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Buddhist Wisdom, Modern Life

Buddhist Wisdom, Modern Life

By Claire Villarreal, PhD

The Buddhist tradition began over 2,500 years ago, and its roots are even older. Over the centuries, countless people have benefited from these teachings. But are the beliefs and practices of Buddhism still relevant? Absolutely! If anything, we need this wisdom more now than ever as our world speeds up.

In this podcast you'll find guided meditations, teachings on the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and some stuff just for fun.

For a deeper dive on the Four Noble Truths, click here: bit.ly/Bddhist4NTs
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Buddhism on difficult emotions: meditating on sadness

Buddhist Wisdom, Modern LifeDec 21, 2021

00:00
17:16
Unwinding from your day: guided meditation
Feb 07, 202429:19
Andrew Holecek on reverse meditations for difficult situations

Andrew Holecek on reverse meditations for difficult situations

This week internationally renowned spiritual teacher and author Andrew Holececk about his new book, Reverse Meditation, in which he shares a powerful form of spiritual practice that can transform our relationship to unwanted experiences. In the process, we open more and more fully to the luminous, spacious true nature of the mind. Toward the end of the episode, he offers a guided contemplation you can use next time you feel the urge to complain. 

Andrew’s website: andrewholecek.com

Check out his new book, Reverse Meditation, that offers instruction in both foundational practices like calm abiding meditations and open awareness practice, as well as the reverse practices you’ll hear about in this conversation.

On Sound True: https://geni.us/revmedst

On Amazon: https://geni.us/revmedam

If you enjoy our conversation, please share this episode and subscribe!

To learn more about Buddhism through my free courses, click here: https://geni.us/freecourses

 Or get my book for beginners, The Buddhist Path to Joy, here: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy

May you and all beings be well.

Sep 07, 202347:53
Guided meditation: two types of focus

Guided meditation: two types of focus

In this guided meditation, we'll start with cultivating focus with an object by imagining light flowing down through the body. But then we switch to "object-less" meditation, which is less well known.

As you practice, see if you can notice what it feels like to cultivate each type of focus.

May you and all beings be well.
Aug 22, 202326:50
Buddha... and Barbie?

Buddha... and Barbie?

Barbie might be the last character you'd expect to be similar to the Buddha... but consider this:

The beginning of Barbie's journey into the "real world" comes when she begins to reflect on death and impermanence. Sounds a lot like the story of Buddha's life to me!

This episode offers a few thoughts for anyone about to see the hottest movie of the summer or who's just seen it and wants to reflect on its hidden spiritual meaning.

Want to learn more about Buddha's life story and basic teachings? Check out my free email course on the Four Noble Truths: https://geni.us/4NobleTruths

Jul 27, 202305:07
Tonglen meditation: Tibetan compassion practice with imagery
Jun 08, 202326:38
Manifesting your desires & Buddhism: Do they go together? 🤔

Manifesting your desires & Buddhism: Do they go together? 🤔

I used to think that Buddhism and trying to "manifest" what you want don't go together. But then I realized that actually Buddhist teachings on karma tell us how to put in place the causes for getting what we want. Mind blown!

Want to learn more about the basic teachings of Buddhism? You can check out my book, The Buddhist Path to Joy, here: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy

And my free courses on Buddhist basics for beginners here: https://geni.us/freecourses

May you and all beings be well.

Jun 02, 202309:29
Dharma for dark times: Why Buddhism isn't just about feeling better and how Avalokiteshvara got all those arms
May 23, 202305:14
Guided meditation: Resting in buddha nature

Guided meditation: Resting in buddha nature

To celebrate the Buddhist holiday of Vesak, which commemorates the birth and awakening of the Buddha, here’s a guided meditation on trusting and resting in our own buddha nature. You (yes, you!) are a buddha masquerading as a human, and the tragedy of human life is that we’ve forgotten we’re already everything we’re looking for.

