In this episode of The Wisdom Seat podcast, we have a conversation exploring the dynamic tension between ancient Vajrayana Buddhist teachings and modern life. What does it mean to genuinely practice Vajrayana in the context of our digital, fast-paced, and often fragmented 21st-century world? How can we show up? How can we help?   The Progress Paradox book by Gregg Easterbrook

Anam Thubten spoke in 2023 at the Philadelphia Shambhala Center. 

He emphasized the path of the Bodhisattva.

Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche Resting in the True Nature of Mind: Essential Meditation Instructions Commentary on a text by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

In 2019, we were deeply honored to host Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche for a special teaching event in the Swarthmore Friends Meeting house. This rare visit from one of Tibetan Buddhism's most respected teachers included a public talk, reception, and a tour of historic Philadelphia.

Essential Meditation Instructions Rinpoche presented a profound teaching titled "Resting in the True Nature of Mind: Essential Meditation Instructions" - a commentary on a text by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

During this invaluable session, Rinpoche shared instructions on: Accessing and becoming familiar with our mind's true nature Essential steps and pith instructions for experiencing the mind's essence Establishing the correct meditative view Working skillfully with arising thoughts Developing confidence in our mind's inherent wisdom qualities

These teachings, based on a poem-text by the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (one of the foremost 20th-century Tibetan Buddhist masters), offer invaluable guidance for both new and experienced meditators.

Introdution by Alison Driscoll

 

What is a Drala Landing Pad?     In this episode of the Wisdom Seat podcast, Bill Moriarty, Michael Carroll, and the community delve into the concept of dralas. They discuss the idea of 'Drala landing pads,' the intersections of personal experience and the phenomenal world, and how these interactions can invoke a form of non-dual awareness. The conversation explores various aspects of Drala practice, such as mindfulness, respect for the world, non-deception, and the sacredness embedded in the mundane. The discussion also touches on the role of ritual and natural settings in invoking Drala, and compares the concept to other traditions, including Christian 'grace' and Japanese tea practices. The episode emphasizes the importance of treating the world with reverence to provoke wisdom, prosperity, and an awakened state.

This is audio from a video discussion - see this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eFpLpjmPNxc

Bill Moriarty talks with Lama Lodro Lhamo at the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) monastery in Woodstock, New York. We discuss the importance of this place as the seat of the Karmapa in North America, and Lama Lodro's path to serving as first woman president of KTD.  KTD: https://kagyu.org/

Visit us at The Wisdom Seat: https://www.thewisdomseat.org/

 

 

 

In this episode of the Wisdom Seat Podcast, Bill Moriarty talks with esteemed literary agent Stephanie Tade, founder of The Tade Agency, shares her remarkable journey in the publishing industry. Stephanie, known for representing notable and varied figures like the Dalai Lama, Mindy Pelz, and Joan Halifax provides a comprehensive look into the roles and challenges of literary agents. She discusses the evolving landscapes of book publishing, book deals, and the complexities of rights and the self-publishing route. Stephanie also delves into the impact of audiobooks and digital platforms, offering her personal reading preferences and anecdotes, such as almost hosting the Dalai Lama for dinner.

She recommends the following books:

• Fast Like a Girl: A Woman's Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones by Dr. Mindy Pelz
• Good Energy by Casey Means
• Creation and Completion by Jamgon Kongtrul
• Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome by Will Bulsiewicz MD

For more insights, visit thewisdomseat.org

 

In this Wisdom Seat podcast episode, the focus is on co-founder Matt DiRodio as he prepares to embark on a 3 Year Retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu lineage starting in August 2024. The episode features a detailed discussion from a recent Wisdom Seat community gathering, where Matt explains the history, structure, and personal motivations behind his retreat. Listeners gain insights into the retreat's practices and preparations. Matt's commitment to awakening and the support of his family and community are emphasized, providing a deep dive into the spiritual and practical aspects of this intensive retreat experience.

