A guided meditation on healthy masculinity, exploring strength, sexuality, compassion, and self-acceptance to cultivate deeper connection with yourself and others.
How to Train a Happy Mind Podcast
The How to Train a Happy Mind podcast brings meditation to modern people hungry for happy, meaningful lives. Each week, host Scott Snibbe and his guests share powerful mind training techniques that go beyond mindfulness to harness our intelligence, emotions, and imagination. Learn how to build a happy mind, fulfilling relationships, and a better world through a secular approach to meditation that is based on modern science and psychology, yet grounded in the authentic thousand-year old Tibetan Buddhist tradition of analytical meditation.
Meditation Podcast Episodes
One of the greatest challenges I've faced hasn't been sitting on a meditation cushion—it's been understanding the person I love most. Karen Brody has a unique perspective on modern masculinity, intimacy, and sexuality. Her insights help us understand why men and women so often misunderstand each other, how sexual confidence differs from neediness, what keeps love alive over decades together, and the surprising parallels between her work and Buddhist practice in transforming desire rather than suppressing it.
In this guided meditation, Geshe Legtsok leads a reflection on gratitude, good fortune, impermanence, and intentional action. By recognizing the blessings in our own lives, appreciating the positive contributions of others, and remembering that change is always possible, we develop a more balanced and hopeful outlook.
Are we living in a better world than we realize? Discover why Geshe Legtsok believes this could be humanity's most hopeful era yet.
Following Robert Thurman’s death, we revisit a favorite conversation exploring the possibility that our deepest nature is joy.
Best selling author and climate activist talks to Scott on Earth Day about the climate crisis and his hope for a better future. Hosted by the UC Berkeley School of Journalism.
Healthy Masculinity: A Meditation on Sex, Strength, and Love #228
A guided meditation on healthy masculinity, exploring strength, sexuality, compassion, and self-acceptance to cultivate deeper connection with yourself and others.
Sex, Strength, and Love: Karen Brody on Modern Masculinity #227
One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced hasn’t been sitting on a meditation cushion—it’s been understanding the person I love most. Karen Brody has a unique perspective on modern masculinity, intimacy, and sexuality. Her insights help us understand why men and women so often misunderstand each other, how sexual confidence differs from neediness, what keeps love alive over decades together, and the surprising parallels between her work and Buddhist practice in transforming desire rather than suppressing it.
Meditation to Cultivate Hope for the Future with Geshe Legtsok #226
In this guided meditation, Geshe Legtsok leads a reflection on gratitude, good fortune, impermanence, and intentional action. By recognizing the blessings in our own lives, appreciating the positive contributions of others, and remembering that change is always possible, we develop a more balanced and hopeful outlook.
Is This Actually the Best Time to Be Alive? — Geshe Legtsok #225
Are we living in a better world than we realize? Discover why Geshe Legtsok believes this could be humanity’s most hopeful era yet.
Remembering Robert Thurman: Psychonaut, Scholar, and Friend #224
Following Robert Thurman’s death, we revisit a favorite conversation exploring the possibility that our deepest nature is joy.
Our Best Possible Future: Kim Stanley Robinson #223
Best selling author and climate activist talks to Scott on Earth Day about the climate crisis and his hope for a better future. Hosted by the UC Berkeley School of Journalism.
You Are Enough Meditation with Lodro Rinzler #222
This guided meditation by Lodro Rinzler focuses on basic goodness and how we can accept and love ourselves and others.
You Are Good, You Are Enough with Lodro Rinzler #221
What if that voice telling you you’re broken or fundamentally flawed is wrong? That’s the radical message of today’s guest, Buddhist teacher and best selling author Lodro Rinzler.
Preciousness of Human Life Form: A Guided Meditation with Robert Thurman #220
This guided meditation by Tibetan teacher Dr. Robert Thurman invites you to explore one of the most profound ideas in contemplative practice: the rarity and potential of being human.
Can AI Teach Happiness? Meet Dharma Bob: Robert Thurman’s AI Avatar #219
A conversation with Robert Thurman and his AI counterpart Dharma Bob on Buddhism, enlightenment, compassion, and whether AI can help us live a happier, more meaningful life.
Equanimity Meditation for Balance and Rest with Margaret Cullen #218
Meditation teacher Margaret Cullen leads a meditation on equanimity to cultivate balance, calm, and feel more at peace.
Feel More, React Less with Margaret Cullen #217
In this solo episode with Scott, he shares some special songs he created for loved ones using the power of AI.
Generative Love: Using AI to Turn Lives Into Song #216
In this solo episode with Scott, he shares some special songs he created for loved ones using the power of AI.
Music, Imagination, and Meditation with Chris Ballew (Caspar Babypants) #215
Chris Ballew discusses his struggles with rockstar fame, why he started Caspar Babypants, and his relationship with meditation.
What Would You Do If Someone Pulled A Gun On You? Training the Mind for Nonviolence and Compassion in Crisis #214
I share a terrifying personal experience and reflect—through a Buddhist lens—on how an attitude of love and compassion may have saved my life.
Art & Emptiness: Tsherin Sherpa on Tradition, Identity, & Freedom #213
Contemporary artist Tsherin Sherpa speaks openly about his work, which draws on Himalayan Buddhist iconography to explore sexuality, gender, consumerism, and identity.
Laurie Anderson’s Buddhism, Art, Meditation, and Death as Adventure [Full Uncut Interview] #212
A guided Tibetan Buddhist meditation exploring the subtle body (the energetic bridge between body and mind) through breath, awareness, and embodied presence.
Meditation on the Subtle Body #211
A guided Tibetan Buddhist meditation exploring the subtle body (the energetic bridge between body and mind) through breath, awareness, and embodied presence.
Scott Snibbe’s Buddhist Art: Hidden Geometries #210
Host Scott Snibbe talks about his artistic career and shares what he is currently working on: Hidden Geometries, an ode to Buddhist art.
Rethinking Thanksgiving: A Buddhist Perspective #209
Explore how rethinking Thanksgiving can allow us to enjoy this holiday in a new way and send love to everyone in the world.
Guided Drawing Meditation with John Simon Jr. #208
In this guided meditation and drawing practice, artist and teacher John Simon Jr. leads us through a series of exercises designed to connect inner awareness with mark-making on paper. Blending Buddhist principles with intuitive art, this session invites you to notice your sensations, thoughts, and environment while allowing your hand to move freely. No art experience is needed, just a willingness to observe, let go, and explore.
Drawing As Meditation with John Simon Jr. #207
Listen to our interview with artist John Simon Jr about art, Buddhism, AI, drawing as meditation, and the power of creativity.
Meditation on Falling in Love with the Future—Rob Hopkins #206
In this imaginative and hopeful episode, Rob Hopkins—founder of the Transition movement and author of How to Fall in Love with the Future—guides listeners through a vivid meditation envisioning the year 2030. Drawing on years of community activism and storytelling, Rob invites us to step through a metaphorical door into a future shaped by collective action, resilience, and radical imagination. What might our cities, communities, and daily lives look like if we did everything we could to build a better world? This episode offers a powerful glimpse into that possibility.
How to Fall in Love with the Future—Rob Hopkins #205
Climate activist and author Rob Hopkins invites us into his time machine to explore what a healthy, thriving future could look like for humanity and our earth.
Meditation for Angry Parents #204
Scott Snibbe explores how Buddhist psychology defines anger and offers parents practical antidotes rooted in curiosity and compassion.
Emptiness of Self: Guided Meditation with Geshe Sherab #203
Join Geshe Sherab for a deeply reflective guided meditation on the emptiness of self—one of the core insights of Buddhist wisdom.
What is Emptiness? with Geshe Sherab #202
This week’s guest is from Tibet, Geshe Sherab—he discusses emptiness, not just as a philosophy but as a practical antidote to suffering.
AI and Enlightenment with Dr. David Kittay #201
Dr. David Kittay explores whether AI can lead to enlightenment or surpass humanity, while emphasizing simpler paths to happiness over technological fixes.
Is Enlightenment Possible? #200
Scott Snibbe offers a talk and meditation to the Train a Happy Mind community on the question, Is enlightenment possible?
The Warm Heart of Awareness: A Meditation with Ven. René Feusi #199
This 20 minute guided meditation comes from the sequence Scott shares in the How to Train a Happy Mind podcast and book. The stages are based on the Tibetan Buddhist lamrim, which was created more than a thousand years ago by the Indian Master Atisha Dipankar. Over the past decade, Scott has adapted it to be a non-religious way to transform the mind from states of frustration, craving, and loneliness to states of satisfaction, connection, and meaning.
Concentration Makes Us Happy! with Ven. Rene Feusi #198
Venerable René Feusi talks about how focused awareness can help us live with joy—not just in meditation, but walking, sipping tea, listening to music, or even playing with your cat.
20 Minute “Path to a Happy Mind” Guided Meditation #197
This 20 minute guided meditation comes from the sequence Scott shares in the How to Train a Happy Mind podcast and book. The stages are based on the Tibetan Buddhist lamrim, which was created more than a thousand years ago by the Indian Master Atisha Dipankar. Over the past decade, Scott has adapted it to be a non-religious way to transform the mind from states of frustration, craving, and loneliness to states of satisfaction, connection, and meaning.
Joyful Effort: A Guided Meditation with Tenzin Chogkyi #196
Welcome to this guided meditation on accessing joy with Tenzin Chogkyi. In this practice, we’ll take time to settle the body, connect with the breath, and gently open to the feeling of joy.
Beyond Bombs: A Meditation on Ending War and Cultivating Peace #195
This meditation was recorded the day after the United States launched a new bombing campaign in Iran. In response, Scott reflects on the roots of violence, both in our world and in our minds, and to offer a path toward peace.
Joy and Enthusiasm—Even When Life’s Hard—with Tenzin Chogkyi #194
Tenzin Chogkyi talks about one of the six perfections, enthusiasm or joyful effort.
10-Minute Path to a Happy Mind Guided Meditation #193
Join Scott for this meditation that summarizes every step of the path from the preciousness of life to the interdependent nature of reality.
The Complete Path to a Happy Mind #192
Join Scott for this meditation that summarizes every step of the path from the preciousness of life to the interdependent nature of reality.
5-Minute Breath Awareness Meditation – Larry Ward #191
Dr. Larry Ward—student of Thich Nhat Hanh and author of America’s Racial Karma—leads a short but powerful breath meditation.
Healing America’s Racial Karma—Larry Ward #190
Dr. Larry Ward, student of Thich Nhat Hanh and author of America’s Racial Karma, talks about how we heal from the trauma of racism.
Mindfulness Awareness Meditation with Susan Piver #189
Susan Piver leads a short breath awareness meditation in this week’s podcast episode. If you were to go down the Buddhist path, you would start with this practice before starting with visualizations, guru yogas, mantras, mandala practices. It’s a simple practice that is suitable for all.
Inexplicable Joy—On the Heart Sutra & Buddhism Without Belief with Susan Piver #188
Susan Piver talks about her new book, Inexplicable Joy, which explores one of Buddhism’s most famous and mysterious texts, the heart sutra.
From Panic to Peace: A Guided Meditation with Kazu Haga #187
Sit beside your fear with compassion in Kazu Haga’s gentle, grounding guided meditation—an invitation to return to yourself when everything feels like it’s unraveling.
Beyond Us vs Them: Transforming Society Through Fierce Vulnerability with Kazu Haga #186
Transformative activist and restorative justice advocate Kazu Haga talks about his new book, Fierce Vulnerability.
How to Use Your Phone Mindfully: A Guided Meditation for Digital Wellness — Jay Vidyarthi #185
Settle into a mindful state and engage with your phone in this conscious exercise with digital wellness expert Jay Vidyarthi. Use this guided meditation to deeply and mindfully investigate your phone with clarity.
