This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, 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. 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!

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, is presented in collaboration with Tergar International and Tibet House US, 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!

In this episode, Cortland Dahl and Daniel Aitken discuss Cortland’s book A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism. 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

Join Alejandro Chaoul, Richard Freeman, Mary Taylor, and host Daniel Aitken in this Wisdom Podcast episode as they discuss their different traditions of yoga and how they relate to meditation. Listen as they provide insights into their yoga traditions, emphasizing historical dialogue between the traditions and shared practices. They touch on practical meditation tips, integrating the body into mindfulness, and much more!

You’ll also hear Daniel and our guests discuss:

• how they each became interested in their version of yoga;
• the power of Yoga to teach us stillness;
• how to improve our relationship with space;
• the Wisdom Academy course Yoga for Meditators; and
• much more!

Join Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Daniel Aitken in this special bonus episode of our celebratory Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast series as they discuss The Legacy of Tulku Urgyen and the Path to Kindfulness. During this episode, Daniel and Rinpoche celebrate the rerelease of Blazing Splendor, and Rinpoche shares his memories and insights he gained from the teachings of his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

You’ll also hear Rinpoche and Daniel discuss:

• Rinpoche’s impactful relationships with other high lamas and spiritual practitioners;
• the importance of practicing the foundational teachings of mindfulness, compassion, and ethical conduct;
• the essential role of mindfulness and kindfulness; and
• much more!

In this Wisdom Podcast episode host Daniel Aitken joins Douglas Duckworth as they discuss Douglas’s translation The Great Hūṃ. Douglas Duckworth is a professor of religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. He received his PhD in religious studies (Indo-Tibetan Buddhism) from the University of Virginia in 2005, and he previously taught at Kathmandu University. In this episode, Douglas shares his journey of becoming interested in the text during his studies in India and Nepal, and he shares the challenges and rewards of working on such a monumental text.

You’ll hear Daniel and Douglas discuss:

• the text's structure, its thematic elements, the profound philosophical implications of bodhicitta;

• the structure and significance of the Bodhicaryāvatāra;

• the ninth chapter's unique challenges; and

• much more!

Remember to like and subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast to stay up-to-date with our newest releases!

Join Daniel Aitken and Ācārya Malcolm Smith as they discuss the roots of Dzogchen and the aural lineage in the Great Perfection tradition as described in Malcolm’s newest translation Yoga Of The Natural State, releasing in the winter of 2025 and available now for pre-order. In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, explore the historical transmission of Dzogchen teachings through the textual and aural lineages and the roles these play in preserving the authenticity and comprehensibility of the teachings. You won’t want to miss this illuminating conversation.

You’ll hear Daniel and Malcolm discuss:

• the process of translating Longchenpa’s writings;

• differences between ‘awareness of awareness’ and the true nature of rigpa;

• key Dzogchen terms such as original purity (ka dag) and natural perfection (lhun grub);

• Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and his impact on spreading Dzogchen teachings to the West; and

• much more!

In this enriching Wisdom Podcast episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Christopher Ives, a professor and Zen practitioner. Chris is an author, translator, and avid outdoorsman. His writing focuses on ethics in Zen Buddhism and Buddhist approaches to nature and environmental issues. His previous publications with Wisdom include Zen on the Trail and Meditations on the Trail. Throughout the conversation, Chris and Daniel go in-depth exploring the themes in Chris’s newest release, Zen Ecology. They discuss how Zen's principles of interconnectedness, non-dualism, and mindful living intersect with ecological concerns, and how Zen practice can inspire a sustainable lifestyle with reduced environmental impact.

You’ll also hear Daniel and Chris discuss:

• Environmental roots and activism;
• Zen’s symbiotic relationship with nature;
• Buddhism's role in structural change;
• much more!

Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Zen Ecology with code WPODECO through March 31.