Support Matt directly in this retreat here: https://donorbox.org/matt-dirodio-3-year-retreat

On April 9, 2024, Anam Thubten visited Philadelphia, PA to give a talk.

This event was put together by local students of Anam Thubten including Sunisa Manning, Ada Kase, and Geoff Matis. Anam Thubten was hosted by Germantown Friends Meeting to speak about nonviolence.

https://dharmata.org

The Wisdom Seat helped by providing audio equipment and running sound for the event. We were able to to provide, with Anam Thubten's permission, this recording of the talk.

Welcome to another episode of The Wisdom Seat podcast. On today's episode, we are diving into the origins of The Wisdom Seat. I talk with Michael Carroll and Matt DiRodio, the two founders, about what brought them together, and what their original vision was. Then we'll hear about the encouragement and almost command from senior lineage holders to them that they must preserve the teachings of Trungpa Rinpoche. So, they began to invite and host teachers...and how an unintended community has begun growing.

 

Some notes mentioned in this episode:

Here are some links that could be included in the show notes for additional context on people, books, organizations and places mentioned:

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche:

https://www.chronicleproject.com/

Ringo Tulku:


https://bodhicharya.org/ringu-tulku/

The Wisdom Seat:


https://www.wisdomseat.org/

Profound Treasury Retreat Program:
https://profoundtreasury.org/

Pendle Hill

https://pendlehill.org

Isgro Pastries

https://www.isgropastries.com/

Swarthmore College:


https://www.swarthmore.edu/

Corina Benner

https://www.corinabenner.com

David Nichtern

https://davidnichtern.com

Some books by Chögyam Trungpa:


• Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
• The Myth of Freedom

• Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

Podcast episode 13. Orchestrating Insight: A Discussion on Sharing Buddhist Teachings

Bill Moriarty and Michael Carroll discuss how to approach becoming a teacher, and what that even means.

Notes from this show:

The Vagrant and the poet

W. Blythe Miller, Phd.

https://sangha.live/teachers/lama-willa-miller-bio/

While Willa, in this article, does not speak to the “5 point Mahamudra practice” formulated by Gampopa, here is a section from the text depicting Gampopa’s conversation with Phagmo Drupa that set the foundation for the practice:

https://drukpa.org/our-forefathers/phagmo-drupa/

Gampopa said to Phagmo Drupa: …You go to mountainous areas and so on, congenial places where disenchantment can be produced and experience can develop. There you arouse the mind thinking, “For the purposes of sentient beings, I will attain Buddhahood”. You meditate on your body as the deity. You meditate on the guru over your crown. Then, not letting your mind be spoiled with thoughts, not altering this mind—because it is nothing whatsoever—in any way at all, set yourself in clarity which is pure, vividly present, clean-clear, wide-awake!

Later, Phagmo Drupa formalized this instruction into the 5 point Mahamudra – from another text:Phagmo Drupa said: First, meditate on enlightenment mind; Meditate on the yidam deity; Meditate on the holy guru; Meditate on Mahāmudrā; Afterwards, seal it with dedication

Jigme Phuntsok quote:

I came all the way from the Snow Land of Tibet to the US. I find myself now in a place that can be called the second land of Shambhala. In fact, the actual kingdom of Shambhala is one of the five great sacred places according to the Buddhist doctrines. These five sacred places are: 1) Bodh Gaya, the sacred place located at the center of this world where all buddhas of the three times will attain full awakening; 2) Mount Wutai, the Five-Peaked Mountain in China, the sacred place of the east where Lord Manjushri now dwells; 3) Mount Potala, the sacred place of the south where noble Avalokiteshvara actually resides; 4) Copper-Colored Mountain or Oddiyana, the sacred place of the west, the Land of Dakinis, where Guru Padmasambhava abides; and 5) Shambhala, the sacred place of the north.

https://khenposodargye.org/content/uploads/2023/12/A-Journey-to-the-West-1-English-20231223.pdf