

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In this insightful episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken engages with Justin Kelley, Executive Director of Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools. Justin has practiced with Mingyur Rinpoche for nearly 20 years and earned his PhD in Religious Studies from Rice University, where he studied with Dr. Anne C. Klein. Passionate about making Buddhist wisdom relevant today—particularly in education—his research explores the intersection of Buddhism and learning theory, drawing on his hands-on experience with both the Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools project.  

You’ll hear Daniel and Justin explore: 

To learn more about Tergar Institute please visit http://www.tergarinstitute.org

 To donate to the Tergar Schools project visit https://bit.ly/tergarschools-wisdom

Note to our listeners: This episode contains the mention of suicide. If you would prefer to avoid this part of the conversation please skip from 16:48 – 23:32.

If you or someone you love are in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. International listeners, please visit The International Association for Suicide Prevention to find crisis care in your region.

The post Justin Kelley: Beyond Scholarship: The Meeting of Dharma and Education (#203) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

In this episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, host Daniel Aitken engages in a rich dialogue with Lama Alan Wallace. Lama Alan, a significant figure in the transmission of Tibetan Buddhism to the West, shares insights from his lifelong practice, teachings, and new Wisdom Publications release Dzokchen. The discussion delves deeply into the practices of shamatha, vipassana, and Dzokchen, contrasting these with other Buddhist traditions and highlighting their significance in achieving spiritual realization. 

The conversation sheds light on the nuanced paths of approaching ultimate bodhichitta and the broader implications of modern and traditional Buddhist practices.

The post Lama Alan Wallace: Dzokchen Dialogues (#202) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

In this insightful conversation, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Michael Tweed. Michael is a well-known editor of Tibetan Buddhist texts, particularly on Dzogchen and Mahamudra. Titles he has worked on include Blazing Splendor by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Brilliant Moon by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Clear Mirror by Dudjom Lingpa, and many more.

During this episode, Michael shares his remarkable journey, starting at the very beginning with his interest in meditation and Buddhism while living in small-town Ontario. He highlights the profound impact these teachings had on his life, reflects on the importance of personal connection with teachers, shares humorous anecdotes, and much more.

You’ll hear Michael discuss:

Enjoyed this episode? Check out our Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast series.

The post Michael Tweed: Lessons and Laughs (#201) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Join us in celebrating a major milestone—our 200th episode. Over the years, the Wisdom Podcast has become a gathering place for seekers, practitioners, and thought leaders in the Buddhist tradition, offering listeners wisdom and insight from some of the most remarkable teachers of our time. We continue this legacy of profound conversations with a truly special guest—Venerable Thubten Chodron—as we celebrate the release of Vajrayāna and the Culmination of the Path. This volume is the final volume in her series with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Library of Wisdom and Compassion, and we hope you’ll join us in commemorating the completion of this incredible series, representing a culmination of decades of collaboration and deep scholarship.

In this episode, you’ll hear Daniel and Venerable Chodron discuss:

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re filled with gratitude for you—our listeners, supporters, and everyone who has contributed to our GIVE2 campaign. Your generosity keeps these transformative teachings free and accessible for thousands around the world. Together, we can keep sharing the wisdom, mindfulness, and compassion that resonate across generations and traditions.

Learn more about how you can support the Wisdom Podcast and all of the work that Wisdom does at wisdomexperience.org/supportwisdom.

Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off any individual volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series with code WPODLWC20.

Or, save 30% when you purchase the entire library at once and use the code WPODLWC30.

Or, if you prefer the electronic version, you can use the code WPODLWC30E for 30% off the complete Library of Wisdom and Compassion series in ebook form.

To add the entire library to your collection, just add the final volume, Vajrayana and the Culmination of the Path, to your cart and use the corresponding code. The other nine volumes in the series will be automatically added and the discount will be applied.  

The post Venerable Thubten Chodron: Vajrayāna and the Culmination of the Path (#200) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.