Posts by Ted Meissner
Episode 52 :: Matteo Pistono :: In the Shadow of the Buddha
Matteo Pistono Our guest today Matteo Pistono speaks with us about his very new book, In the Shadow of the Buddha — Secret Journeys, Sacred Histories, and Spiritual Discovery in Tibet. Many of us have an oblique understanding of alleged human rights abuses against the Tibetan people by the Chinese government. We know the Dalai…
Read MoreEpisode 51 :: Chris McKenna :: Paradigms
Chris McKenna Author Chris McKenna speaks with us today about his post-apocalyptic Buddhist themed book, Paradigms. I think it’s fair to say that Buddhism is becoming something of a culturally iconic practice, even in the West. Just about everyone would recognize the Dalai Lama, the once utterly foreign idea of “contemplating your navel” is no…
Read MoreEpisode 50 :: Sara Lazar :: Meditation Effect on Brain Density
Sara Lazar Dr. Sara Lazar of Massachusetts General Hospital joins us to speak about a new study on the effects of meditation on brain density. Often when we tell people, particular other skeptics, about how beneficial meditation is to us, we’re met with, well, skepticism. And that’s okay. People should feel free to question with…
Read MoreEpisode 49 :: Tim Ward :: What The Buddha Never Taught
Today’s guest is Tim Ward, author of What The Buddha Never Taught, about his experiences as a Theravadin monk in Thailand.
Read MoreEpisode 48 :: Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche :: Rebel Buddha: On the Road to Freedom
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche Today we’re joined by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, who speaks with us about breaking free of cultural accretions in his book Rebel Buddha: On the Road to Freedom. Being a rebel. A rebel Buddha, no less. These are not words we expect to see together. We think of the word rebel, and images…
Read MoreEpisode 47 :: Ron Stillman :: Twelve Insights
Ron Stillman Today we speak about the Twelve Insights of the Four Noble Truths with our friend Ron Stillman. One of the most overlooked aspects of our tradition, sometimes overshadowed by the unique strength of the Four Noble Truths, is another numerical designation of the Twelve Insights. These insights bring with them an expansion of…
Read MoreEpisode 46 :: Paul Saintilan :: Buddhist Recovery Network
Paul Saintilan Paul Saintilan, a Director and former President of the Buddhist Recovery Network, speaks to us about how early Buddhist practice is helping people with the problems of substance abuse. Craving. In Buddhism, this is one of the key components of paticcasamuppada, or Dependent Origination. It leads us to clinging, and weaves its way…
Read MoreEpisode 45 :: Brad Warner :: Sex, Sin, and Zen
Brad Warner Brad Warner speaks with us about his new book, Sex, Sin, and Zen. Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. I undertake the training rule to abstain from sexual misconduct. This is the third training precept out of the five precepts one undertakes in Buddhist training. But, what does it mean? And how does our…
Read MoreEpisode 44 :: Chris Mitchell :: Asperger's Syndrome and Mindfulness
Chris Mitchell Chris Mitchell speaks with us about his book, Asperger’s Syndrome and Mindfulness. According to the Asperger’s Disorder website, “… affected individuals are characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. There are impairments in two-sided social interaction and non-verbal communication.” Think about that. When you’re growing up, you not only have the…
Read MoreEpisode 43 :: Stephen Schettini :: The Novice, and Mindful Reflection
Stephen Schettini Stephen Schettini speaks with us about his experiences as a Tibetan monk in his book, The Novice: Why I Became A Buddhist Monk, Why I Quit, And What I Learned. We’re very fortunate to live in a time where we can have experiences our ancestors could never have dreamed of. Our modern communication…
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