How to Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology—Jay Vidyarthi on Digital Wellness #184
Are you in control of your technology, or is it controlling you? Jay Vidyarthi, author of Reclaim Your Mind explains.
Meditation on Generosity #183
A Guided meditation on 4 types of generosity: giving material objects, providing protection, sharing wisdom, and spreading love.
A Buddhist Take on Homelessness & Generosity #182
Scott shares lessons about generosity that he learned from Buddhism, college girlfriend, mother, and those struggling with homelessness.
Two Meditations on Emptiness with Dr. Jan Willis #181
Dr. Jan Willis leads two meditations on emptiness of the “I” and analyzing the nature of the mind from a Buddhist perspective.
What Are the 6 Perfections? Dr. Jan Willis #180
Dr. Jan Willis guides us through the 6 perfections: generosity, morality, patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom.
Self-Compassion with Tenzin Chogkyi #178
Tenzin Chogkyi shares her insights on how to cultivate self-compassion and build a loving relationship with ourselves and others.
Exchanging Self with Other #177
A powerful Tibetan Buddhist meditation that was hidden for thousands of years.
How to Live a Happy Life: NPR’s Laura Sydell Talks with Scott Snibbe #176
NPR’s Laura Sydell talks with Scott Snibbe about his book, How to Train a Happy Mind.
Compassion for our Country: Meditations for Healing After a Divisive Election #175
Scott Snibbe leads a meditation on compassion after the recent election of Donald Trump as the next president.
Meditation on Nonviolence with Kazu Haga #174
Kazu Haga leads a powerful guided meditation for letting go of anger and other negative emotions based on the principles of nonviolence.
Does Nonviolent Protest Work? Kazu Haga #173
Kazu Haga on why nonviolent protest works and the practical steps we can each take to change the world through nonviolence.
Loving Yourself, Loving Others, & Letting Go—Paula Chichester #172
This powerful guided meditation for letting go of negative emotions with Paula Chichester helps cultivate love, mindfulness, and inner peace.
Diary of a Yogini with Paula Chichester #171
Paula Chichester shares the joys and challenges of being a yogini in solitary retreat for decades and how her life is today.
Stories We Tell Ourselves—Laurie Anderson & Scott Snibbe at Tibet House #170
Laurie Anderson and Scott Snibbe talk at Tibet House about Scott’s book, How to Train a Happy Mind, analytical meditation, and art.
Dr. Cornel West: Truth, Justice, and Love #169
Dr. Cornel West discusses compassionate leadership, nonviolence, and social justice with Scott Snibbe.
DJ Spooky + Snibbe at the Rubin Museum #168
DJ Spooky and Scott Snibbe talk about Scott’s new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, at The Rubin Museum.
Freeing Ourselves from Suffering: Anger, Craving, Pride, and War #167
An inside peak into one of Scott’s guided meditations for the Train a Happy Mind community, on letting go of suffering, anger, pride, & craving.
Ven. Thubten Chodren Meditation on Anger #166
Venerable Thubten Chodron offers a Buddhist meditation to help work through anger in a compassionate and loving manner.
Venerable Thubten Chodron on Working With Anger #165
Venerable Thubten Chodron, author of Working with Anger, offers a Buddhist perspective on managing and healing anger in difficult situations.
Tenzin Chogkyi & Scott Snibbe San Francisco Book Launch for How to Train a Happy Mind #164
Tenzin Chogkyi talks to Scott Snibbe about his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, at San Francisco’s Medicine for Nightmares bookstore
Tara Meditation on Hope—Ven. Robina Courtin #163
Venerable Robina Courtin guides a beautiful Tara meditation on hope that uses visualization and Buddhist teachings.
How to Heal Despair with Venerable Robina Courtin #162
Venerable Robina Courtin discusses how to deal with the despair many people feel today about war, injustice, inequity, and the environment.
Robert Thurman & Scott Snibbe: How to Train a Happy Mind #161
Renowned author and scholar Robert Thurman talks with Scott Snibbe about his new book How to Train a Happy Mind at Tibet House
Contentment and Ambition with Yangsi Rinpoche #160
Yangsi Rinpoche talks about how to practice real self-compassion and the ways we can create the causes for world peace.
sujatha baliga & Scott Snibbe in conversation: How to Train a Happy Mind #159
Restorative justice practitioner sujatha baliga talks to Scott Snibbe about his new meditation book, How to Train a Happy Mind.
Meditation on Embracing Life with Stephen Batchelor #158
In this guided meditation, Stephen Batchelor invites you to unconditionally embrace your experience of the moment, to simply watch all thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and notice the ground of nonreactive awareness. This guides you toward a path rooted in freedom, openness, and love.
Buddhism Without Beliefs with Stephen Batchelor #157
Author of Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor, shares his journey from living as an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk to becoming a skeptical agnostic.
Book Passage Conversation with Derek Fagerstrom and Scott Snibbe #156
Derek Fagerstrom interviews Scott Snibbe about his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, at the Book Passage, San Francisco.
Precious Life Meditation with Scott Snibbe #155
Scott Snibbe reads a meditation from his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, on the Tibetan tradition called the Precious Life.
The Precious Life—Chapter Reading from How to Train a Happy Mind #154
Scott Snibbe shares a chapter from his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind: The Precious Life.
How to Train a Happy Mind book launch conversation with Scott Snibbe and Vicki Mackenzie #153
Scott Snibbe talks to best-selling author Vicki Mackenzie about his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind.
Meditation on Feeling Good with Meenadchi #152
Meenadchi guides a meditation on discovering and feeling the good things in your body and mind.
Decolonizing Nonviolent Communication with Meenadchi #151
Meenadchi, a somatic healing practitioner, talks about her book, Decolonizing Nonviolent Communication, and how Buddhism influences her work.
Compassionate Speech with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim #150
Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide, shares how to confront harmful speech and transform bias in our language.
Equanimity Meditation with Scott Tusa #149
Scott Tusa leads an equanimity meditation that works with three kinds of relationships in our life. The purpose is to cultivate compassion, loving-kindness, and understanding. [00:00:00] Scott Tusa: Welcome to our equanimity meditation. We’re going to take about 10 minutes to do a brief practice on working with three kinds of relationships in our life.
What Is the Right Thing to Do? with Scott Tusa #148
Scott Tusa and Scott Snibbe discuss how Buddhism approaches hard choices: in their own lives, and in world conflicts like Israel and Gaza.
Letting Go and Looking Forward in the New Year #147
Scott Snibbe shares a gentle Buddhist approach to self-forgiveness, letting go, establishing good habits, and rejoicing in all the good we’ve done.
RAFT Meditation with Dr. Katherine MacLean #146
Dr. Katherine MacLean leads a meditation practice called RAFT: Remembering to be Aware of Feelings in your body and Trust your experience.
Psychedelics, Meditation, and Buddhism with Dr. Katherine MacLean #145
Dr. Katherine MacLean discusses what psychedelics and meditation have in common and when these substances might be of benefit.
Mindful Awareness Meditation with Michael Sapiro #144
Dr. Michael Sapiro leads a guided meditation on mindful awareness that connects you with the present moment and your senses.
Psychedelic Psychotherapy with Dr. Michael Sapiro #143
Dr. Michael Sapiro discusses the profound benefits of psychedelic pyschotherapy and its relation to Buddhism.
War Meditation #142
What does the Dalai Lama say about ending war? This meditation helps us understand the causes of war, and how we might eventually be free of them.
Are We Fundamentally Good? with Dr. Jan Willis #140
Dr. Jan Willis talks about buddha nature, enlightenment, and how to recognize fundamental goodness in ourself and others.
Guided Meditation on Compassion with Tenzin Chogkyi #139
Tenzin Chogkyi leads a guided meditation to cultivate compassion for yourself and others.
Patriarchy, Gender, and Sexism in Buddhism with Tenzin Chogkyi #138
Former Buddhist nun Tenzin Chogkyi dives head on into the challenging topics of hierarchy, patriarchy, gender, and sexism in Buddhism.
Guided Meditation on Healing Trauma with sujatha baliga #137
Sujatha baliga leads a guided meditation to work through past traumas in a gentle, loving, and healing manner.
sujatha baliga on Healing Trauma and Restorative Justice #136
Macarthur Award winner sujatha baliga discusses healing trauma, restorative justice, and the power of love and meditation to build a better world.
Dan Harris Loving-Kindness Guided Meditation #135
Dan Harris, host of the hit podcast Ten Percent Happier, leads a loving-kindness meditation for skeptics.
Dan Harris: Love, Skepticism, & the “Cheesy Upward Spiral” #134
Dan Harris, host of the 10% Happier podcast, talks about love, skepticism, Buddhism, and the “cheesy upward spiral.”
Guided Meditation: Compassion through Looking Inside #133
Buddhist teacher Wendy Haylett leads an analytical meditation to reflect on our difficult relationships without judgement.
Everyday Buddhism: Compassion, Trauma, and Self-Acceptance with Wendy Haylett #132
Wendy Shinyo Haylett, from the Everyday Buddhism podcast, discusses compassion, trauma, and self-acceptance.
Guided Meditation on Consciousness #131
What does it mean to be aware? Is your mind limited to your physical body? And who is it that observes your thoughts?
Free Will, Consciousness, & Reality with Dr. Anil Seth #130
Dr. Anil Seth on the science of consciousness, whether we have free will, and reality as a controlled hallucination.
Compassion with Ven. Sangye Khadro and Scott Snibbe #129
Venerable Sangye Khadro and Scott Snibbe discuss compassion in this talk organized by the Foundation for Compassion and Wisdom.
Kim Stanley Robinson and Robert Thurman: Climate, Politics, and the Dalai Lama #128
Kim Stanley Robinson and Robert Thurman meet for the first time to talk about climate, politics, and the Dalai Lama.
Guided Meditation: Exploring the Texture of the Mind #126
Buddhist teacher Emily Hsu leads an analytical meditation that explores the inner landscape—texture—of the mind and the differences between constructive and unconstructive mental states.
The Buddhist Understanding of the Mind with Emily Hsu #125
Emily Hsu talks about the Buddhist view of the mind, navigating disturbing emotions, and how to understand reality.
Meditation on Equanimity for Parents and Teens #125
Buddhist family counselor Richard Prinz leads a meditation on equanimity for teens and parents to develop compassion, introspection, love, and non-attachment.
Parenting Teens with Buddhist Family Counselor Richard Prinz #124
Buddhist family counselor Richard Prinz talks about ways parents can transform their minds while helping teens transform themselves.
Guided Meditation for Kids with Francesca Hampton #123
Francesca Hampton leads a loving-kindness meditation suitable for kids and adults alike. This practice helps the mind become calm, loving, and clear.
How to Teach Children Meditation — Francesca Hampton #122
Francesca Hampton discusses her children’s book Leo Learns to Meditate that teaches kids mindfulness, loving-kindness, and how to keep meditation fun.
Robert Thurman: Wisdom is Bliss #121
Robert Thurman discusses his book Wisdom Is Bliss, which talks about Buddhism as a direct experience that reveals the pure joy of reality.
Tantric Meditation on Compassion and Wisdom with Rob Preece #120
Rob Preece leads a Buddhist tantra meditation on Green Tara. This powerful feminine figure is an expression of our own potential for compassionate, wisdom energy.
The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra with Rob Preece #119
Psychotherapist Rob Preece talks about Buddhist tantra, how exercise and nature relate to the tantric practices, the role of sex in Vajrayana Buddhism, and how we embrace our different dimensions of gender in meditation and everyday life.
Guided Meditation: Being Yourself with Susan Piver #118
Susan Piver leads a breath-awareness meditation on being your authentic self, watching your breath and thoughts to open up to who you are.
Susan Piver: Understanding Our Differences with the Buddhist Enneagram #117
Susan Piver’s unique Buddhist take on the Enneagram’s nine different personality types and how we can use it in our daily lives.
