Welcome to the Modern Buddhism Podcast, where we explore how meditation and Buddha's timeless wisdom can help all of us to cultivate a deeper inner peace, happiness, and resilience in daily life. Join us for inspiring conversations with people who live these teachings every day. Hope you enjoy it. Produced by the New Kadampa Tradition
In today’s episode, Gen Chodor reflects on a powerful feeling he had as a young person - that life seemed almost dream-like - and how this sparked a deep search for meaning and purpose. Drawing on the wisdom of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, he explores how meditation can help us see reality more clearly, free ourselves from distraction, and discover a deeper, more lasting sense of inner peace. The conversation explores the transformative impact of meeting authentic spiritual teachings, the decision to dedicate one's life to Dharma practice, and the profound benefits of training the mind. Through personal stories and practical insights, Gen Chodor shows how genuine happiness and purpose arise not from external achievements, but from developing wisdom, compassion, and a positive state of mind. Chapters 00:00 Questioning Reality and Finding Buddhism 05:21 Meaning, Happiness and Inner Development 10:09 Morning Meditation and Setting Direction 13:03 Leaving Corporate Life Behind 20:18 Death, Impermanence and Living Without Regret 28:35 Why Spiritual Life Brings Meaning 31:17 Discovering Your Authentic Self 36:07 Grasping, Reality and the Dreamlike Self 43:20 The Extraordinary Potential of the Mind 49:04 Books and Final Advice Book References How To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso How to Understand the Mind by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Want More? Find a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast #Buddhism #Meditation #Kadampa #NewKadampaTradition #GesheKelsangGyatso #MindTraining #InnerPeace #LucidDreaming #SpiritualGrowth #BuddhistWisdom #HowToUnderstandTheMind #ModernBuddhism #Concentration #MeaningOfLife
In today's episode, Gen Kelsang Chökyong - a Buddhist monk from Wales - shares the story of how he stumbled into a Dharma class while sheltering from the rain with a kebab, and never left. Drawing on nearly thirty years of practice and teaching within the New Kadampa Tradition, he explores why the mind - not external circumstances - is the true source of all our happiness and suffering. He explains the Buddhist concept of self-grasping ignorance and how this single delusion drives everything from daily irritation and relationship problems to the world's largest conflicts. Gen Chökyong highlights how meditation and compassion gradually erode this grasping, revealing a natural peace that was always there. He shares life-changing insights into the nature of feelings - pointing out that most of what torments us is just a feeling, and feelings always pass. He concludes with a very helpful approach to making mistakes. Instead of turning on ourself, we can realize that without making mistakes it’s unlikely that we’ll learn and improve. Warm, funny, and deeply practical, this episode is a masterclass in how Buddhist wisdom applies directly to modern anxiety, relationships, and the art of letting go. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Finding Dharma 05:00 Seeing Through the Fantasy of Worldly Life 09:20 How the Mind Creates Its Own Suffering 15:00 Buddhism's Relevance for Modern Life and Young People 22:40 Confidence, Self-Image, and Letting Go of Comparison 27:20 Working with Difficulties 28:45 Feelings and the Power of Letting Go 33:55 Compassion and Learning from Mistakes Book References In this episode Gen Chökyong references: How to Solve our Human Problems - https://kadampa.org/book/how-to-solve-our-human-problems How to Transform Your Life - https://howtotyl.com/ Gen Chökyong is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. WANT MORE? Find a meditation center near you : https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips : Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4 #KadampaBuddhism #Buddhism #Meditation #InnerPeace #MindTraining #GesheKelsangGyatso #NewKadampaTradition #BuddhistTeachings #Mindfulness #LetGo #SelfGrasping #Compassion #Patience #HappinessWithin #BuddhistPodcast