This meditation was recorded live as part of the Mind Body Spirit Institute’s Power of Community meditation series. To learn more and register (for free!), click here: https://geni.us/mbsipoc


May 16, 202324:18
Guided meditation: Relaxing into spacious presence

Guided meditation: Relaxing into spacious presence

This episode is a guided meditation on relaxing into the spaciousness of our true nature, which I offered for the Mind Body Spirit Institute's Power of Community series (see link below to register for free). Learning to relax into spaciousness is at the heart of the Buddhist wisdom teachings —and one of the best things we can do for our health and happiness. This meditation introduces the beautiful practice of resting in open awareness and invites us to discover the vast, open expanse that is our already-awake, already-wise true nature. It's an especially good practice for people who find themselves too tight, too contracted, and out of touch with the natural goodness of their minds and bodies. If you enjoy this practice, please share this episode and subscribe! This meditation was recorded live as part of the Mind Body Spirit Institute’s Power of Community meditation series. To learn more and register (for free!), click here: https://geni.us/mbsipoc To learn more about Buddhism through my free courses, click here: https://geni.us/freecourses Or get my book for beginners, The Buddhist Path to Joy, here: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy May you and all beings be well.

Apr 17, 202324:37
Buddha nature and the cross: Buddhist reflections on Easter

Buddha nature and the cross: Buddhist reflections on Easter

In this talk, we explore Thich Nhat Hanh's interpretation of the Easter story of the death and resurrection of Jesus from a Buddhist perspective. While acknowledging that this interpretation is not representative of any given Christian interpretation, we use certain aspects of the Christian story and its interpretation for Buddhist purposes. In Christianity, Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, a concept that only applies to Jesus. However, in Buddhism, this applies to every living being. Each of us lives in both conventional and ultimate reality, and the sense of self that we think exists doesn't exist even conventionally. This sense of self obscures the reality of emptiness or Buddha nature. The Dharma path is about deconstructing the mistaken sense of self and "crossing out" the "I." This process can be painful, as it involves letting go of the human part of ourselves. However, this is what makes resurrection possible and leads to the release of our Buddha nature. Through the concepts of Anicca, Anatta, and Dukkha, we explore the tragedy of human life, in which we are both human and divine but have forgotten our divinity. We often go into the spiritual journey thinking we will become more spiritual or bigger, but at some point, we realize we have to let go of who we think we are in order to settle deeper into reality. Overall, this interpretation offers a unique perspective on the Easter story, emphasizing the universal nature of the concepts presented and the importance of letting go of the self in order to access our true nature. May you and all beings be well.

Apr 09, 202316:46
More time to meditate with the Pomodoro Method

More time to meditate with the Pomodoro Method

The biggest challenge most meditators face is finding enough time to practice -- and the Pomodoro Timer method is my favorite way to get around this. In this episode, I’ll dive into the Pomodoro Timer method and show you how it can help you get more time to meditate. So if you’re a meditator who always wishes you had more time for practice, listen now and download my free time tracking spreadsheet!

Get the free spreadsheet and future video trainings: https://geni.us/pom4meditators

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DHxnTE11ADU

My favorite Chrome extension timer: https://geni.us/K1p1

The Pomodoro Timer method is a great way to get more time for meditation because it helps you break down your day into manageable chunks. Essentially, the Pomodoro Timer method works like this: you work for 25 minutes and then take a five minute break. After four “pomodoros” (i.e. working for 25 minutes and then taking a five minute break), you take a longer break of 15 minutes. If you use even a few of these breaks to meditate, you'll easy get 20, 30 or more minutes back from your day to nourish your spirit.

Using the Pomodoro Timer method also helps you refresh your mind and finish the workday less mentally fatigued. And you can reconnect with a positive motivation for your daily work tasks.

May you and all beings be well.

Mar 31, 202314:30
Listening as leadership: Nina Simons of Bioneers
Mar 17, 202355:60
Meditation on relaxing into our ocean-like nature
Mar 03, 202325:21
How to communicate like a Buddhist with Cynthia Kane
Mar 03, 202351:55
How to meditate for the dead (including simple Amitabha mantra, OM AMI DEVA HRI)

How to meditate for the dead (including simple Amitabha mantra, OM AMI DEVA HRI)

Welcome, friends, in today’s episode I’ll speak a bit about meditating to benefit those who have died, and then I’ll guide a short practice using the mantra of Amitabha Buddha: OM AMI DEVA HRI.

(See below for a short summary.)

More on Amitabha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit%C4%81bha

If you enjoy this practice, please share this episode and subscribe!