Meditation on Healing Anxiety with Ven. Amy Miller #116
Venerable Amy Miller leads a guided meditation for healing anxiety, creating a safe mental space, reconnecting to the positive, and relaxing your body.
Transforming Anxiety, Depression and Other Difficult Emotions with Ven. Amy Miller #115
Venerable Amy Miller on managing anxiety, depression, and other difficult emotions with Buddhist meditation and mind training techniques.
“Cutting the Cat in Two”: A Guided Meditation for Dealing with Conflict #114
Dr. Mark Westmoquette leads a Zen Buddhist meditation to help navigate conflict in your daily life. He uses the story “Cutting the Cat in Two”—a famous Zen koan—to lead the practice and illustrate the importance of embodiment and shifting one’s perspective.
Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People with Dr. Mark Westmoquette #113
Mark Westmoquette talks about the meaty topic of dealing with difficult people, who he calls “troublesome Buddhas,” from our boss to our partner to world leaders and that person who takes your parking space.
Finding Refuge in the Mind—A Guided Meditation #112
What do you do when you’re alone? When you’re scared, anxious, lonely, afraid, or feeling strong craving? In our guided meditation we explore the Buddhist view on this subject and discuss how to reveal a deep source of strength and refuge within our own minds.
Guided Loving-kindness Meditation with Lorne Ladner #111
Lorne Ladner leads a loving-kindness meditation with themes of connection, gratitude, and warmth. This practice focuses on the experience of receiving and giving love.
Buddhist Psychologist Lorne Ladner on Depression, Compassion, and Positive Psychology #110
Buddhist psychologist Lorne Ladner on his patients’ top questions, the difference between selfishness and self-compassion, setting healthy boundaries, and treating depression with Buddhist psychology.
Meditation, Science, and Christianity with Father Laurence Freeman #108
Catholic priest and Benedictine monk Father Laurence Freeman discusses the role of community, meditation, contemplation, and science in his life. He emphasizes his trust in humanity and the importance of wonder in our daily lives.
Universal Love in Christianity and Buddhism with Greg Hillis #108
Christian Scholar Greg Hillis speaks on the parallels between Christianity and Buddhism, the possibility of universal love, and social activism that respects those we disagree with.
Guided Death and Rebirth Meditation with Laurie Anderson #107
Laurie Anderson leads a guided meditation on death and rebirth inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist understanding of what happens when we die.
Laurie Anderson’s Buddhism: Art, Meditation, and Death as Adventure #106
Grammy Award winning artist Laurie Anderson, a longtime student of Buddhism and meditation, shares her personal path with Buddhism
Ten Million Percent Happier – Interview with Scott Snibbe
Scott Snibbe on finding meaning and spirituality through art and creativity, love without attachment, and our infinite potential.
Dr. Thupten Jinpa on Buddhism, Science, Compassion, and Climate #104
Dr. Thupten Jinpa on the intersection of science, Buddhism, and critical thinking, and how Buddhist principles can help address the climate crisis as well as helping each of us lead better lives at home with our families and in our relationships.
From What If to What Next? — Rob Hopkins’ Climate Optimism #103
Climate activist Rob Hopkins talks about engaged Buddhism that actively works for positive change in our communities and in the world.
Kim Stanley Robinson on Solving the Climate Crisis, Buddhism, and the Power of Science Fiction #102
Kim Stanley Robinson on climate change solutions, Buddhism in his life and work, sci-fi and “cli-fi”, colonizing Mars, and how to stay optimistic.
Guided Meditation: Empathetic Joy With Ayya Dhammadipa #101
Ayya Dhammadipa leads a 12-minute meditation on empathetic joy, also known as mudita. This practice is one of the four immeasurables.
Gifts Greater Than the Oceans With Ayya Dhammadipa #100
Ayya Dhammadipa spoke with us about her unique path to becoming a nun and the power of generosity, going beyond mindfulness, and motherhood.
Mommysattva: Meditation and Motherhood with Jenna Hollenstein #99
Author, mother and meditation teacher Jenna Hollenstein offers an engaged form of mindfulness and compassion that mothers can practice in everyday life as a Mommysattva: a warrior of compassion, wisdom, and lovingkindness.
Guided Meditation: Turning Towards with Ben Connelly #98
Soto Zen Teacher Ben Connelly leads a guided meditation integrating two ways of meditating in the spirit of the Yogacara tradition of Buddhism.
Esoteric and Everyday Buddhism with Ben Connelly #97
Soto Zen Teacher Ben Connelly on the relationship between science and reality, whether karma really exists, and how to be a Buddhist activist.
Guided Meditation for Fear with Kiri Westby #96
Lifelong human rights activist, writer, and Buddhist practitioner Kiri Westby guides us through a 10-minute guided meditation for fear, drawing upon her days working in war zones and her harrowing imprisonment in China.
Finding Fearlessness with Kiri Westby #95
“In that moment I literally let go of my life. I was sure that that was the end of my life. There was not a part of me that didn’t think I was going to die in that moment.”
Lifelong human rights activist, writer, and Buddhist practitioner Kiri Westby spoke to us about how her Buddhist practice helped her through imprisonment in China and the role of Buddhism in her humanitarian mission.
Vaccines and Compassion #94
How does the Buddhist view on compassion help us think about COVID vaccine controversies? What do the Dalai Lama and the Pope have to say about vaccination? Host Scott Snibbe and Producer Tara Anderson talk about how to stay loving and connected to people we disagree with, how to avoid “compassion fatigue,” and how to (not) convince somebody to see things our way.
Cultivating Our Inner Awareness with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo – 10 Minute Meditation #93
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is one of the world’s most revered Buddhist teachers and one of the very first Westerners to become ordained into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She is best known for having lived in a remote cave in the Himalayas for 12 years. In this 10-minute meditation, she offers the invitation to cultivate moment-to-moment awareness – the essence of practice.
Women, Buddhism, and Equality with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo #92
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is one of the world’s most revered Buddhist teachers and one of the very first Westerners to become ordained into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She is best known for having lived in a remote cave in the Himalayas for 12 years. She spoke with us about the role of women in Buddhism from a historical and contemporary lens, the nature of mind and simple, powerful ways to meditate in the modern world.
Guided Meditation: The Possibility of Enlightenment #91
In today’s meditation, we explore the idea of enlightenment: whether it’s possible, whether its seed is already within us, and even whether it’s any fun. If enlightenment is transcending a narrow, separate sense of self, what might a taste of that expansive self feel like?
What is Enlightenment? with Dr. Jan Willis #90
Is enlightenment really possible? Are there people on earth who are enlightened right now? Buddhist scholar Dr. Jan Willis answers these questions and more as we explore what enlightenment really means.
10-Minute Mindful Awareness Meditation with Susan Piver #89
A 10-minute mindful awareness meditation led by NYT bestselling author and Buddhist meditation teacher Susan Piver. Encompassing mindfulness of breath, body, and mind, this meditation helps us relax into a peaceful present moment awareness.
Four Noble Truths of Love with Susan Piver #88
NYT bestselling author and Buddhist meditation teacher Susan Piver shares her Four Noble Truths of Love, a framework anybody can use for deeper, more fulfilling, and more connected intimate relationships.
Becoming Loving-Kindness: A Guided Meditation with Elaine Jackson #87
Elaine Jackson guides a heart-warming Buddhist loving-kindness meditation (metta meditation). This meditation uses visualization to bring about our natural state of loving awareness for ourselves and all beings.
Buddhist Relationship Advice with Elaine Jackson #86
How do we integrate the wisdom of Buddhism into our intimate relationships? Elaine Jackson shares Buddhist relationship advice for navigating arguments selflessly, knowing when a relationship is over, dealing with divorce, how to meditate while parenting, and relating to a partner who’s on a different spiritual path.
Guided Meditation on Pleasure #85
How can we use pleasure in our meditation practice? Buddhism offers specific techniques for meditating on pleasure as a way to deepen our qualities of concentration, fearlessness, loving-kindness, and even our understanding of the ultimate nature of reality.
Pleasure and Buddhism: Food, Sex, and Netflix on the Path to Enlightenment #84
Pleasure is often viewed as a hindrance to the spiritual path, a hotbed of craving and attachment, but what if we told you that pleasure can be a positive part of the spiritual path, a portal to love and happiness?
Guided Meditation on Four Levels of Happiness #83
This week’s episode is a daily meditation on the four levels of happiness in Buddhism. Investigate the varying depths of happiness you get from sensory pleasures, positive states of mind, meditation, and the very nature of reality.
Four Kinds of Happiness with Ven. Sangye Khadro #82
Explore the four kinds of happiness in Buddhism with Ven. Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald). This episode offers an opportunity to reflect on where we derive our happiness from and how we can live happier lives by understanding how each kind of happiness relates to one another as well as to desire, attachment, and our own meditation practice.
A Biologist and a Buddhist Monk on the Nature of Reality: Geshe Namdak and Dr. Rupert Sheldrake #81
A biologist and a Buddhist monk have a conversation on how science can make sense of rebirth, emptiness, and karma, the origins of consciousness and creativity, and how modern science’s understanding of the nature of reality could benefit from the wisdom of contemplative traditions.
Compassionate AI with Kristian Simsarian #80
Artificial intelligence expert Kristian Simsarian joins host Scott Snibbe to discuss how we can create ethical, unbiased and compassionate AI, whether we should be scared of AI, and the implications of AI on the future of work and spirituality.
Guided Meditation: Four Foundations of Mindfulness with Dr. David Kittay #79
Tour the four foundations of mindfulness in this sweeping guided meditation with Dr. David Kittay. The Buddha named these four foundations as essential to our liberation: mindfulness of body, feelings, mind, and mental objects.
Buddhism and Technology with Dr. David Kittay (Part 2) #78
In Part 2, Dr. David Kittay discusses science fiction, emptiness and whether life is a simulation, whether we should treat AI robots with compassion and whether the singularity might be another term for enlightenment.
Buddhism and Technology with Dr. David Kittay (Part 1) #77
Dr. David Kittay joins the show to talk about the possibility of technologically assisted enlightenment, the nature of time, whether our phones and our social media accounts have become part of ourselves, and how to deal with tech addiction.
Loving Our Parents, Loving Our Children #76
Host Scott Snibbe offers a touching personal talk and meditation on how to best love our parents and our children using powerful Buddhist teachings and techniques on understanding, love, listening, and compassion.
10-Minute Meditation to Relax the Mind with Dza Kilung Rinpoche #75
Tibetan Buddhist Lama Dza Kilung Rinpoche leads a 10 minute meditation to relax into the vast spaciousness of our heart and mind.
The Relaxed Mind with Dza Kilung Rinpoche #74
Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dza Kilung Rinpoche shares seven meditation practices for a relaxed mind, heart, and body.
Guided Meditation: 7 Steps to Compassion with Ven. Gyalten Lekden #73
Buddhist monk Ven. Gyalten Lekden guides a Seven-Fold Cause and Effect Meditation to develop compassion and Bodhicitta (the mind of awakening)
Engaged Buddhism with Ven. Gyalten Lekden #72
Buddhist monk Ven. Gyalten on engaged Buddhism that actively grapples with social injustice, gender inequality, climate change, and racism.
Guided Meditation: How Money Exists #71
A 20-minute guided analytical meditation on how money exists through parts, causes, and the mind in our interdependent, empty reality
Bitcoin and Buddhism #70
What can Buddhism teach us about how Bitcoin works & why it’s so valuable? What can Bitcoin teach us about emptiness, the interdependent nature of reality?
Mindfulness at Work with Theo Koffler #69
Theo Koffler, founder of Mindfulness Without Borders, talks about meditation techniques for mindfulness and self-awareness at work.
Theo Koffler on Mindfulness for Teens & Young Adults #68
Theo Koffler, founder of Mindfulness Without Borders talks about mindfulness programs for teens and young adults and tips for parents on being mindfully present to make our lives joyful and meaningful.