n today's episode, Kadam Mick Marcon explores one of the biggest challenges in life - how to cope with uncertainty. Drawing on his own experience of losing his mother, witnessing a stranger's fear on a turbulent flight, and years of practising and teaching within the New Kadampa Tradition, he reveals why our struggle with uncertainty runs far deeper than the unpredictable events of the outside world. He explains how unrealistic expectations - the wish for things to be permanent in a world defined by impermanence - are at the very root of our suffering, and why no amount of external change has ever, or will ever, resolve this inner conflict. Kadam Mick walks us through the tools Buddhism has to offer for working with the mind - from breathing meditation to the contemplation of impermanence - and distinguishes between the pain of attachment and the freedom of genuine love. Whether you are struggling to let go of a past relationship, facing the loss of someone you love, or simply overwhelmed by the chaos of the modern world, this episode offers a genuinely transformative perspective on how to truly be at peace with uncertainty. Chapters 00:00 Introduction - Uncertainty and Human Nature 05:10 Bushfires, Escape Artists, and the Unprepared Mind 08:00 The Travel Blogger on a Turbulent Flight 11:00 Why Taming the Mind Feels Impossible 15:38 Informal Meditation - Becoming a Student of Life 18:07 The World's Problems and the Internal Answer 23:27 Unrealistic Wishes and the Root of Suffering 30:08 Letting Go of a Painful Past 36:03 Relationships, Meaning, and Inner Development 38:14 Detachment vs. Non-Attachment Explained 42:47 Love, Attachment, and the Teachings on ImpermanenceSubscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Want More? Find a meditation center near you - https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips - https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z #Kadampa #Buddhism #Meditation #Impermanence #Uncertainty #LettingGo #MindTraining #InnerPeace #Attachment #NonAttachment #Acceptance #BuddhistTeachings #MindfulLiving #GesheKelsangGyatso #Kadampa #SpiritualGrowth #Dharma #Podcast
In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Norden explores the meaning of karma and how understanding it can become a liberating and empowering force in our lives. Speaking from her heart and her own experience of practicing these teachings, she explains how our thoughts and actions shape the way we experience the world and what we encounter in the future. We learn that karma is something we can actively reshape through the choices we make each day. By recognizing that our experiences arise from our own past actions, we can free ourselves from the painful mental states of blame, victimhood, and resentment, and instead cultivate genuine personal responsibility and inner freedom. Gen Norden also explains the “mirror of karma,” the idea that every experience reflects our actions back to us, helping us to live with greater integrity and authenticity. She reminds us that at the end of our lives, what remains with us is not how others saw us, but the imprints of our own actions. Alongside this, she shares transformative practices such as taking and giving meditation and rejoicing in the happiness of others, showing how compassion and selflessness not only bring happiness and confidence, but also create powerful positive karma. This episode offers a clear and heartfelt presentation of one of Buddha’s principal teachings, and a practical guide to living with greater authenticity, freedom, and joy. Chapters 00:00 A Powerful Method to Overcome Fear 6:33 The Secret to Feeling Joy Anytime 15:50 Can You Love People Who Hurt You? 19:20 Why We Lose Control (And How to Catch It) 23:28 Is Reality Actually Subjective? 31:07 Why You’re Not Stuck in Your Life 35:15 How to Take Control of Your Future 47:10 Integrity, Authenticity and Self-Confidence 53:00 Can I be Happy In an Uncertain World? 58:05 The Path to Inner Freedom Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Book References In this episode Gen Kelsang Norden references: How to Transform Your Life - https://howtotyl.com/ The New Eight Steps to Happiness - https://kadampa.org/book/eight-steps-to-happiness Want More? Find a meditation center near you - https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips - https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z #Buddhism #Meditation #MindTraining #Karma #InnerPeace #SelfGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #Mindfulness #Compassion #SpiritualGrowth #AnxietyRelief #EmotionalIntelligence #LettingGo #HappinessWithin #Wisdom #Dharma #Podcast
Cameron Mathison Opens Up About Facing Hate on Social Media Part 2 of 2 (Part 1 is here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oSYw1flcsUDbauL2feq0h?si=rPsZdHERQOeZcLyr9TqXfA ) In this second part of the interview with actor Cameron Mathison, we learn how it feels to play one of TV's most despised characters. Cameron explains how he was able to see the truth of Buddha's teachings reflected in the character, using it as a mirror that helped him deepen his own spiritual training. However, the training didn't stop there. Cameron faced online hate as well as real-life confrontations from people unable to separate the role from the man behind it. He reflects on how he was able to transform these difficult experiences into spiritual growth that helps and inspires others. The feature concludes with a powerful