To learn more about Buddhism through my free courses, click here: https://geni.us/freecourses

Or get my book for beginners, The Buddhist Path to Joy, here: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy

May you and all beings be well.

_________________________________________________

With recent news about the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria (and so many other news events in which we hear about people dying suddenly), we have an opportunity to practice meditating for those who have died. You don’t have to be an expert meditator or know secret meditation practices to benefit folks in the state between death and rebirth, known in Tibetan Buddhism as the bardo state.

Beings in the bardo state are said to be very sensitive to any thoughts directed toward them, which means that we can help them by directing love and compassion to them through meditation practice.

In addition, the more we’re able to contemplate death and what comes after – which in Tibetan Buddhism is described as a time when our buddha nature naturally shines through since our ordinary self has been tripped away. So practicing for the dead helps them, and it helps us, too.

There are many different ways to meditate for the dead, but one of the simplest is to use the mantra of Amitabha Buddha, whose name means “Infinite Light.” This mantra is a prayer for the departed to be reborn in the Pure Land, a paradise realm.

The mantra is: OM AMI DEVA HRI.

To use this mantra, simply sit in a comfortable position and repeat the Amitabha mantra either aloud or silently to yourself, picturing the infinite light of this buddha wrapping those who’ve passed in comfort, love, and peace. You can do this for as long as you like.

You may find it helpful to practice this meditation regularly, especially if you are struggling with grief. It can be a very comforting practice, and it can bring you some peace of mind knowing that you are supporting the deceased on their journey.

Feb 10, 202319:35
Yoshin David Radin on recognizing that we're more than the body: Zen, mystical experiences, and what's beyond ordinary mind
Jan 19, 202358:47
Live teachings this spring (come say hi!) with free and paid options
Jan 18, 202302:12
My New Year intention: what I want to be "basic" at!
Jan 11, 202307:26
Guided meditation: renewal in a sacred pool

Guided meditation: renewal in a sacred pool

This meditation uses the imagery of descending into a sacred pool inside a sacred cave to offer an opportunity for renewal: letting the ego self dissolve to light, then emerging again and deciding which parts of our ordinary sense of self we want to keep carrying.

Dec 21, 202216:56
Winter Solstice and the wisdom of darkness

Winter Solstice and the wisdom of darkness

Inspired by Deborah Eden Tull's beautiful book Luminous Darkness, here are some reflections on the beauty of this darkest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). Happy holidays. :)
Dec 21, 202203:33
Reincarnation, karma, ancestral spirits, and regression therapy with Dent Gitchell

Reincarnation, karma, ancestral spirits, and regression therapy with Dent Gitchell

My friend Dent Gitchell, PhD, an educator, author, and meditation teacher in Arkansas, joins me today to bring a different perspective on reincarnation cases. After a childhood of being open to the unseen aspects of reality, Dent trained with Roger Woolger, a pioneer in past life regression therapy, which helps people recover from previous life traumas that are holding them back from healing and freedom in this life. Now, I’m not sure that all memories that come up in this form of therapy refer to actual previous lives, but many people find tremendous healing from it, and as you’ll hear, Dent found it helpful. This conversation also makes some connections between Buddhist teachings on karma and the previous lives Dent experienced.

To learn more about Dent, to find his book, and to learn more about the psychotherapy he offers, check out his website: http://www.dentgitchel.com

To find all my free courses on Buddhism, click here: https://geni.us/freecourses

May you and all beings be well.

Dent Gitchel is a therapist, educator and meditation instructor. He is a long-term meditator, primarily in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and has a strong interest in the intersection of traditional contemplative practices and modernity. He has formally trained in and been certified several meditation teacher training programs including Mindfulness Based Emotional Balance (MBEB) , Stanford's Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) and Dharma Moon's Mindfulness Meditation Teacher program. He is the author of Pursuing Purpose: Finding meaning Through Meditation.

Oct 26, 202201:27:30
The power of rest: the Sabbath, retreat, and rejuvenation with Jake Loveland
Oct 21, 202249:26
Psychedelics, the Grateful Dead, and Buddhism with Dent Gitchell

Psychedelics, the Grateful Dead, and Buddhism with Dent Gitchell

Hi, friends, I’m excited to introduce you to Dr. Dent Gitchell, an educator, author, and meditation teacher – a guy with a lot of credentials and a lot of expertise. But what I recently learned about him is that he’s been a fan of The Grateful Dead since he was young, and along with that came a lot of consciousness-expanding experiences with psychedelics.