Four Ways to Meditate at Work #67
Four meditations for the workplace including mindful work-life balance, turning every moment into a meditation, dealing with ethical challenges, and an angry boss.
Ruchika Sikri on Compassionate Corporations and Mindfulness at Google #66
Google’s Ruchika Sikri talks about meditation at work and how Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg can building compassionate corporations.
10-Minute Breath Meditation #64
A 10-minute guided meditation on the breath with mindfulness and open awareness.
10-Minute Body Meditation #63
A 10 minute guided meditation on the body, relaxing into the open connection between body and mind through mindful awareness
Scott Tusa’s Guided Meditation on Open Awareness #62
Scott Tusa leads a guided meditation on open awareness, allowing feelings and thoughts to arise in our body and mind without fixation or judgment.
Scott Tusa on Meditation and Mindfulness in Everyday Life #61
Buddhist teacher Scott Tusa on balancing the life of a meditation practitioner with work, friends, and family.
Why Mindfulness? #60
Could the true cause of happiness be simply thinking about whatever we are doing at the moment, what meditators call mindfulness?
Vicki Mackenzie on Buddhist Nuns Tenzin Palmo and Freda Bedi #59
Author Vicki Mackenzie on pioneering Buddhist nuns Tenzin Palmo and Freda Bedi and the bias that’s excluded women from the full path to enlightenment.
What Happens When You Die? #58
What happens when you die? This Tibetan Buddhist meditation takes you through a precise series of steps to explore in a meditation on the boundary between life and death.
Where Did I Come From? #57
The idea of past lives may not make make sense, and isn’t scientifically verifiable. But still, the question of what we might have been before our conception is one worth asking.
Birth, Death, and Infinity #56
We’re all born and we’re all going to die, but how many of us have ever felt a connection to infinity?
Meditation on Loving-Kindness and Compassion with Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche #55
A short guided meditation on loving-kindness and compassion by Tibetan Buddhist lama, author, and abstract painter Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on Patience, Compassion, and Art #54
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, renowned Tibetan Buddhist lama, author, and abstract expressionist painter talks about the mind, compassion, patience, and art.
Stephen Butler on Openness, Gentleness, and Mr. Rogers’ Buddhism #53
Our podcast producer finally steps in front of the mic! Stephen Butler, producer of Grammy-nominated Indigenous and Native American music on gentleness, openness, and the Buddhism of Mr. Rogers.
I Want to Know What Love Is #52
If you want to know what love is, search beyond eighties songs to the wisdom of Buddhist loving-kindness that expands our love to all beings while also deepening our connection to our partner and family.
Ten Questions for Dr. Robert Thurman (Part 2) #51
Dr. Robert Thurman on the healthy kind of ego, how to be a Buddhist without belief, and a powerful vision of enlightenment and Nirvana.
Ten Questions for Dr. Robert Thurman (Part 1) #50
Dr. Robert Thurman on time, enlightenment, nihilism, psychonauts, and skepticism in a wonderful conversation with one of the world’s greatest minds.
Dr. Rick Hanson’s Five Breaths Meditation #49
Dr. Rick Hanson, best-selling author of Buddha’s Brain, Hardwiring Happiness, shared his “Five Breaths” neuroscience-based guided meditation.
Interview with Dr. Rick Hanson, author of Neurodharma and Buddha’s Brain #48
Dr. Rick Hanson, best-selling author of Buddha’s Brain, Hardwiring Happiness, and Neurodharma, shares insights from neuroscience on how to grow our extraordinary potential for inner happiness without denying any of our pain.
Beginning the New Year with a Purification Meditation #47
Our first episode of 2021 is a guided meditation on “purification”: a healthy way to let go of regrets from the last year and make a realistic path to being our best self this year through forgiveness and self-acceptance.
Dr. Jay Garfield on Healthy Realities #46
Dr. Jay Garfield on the connection between compassion and emptiness, that dissolves our self-centered view to embrace all beings and the reality around us.
Meditation on Gratitude, Dedication, and Determination #45
The process of feeling gratitude and dedication creates the mental and neurological causes to become better people and to better serve the world.
Secular Guided Meditation on the Buddhist Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim) #44
A complete secular guided meditation on the Tibetan Buddhist stages of the path (lamrim) that you can practice every day.
Guided Meditation: The Interdependent Self #43
Who am I? From the Buddhist perspective, there’s a systematic way of asking this question of who you are in the form of a meditation on the ultimate nature of the self, or “emptiness.” This meditation is said to be the strongest antidote to our disturbing states of mind and a cause for greater self-awareness, happiness, and connection with others.
Who Am I? #42
Are you your body? Are you your mind? The Buddhist notion of emptiness, searches for the partless, independent, unchanging “I” that ordinarily appears to us and finds a self that’s far richer and interconnected with reality and with others.
Geshe Tenzin Namdak on the Mind, Disturbing Emotions, and the Ultimate Nature of Reality #41
“Buddhism is not meant to make people Buddhist” Western Tibetan Buddhist master Geshe Tenzin Namdak on the mind, disturbing emotions, and emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality.
20-Minute Meditation: the Interdependent Nature of Reality #40
Meditating on the interdependent nature of reality, or emptiness, breaks down the illusion of independent, partless, and unchanging objects.
The Interdependent Nature of Reality #39
The Buddhist analysis of how things exist breaks objects down into parts, causes, and the mind that bundles them into the illusion of a solid, singular, unchanging entity. What happens when we apply this analysis to the iPhone?
Guided Meditation: How Things Exist #38
Science & Buddhism show us that as we examine reality more closely, things exist far more subtly than they appear, including our precious smartphone.
How Things Exist: Emptiness, Dependent Origination, and your Smartphone #37
The Buddhist view on reality, called emptiness, combines the awe of scientific knowledge with the inner, experiential knowledge that comes from meditation.
Guided Meditation on the Natural Goodness of our Mind: Ven. Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald) #36
Renowned Tibetan Buddhist nun and teacher Venerable Sangye Khadro on the natural goodness of our mind, karma, and how to lead a compassionate, meaningful life.
Venerable Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald) on The Natural Goodness of our Mind #35
Renowned Tibetan Buddhist nun and teacher Venerable Sangye Khadro on the natural goodness of our mind, karma, and how to lead a compassionate, meaningful life.
Sympathetic Joy: Opening Your Heart to the Happiness of Others #34
Sympathetic joy is rejoicing in all the good things that others do. It’s an easy compassion meditation that counteracts greed, jealousy, and envy, and can even be done kicking back on the couch at the end of a hard day.
Be Willing to Get Woke with Dr. Jan Willis #33
Dr. Jan Willis, renowned scholar and teacher of Buddhism, talks about race and racism through a Buddhist lens.
Guided Meditation: Universalizing our Problems and Pleasures #32
A guided meditation on “universalizing” transforming our everyday problems and pleasures through love and compassion.
Universalizing: Transforming Pain and Pleasure into Love and Compassion #31
The Tibetan Buddhist mind training meditation of “universalizing” transforms our everyday experiences of pleasure and pain into engines of love and compassion.
Guided Tonglen Meditation: Exchanging Yourself with Others #30
A guided meditation on tonglen or “taking and giving,” a Tibetan practice combining loving-kindness and compassion.
Guided Compassion Meditation #29
A 15-minute guided meditation on compassion: the wish to take away others’ suffering.
What Is Compassion? #28
What is compassion? From the Buddhist perspective, it’s not just empathizing with others’ suffering, but actively wishing to take it away.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering on Karma, Analytical Meditation, and Mindfulness #27
Geshe Tashi Tsering’s profound insights on secular karma, the importance of analytical meditation, and a warning that meditation’s popularity today might just kill it.
Guided Meditation on Love #26
A guided meditation on love, or loving kindness, wishing happiness not only to friends and family but to all beings everywhere including our enemies.
What Is Love? #25
Love is complex in our culture, tied up with finding a single person to satisfy our huge list of needs and dreams. But love from the Buddhist perspective is simpler: wishing others to be happy.
The Dalai Lama’s “Simple Meditation” #24
The Dalai Lama recommends this meditation for the early morning, right when you wake up: a meditation on the nature of the mind, followed by meditating on the kindness of others.
Guided Meditation: Transforming Bias with Equanimity #23
The Buddhist meditation on equanimity teaches a technique to eliminate bias and expand our care and concern from family and friends to strangers and even enemies.
Spiritual Democracy #22
The Buddhist meditation on equanimity teaches us a technique of “spiritual democracy” for developing healthy feelings of connection to others—even those we most despise.
Venerable Robina Courtin: Buddha’s Science of Mind #21
Venerable Robina Courtin, Buddhist nun and advocate for prisoner’s rights, on how activists can leverage meditation and mind training, how Buddhism functions as a science of the mind, and how being a Buddhist doesn’t mean being a pushover.
Guided Meditation: Fighting Systemic Racism through Compassionate Action #BlackLivesMatter #20
A guided meditation on fighting the systemic racism against Black Americans through compassionate action.
The Adventure So Far: Analytic Meditation on the Stages of the Path #19
A guided analytical meditation inspired by Tibetan Buddhism’s Lamrim Stages of the Path that’s a mental adventure to begin your day.
Guided Meditation: Renunciation #18
Meditating on renunciation gains a clear sense of our deluded state of mind right now, with many moments of frustration and anger and impatience and craving; turning away from these to the true source of refuge we find within our own mind.
The Red Pill of Renunciation: Embracing Reality as It Is #17
What do The Matrix and Jerry Seinfeld have to do with renouncing suffering and embracing reality as it is?
Guided Meditation: Letting Go of Suffering #16
A meditation on what suffering is and how to apply mental antidotes that oppose the true source of suffering: our attachment, anger, and self-centered ignorance.
Am I More Important Than Everyone Else in the Universe? #15
Am I just a little bit more important than everyone else? My happiness, my goals, my relationships? This view, from the Buddhist perspective, is the root cause of our suffering, a delusion called ignorance.
What Do You Do When You’re Alone? #14
What do you do when you’re alone? When you’re anxious, lonely, or afraid, when you feel strong craving? The Buddhist view on this subject reveals a deep source of strength and support within our own minds that’s available any time we need it.
Guided Meditation: Alone Together #13
Millions are now faced with enforced solitude, while others, in the crush of families together all day, realize how much we needed that time alone we took for granted. The essence of meditation is finding a place of satisfaction in our minds that’s equally at ease alone or with others.
Guided Meditation: Mental Cause and Effect #12
A self-reflection meditation, taking control of our mental cause and effect that’s normally unconscious; habits and activities conditioned by evolution, our upbringing, society and the media; letting you sleep better and be your best self the next day.
Mental Cause and Effect #11
Evolution, habits, and society all affect our behavior, but we can gain conscious control of our actions through a daily practice of self-appreciation and self-forgiveness to release regret and pain and face each day with renewed presence and joy.
Guided Meditation: Embracing Impermanence #10
A guided mediation to embrace impermanence, releasing fear and anxiety to become more fully present to those around us.
Embracing Impermanence #9
We cling to things as if they won’t change, but change is the nature of reality, as the COVID-19 reveals. By embracing impermanence we release fear and anxiety and become fully present to those around us.
Guided Meditation: Combatting Coronavirus Fear with Compassion #8
A guided meditation combatting fear of the Coronavirus through compassion using the technique of Taking and Giving (Tonglen), that expands our sense of connection to others.
Guided Meditation: What is the Mind? #7
What is the mind without thoughts? Where is the space of our consciousness? Do we ever arrive at a quantum of consciousness?
What Is the Mind? #6
If the mind is our thoughts, then what observes those thoughts? What are we without thoughts? Do we ever truly see an object, or only its mental reconstruction?
Guided Meditation: The Preciousness of Life #5
A guided meditation on the preciousness of our next 24 hours alive, and our unique place in the universe as science understands it: intelligent, self-aware beings at the end of 14 billion years’ cosmic and biological evolution.