message: that being authentic and accountable is the foundation of true strength and resilience. Chapters 00:00 How Playing a Villain Mirrors the Mind 05:02 Handling Hate & Public Criticism 08:47 Building Resilience Through Challenges 12:03 How Delusions Negatively Shape Our Life 15:11 The Inner Conflict of Self-Cherishing 17:02 Why We Need Spiritual Friends & Accountability Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Book References How To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Eight Steps To Happiness by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Want More? Find a meditation center near you - https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips - https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4 #Kadampa #Buddhism #Meditation #GesheKelsangGyatso #HowToTransformYourLife #EightStepsToHappiness #ModernBuddhism #MindTraining #Lojong #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #Meditation #MentalHealth #BuddhistWisdom #SelfTransformation
Cameron Mathison on how he rebuilt his life after the LA fires, cancer, death, and divorce In today’s episode, we’re delighted to welcome actor and talk show host Cameron Mathison, who shares his deeply personal journey—from success in the entertainment industry to discovering lasting inner peace through the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. Cameron opens up about a series of profound life challenges, including his battle with cancer, his mother’s dementia and passing, job loss, the breakdown of his marriage, and the devastating loss of his home in a fire—along with the memories it held. In this honest and inspiring conversation, he explains how meditation and Buddhist practice helped him not only navigate these hardships, but transform his experience—becoming happier, freer, and more resilient in the process. Chapters 00:00 When Success Was Not Enough 05:12 Discovering Kadampa Meditation 10:18 Learning to Work With the Mind 15:02 Practicing Dharma in the Entertainment Industry 19:03 Kindness in Difficult Relationships 23:48 Humility, Perspective & Real Success 28:04 Accepting Change When Life Falls Apart 32:10 Cancer, Loss & Major Life Challenges 37:40 Training the Mind Through Hardship 43:05 Relying on Sangha, Teacher & Dharma Book References How To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Eight Steps To Happiness by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Want More? Find a meditation center near you - https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4 #Kadampa #Buddhism #Meditation #GesheKelsangGyatso #HowToTransformYourLife #EightStepsToHappiness #ModernBuddhism #MindTraining #Lojong #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #Meditation #MentalHealth #BuddhistWisdom #SelfTransformation
I Grieved for 20 Years… Until I Learned This We are delighted to welcome back Gen Gomlam in this powerful episode. How do you transform the pain of loss into something life-enhancing? In this conversation, Gen Gomlam – a Buddhist nun and former hospice nurse – shares her deeply personal journey through grief, from the loss of her brother to the healing of her relationship with her father. Drawing on Buddha's teachings on the mind, she explores how attachment keeps us locked in pain, why grief isn't the badge of love we think it is, and how real happiness can only be found within. Whether you're navigating loss right now or simply want to understand your mind better, this conversation offers practical wisdom and genuine hope. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Early Experiences With Loss 04:11 Pain Comes From Our Reaction 06:41 Understanding Attachment 11:27 Prolonged Grief Is Attachment 19:07 Love Doesn't Die When They Die 20:36 Healing With Her Father 27:02 Tara's Mantra and the Funeral 31:03 Looking for Love vs. Loving Others 34:00 Therapy, Dharma and Lasting Change Book References How to Understand the Mind by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Gen Kelsang Gomlam is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. Want More? Find a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast #KadampaBuddhism #ModernBuddhism #GesheKelsangGyatso #Geshela #TrainTheMind #ModernLifeBuddhism #InnerPeace #MindTraining #KadampaLife #BuddhistPodcast #HappinessWithin #MeditationPractice #SpiritualJourney #NewKadampaTradition
