The Wisdom Podcast

In this episode, join James B. Apple and host Daniel Aitken as they celebrate James’s newest release, Atiśa’s Stages Of The Path To Awakening [https://wisdomexperience.org/product/atisas-stages-of-the-path-to-awakening/]. James is Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Calgary. His current research focuses on the critical analysis of Mahāyāna sūtras and topics within Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholasticism. He has published over fifty peer-reviewed articles in international academic journals as well as numerous books, including  Jewels Of The Middle Way [https://wisdomexperience.org/product/jewels-middle-way/], also by Wisdom Publications. In this episode, James and Daniel explore: * the concept of clear light and the integration of meditative traditions in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism; * the history of Atisa’s lamrims and the significance of the text, Stages Of The Path to Awakening [https://wisdomexperience.org/product/atisas-stages-of-the-path-to-awakening/]; * the historical context leading to the text’s near disappearance and later rediscovery; and * so much more!   Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Atiśa’s Stages Of The Path To Awakening [https://wisdomexperience.org/product/atisas-stages-of-the-path-to-awakening/] with code WPODATISA through September 30, 2025.   wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism [https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg] The post James Apple: Atiśa’s Stages Of The Path To Awakening (#213) [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-podcast/james-apple-wp213/] appeared first on The Wisdom Experience [https://wisdomexperience.org].

This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-dharma-chat-mark-siderits-07-25/] features special guest, Mark Siderits. In this episode hosted by Daniel Aiken, Mark embarks on an illuminating conversation surrounding Buddhist philosophy. They discuss the structure and content of his two online courses—Buddhism as Philosophy: Non-self and Reality [https://wisdomexperience.org/nonself-reality/]and Buddhism as Philosophy: Yogācāra and Madhyamaka [https://wisdomexperience.org/yogacara-madhayamaka/]. From there, they dive into the concept of emptiness and how the Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and Yogācāra traditions each approach it. Mark studied at the University of Hawaii and Yale, has taught extensively, and authored several books on Asian and Western philosophy. In this episode, Mark and Daniel also discuss:  * key concepts in Buddhist philosophy such as reflexive awareness and emptiness; * the concept of emptiness in Buddhist philosophy;  * the divide between Yogācāra and Madhyamaka; and * much more! Additional content mentioned in this episode: * Buddhism as Philosophy [https://hackettpublishing.com/asian-studies/buddhism-as-philosophy-second-edition] * Nāgārjuna’s Middle Way [https://wisdomexperience.org/product/nagarjunas-middle-way/]   Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Buddhism as Philosophy: Yogācāra and Madhyamaka [https://wisdomexperience.org/yogacara-madhayamaka/] with code WPODBAP2 through August 31, 2025.   wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism [https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg] The post Mark Siderits: Buddhism as Philosophy: Part 2 (#212) [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-podcast/mark-siderits-wp212/] appeared first on The Wisdom Experience [https://wisdomexperience.org].

This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-dharma-chat-sarah-harding-07-25/] features special guest Sarah Harding. Join Sarah and Daniel Aitken as they discuss Sarah’s newest release with Wisdom Severance: The Early Practice of Chö [https://wisdomexperience.org/product/severance/]. Together, they explore how chö (severance)—an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice—guides us to confront our deepest fears, cut through ego-clinging, and realize the mind’s innate clarity.  You’ll also hear Daniel and Sarah discuss:  * the role of fear in chö practice; * motherhood and feminine imagery in chö; * various scientific approaches to mindfulness; * her time in a three-year retreat and her journey translating sacred texts; and * much more!   Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Severance: The Early Practice of Chö [https://wisdomexperience.org/product/severance/] with code WPODCHO through August 31, 2025.   wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism [https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg] The post Sarah Harding: Severance (#211) [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-podcast/sarah-harding-wp211/] appeared first on The Wisdom Experience [https://wisdomexperience.org].

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-article/wisdom-podcast/], recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-dharma-chat-ymr-rt-april-2025/], is presented in collaboration with Tergar International [https://tergar.org/] and Tibet House US [https://thus.org/], featuring special guests Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Robert Thurman. In this special episode, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Professor Robert Thurman come together for a rich and wide-ranging conversation on the practical application of Buddhist teachings in everyday life. With clarity, warmth, and humor, they explore tantric practice, the nature of Buddha’s potential, and the central role of meditation in transforming the mind. This episode concludes with a guided meditation from Rinpoche. Listen as Rinpoche and Professor Thurman, along with host Daniel Aiken, discuss: * Buddha nature and the role and value of meditation in everyday life; * the modern misunderstanding of Buddhism; * the importance of compassion; * Buddhism’s place in the future of AI; and * much more!    wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism [https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg]   MEET OUR GUESTS [https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Circle-Headshot-Yongey-Mingyur-Rinopche.jpg]YONGEY MINGYUR RINPOCHE Mingyur Rinpoche is a world-renowned meditation teacher with personal experience of anxiety and panic attacks, which he suffered from throughout his childhood and into his teenage years, when he learned to transform his panic through meditation. Born in Nepal in 1975, Mingyur Rinpoche began to study meditation as a young boy with his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, himself a well-respected Buddhist teacher. As a child he became interested in contemporary science through conversations with scientists who were visiting his father, and as he grew older he began to collaborate with neuroscientists and psychologists, including Richard Davidson and Antoine Lutz at the University of Wisconsin, on research projects that study the effects of meditation on the brain and the mind. As the head of the Tergar Meditation Community, Mingyur Rinpoche supports groups of students in more than thirty countries, leading workshops around the world for new and returning students every year.   [https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Circle-Headshot-Robert-Thurman.jpg]ROBERT THURMAN Bob Thurman, known in the academic circles as Professor Robert A.F. Thurman, is a talented popularizer of the Buddha’s teachings and the first Westerner Tibetan Buddhist monk ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, A charismatic speaker and author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics and culture, Bob was named by The New York Times the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism, and was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2020, for his help in recovering India’s ancient Buddhist heritage. Time Magazine chose him as one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1997, describing him as a “larger than life scholar-activist destined to convey the Dharma, the precious teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, from Asia to America.” As part of his long-term commitment to the Tibetan cause, at the request of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Bob co-founded Tibet House US in 1987 with Tenzin Tethong, Richard Gere, and Philip Glass, a non profit organization based in New York City and dedicated to the preservation and renaissance of Tibetan culture. The post Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche And Robert Thurman: Buddhism in Daily Life in Conversation with Two Great Masters (#210) [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-podcast/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche-thurman-wp210/] appeared first on The Wisdom Experience [https://wisdomexperience.org].

In this episode, Cortland Dahl and Daniel Aitken discuss Cortland’s book A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism [https://www.amazon.com/Meditators-Guide-Buddhism-Awareness-Compassion/dp/1645470970]. 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:  * the scientific perspective on meditation; * various scientific approaches to mindfulness; * the challenges related to measuring mindfulness; * the concept of being vs. doing and how to integrate being into daily life; and * much more!    Mentioned in this episode: Center for Healthy Minds  [https://centerhealthyminds.org/]   wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism [https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg] The post Cortland Dahl: A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism (#209) [https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-podcast/cortland-dahl-wp209/] appeared first on The Wisdom Experience [https://wisdomexperience.org].