The Preciousness of Life, from Cosmos to the Kardashians #4
“It is not more surprising to be born twice than once.” Contemplating the miracle of existing at all, from our place at the end of our universe’s 14 billion years’ evolution, to the simple joy of another 24 hours alive.
Guided Meditation: Stabilizing the Mind and Watching Thoughts #3
A complete guided meditation session expanding your compassion, stabilizing concentration on the breath, and observing your thoughts.
What Is Meditation? #2
The lesser-known technique of analytic meditation doesn’t just reduce stress, but enhances our greatest human qualities through stories, thoughts, and emotions.
What Is A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment? #1
The first time I went to see the Dalai Lama I was skeptical, but one of the first things he said was, “Don’t become a Buddhist.”
Healthy Masculinity: A Meditation on Sex, Strength, and Love #228
A guided meditation on healthy masculinity, exploring strength, sexuality, compassion, and self-acceptance to cultivate deeper connection with yourself and others.
Sex, Strength, and Love: Karen Brody on Modern Masculinity #227
One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced hasn’t been sitting on a meditation cushion—it’s been understanding the person I love most. Karen Brody has a unique perspective on modern masculinity, intimacy, and sexuality. Her insights help us understand why men and women so often misunderstand each other, how sexual confidence differs from neediness, what keeps love alive over decades together, and the surprising parallels between her work and Buddhist practice in transforming desire rather than suppressing it.
Meditation to Cultivate Hope for the Future with Geshe Legtsok #226
In this guided meditation, Geshe Legtsok leads a reflection on gratitude, good fortune, impermanence, and intentional action. By recognizing the blessings in our own lives, appreciating the positive contributions of others, and remembering that change is always possible, we develop a more balanced and hopeful outlook.
Is This Actually the Best Time to Be Alive? — Geshe Legtsok #225
Are we living in a better world than we realize? Discover why Geshe Legtsok believes this could be humanity’s most hopeful era yet.
Remembering Robert Thurman: Psychonaut, Scholar, and Friend #224
Following Robert Thurman’s death, we revisit a favorite conversation exploring the possibility that our deepest nature is joy.
Our Best Possible Future: Kim Stanley Robinson #223
Best selling author and climate activist talks to Scott on Earth Day about the climate crisis and his hope for a better future. Hosted by the UC Berkeley School of Journalism.
You Are Enough Meditation with Lodro Rinzler #222
This guided meditation by Lodro Rinzler focuses on basic goodness and how we can accept and love ourselves and others.
You Are Good, You Are Enough with Lodro Rinzler #221
What if that voice telling you you’re broken or fundamentally flawed is wrong? That’s the radical message of today’s guest, Buddhist teacher and best selling author Lodro Rinzler.
Preciousness of Human Life Form: A Guided Meditation with Robert Thurman #220
This guided meditation by Tibetan teacher Dr. Robert Thurman invites you to explore one of the most profound ideas in contemplative practice: the rarity and potential of being human.
Can AI Teach Happiness? Meet Dharma Bob: Robert Thurman’s AI Avatar #219
A conversation with Robert Thurman and his AI counterpart Dharma Bob on Buddhism, enlightenment, compassion, and whether AI can help us live a happier, more meaningful life.
Equanimity Meditation for Balance and Rest with Margaret Cullen #218
Meditation teacher Margaret Cullen leads a meditation on equanimity to cultivate balance, calm, and feel more at peace.
Feel More, React Less with Margaret Cullen #217
In this solo episode with Scott, he shares some special songs he created for loved ones using the power of AI.
Generative Love: Using AI to Turn Lives Into Song #216
In this solo episode with Scott, he shares some special songs he created for loved ones using the power of AI.
Music, Imagination, and Meditation with Chris Ballew (Caspar Babypants) #215
Chris Ballew discusses his struggles with rockstar fame, why he started Caspar Babypants, and his relationship with meditation.
What Would You Do If Someone Pulled A Gun On You? Training the Mind for Nonviolence and Compassion in Crisis #214
I share a terrifying personal experience and reflect—through a Buddhist lens—on how an attitude of love and compassion may have saved my life.
Art & Emptiness: Tsherin Sherpa on Tradition, Identity, & Freedom #213
Contemporary artist Tsherin Sherpa speaks openly about his work, which draws on Himalayan Buddhist iconography to explore sexuality, gender, consumerism, and identity.
Laurie Anderson’s Buddhism, Art, Meditation, and Death as Adventure [Full Uncut Interview] #212
A guided Tibetan Buddhist meditation exploring the subtle body (the energetic bridge between body and mind) through breath, awareness, and embodied presence.
Meditation on the Subtle Body #211
A guided Tibetan Buddhist meditation exploring the subtle body (the energetic bridge between body and mind) through breath, awareness, and embodied presence.
Scott Snibbe’s Buddhist Art: Hidden Geometries #210
Host Scott Snibbe talks about his artistic career and shares what he is currently working on: Hidden Geometries, an ode to Buddhist art.
Rethinking Thanksgiving: A Buddhist Perspective #209
Explore how rethinking Thanksgiving can allow us to enjoy this holiday in a new way and send love to everyone in the world.
Guided Drawing Meditation with John Simon Jr. #208
In this guided meditation and drawing practice, artist and teacher John Simon Jr. leads us through a series of exercises designed to connect inner awareness with mark-making on paper. Blending Buddhist principles with intuitive art, this session invites you to notice your sensations, thoughts, and environment while allowing your hand to move freely. No art experience is needed, just a willingness to observe, let go, and explore.
Drawing As Meditation with John Simon Jr. #207
Listen to our interview with artist John Simon Jr about art, Buddhism, AI, drawing as meditation, and the power of creativity.
Meditation on Falling in Love with the Future—Rob Hopkins #206
In this imaginative and hopeful episode, Rob Hopkins—founder of the Transition movement and author of How to Fall in Love with the Future—guides listeners through a vivid meditation envisioning the year 2030. Drawing on years of community activism and storytelling, Rob invites us to step through a metaphorical door into a future shaped by collective action, resilience, and radical imagination. What might our cities, communities, and daily lives look like if we did everything we could to build a better world? This episode offers a powerful glimpse into that possibility.
How to Fall in Love with the Future—Rob Hopkins #205
Climate activist and author Rob Hopkins invites us into his time machine to explore what a healthy, thriving future could look like for humanity and our earth.
Meditation for Angry Parents #204
Scott Snibbe explores how Buddhist psychology defines anger and offers parents practical antidotes rooted in curiosity and compassion.
Emptiness of Self: Guided Meditation with Geshe Sherab #203
Join Geshe Sherab for a deeply reflective guided meditation on the emptiness of self—one of the core insights of Buddhist wisdom.
What is Emptiness? with Geshe Sherab #202
This week’s guest is from Tibet, Geshe Sherab—he discusses emptiness, not just as a philosophy but as a practical antidote to suffering.
AI and Enlightenment with Dr. David Kittay #201
Dr. David Kittay explores whether AI can lead to enlightenment or surpass humanity, while emphasizing simpler paths to happiness over technological fixes.
Is Enlightenment Possible? #200
Scott Snibbe offers a talk and meditation to the Train a Happy Mind community on the question, Is enlightenment possible?
The Warm Heart of Awareness: A Meditation with Ven. René Feusi #199
This 20 minute guided meditation comes from the sequence Scott shares in the How to Train a Happy Mind podcast and book. The stages are based on the Tibetan Buddhist lamrim, which was created more than a thousand years ago by the Indian Master Atisha Dipankar. Over the past decade, Scott has adapted it to be a non-religious way to transform the mind from states of frustration, craving, and loneliness to states of satisfaction, connection, and meaning.
Concentration Makes Us Happy! with Ven. Rene Feusi #198
Venerable René Feusi talks about how focused awareness can help us live with joy—not just in meditation, but walking, sipping tea, listening to music, or even playing with your cat.
20 Minute “Path to a Happy Mind” Guided Meditation #197
This 20 minute guided meditation comes from the sequence Scott shares in the How to Train a Happy Mind podcast and book. The stages are based on the Tibetan Buddhist lamrim, which was created more than a thousand years ago by the Indian Master Atisha Dipankar. Over the past decade, Scott has adapted it to be a non-religious way to transform the mind from states of frustration, craving, and loneliness to states of satisfaction, connection, and meaning.
Joyful Effort: A Guided Meditation with Tenzin Chogkyi #196
Welcome to this guided meditation on accessing joy with Tenzin Chogkyi. In this practice, we’ll take time to settle the body, connect with the breath, and gently open to the feeling of joy.
Beyond Bombs: A Meditation on Ending War and Cultivating Peace #195
This meditation was recorded the day after the United States launched a new bombing campaign in Iran. In response, Scott reflects on the roots of violence, both in our world and in our minds, and to offer a path toward peace.
Joy and Enthusiasm—Even When Life’s Hard—with Tenzin Chogkyi #194
Tenzin Chogkyi talks about one of the six perfections, enthusiasm or joyful effort.
10-Minute Path to a Happy Mind Guided Meditation #193
Join Scott for this meditation that summarizes every step of the path from the preciousness of life to the interdependent nature of reality.
The Complete Path to a Happy Mind #192
Join Scott for this meditation that summarizes every step of the path from the preciousness of life to the interdependent nature of reality.
5-Minute Breath Awareness Meditation – Larry Ward #191
Dr. Larry Ward—student of Thich Nhat Hanh and author of America’s Racial Karma—leads a short but powerful breath meditation.
Healing America’s Racial Karma—Larry Ward #190
Dr. Larry Ward, student of Thich Nhat Hanh and author of America’s Racial Karma, talks about how we heal from the trauma of racism.
Mindfulness Awareness Meditation with Susan Piver #189
Susan Piver leads a short breath awareness meditation in this week’s podcast episode. If you were to go down the Buddhist path, you would start with this practice before starting with visualizations, guru yogas, mantras, mandala practices. It’s a simple practice that is suitable for all.
Inexplicable Joy—On the Heart Sutra & Buddhism Without Belief with Susan Piver #188
Susan Piver talks about her new book, Inexplicable Joy, which explores one of Buddhism’s most famous and mysterious texts, the heart sutra.
From Panic to Peace: A Guided Meditation with Kazu Haga #187
Sit beside your fear with compassion in Kazu Haga’s gentle, grounding guided meditation—an invitation to return to yourself when everything feels like it’s unraveling.
Beyond Us vs Them: Transforming Society Through Fierce Vulnerability with Kazu Haga #186
Transformative activist and restorative justice advocate Kazu Haga talks about his new book, Fierce Vulnerability.
How to Use Your Phone Mindfully: A Guided Meditation for Digital Wellness — Jay Vidyarthi #185
Settle into a mindful state and engage with your phone in this conscious exercise with digital wellness expert Jay Vidyarthi. Use this guided meditation to deeply and mindfully investigate your phone with clarity.
How to Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology—Jay Vidyarthi on Digital Wellness #184
Are you in control of your technology, or is it controlling you? Jay Vidyarthi, author of Reclaim Your Mind explains.
Meditation on Generosity #183
A Guided meditation on 4 types of generosity: giving material objects, providing protection, sharing wisdom, and spreading love.
A Buddhist Take on Homelessness & Generosity #182
Scott shares lessons about generosity that he learned from Buddhism, college girlfriend, mother, and those struggling with homelessness.
Two Meditations on Emptiness with Dr. Jan Willis #181
Dr. Jan Willis leads two meditations on emptiness of the “I” and analyzing the nature of the mind from a Buddhist perspective.
What Are the 6 Perfections? Dr. Jan Willis #180
Dr. Jan Willis guides us through the 6 perfections: generosity, morality, patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom.
Self-Compassion with Tenzin Chogkyi #178
Tenzin Chogkyi shares her insights on how to cultivate self-compassion and build a loving relationship with ourselves and others.