In today’s episode, Kadam Adam speaks with Shelley about her journey through illness, business leadership, and spiritual transformation, explaining how facing cancer became a powerful wake-up call to re-examine her priorities. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she reflects on the challenges of bringing compassion and wisdom into the workplace, especially when making difficult decisions such as letting staff go or navigating ethical dilemmas. She describes how meditation helped her develop a long-term perspective on happiness and success, and how applying Buddhist principles in daily life transformed not only her own mind but also the way she related to others. This episode shows how difficulties can become the fuel for spiritual growth and how, by training our mind with patience and compassion, we can find meaning and purpose even in the hardest moments. Chapters 00:00 Facing Cancer & Wake-Up Call 05:10 Business Career & Ethical Challenges 10:40 Bringing Compassion Into Leadership 16:20 Meditation in Everyday Decisions 22:30 Long-Term View of Happiness 28:00 Crisis as Spiritual Turning Point 34:15 Discovering Kadampa Buddhism 40:10 Applying Dharma in Daily Life 46:00 Meaning, Purpose & Inner Change 52:20 Advice for Modern Practitioners Book References Modern Buddhism https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life https://howtotyl.com/ Want More? Find a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nktikbu Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. #KadampaBuddhism #GesheKelsangGyatso #MeditationInDailyLife #ModernBuddhism #SpiritualGrowth #MindTraining #CompassionInBusiness #OvercomingCancer #InnerPeace #CancerJourney #BuddhistWisdom #PersonalTransformation #MindfulnessPractice #MeaningOfLife #KadampaPodcast
In today’s episode, Gen Rinchung reflects on loss, grief, spiritual growth, and the transformative power of Dharma. Drawing on her personal experience of losing her brother at a young age and her subsequent search for meaning, she shares how this loss revealed there was something within herself that was causing her pain. Seeing how destructive mental states shaped her suffering set her on a quest to find a spiritual teacher—someone who could teach her about her mind and how to work with it. Meeting Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche profoundly changed her life. This episode explores how changing our mind is the only realistic way to change the world, bringing hope, purpose, and deep peace, and how authentic spiritual practice helps us live a more meaningful and compassionate life. Chapters 00:00 Facing Death and Loss 05:20 Losing Her Brother and Grief 10:00 Spiritual Search and Meeting Venerable Geshe-la 15:20 Meeting Venerable Geshe-la and Authentic Dharma 20:02 Changing the Mind, Changing the World 24:10 Meditation, Effort, and Stubbornness 29:04 Ordination and Daily Commitment 32:01 Goals, Prayer, and Letting Go Book References Modern Buddhism: https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life : https://howtotyl.com/ Gen Rinchung is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. Find a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nktikbu Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. #Kadampa #Grief #GesheKelsangGyatso #NewKadampaTradition #BuddhistWisdom #ModernBuddhism #Dharma #Meditation #Compassion #SpiritualGrowth #InnerPeace #MindTraining #GriefHealing #LifeMeaning #KadampaPodcast
In this episode, Gen Ananda explores the Buddhist practice of patience, understanding it as a profound practice of acceptance - not passive tolerance, but a powerful method for transforming anger, conflict, and emotional pain. Through real-life examples, personal stories, and Kadampa Buddhist wisdom, we learn how patience creates inner freedom, courage in difficult conversations, and a healthier way to meet conflict - without suppressing our feelings or fueling them. A deep, practical conversation on emotional maturity, forgiveness, and changing the world by changing the mind. Chapters 00:00 Why Patience Matters 05:20 Working with Anger & Emotional Triggers 09:20 Courage, Conflict & Inner Freedom 13:45 Conflict Without Drama 17:20 Healthy Ways to Process Anger 22:15 Meditation as Real-Life Training 25:20 Conflict with the World & Society 33:45 Forgiveness & Letting Go of Blame 40:00 Healing Through Responsibility & Insight Book References Modern Buddhism : https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life : https://howtotyl.com/ Gen Ananda is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. Want More? Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Follow The Modern Buddhism Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast #Kadampa #Buddhism #Kadampa #Meditation #Patience #EmotionalHealing #InnerPeace #AngerManagement #SpiritualGrowth #MeditationPractice #MindTraining #RadicalAcceptance #Forgiveness #MentalHealth #ModernBuddhism #SelfDevelopment
