Redefining Faith with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel
Release Date: 10/09/2023
How to keep peace during holiday season
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
In this episode, host Erric Solomon is joined by Gomde team member and mental health professional Birgit Meiche to explore how to approach the holiday season with greater ease and mindfulness. Together, they delve into practical strategies for managing family dynamics, dealing with stress, and responding skillfully to challenging conversations—like when a relative’s controversial opinions threaten to spark tension. Drawing on Buddhist-inspired wisdom and Birgit’s mental health expertise, they discuss how to stay grounded, cultivate compassion, and transform potentially difficult moments...
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AI mind: The Artificial Intelligence search for machine consciousness
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
AI is everywhere: it’s the hottest technology, this year’s fastest way to make money in the stock market, a new way to write, do research, make eye popping designs. But are we close to having machines that are conscious? In one sense, the search for the basis of consciousness is also vital part of Buddhist practice and realization. In this episode, join Buddhist scholar, Professor John Dunne, and our host, yogi/technologist Erric Solomon, as they explore the promise and implications of AI. John D. Dunne (PhD 1999, Harvard University) holds the Distinguished Chair in...
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Thriving in the Light of Death — Caring for others and preparing yourself
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
We try not to think about death, often until it's we have no choice. A loved one begins to pass, or we receive a difficult diagnosis from the doctor. In the Buddhist teachings, death is the ultimate opportunity for profound spiritual transformation. Join Author and teacher Kirsten Deleo as we explore how to best take care of ourselves and our loved ones during this important time of transition, whether Buddhist practitioners or not. Kirsten DeLeo is a long time Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, meditation teacher and author of "Present Through The End. A Caring Companion's Guide for Accompanying...
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The Most Important Thing to Know - Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche unfolds the key to living, especially valuable in today’s modern, chaotic, fast paced world. Erric begins by asking Rinpoche, “What is the most important thing to know?” Rinpoche leads us through a pithy, vital explanation that anyone, struggling to thrive in modern life, will want to hear. About Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche is a world-renowned teacher and meditation master in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Tibet in 1951 as the oldest son of his mother Kunsang Dechen, a devoted Buddhist practitioner, and...
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Compassion can Help with Everything - Dr Erika Rosenberg
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
In Buddhist practice is based on compassion, and so there are a body of practices devoted to it. But what is compassion really? How do we know we have it? Compassion isn’t a thing that you gather but a way of being in the world. In this episode, Dr. Erika Rosenberg discusses with Erric what the basis of compassion is, how it helps with every aspect of our lives, and gives practical, experientially focused exercises to help us have more compassion. Compassion is a revolution, both in how we view the world and its potentially radical effect on our world. Erika Rosenberg, Ph.D. is a...
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Sacred Substances: Superstition or Revelation?
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
Sometimes at Tibetan Buddhist teachings or Tantric Initiations, attendees receive an envelop filled with sacred substances. Today we are joined by Dr. James Gentry to discuss the history, function and efficacy of one of the most famous substances—Mani pills. These pills are made through the process of meditation by special Buddhist Yogis and Yoginis, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. So what are they and why should we care? James Gentry is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University’s School of Humanities and Sciences. He specializes in Tibetan Buddhism,...
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Buddha’s Nuns Naughty or Nice - Dr. Annie Heckman
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
The Buddhist canon is filled with pithy teachings from and stories about Buddha. Many of the sutras, where Buddha gives profound answers to questions posed by his students have become very well known, even outside Buddhist circles. Lesser known to modern practitioners, are the stories that lead to the guidelines that support monastic practitioners on the path to awakening. In particular, there are many stories about his students misbehaving and how the Buddha was able to turn these situations into opportunities for progressing on the path . These stories became a list of guidelines and...
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Navigating Modern Buddhism with Barry Boyce
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
In this Episode, Author, Writing Coach, Journalist, Mindfulness expert and Buddhist Meditator, Barry Boyce is our guest. He and Erric have a wide ranging conversation about Mindfulness Meditation and Buddhism in today's world. Is mindfulness a net plus or just a watered down version of Buddhist practice? Do modern urban Budhist centers meet the needs of people in today's chaotic fast moving world? Find out what Erric and Barry think in this thought provoking conversation. Barry Boyce is Founding Editor of Mindful magazine and . A meditation practitioner...
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Modern Insights into Ancient Wisdom with Erric Solomon
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
In this episode Sara Hindelang, a Buddhist practitioner and volunteer at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde is our host. She is interviewing Buddhist Yogi, Teacher and Author Erric Solomon. Sara, as a 24 year old, asks for insights on anxieties common with those of her generation, such as ecoanxiety or cynicism. Erric Solomon offers some fantastic insights into how the Buddha's teachings are relevent in today's chaotic modern world. You don't have to be a young person to gain benefit from this discussion. Erric Solomon brings together decades of Buddhist practice, a high-powered Silicon Valley career, and...
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On Rebirth with Andreas Doctor
The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
Andreas Doctor is our guest in this episode. He and Erric have a conversation exploring what is really meant by reincarnation or, perhaps more precisely, rebirth in Buddhist philosophy. They end up in some pretty interesting places including the nature of reality and what that means for our meditation practice. Andreas Doctor (PhD 2004, University of Calgary) lives with his family in a small village in Denmark. He has been involved in translating and editing for the 84000 project ( https://84000.co/ )since the very early days and is currently serving as editorial director. For a number of...
info_outlineToday we discuss the F-word, faith. Normally we think about faith as something we have or we don’t, and mostly we try to avoid the topic all together. Elizabeth and Erric playfully explore the activity of faith in practice. Uncovering a perhaps a more intriguing, gradual way to engage with faith, one you might not have expected.
Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel has studied and practiced the Buddhadharma for over 35 years under the guidance of her root teacher Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. She is the author of two books, The Power of an Open Question and The Logic of Faith. After completing a six year retreat, Kongtrul Rinpoche appointed her Retreat Master at the Samten Ling retreat center in Colorado. Elizabeth teaches about Buddhist practice all over the world and she holds degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Buddhist Studies (MA). You can learn more about her work at https://www.elizabethmattisnamgyel.com/.