Exchanging Self with Other #177
A powerful Tibetan Buddhist meditation that was hidden for thousands of years.
How to Live a Happy Life: NPR’s Laura Sydell Talks with Scott Snibbe #176
NPR’s Laura Sydell talks with Scott Snibbe about his book, How to Train a Happy Mind.
Compassion for our Country: Meditations for Healing After a Divisive Election #175
Scott Snibbe leads a meditation on compassion after the recent election of Donald Trump as the next president.
Meditation on Nonviolence with Kazu Haga #174
Kazu Haga leads a powerful guided meditation for letting go of anger and other negative emotions based on the principles of nonviolence.
Does Nonviolent Protest Work? Kazu Haga #173
Kazu Haga on why nonviolent protest works and the practical steps we can each take to change the world through nonviolence.
Loving Yourself, Loving Others, & Letting Go—Paula Chichester #172
This powerful guided meditation for letting go of negative emotions with Paula Chichester helps cultivate love, mindfulness, and inner peace.
Diary of a Yogini with Paula Chichester #171
Paula Chichester shares the joys and challenges of being a yogini in solitary retreat for decades and how her life is today.
Stories We Tell Ourselves—Laurie Anderson & Scott Snibbe at Tibet House #170
Laurie Anderson and Scott Snibbe talk at Tibet House about Scott’s book, How to Train a Happy Mind, analytical meditation, and art.
Dr. Cornel West: Truth, Justice, and Love #169
Dr. Cornel West discusses compassionate leadership, nonviolence, and social justice with Scott Snibbe.
DJ Spooky + Snibbe at the Rubin Museum #168
DJ Spooky and Scott Snibbe talk about Scott’s new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, at The Rubin Museum.
Freeing Ourselves from Suffering: Anger, Craving, Pride, and War #167
An inside peak into one of Scott’s guided meditations for the Train a Happy Mind community, on letting go of suffering, anger, pride, & craving.
Ven. Thubten Chodren Meditation on Anger #166
Venerable Thubten Chodron offers a Buddhist meditation to help work through anger in a compassionate and loving manner.
Venerable Thubten Chodron on Working With Anger #165
Venerable Thubten Chodron, author of Working with Anger, offers a Buddhist perspective on managing and healing anger in difficult situations.
Tenzin Chogkyi & Scott Snibbe San Francisco Book Launch for How to Train a Happy Mind #164
Tenzin Chogkyi talks to Scott Snibbe about his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, at San Francisco’s Medicine for Nightmares bookstore
Tara Meditation on Hope—Ven. Robina Courtin #163
Venerable Robina Courtin guides a beautiful Tara meditation on hope that uses visualization and Buddhist teachings.
How to Heal Despair with Venerable Robina Courtin #162
Venerable Robina Courtin discusses how to deal with the despair many people feel today about war, injustice, inequity, and the environment.
Robert Thurman & Scott Snibbe: How to Train a Happy Mind #161
Renowned author and scholar Robert Thurman talks with Scott Snibbe about his new book How to Train a Happy Mind at Tibet House
Contentment and Ambition with Yangsi Rinpoche #160
Yangsi Rinpoche talks about how to practice real self-compassion and the ways we can create the causes for world peace.
sujatha baliga & Scott Snibbe in conversation: How to Train a Happy Mind #159
Restorative justice practitioner sujatha baliga talks to Scott Snibbe about his new meditation book, How to Train a Happy Mind.
Meditation on Embracing Life with Stephen Batchelor #158
In this guided meditation, Stephen Batchelor invites you to unconditionally embrace your experience of the moment, to simply watch all thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and notice the ground of nonreactive awareness. This guides you toward a path rooted in freedom, openness, and love.
Buddhism Without Beliefs with Stephen Batchelor #157
Author of Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor, shares his journey from living as an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk to becoming a skeptical agnostic.
Book Passage Conversation with Derek Fagerstrom and Scott Snibbe #156
Derek Fagerstrom interviews Scott Snibbe about his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, at the Book Passage, San Francisco.
Precious Life Meditation with Scott Snibbe #155
Scott Snibbe reads a meditation from his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind, on the Tibetan tradition called the Precious Life.
The Precious Life—Chapter Reading from How to Train a Happy Mind #154
Scott Snibbe shares a chapter from his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind: The Precious Life.
How to Train a Happy Mind book launch conversation with Scott Snibbe and Vicki Mackenzie #153
Scott Snibbe talks to best-selling author Vicki Mackenzie about his new book, How to Train a Happy Mind.
Meditation on Feeling Good with Meenadchi #152
Meenadchi guides a meditation on discovering and feeling the good things in your body and mind.
Decolonizing Nonviolent Communication with Meenadchi #151
Meenadchi, a somatic healing practitioner, talks about her book, Decolonizing Nonviolent Communication, and how Buddhism influences her work.
Compassionate Speech with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim #150
Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide, shares how to confront harmful speech and transform bias in our language.
Equanimity Meditation with Scott Tusa #149
Scott Tusa leads an equanimity meditation that works with three kinds of relationships in our life. The purpose is to cultivate compassion, loving-kindness, and understanding. [00:00:00] Scott Tusa: Welcome to our equanimity meditation. We’re going to take about 10 minutes to do a brief practice on working with three kinds of relationships in our life.
What Is the Right Thing to Do? with Scott Tusa #148
Scott Tusa and Scott Snibbe discuss how Buddhism approaches hard choices: in their own lives, and in world conflicts like Israel and Gaza.
Letting Go and Looking Forward in the New Year #147
Scott Snibbe shares a gentle Buddhist approach to self-forgiveness, letting go, establishing good habits, and rejoicing in all the good we’ve done.
RAFT Meditation with Dr. Katherine MacLean #146
Dr. Katherine MacLean leads a meditation practice called RAFT: Remembering to be Aware of Feelings in your body and Trust your experience.
Psychedelics, Meditation, and Buddhism with Dr. Katherine MacLean #145
Dr. Katherine MacLean discusses what psychedelics and meditation have in common and when these substances might be of benefit.
Mindful Awareness Meditation with Michael Sapiro #144
Dr. Michael Sapiro leads a guided meditation on mindful awareness that connects you with the present moment and your senses.
Psychedelic Psychotherapy with Dr. Michael Sapiro #143
Dr. Michael Sapiro discusses the profound benefits of psychedelic pyschotherapy and its relation to Buddhism.
War Meditation #142
What does the Dalai Lama say about ending war? This meditation helps us understand the causes of war, and how we might eventually be free of them.
Are We Fundamentally Good? with Dr. Jan Willis #140
Dr. Jan Willis talks about buddha nature, enlightenment, and how to recognize fundamental goodness in ourself and others.
Guided Meditation on Compassion with Tenzin Chogkyi #139
Tenzin Chogkyi leads a guided meditation to cultivate compassion for yourself and others.
Patriarchy, Gender, and Sexism in Buddhism with Tenzin Chogkyi #138
Former Buddhist nun Tenzin Chogkyi dives head on into the challenging topics of hierarchy, patriarchy, gender, and sexism in Buddhism.
Guided Meditation on Healing Trauma with sujatha baliga #137
Sujatha baliga leads a guided meditation to work through past traumas in a gentle, loving, and healing manner.
sujatha baliga on Healing Trauma and Restorative Justice #136
Macarthur Award winner sujatha baliga discusses healing trauma, restorative justice, and the power of love and meditation to build a better world.
Dan Harris Loving-Kindness Guided Meditation #135
Dan Harris, host of the hit podcast Ten Percent Happier, leads a loving-kindness meditation for skeptics.
Dan Harris: Love, Skepticism, & the “Cheesy Upward Spiral” #134
Dan Harris, host of the 10% Happier podcast, talks about love, skepticism, Buddhism, and the “cheesy upward spiral.”
Guided Meditation: Compassion through Looking Inside #133
Buddhist teacher Wendy Haylett leads an analytical meditation to reflect on our difficult relationships without judgement.
Everyday Buddhism: Compassion, Trauma, and Self-Acceptance with Wendy Haylett #132
Wendy Shinyo Haylett, from the Everyday Buddhism podcast, discusses compassion, trauma, and self-acceptance.
Guided Meditation on Consciousness #131
What does it mean to be aware? Is your mind limited to your physical body? And who is it that observes your thoughts?
Free Will, Consciousness, & Reality with Dr. Anil Seth #130
Dr. Anil Seth on the science of consciousness, whether we have free will, and reality as a controlled hallucination.
Compassion with Ven. Sangye Khadro and Scott Snibbe #129
Venerable Sangye Khadro and Scott Snibbe discuss compassion in this talk organized by the Foundation for Compassion and Wisdom.
Kim Stanley Robinson and Robert Thurman: Climate, Politics, and the Dalai Lama #128
Kim Stanley Robinson and Robert Thurman meet for the first time to talk about climate, politics, and the Dalai Lama.
Guided Meditation: Exploring the Texture of the Mind #126
Buddhist teacher Emily Hsu leads an analytical meditation that explores the inner landscape—texture—of the mind and the differences between constructive and unconstructive mental states.
The Buddhist Understanding of the Mind with Emily Hsu #125
Emily Hsu talks about the Buddhist view of the mind, navigating disturbing emotions, and how to understand reality.
Meditation on Equanimity for Parents and Teens #125
Buddhist family counselor Richard Prinz leads a meditation on equanimity for teens and parents to develop compassion, introspection, love, and non-attachment.
Parenting Teens with Buddhist Family Counselor Richard Prinz #124
Buddhist family counselor Richard Prinz talks about ways parents can transform their minds while helping teens transform themselves.
Guided Meditation for Kids with Francesca Hampton #123
Francesca Hampton leads a loving-kindness meditation suitable for kids and adults alike. This practice helps the mind become calm, loving, and clear.
How to Teach Children Meditation — Francesca Hampton #122
Francesca Hampton discusses her children’s book Leo Learns to Meditate that teaches kids mindfulness, loving-kindness, and how to keep meditation fun.
Robert Thurman: Wisdom is Bliss #121
Robert Thurman discusses his book Wisdom Is Bliss, which talks about Buddhism as a direct experience that reveals the pure joy of reality.
Tantric Meditation on Compassion and Wisdom with Rob Preece #120
Rob Preece leads a Buddhist tantra meditation on Green Tara. This powerful feminine figure is an expression of our own potential for compassionate, wisdom energy.
The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra with Rob Preece #119
Psychotherapist Rob Preece talks about Buddhist tantra, how exercise and nature relate to the tantric practices, the role of sex in Vajrayana Buddhism, and how we embrace our different dimensions of gender in meditation and everyday life.
Guided Meditation: Being Yourself with Susan Piver #118
Susan Piver leads a breath-awareness meditation on being your authentic self, watching your breath and thoughts to open up to who you are.
Susan Piver: Understanding Our Differences with the Buddhist Enneagram #117
Susan Piver’s unique Buddhist take on the Enneagram’s nine different personality types and how we can use it in our daily lives.
Meditation on Healing Anxiety with Ven. Amy Miller #116
Venerable Amy Miller leads a guided meditation for healing anxiety, creating a safe mental space, reconnecting to the positive, and relaxing your body.
Transforming Anxiety, Depression and Other Difficult Emotions with Ven. Amy Miller #115
Venerable Amy Miller on managing anxiety, depression, and other difficult emotions with Buddhist meditation and mind training techniques.
“Cutting the Cat in Two”: A Guided Meditation for Dealing with Conflict #114
Dr. Mark Westmoquette leads a Zen Buddhist meditation to help navigate conflict in your daily life. He uses the story “Cutting the Cat in Two”—a famous Zen koan—to lead the practice and illustrate the importance of embodiment and shifting one’s perspective.
Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People with Dr. Mark Westmoquette #113
Mark Westmoquette talks about the meaty topic of dealing with difficult people, who he calls “troublesome Buddhas,” from our boss to our partner to world leaders and that person who takes your parking space.
Finding Refuge in the Mind—A Guided Meditation #112
What do you do when you’re alone? When you’re scared, anxious, lonely, afraid, or feeling strong craving? In our guided meditation we explore the Buddhist view on this subject and discuss how to reveal a deep source of strength and refuge within our own minds.
Guided Loving-kindness Meditation with Lorne Ladner #111
Lorne Ladner leads a loving-kindness meditation with themes of connection, gratitude, and warmth. This practice focuses on the experience of receiving and giving love.
Buddhist Psychologist Lorne Ladner on Depression, Compassion, and Positive Psychology #110
Buddhist psychologist Lorne Ladner on his patients’ top questions, the difference between selfishness and self-compassion, setting healthy boundaries, and treating depression with Buddhist psychology.
Meditation, Science, and Christianity with Father Laurence Freeman #108
Catholic priest and Benedictine monk Father Laurence Freeman discusses the role of community, meditation, contemplation, and science in his life. He emphasizes his trust in humanity and the importance of wonder in our daily lives.
Universal Love in Christianity and Buddhism with Greg Hillis #108
Christian Scholar Greg Hillis speaks on the parallels between Christianity and Buddhism, the possibility of universal love, and social activism that respects those we disagree with.
Guided Death and Rebirth Meditation with Laurie Anderson #107
Laurie Anderson leads a guided meditation on death and rebirth inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist understanding of what happens when we die.
Laurie Anderson’s Buddhism: Art, Meditation, and Death as Adventure #106
Grammy Award winning artist Laurie Anderson, a longtime student of Buddhism and meditation, shares her personal path with Buddhism
Ten Million Percent Happier – Interview with Scott Snibbe
Scott Snibbe on finding meaning and spirituality through art and creativity, love without attachment, and our infinite potential.
Dr. Thupten Jinpa on Buddhism, Science, Compassion, and Climate #104
Dr. Thupten Jinpa on the intersection of science, Buddhism, and critical thinking, and how Buddhist principles can help address the climate crisis as well as helping each of us lead better lives at home with our families and in our relationships.
From What If to What Next? — Rob Hopkins’ Climate Optimism #103
Climate activist Rob Hopkins talks about engaged Buddhism that actively works for positive change in our communities and in the world.
Kim Stanley Robinson on Solving the Climate Crisis, Buddhism, and the Power of Science Fiction #102
Kim Stanley Robinson on climate change solutions, Buddhism in his life and work, sci-fi and “cli-fi”, colonizing Mars, and how to stay optimistic.
Guided Meditation: Empathetic Joy With Ayya Dhammadipa #101
Ayya Dhammadipa leads a 12-minute meditation on empathetic joy, also known as mudita. This practice is one of the four immeasurables.
Gifts Greater Than the Oceans With Ayya Dhammadipa #100
Ayya Dhammadipa spoke with us about her unique path to becoming a nun and the power of generosity, going beyond mindfulness, and motherhood.
Mommysattva: Meditation and Motherhood with Jenna Hollenstein #99
Author, mother and meditation teacher Jenna Hollenstein offers an engaged form of mindfulness and compassion that mothers can practice in everyday life as a Mommysattva: a warrior of compassion, wisdom, and lovingkindness.
Guided Meditation: Turning Towards with Ben Connelly #98
Soto Zen Teacher Ben Connelly leads a guided meditation integrating two ways of meditating in the spirit of the Yogacara tradition of Buddhism.
Esoteric and Everyday Buddhism with Ben Connelly #97
Soto Zen Teacher Ben Connelly on the relationship between science and reality, whether karma really exists, and how to be a Buddhist activist.
Guided Meditation for Fear with Kiri Westby #96
Lifelong human rights activist, writer, and Buddhist practitioner Kiri Westby guides us through a 10-minute guided meditation for fear, drawing upon her days working in war zones and her harrowing imprisonment in China.
Finding Fearlessness with Kiri Westby #95
“In that moment I literally let go of my life. I was sure that that was the end of my life. There was not a part of me that didn’t think I was going to die in that moment.”
Lifelong human rights activist, writer, and Buddhist practitioner Kiri Westby spoke to us about how her Buddhist practice helped her through imprisonment in China and the role of Buddhism in her humanitarian mission.
Vaccines and Compassion #94
How does the Buddhist view on compassion help us think about COVID vaccine controversies? What do the Dalai Lama and the Pope have to say about vaccination? Host Scott Snibbe and Producer Tara Anderson talk about how to stay loving and connected to people we disagree with, how to avoid “compassion fatigue,” and how to (not) convince somebody to see things our way.
Cultivating Our Inner Awareness with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo – 10 Minute Meditation #93
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is one of the world’s most revered Buddhist teachers and one of the very first Westerners to become ordained into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She is best known for having lived in a remote cave in the Himalayas for 12 years. In this 10-minute meditation, she offers the invitation to cultivate moment-to-moment awareness – the essence of practice.
Women, Buddhism, and Equality with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo #92
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is one of the world’s most revered Buddhist teachers and one of the very first Westerners to become ordained into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She is best known for having lived in a remote cave in the Himalayas for 12 years. She spoke with us about the role of women in Buddhism from a historical and contemporary lens, the nature of mind and simple, powerful ways to meditate in the modern world.
Guided Meditation: The Possibility of Enlightenment #91
In today’s meditation, we explore the idea of enlightenment: whether it’s possible, whether its seed is already within us, and even whether it’s any fun. If enlightenment is transcending a narrow, separate sense of self, what might a taste of that expansive self feel like?
What is Enlightenment? with Dr. Jan Willis #90
Is enlightenment really possible? Are there people on earth who are enlightened right now? Buddhist scholar Dr. Jan Willis answers these questions and more as we explore what enlightenment really means.
10-Minute Mindful Awareness Meditation with Susan Piver #89
A 10-minute mindful awareness meditation led by NYT bestselling author and Buddhist meditation teacher Susan Piver. Encompassing mindfulness of breath, body, and mind, this meditation helps us relax into a peaceful present moment awareness.
Four Noble Truths of Love with Susan Piver #88
NYT bestselling author and Buddhist meditation teacher Susan Piver shares her Four Noble Truths of Love, a framework anybody can use for deeper, more fulfilling, and more connected intimate relationships.
Becoming Loving-Kindness: A Guided Meditation with Elaine Jackson #87
Elaine Jackson guides a heart-warming Buddhist loving-kindness meditation (metta meditation). This meditation uses visualization to bring about our natural state of loving awareness for ourselves and all beings.
Buddhist Relationship Advice with Elaine Jackson #86
How do we integrate the wisdom of Buddhism into our intimate relationships? Elaine Jackson shares Buddhist relationship advice for navigating arguments selflessly, knowing when a relationship is over, dealing with divorce, how to meditate while parenting, and relating to a partner who’s on a different spiritual path.
Guided Meditation on Pleasure #85
How can we use pleasure in our meditation practice? Buddhism offers specific techniques for meditating on pleasure as a way to deepen our qualities of concentration, fearlessness, loving-kindness, and even our understanding of the ultimate nature of reality.
Pleasure and Buddhism: Food, Sex, and Netflix on the Path to Enlightenment #84
Pleasure is often viewed as a hindrance to the spiritual path, a hotbed of craving and attachment, but what if we told you that pleasure can be a positive part of the spiritual path, a portal to love and happiness?
Guided Meditation on Four Levels of Happiness #83
This week’s episode is a daily meditation on the four levels of happiness in Buddhism. Investigate the varying depths of happiness you get from sensory pleasures, positive states of mind, meditation, and the very nature of reality.
Four Kinds of Happiness with Ven. Sangye Khadro #82
Explore the four kinds of happiness in Buddhism with Ven. Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald). This episode offers an opportunity to reflect on where we derive our happiness from and how we can live happier lives by understanding how each kind of happiness relates to one another as well as to desire, attachment, and our own meditation practice.
A Biologist and a Buddhist Monk on the Nature of Reality: Geshe Namdak and Dr. Rupert Sheldrake #81
A biologist and a Buddhist monk have a conversation on how science can make sense of rebirth, emptiness, and karma, the origins of consciousness and creativity, and how modern science’s understanding of the nature of reality could benefit from the wisdom of contemplative traditions.
Compassionate AI with Kristian Simsarian #80
Artificial intelligence expert Kristian Simsarian joins host Scott Snibbe to discuss how we can create ethical, unbiased and compassionate AI, whether we should be scared of AI, and the implications of AI on the future of work and spirituality.
Guided Meditation: Four Foundations of Mindfulness with Dr. David Kittay #79
Tour the four foundations of mindfulness in this sweeping guided meditation with Dr. David Kittay. The Buddha named these four foundations as essential to our liberation: mindfulness of body, feelings, mind, and mental objects.
Buddhism and Technology with Dr. David Kittay (Part 2) #78
In Part 2, Dr. David Kittay discusses science fiction, emptiness and whether life is a simulation, whether we should treat AI robots with compassion and whether the singularity might be another term for enlightenment.
Buddhism and Technology with Dr. David Kittay (Part 1) #77
Dr. David Kittay joins the show to talk about the possibility of technologically assisted enlightenment, the nature of time, whether our phones and our social media accounts have become part of ourselves, and how to deal with tech addiction.
Loving Our Parents, Loving Our Children #76
Host Scott Snibbe offers a touching personal talk and meditation on how to best love our parents and our children using powerful Buddhist teachings and techniques on understanding, love, listening, and compassion.
10-Minute Meditation to Relax the Mind with Dza Kilung Rinpoche #75
Tibetan Buddhist Lama Dza Kilung Rinpoche leads a 10 minute meditation to relax into the vast spaciousness of our heart and mind.
The Relaxed Mind with Dza Kilung Rinpoche #74
Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dza Kilung Rinpoche shares seven meditation practices for a relaxed mind, heart, and body.
Guided Meditation: 7 Steps to Compassion with Ven. Gyalten Lekden #73
Buddhist monk Ven. Gyalten Lekden guides a Seven-Fold Cause and Effect Meditation to develop compassion and Bodhicitta (the mind of awakening)
Engaged Buddhism with Ven. Gyalten Lekden #72
Buddhist monk Ven. Gyalten on engaged Buddhism that actively grapples with social injustice, gender inequality, climate change, and racism.
Guided Meditation: How Money Exists #71
A 20-minute guided analytical meditation on how money exists through parts, causes, and the mind in our interdependent, empty reality
Bitcoin and Buddhism #70
What can Buddhism teach us about how Bitcoin works & why it’s so valuable? What can Bitcoin teach us about emptiness, the interdependent nature of reality?
Mindfulness at Work with Theo Koffler #69
Theo Koffler, founder of Mindfulness Without Borders, talks about meditation techniques for mindfulness and self-awareness at work.
Theo Koffler on Mindfulness for Teens & Young Adults #68
Theo Koffler, founder of Mindfulness Without Borders talks about mindfulness programs for teens and young adults and tips for parents on being mindfully present to make our lives joyful and meaningful.
Four Ways to Meditate at Work #67
Four meditations for the workplace including mindful work-life balance, turning every moment into a meditation, dealing with ethical challenges, and an angry boss.
Ruchika Sikri on Compassionate Corporations and Mindfulness at Google #66
Google’s Ruchika Sikri talks about meditation at work and how Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg can building compassionate corporations.
10-Minute Breath Meditation #64
A 10-minute guided meditation on the breath with mindfulness and open awareness.
10-Minute Body Meditation #63
A 10 minute guided meditation on the body, relaxing into the open connection between body and mind through mindful awareness
Scott Tusa’s Guided Meditation on Open Awareness #62
Scott Tusa leads a guided meditation on open awareness, allowing feelings and thoughts to arise in our body and mind without fixation or judgment.