In today’s episode, Gen Demo shares her journey of working with the mind through Kadampa Buddhism and how this practice has transformed her experience of happiness and meaning. Reflecting on her early encounters with Buddhist teachings, international festivals, and meeting Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, she explains how learning to observe and train the mind gradually shifted her priorities and sense of fulfillment. Gen Demo describes how ordination and daily practice helped her see that unhappiness is not caused by external conditions, but by the way the mind responds to them. Through practical examples and personal insight, she shows how difficulties can become opportunities for inner growth, and how cultivating a peaceful, flexible mind leads to a stable happiness that does not depend on circumstances. This episode highlights the Kadampa approach to modern life - using meditation, reflection, and compassion to turn everyday experiences into a meaningful spiritual path. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Training the Mind 05:40 Discovering Kadampa Buddhism 11:05 Meeting Geshe Kelsang Gyatso 17:10 Ordination and Kadampa Nun Life 23:20 Daily Meditation and Inner Change 29:15 Overcoming Problems with Buddhism 35:10 Mind Training in Everyday Life 41:05 Using Difficulties as the Path 47:00 Finding Meaning and Lasting Happiness Book References Modern Buddhism: https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life: https://howtotyl.com/ Gen Kelsang Demo is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. Want More? Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Follow The Modern Buddhism Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast #NewKadampaTradition #KadampaMeditation #GesheKelsangGyatso #MentalHealthAndMeditation #AnxietyRelief #PanicAttacks #WatchingTheMind #BuddhistPsychology #InnerPeace #MeditationPractice #AcceptanceAndHealing #CompassionTraining #ModernBuddhism #MentalWellbeing #FindingPeace
In today’s episode, Gen Chogma shares her personal journey of working with anxiety and panic attacks, explaining how meditation transformed her relationship with her mind. Drawing on her lived experience and the teachings of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she explains how intense feelings can seem overwhelmingly real, even when nothing is actually wrong externally, and why it is so important to control our mind—otherwise, it can easily deceive us. Through clear, honest examples from everyday life, she explores how learning to watch the mind helps us recognize the early stages of anxiety, create inner space, and gradually regain a sense of control. Rather than suppressing difficult emotions, this episode shows how gently pacifying the mind allows thoughts and feelings to settle naturally, like waves calming on an ocean. This conversation highlights a deeply practical approach to meditation and mental training that many people will find beneficial. Chapters 00:00 Panic, Anxiety, and First Meditation 05:30 Learning to Watch the Mind 11:00 Feelings, Fear, and Deceptive Appearances 16:30 Acceptance, Impermanence, and Loss 22:00 Using Suffering to Grow Compassion 27:30 Anxiety, Modern Life, and Mental Tools 32:30 Watching the Mind in Daily Life 37:45 Shifting from Self to Others Book References In this episode Gen Kelsang Chogma references : How to Understand the Mind https://kadampa.org/books/how-to-understand-the-mind Modern Buddhism https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life https://howtotyl.com/ Gen Chogma is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. Want More? Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. Follow The Modern Buddhism Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast #NewKadampaTradition #KadampaMeditation #GesheKelsangGyatso #MentalHealthAndMeditation #AnxietyRelief #PanicAttacks #WatchingTheMind #BuddhistPsychology #InnerPeace #MeditationPractice #AcceptanceAndHealing #CompassionTraining #ModernBuddhism #MentalWellbeing #FindingPeace
WHY OUR OWN THOUGHTS THAT SCARE US - & HOW TO FACE THEM In today’s episode, Kadam Lucy James explores the challenges of modern life and the difficulty many people face in keeping their mind peaceful. Drawing on her experience and the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she explains how our minds are often dominated by uncontrolled, anxious, or judgmental thoughts - a state that has become normalized in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world. She points out that most people are unable to sit quietly with their own thoughts, and so are forced to fill their life with busyness and distraction, which creates a vicious circle of mental pain. Using the powerful analogy of the mind as a vast, clear sky and thoughts as passing clouds, she demonstrates how meditation helps us step back from our delusions, gain perspective, and cultivate a deeper sense of self. This episode emphasizes that peace is already present within us, and by gently letting go of distracting thoughts, we can develop the space to be able to deal with things in a more constructive way. Chapters: 00:00 Peace and Letting Go 02:00 The Basics of Meditation 06:26 Modern Life and Distractions 11:03 Experiment on Sitting with Thoughts 15:45 Fear of Our Own Mind 20:12 Uncontrolled Thoughts and Judgment 24:40 The Mind as a Sky 29:10 Breathing Meditation Practice 34:25 Experiencing Inner Peace 39:00 Building a Healthy Sense of Self 43:50 Long-Term Benefits of Meditation Book References Modern Buddhism: https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life : https://howtotyl.com/ Kadam Lucy James is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. Want More? Find a meditation center near you : https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips : https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes. #MeditationPractice #AnxietyRelief #InnerPeace #Mindfulness #Buddhism #KadampaBuddhism #MentalClarity #SelfAwareness #PeacefulMind #LettingGo #MindTraining #SpiritualGrowth #Contemplation #MindfulLiving #WisdomTeachings
