The Modern Buddhism Podcast

The Modern Buddhism Podcast
  • 4.8 (109)
  • Buddhism
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. Aug 12

    Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation

    In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Sherab shares the remarkable journey that took him from being a professional musician in Israel and the Netherlands to becoming a Buddhist monk and meditation teacher. Looking back on his early search for meaning, he describes the quiet sense that something was missing from his life, even when everything appeared successful from the outside. His encounter with Kadampa Buddhism introduced him to teachings that helped him understand the nature of samsara, the importance of moral discipline, and the possibility of transforming the mind through meditation. He recalls the books that first captured his attention, including Clear Light of Bliss, Tantric Grounds and Paths, Introduction to Buddhism, and Joyful Path of Good Fortune, and explains how these teachings gradually changed the direction of his life. Sherab also reflects on his mother’s death, difficult experiences with his family, his decision to give up music, and the painful process of realizing that the Buddhist path he had built for himself needed to be completely rebuilt. Throughout the conversation, he explores the role of the Dharma Protector, the importance of learning from our mistakes, and why meditation is not about fighting the mind but learning to understand and work with it. Ultimately, this is a story about discovering what truly brings happiness, having the courage to change direction, and finding a deeper purpose through Dharma practice.00:00 From Musician to Buddhist Monk05:01 Searching for a Spiritual Guide10:05 Discovering Kadampa Buddhism and Books15:00 Samsara, Sorrow, and Losing His Mother20:00 Choosing Ordination Over Music25:02 Family Conflict and Spiritual Growth30:00 Understanding the Dharma Protector35:00 Virtue, Truth, and Samsara Book References by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso📖 Introduction to Buddhism: https://kadampa.org/book/introduction...📖 Clear Light of Bliss: https://kadampa.org/book/clear-light-...📖 Tantric Grounds and Paths: https://kadampa.org/book/tantric-grou...📖 Joyful Path of Good Fortune: https://kadampa.org/book/joyful-path-...Want More? Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes Find a meditation center near you:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search... Listen to teaching clips:⁠YouTube:    / @nktikbu  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEy... Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Facebook:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  Instagram:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  TikTok:   / modernbuddhismpodcast   #KadampaBuddhism #Buddhism #Meditation #BuddhistMeditation #GenKelsangSherab #ModernBuddhism #Dharma #SpiritualJourney #BuddhistMonk #InnerPeace #Samsara #DharmaProtector #JoyfulPathOfGoodFortune #MindTraining #Happiness

    Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation

  2. Aug 12

    What If You Lost Everything... And Were OK?

    In today's episode, Kadam Michelle draws on 25+ years as a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso to explore how to find peace amid genuine uncertainty. Recounting her years as a resident teacher through three major hurricanes in Florida, she describes what she calls the "cone of uncertainty" - the idea that our entire life, not just a storm's path, is already pervaded by unpredictability. She explains the practice of patient acceptance: peacefully accepting whatever arises rather than rejecting it, since rejection never changes reality and only adds mental pain on top of an already difficult situation. Michelle shares how thinking of our possessions, and even our own bodies, as merely "borrowed" for this life helps loosen the grip of attachment, and how meditating on death - not to create fear, but to clarify what truly matters - transforms daily interactions into something meaningful. She also addresses a common objection: doesn't real change require anger? Drawing a distinction between the destabilizing energy of anger and the stable, wise energy of compassion, she makes the case that a peaceful mind is not passive, but is in fact the most effective foundation for helping others and for living, and eventually dying, well.00:00 Introduction: Life in Florida's Hurricane Season04:45 Patient Acceptance and Letting Go of Attachment10:06 Community, Compassion, and Helping After Disaster16:06 Uncertainty, Impermanence, and Life's Storms21:04 Training the Mind Through Patient Acceptance26:08 Is Anger Ever the Right Response?30:17 Building an Inner Refuge Through Meditation34:24 Meditating on Death to Live MeaningfullyBook ReferencesHow To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso https://howtotyl.com/The New Meditation Handbook by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso https://kadampa.org/book/the-new-medi...Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes.Want More?Find a meditation center near you:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search...Listen to teaching clips:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEy... Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  Instagram:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  TikTok:   / modernbuddhismpodcast   #KadampaBuddhism #PatientAcceptance #Impermanence #Meditation #InnerPeace #BuddhistWisdom #GesheKelsangGyatso #MindfulLiving #Detachment #MeditationOnDeath #Compassion #NewKadampaTradition #ModernBuddhism #Resilience #SpiritualPractice

    What If You Lost Everything... And Were OK?

  3. Jul 1

    I Gave Up Everything (Best Decision I Ever Made)

    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

    I Gave Up Everything (Best Decision I Ever Made)

  4. May 9

    A Buddhist Monk's Honest Advice On Letting Go & Finding Inner Peace

    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

    A Buddhist Monk's Honest Advice On Letting Go & Finding Inner Peace

  5. May 2

    Meditation Tools For When You Can't Control What Happens Next

    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. Chapters00:00 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

    Meditation Tools For When You Can't Control What Happens Next

  6. Apr 11

    The Buddhist Mind Hack that Stops the Blame Cycle

    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

    The Buddhist Mind Hack that Stops the Blame Cycle

  7. Apr 4

    Meditation in Hollywood

    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

    Meditation in Hollywood

  8. Mar 21

    The Day I Lost Everything

    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

    The Day I Lost Everything
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4.8
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    The Modern Buddhism Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Modern Buddhism Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Modern Buddhism Podcast

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