Scott Tusa on Meditation and Mindfulness in Everyday Life #61
Buddhist teacher Scott Tusa on balancing the life of a meditation practitioner with work, friends, and family.
Why Mindfulness? #60
Could the true cause of happiness be simply thinking about whatever we are doing at the moment, what meditators call mindfulness?
Vicki Mackenzie on Buddhist Nuns Tenzin Palmo and Freda Bedi #59
Author Vicki Mackenzie on pioneering Buddhist nuns Tenzin Palmo and Freda Bedi and the bias that’s excluded women from the full path to enlightenment.
What Happens When You Die? #58
What happens when you die? This Tibetan Buddhist meditation takes you through a precise series of steps to explore in a meditation on the boundary between life and death.
Where Did I Come From? #57
The idea of past lives may not make make sense, and isn’t scientifically verifiable. But still, the question of what we might have been before our conception is one worth asking.
Birth, Death, and Infinity #56
We’re all born and we’re all going to die, but how many of us have ever felt a connection to infinity?
Meditation on Loving-Kindness and Compassion with Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche #55
A short guided meditation on loving-kindness and compassion by Tibetan Buddhist lama, author, and abstract painter Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on Patience, Compassion, and Art #54
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, renowned Tibetan Buddhist lama, author, and abstract expressionist painter talks about the mind, compassion, patience, and art.
Stephen Butler on Openness, Gentleness, and Mr. Rogers’ Buddhism #53
Our podcast producer finally steps in front of the mic! Stephen Butler, producer of Grammy-nominated Indigenous and Native American music on gentleness, openness, and the Buddhism of Mr. Rogers.
I Want to Know What Love Is #52
If you want to know what love is, search beyond eighties songs to the wisdom of Buddhist loving-kindness that expands our love to all beings while also deepening our connection to our partner and family.
Ten Questions for Dr. Robert Thurman (Part 2) #51
Dr. Robert Thurman on the healthy kind of ego, how to be a Buddhist without belief, and a powerful vision of enlightenment and Nirvana.
Ten Questions for Dr. Robert Thurman (Part 1) #50
Dr. Robert Thurman on time, enlightenment, nihilism, psychonauts, and skepticism in a wonderful conversation with one of the world’s greatest minds.
Dr. Rick Hanson’s Five Breaths Meditation #49
Dr. Rick Hanson, best-selling author of Buddha’s Brain, Hardwiring Happiness, shared his “Five Breaths” neuroscience-based guided meditation.
Interview with Dr. Rick Hanson, author of Neurodharma and Buddha’s Brain #48
Dr. Rick Hanson, best-selling author of Buddha’s Brain, Hardwiring Happiness, and Neurodharma, shares insights from neuroscience on how to grow our extraordinary potential for inner happiness without denying any of our pain.
Beginning the New Year with a Purification Meditation #47
Our first episode of 2021 is a guided meditation on “purification”: a healthy way to let go of regrets from the last year and make a realistic path to being our best self this year through forgiveness and self-acceptance.
Dr. Jay Garfield on Healthy Realities #46
Dr. Jay Garfield on the connection between compassion and emptiness, that dissolves our self-centered view to embrace all beings and the reality around us.
Meditation on Gratitude, Dedication, and Determination #45
The process of feeling gratitude and dedication creates the mental and neurological causes to become better people and to better serve the world.
Secular Guided Meditation on the Buddhist Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim) #44
A complete secular guided meditation on the Tibetan Buddhist stages of the path (lamrim) that you can practice every day.
Guided Meditation: The Interdependent Self #43
Who am I? From the Buddhist perspective, there’s a systematic way of asking this question of who you are in the form of a meditation on the ultimate nature of the self, or “emptiness.” This meditation is said to be the strongest antidote to our disturbing states of mind and a cause for greater self-awareness, happiness, and connection with others.
Who Am I? #42
Are you your body? Are you your mind? The Buddhist notion of emptiness, searches for the partless, independent, unchanging “I” that ordinarily appears to us and finds a self that’s far richer and interconnected with reality and with others.
Geshe Tenzin Namdak on the Mind, Disturbing Emotions, and the Ultimate Nature of Reality #41
“Buddhism is not meant to make people Buddhist” Western Tibetan Buddhist master Geshe Tenzin Namdak on the mind, disturbing emotions, and emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality.
20-Minute Meditation: the Interdependent Nature of Reality #40
Meditating on the interdependent nature of reality, or emptiness, breaks down the illusion of independent, partless, and unchanging objects.
The Interdependent Nature of Reality #39
The Buddhist analysis of how things exist breaks objects down into parts, causes, and the mind that bundles them into the illusion of a solid, singular, unchanging entity. What happens when we apply this analysis to the iPhone?
Guided Meditation: How Things Exist #38
Science & Buddhism show us that as we examine reality more closely, things exist far more subtly than they appear, including our precious smartphone.
How Things Exist: Emptiness, Dependent Origination, and your Smartphone #37
The Buddhist view on reality, called emptiness, combines the awe of scientific knowledge with the inner, experiential knowledge that comes from meditation.
Guided Meditation on the Natural Goodness of our Mind: Ven. Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald) #36
Renowned Tibetan Buddhist nun and teacher Venerable Sangye Khadro on the natural goodness of our mind, karma, and how to lead a compassionate, meaningful life.
Venerable Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald) on The Natural Goodness of our Mind #35
Renowned Tibetan Buddhist nun and teacher Venerable Sangye Khadro on the natural goodness of our mind, karma, and how to lead a compassionate, meaningful life.
Sympathetic Joy: Opening Your Heart to the Happiness of Others #34
Sympathetic joy is rejoicing in all the good things that others do. It’s an easy compassion meditation that counteracts greed, jealousy, and envy, and can even be done kicking back on the couch at the end of a hard day.
Be Willing to Get Woke with Dr. Jan Willis #33
Dr. Jan Willis, renowned scholar and teacher of Buddhism, talks about race and racism through a Buddhist lens.
Guided Meditation: Universalizing our Problems and Pleasures #32
A guided meditation on “universalizing” transforming our everyday problems and pleasures through love and compassion.
Universalizing: Transforming Pain and Pleasure into Love and Compassion #31
The Tibetan Buddhist mind training meditation of “universalizing” transforms our everyday experiences of pleasure and pain into engines of love and compassion.
Guided Tonglen Meditation: Exchanging Yourself with Others #30
A guided meditation on tonglen or “taking and giving,” a Tibetan practice combining loving-kindness and compassion.
Guided Compassion Meditation #29
A 15-minute guided meditation on compassion: the wish to take away others’ suffering.
What Is Compassion? #28
What is compassion? From the Buddhist perspective, it’s not just empathizing with others’ suffering, but actively wishing to take it away.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering on Karma, Analytical Meditation, and Mindfulness #27
Geshe Tashi Tsering’s profound insights on secular karma, the importance of analytical meditation, and a warning that meditation’s popularity today might just kill it.
Guided Meditation on Love #26
A guided meditation on love, or loving kindness, wishing happiness not only to friends and family but to all beings everywhere including our enemies.
What Is Love? #25
Love is complex in our culture, tied up with finding a single person to satisfy our huge list of needs and dreams. But love from the Buddhist perspective is simpler: wishing others to be happy.
The Dalai Lama’s “Simple Meditation” #24
The Dalai Lama recommends this meditation for the early morning, right when you wake up: a meditation on the nature of the mind, followed by meditating on the kindness of others.
Guided Meditation: Transforming Bias with Equanimity #23
The Buddhist meditation on equanimity teaches a technique to eliminate bias and expand our care and concern from family and friends to strangers and even enemies.
Spiritual Democracy #22
The Buddhist meditation on equanimity teaches us a technique of “spiritual democracy” for developing healthy feelings of connection to others—even those we most despise.
Venerable Robina Courtin: Buddha’s Science of Mind #21
Venerable Robina Courtin, Buddhist nun and advocate for prisoner’s rights, on how activists can leverage meditation and mind training, how Buddhism functions as a science of the mind, and how being a Buddhist doesn’t mean being a pushover.
Guided Meditation: Fighting Systemic Racism through Compassionate Action #BlackLivesMatter #20
A guided meditation on fighting the systemic racism against Black Americans through compassionate action.
The Adventure So Far: Analytic Meditation on the Stages of the Path #19
A guided analytical meditation inspired by Tibetan Buddhism’s Lamrim Stages of the Path that’s a mental adventure to begin your day.
Guided Meditation: Renunciation #18
Meditating on renunciation gains a clear sense of our deluded state of mind right now, with many moments of frustration and anger and impatience and craving; turning away from these to the true source of refuge we find within our own mind.
The Red Pill of Renunciation: Embracing Reality as It Is #17
What do The Matrix and Jerry Seinfeld have to do with renouncing suffering and embracing reality as it is?
Guided Meditation: Letting Go of Suffering #16
A meditation on what suffering is and how to apply mental antidotes that oppose the true source of suffering: our attachment, anger, and self-centered ignorance.
Am I More Important Than Everyone Else in the Universe? #15
Am I just a little bit more important than everyone else? My happiness, my goals, my relationships? This view, from the Buddhist perspective, is the root cause of our suffering, a delusion called ignorance.
What Do You Do When You’re Alone? #14
What do you do when you’re alone? When you’re anxious, lonely, or afraid, when you feel strong craving? The Buddhist view on this subject reveals a deep source of strength and support within our own minds that’s available any time we need it.
Guided Meditation: Alone Together #13
Millions are now faced with enforced solitude, while others, in the crush of families together all day, realize how much we needed that time alone we took for granted. The essence of meditation is finding a place of satisfaction in our minds that’s equally at ease alone or with others.
Guided Meditation: Mental Cause and Effect #12
A self-reflection meditation, taking control of our mental cause and effect that’s normally unconscious; habits and activities conditioned by evolution, our upbringing, society and the media; letting you sleep better and be your best self the next day.
Mental Cause and Effect #11
Evolution, habits, and society all affect our behavior, but we can gain conscious control of our actions through a daily practice of self-appreciation and self-forgiveness to release regret and pain and face each day with renewed presence and joy.
Guided Meditation: Embracing Impermanence #10
A guided mediation to embrace impermanence, releasing fear and anxiety to become more fully present to those around us.
Embracing Impermanence #9
We cling to things as if they won’t change, but change is the nature of reality, as the COVID-19 reveals. By embracing impermanence we release fear and anxiety and become fully present to those around us.
Guided Meditation: Combatting Coronavirus Fear with Compassion #8
A guided meditation combatting fear of the Coronavirus through compassion using the technique of Taking and Giving (Tonglen), that expands our sense of connection to others.
Guided Meditation: What is the Mind? #7
What is the mind without thoughts? Where is the space of our consciousness? Do we ever arrive at a quantum of consciousness?
What Is the Mind? #6
If the mind is our thoughts, then what observes those thoughts? What are we without thoughts? Do we ever truly see an object, or only its mental reconstruction?
Guided Meditation: The Preciousness of Life #5
A guided meditation on the preciousness of our next 24 hours alive, and our unique place in the universe as science understands it: intelligent, self-aware beings at the end of 14 billion years’ cosmic and biological evolution.
The Preciousness of Life, from Cosmos to the Kardashians #4
“It is not more surprising to be born twice than once.” Contemplating the miracle of existing at all, from our place at the end of our universe’s 14 billion years’ evolution, to the simple joy of another 24 hours alive.
Guided Meditation: Stabilizing the Mind and Watching Thoughts #3
A complete guided meditation session expanding your compassion, stabilizing concentration on the breath, and observing your thoughts.
What Is Meditation? #2
The lesser-known technique of analytic meditation doesn’t just reduce stress, but enhances our greatest human qualities through stories, thoughts, and emotions.
What Is A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment? #1
The first time I went to see the Dalai Lama I was skeptical, but one of the first things he said was, “Don’t become a Buddhist.”