In this conversation with Dent, we’ll dive into those early experiences and how they’ve shaped the wise and kind teacher he’s become. To learn more about Dent, who’s a psychotherapist living in Little Rock, Arkansas, check out his website: http://www.dentgitchel.com

For a list of all my free courses on Buddhism, click here: https://geni.us/freecourses

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Dent.

May you and all beings be well.

Dent Gitchel is a therapist, educator and meditation instructor. He is a long-term meditator, primarily in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and has a strong interest in the intersection of traditional contemplative practices and modernity. He has formally trained in and been certified several meditation teacher training programs including Mindfulness Based Emotional Balance (MBEB) , Stanford's Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) and Dharma Moon's Mindfulness Meditation Teacher program. He is the author of Pursuing Purpose: Finding meaning Through Meditation.

Oct 12, 202201:11:26
Types of Buddhism: Vajrayana
Oct 04, 202242:47
Luminous Darkness: Buddhist teacher Deborah Eden Tull on rest, receptivity, and not knowing

Luminous Darkness: Buddhist teacher Deborah Eden Tull on rest, receptivity, and not knowing

We’ve all heard of “enlightenment” in the context of spiritual practices like Buddhism. But in this episode, my colleague Deborah Eden Tull walks us through the equally important practice of “endarkenment” and other wonderful explorations from her new book, Luminous Darkness: An Engaged Buddhist Approach to Embracing the Unknown. I very much enjoyed reading this book and appreciated her invitation to explore the realms of mind outside of our “daytime” consciousness as we practice receptivity and learn to be more comfortable as we encounter what’s unknown to us.  

Buy the book today on Shambhala’s site: https://www.shambhala.com/hello-darkness.html 

Or find it on Amazon: https://geni.us/5cqQ 

Read the transcript here: https://www.clairevillarreal.com/post/luminous_darkness

May you and all beings be well.

Sep 27, 202258:43
Psychedelics and the death process: Pam Stockton
Aug 10, 202249:16
The spirituality of personal finance with Emily Anchia
Jul 27, 202237:24
Intuitive wisdom: Moriah Williams
Jul 13, 202251:17
The generosity of the bodhisattva
Jun 30, 202231:09
My new favorite intro to Buddhism course: Dr. Kate Hartmann and Buddhist Studies Online

My new favorite intro to Buddhism course: Dr. Kate Hartmann and Buddhist Studies Online

Hello, friends. If you're interested in the basics of Buddhism and want a fun introduction to the history, beliefs, and practices of the various Buddhist lineages, I have a great new learning platform to share with you: Buddhist Studies Online or BSO.

Today I'm talking with Dr. Kate Hartmann, a Harvard PhD in Religious Studies and one of the folks behind Buddhist Studies Online and the instructor for BSO 101 about the history, philosophy, and practice of Buddhism.

Kate is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Wyoming. She received a PhD in Religious Studies, focused on Tibetan Buddhism, from Harvard University in May 2020. Her research focuses on the history of pilgrimage to holy mountains in Tibet. She also helped develop and launch Buddhist Studies Online, an educational platform aimed at making academic courses on Buddhism more accessible to the public.

If you'd like to hear more about her story of connecting with Buddhism as an undergrad, then traveling around Asia in the course of her studies, you can find a link in the show notes to an interview she did with Seth Powell who helped found BSO.

I hope you enjoy the conversation, and if you'd like to learn more about BSO 101 or 102, Buddhist Meditation in Theory and Practice, you can find links to both those courses in the show notes.

BSO 101 (intro to Buddhist history, philosophy, & practice): https://geni.us/BSO101

BSO 102 (Buddhist meditation in theory and practice): https://geni.us/BSO102

(Those are affiliate links. There's no cost to you when you click them, but you do support this channel/podcast.)

Listen to Kate's story: https://geni.us/katehstory

May you and all beings be well.