In today’s episode Gen Kelsang Leksang shares her personal journey from a high-powered corporate career to a spiritual life as a Buddhist nun and teacher. Reflecting on her life, she reveals how experiences that once felt like failures were, in fact, profoundly beneficial—shaping her personal development and inner growth. She explains that when life appears to be falling apart, peace and purpose can be found by letting go of attachment, adjusting our expectations, and training the mind in acceptance. Drawing on the wisdom of the New Kadampa Tradition, Gen Leksang explores how focusing on others, cultivating compassion, and developing inner acceptance can transform suffering into clarity and confidence. This episode offers heartfelt reflections on death, purpose, career pressure, and happiness — showing how even life’s most painful moments can become profound teachers. Insightful, practical, and uplifting, this conversation gently challenges modern ideas of success and invites us to discover a deeper, more stable happiness that comes from within. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Career Shift 02:16 Searching for Purpose 02:30 Father’s Illness & Death 03:36 Refuge, Acceptance, and Peace 05:33 Learning Through Helping Others 07:20 Redefining Success and Happiness 08:10 Finding Depth While Living Fully 12:32 Pressure, Plans, and Life Direction 15:13 Career Advice for Young People 17:09Discovering True Motivation 20:18 Letting Life Evolve Naturally 26:46 Inner Peace Is Happiness 28:02 Acceptance When Life Doesn’t Work Out Book References In this episode Gen Leksang references the following books by by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso: How to Solve our Human Problems https://kadampa.org/book/how-to-solve... Modern Buddhism https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life https://howtotyl.com/ Gen Leksang is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition , an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. WANT MORE? Find a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search... #modernbuddhismpodcast #newkadampatradition #innerpeace #buddhistwisdom #meaningfullife #acceptance #compassion #findingpurpose #meditationpractice #mentalwellbeing
Is it really possible to fulfill your dreams? Can you be truly happy all the time? Agnes explores these profound questions with Buddhist nun Kelsang Sama, offering insights into how we can transform our lives by improving our minds with confidence and wisdom. Sama explains how inner change leads to a life that supports spiritual growth and lasting happiness. Book references:How to Transform Your Life ~ https://kadampa.org/books/free-ebook-... Kelsang Sama is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Manchester in the UK. https://kmcmanchester.org/ The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org/ WANT MORE? • FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY: BUDDHIST MEDITATIONS... Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search... Listen to teaching clips: / nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEy... Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook: / modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: / modernbuddhismpodcast TIkTok: / modernbuddhismpodcast #modernbuddhismpodcast #buddhism #podcast #myjourney #InspiringStories #meaningoflife #motivation #BuddhistPodcast #MeditationForChange #personalgrowth #mindfulnesspodcast #Freedom #truestories #emotionalfreedom #RealLifeStories #transformationstories
Buddhist teacher Kadam Morten Clausen talks with Agnes about his 30 years of living and teaching in the Big Apple: the challenges of modern city life and what they've taught him, and his experience of decades of practising meditation and mindfulness in New York City. Morten is the National Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition for the Eastern United States and regularly teaches all around the world; he is the resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center New York City: https://meditationinnewyork.org ----- The guests of these podcasts are practising Buddhists who meditate according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org WANT MORE? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5J8JlJq2Y Find a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow The Modern Buddhism Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast
In this episode, Adam is joined by Marlise Anthonioz, who discusses openly how her meditation practice has taken her from a place of depression and hopelessness to a joyful optimism, enabling her to live a full and happy life. She discusses how family life was causing her to feel unhappy and unfulfilled and how her Buddhist meditation practice transformed her experience. A desire to understand the deeper meaning of life led her to search and question others. She discovered that meditation was the pathway through which she could open her heart to truly love her partner and be a better mother to her children. This podcast will inspire those who feel overwhelmed by family life to see how it can become a way of achieving our potential to love and to feel genuine happiness. Having been born in Cameroon and raised in poverty, Marlise is now the teacher at Centre Boudhiste Lyon in France. https://meditation-lyon.org/ The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org/ WANT MORE? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5J8JlJq2Y Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast
Kadam Morten Clausen talks about how our limited or negative view of ourself is the basis for low self esteem. Then how we can change our view of what the self is and through this develop a new way of identifying ourself that gives authentic higher self esteem and we can learn to be happy with ourself. In today’s podcast, Kadam Morten talks about a very important topic—the way we view ourselves and how this view shapes our self-esteem. It's something that many of us struggle with: the negative self-talk, the limiting beliefs, and the sense of not being enough. Kadam Morten explores how our limited or negative view of ourselves is actually the foundation of low self-esteem. But here's the good news: We have the power to change how we see ourselves, and in doing so, we can unlock a higher, more authentic sense of self-esteem and happiness. So, how do we make this change? Listen to find out. Book references How to Transform Your Life: https://kadampa.org/books/free-ebook-download-howtotyl Kadam Morten is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center New York City https://meditationinnewyork.org/ The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org/ WANT MORE? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5J8JlJq2Y Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en Listen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/519b6d69-b6ed-46b2-ab56-ebaf59adf96e/the-modern-buddhism-podcast #modernbuddhismpodcast #buddhism #podcast #selfesteem #selfcare #SelfImprovement #PersonalDevelopment #Motivation #peaceofmind #inspiration #happiness #ConfidenceBuilding #MentalHealth
Our thoughts don't define our reality, yet we often buy into negative beliefs about ourselves, leading to a distorted self-image. In this podcast, Gen Jigme explores how meditation can help us quiet the negative inner voice and cultivate a more positive understanding of ourselves. While we acknowledge our flaws, we also recognize our growth and appreciate the goodness within us. He guides us through various ways of thinking that can help free us from feelings of isolation and foster a healthier, more compassionate self-image. Book reference. How to Transform your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. https://kadampa.org/book/how-to-transform-your-lifeGen Jigme is the Resident Teacher at Bodhisattva Kadampa Meditation Center in Brighton https://meditateinbrighton.com/The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org/WANT MORE?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5J8JlJq2YFind a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/519b6d69-b6ed-46b2-ab56-ebaf59adf96e/the-modern-buddhism-podcast #modernbuddhismpodcast #buddhism #podcast #OvercomeFear #meditation#FearOfFailure #SelfImprovement #PersonalDevelopment #Motivation #fomo#SuccessMindset #ConfidenceBuilding #MentalHealth #GrowthMindset #LifeSkills
Gen Kelsang Rabten joins Adam on the podcast for a wide ranging discussion of the various stages of meditation from the very first steps to how to reach the highest levels. Insights are shared and explored that will help us access our inner strength and stillness; show us how we can use meditation to diffuse negative thought patterns in our mind and replace them with healthy positive alternatives; and the special techniques advanced meditators use to create the ideal mental environment for deeply effective meditation are revealed. Something for everyone interested in meditation from complete beginners to the most experienced practitioners - enjoy!
