(#215) Venerable Matthieu Ricard: Compassion, Presence, and the Journey Beyond Science

In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast, join special guest Venerable Matthieu Ricard and host Daniel Aitken as they tackle the intersection of science and Buddhism. Venerable Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author, translator, and photographer. After completing his Ph.D. in cell genetics in 1972, he moved to the Himalayas, where he spent many years in the presence of Kangyur Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He has published numerous books, including The Monk and the Philosopher, Happiness, Altruism, and Notebooks of a Wandering Monk. He donates all proceeds from his books and activities to support humanitarian projects in India, Nepal, and Tibet through Karuna-Shechen, the non-profit organization he founded in 2000, which now benefits 500,000+ people every year.

In this episode, Venerable Ricard and Daniel explore:

• Venerable's early influences and inspirations, and his introduction to Buddhism;

• his time with Kangyur Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche;

• the nature of consciousness;

• the importance of setting achievable goals, the role of consistency and discipline in achieving those goals, and how self-reflection can guide continuous improvement;

• so much more!