Jun 30, 202201:00:52
How to practice Tibetan Buddhism (how beginners can start)
Jun 27, 202231:43
Awakening the heart-mind of the spiritual hero: the bodhisattva, bodhichitta, and the Bodhicaryavatara

Awakening the heart-mind of the spiritual hero: the bodhisattva, bodhichitta, and the Bodhicaryavatara

Jun 16, 202221:34
Short meditation practice for someone who's recently died
Jun 08, 202220:26
How to practice for someone who's died (live talk and practice)
Jun 08, 202240:45
How to pray for someone who passed away (Buddhism)
May 27, 202215:07
Thank you, Romania, Bhutan, Ukraine, Mexico, and all listeners to this show

Thank you, Romania, Bhutan, Ukraine, Mexico, and all listeners to this show

This is an audio version of a bow of respect to everyone who's listening to this show. Today I want to appreciate you, especially folks in countries where this podcast has been ranked high on the charts for all Buddhist shows for months now. Thank you to everyone who's supported this show with your time and attention. 🙏🏻
May 20, 202201:41
Buddhist teachings for beginners on impermanence (anicca)
May 10, 202217:17
Buddhism & nihilism: what's the difference? 🤔
May 06, 202208:05
May the 4th be with you | Star Wars and Buddhism

May the 4th be with you | Star Wars and Buddhism

Happy May the 4th, fellow Star Wars nerds! 🤓  

If, like me, you've ever wondered, "Is the Force real?" then this video is for you! I'll share a few thoughts on ideas from Buddhism and Asian martial arts about the life force energy (qi, chi, prana, etc.) that circulates through the body and through the world around us.  

And did you know that when George Lucas came up with the Jedi, he was inspired in part by Zen Buddhism? Yep.  

So nerd out with me, and if you have other Star Wars/Buddhism questions, please write me at claire@clairevillarreal.com!  

May all beings be well. 🙏

May 04, 202207:13
Jesus in the bardo: happy Easter, y'all!

Jesus in the bardo: happy Easter, y'all!

Every Easter, I think about the similarities between the Tibetan teachings about the transition from one life to the next -- that we die, experience an in-between state called the bardo of becoming, and then take shape again in our next lifetime. I hope the story of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection helps you reflect on what you're ready to leave behind and how you'd like to be reborn.
Apr 17, 202201:45
Awakening, nirvana, buddhahood: the ultimate freedom
Apr 15, 202228:26
Rebirth: how karma shapes our lifetimes

Rebirth: how karma shapes our lifetimes

There's no "self" in Buddhism, so what gets reborn? Do we keep connecting with loved ones lifetime after lifetime? And most important: what can we do now to optimize our chances of a good rebirth?

For more on karma, rebirth, nirvana, and more basic Buddhist teachings, see my book, The Buddhist Path to Joy: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy

The previous teaching in this mini-series (karma and how to tidy yours up): https://youtu.be/yWrOvRUodck

May you and all beings be well.

Apr 08, 202232:31
Guided meditation: Noticing dukkha (unease) and offering yourself compassion
Mar 29, 202214:18
What is karma? Buddhist teachings on improving your future

What is karma? Buddhist teachings on improving your future

If you’ve ever wondered what karma is or how to get rid of bad karma, you’re not alone. We all have felt the effects of bad karma in our life, but what is it and how do you get rid of it?

The term karma is a Sanskrit word that refers to a causality in Buddhism. Karma is not something that you can see; just like electricity, it is invisible. It is a process, a law of nature. The good news is that we can counteract negative karma from the past when we cultivate positive karma.

For more on karma, rebirth, nirvana, and more basic Buddhist teachings, see my book, The Buddhist Path to Joy: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy

May you and all beings be well.

Mar 29, 202214:18
My book is free today through Friday (4/1)!
Mar 28, 202201:01
How to prepare to take refuge? (part 3 of 3)
Mar 26, 202205:08
My first book is coming out Monday -- for free!

My first book is coming out Monday -- for free!

Happy Saturday, friends, and keep an eye on your feed this Monday (March 28) for a link to grab my first book, The Buddhist Path to Joy, for free! May you and all beings be well.
Mar 26, 202200:29
Taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha: what changes when you take refuge? (part 2 of 3)
Mar 25, 202211:36
What is refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, & Sangha)? (part 1 of 3)
Mar 23, 202240:39
How to connect with a spiritual teacher: Loppon Yudron Wangmo interview, part 3
Mar 21, 202219:24