Spirit Matters

No-Try Meditation with Peter Russell

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Peter Russell is a long-time contributor to our understanding of spirituality, consciousness, meditation, and related matters, who believes "the critical challenge of today is freeing human thinking from the limited beliefs and attitudes that lie behind many of our problems — personal, social, and global.” He is a public speaker, a retreat leader, a teacher of online courses, and the author of a dozen books, including Letting Go of Nothing, The Global Brain, From Science to God, and his latest, How to Meditate Without Even Trying. We spoke mostly about meditation and the seemingly paradoxical principal of non-effort, and we also touched on the history and current status of spirituality in America, the intersection of science and spirituality, and other issues about which Peter offers valuable insight.

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No-BS Mindfulness with Oneika Mays

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Oneika Mays is a yoga and meditation teacher who was formerly the mindfulness coach at Rikers Island Correctional Facility in New York. With roots in Buddhist and Yogic teachings, she specializes in making mindfulness accessible to marginalized and excluded communities. She is the author of Sit with Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, which explores metta (lovingkindness) as a tool for personal and collective liberation. We spoke about her experience teaching the incarcerated in rough institutions--and what she learned from them, as well the distinction between mindfulness and meditation, and the value of lovingkindness meditation. Make sure you stay tuned till the end, when Oneika leads us in a guided meditation.

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The Magdalene Revolution with Andrew Harvey

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

One of our favorite guests, ⁠Andrew Harvey⁠, returns to Spirit Matters. A leading voice for inclusive, universal, spiritual wisdom, Andrew is an internationally acclaimed writer, poet, translator and mystical teacher. He is the author of over 40 books, including ⁠Son of Man⁠, ⁠The Hope⁠, ⁠Love is Everything⁠, ⁠Turn me to Gold⁠, ⁠Engoldenment⁠, and ⁠Radical Regeneration ⁠(with Carolyn Baker). He has taught all over the world, led more than 40 courses for the Shift Network and is the founder of the ⁠Institute for Sacred Activism⁠. For 40 years his work has been dedicated to the birth of a divine humanity out of our contemporary global dark night through mystical self empowerment and sacredly inspired radical action. His latest book is T⁠he Magdalene Revolution⁠, which is what we’ll focus on today.

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Spirituality and High Sensitivity with Elaine Aron

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Elaine Aron is a clinical and research psychologist who received her advanced training at Pacific Graduate Institute and the Jung Institute in San Francisco. Her research on sensory processing sensitivity and, along with her husband, Arthur Aron, the study of close relationships, is widely published in academic journals. She is best known as the world’s leading expert on the “Highly Sensitive Person” or HSP, a term she ascribed to a significant minority of people she discovered had the innate trait of high sensitivity. Her book , The Highly Sensitive Person, became an international bestseller, translated into 32 languages, and has been in print for nearly thirty years. She followed that up with other books based on her research on the subject: The Highly Sensitive Parent, The Highly Sensitive Person Workbook, The Highly Sensitive Person in Love, The Highly Sensitive Child, and Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person. She maintains a newsletter and other resources at her website. Her latest book, which we discuss (among other things) in this interview, is Spirituality Through a Highly Sensitive Lens: An Objective Look at Meditation Methods and Enlightenment. The conversation ranges widely; you don't have to be a Highly Sensitive Person to benefit from hearing it.

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The Science of Magic with Dean Radin

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Dean Radin is chief scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), an associated distinguished professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and the cofounder and chairman of the biotech company, Cognigenics. His advanced degrees include an MS in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Illinois, and an honorary doctorate from the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India. He is the co-inventor on 12 patents, he’s given hundreds of presentations at prestigious institutions, and he is the author or coauthor of some 350 scientific and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, and nine books. His books include The Conscious Universe; Entangled Minds; and Real Magic. His latest is The Science of Magic: How the Mind Weaves the Fabric of Reality.

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Practicing Safe Zen with Julie Nelson

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Julie Nelson has been practicing Zen Buddhism for more than 20 years. Along the way, she was deemed accomplished enough and dedicated enough to become a teacher in the Soto tradition. Hence her other name, Seido Sensei. She has contributed articles to Tricycle magazine, writes on her own blog, and she’s the author of a book titled Practicing Safe Zen: Navigating the Pitfalls on the Road to Liberation. She is also an emeritus professor of economics from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, has two kids and two grandkids, and lives in New Hampshire. In Julie's own words: “her spiritual home is the Greater Boston Zen Community, a group that experienced three waves of teacher abuses of power. She is deeply saddened when people, either in addition to or instead of realizing benefits from their work with a spiritual teacher, suffer great harm.” The central focus of this conversation is the vital importance ethical behavior among spiritual teachers, institutional accountability, and the protection of vulnerable students.

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Messages from Ram Dass on Harmony and Wholeness, with Parvati Markus

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Parvati Markus is a developmental editor who has been midwifing spiritually oriented non-fiction books and memoirs going back to her early friendship with the late spiritual leader Ram Dass and working with him on his iconic Be Here Now. Later books she either authored, coauthored, or edited include Dying to Know, Whisper in the Heart, Love Everyone, and the children's book, Isabella Castaspella. She has also worked in various capacities with spiritual organizations such as the Neem Karoli Baba ashram and temple in Taos, New Mexico, the Global Peace Initiative of Women, and the Love Serve Remember Foundation. The focus of our conversation is her new book, There is no Other: The Way to Harmony and Wholeness, which names Parvati as editor and Ram Dass as author. It's a collection of Ram Dass writings, assembled, organized, and introduced by Parvati, and it's billed as The Final Teachings from Beloved Spiritual Leader Ram Dass on Unity and Love.

https://www.parvatimarkus.com/

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Exploring the Holy Trinity with Robert Jonas

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Robert A. Jonas is a a multifaceted spiritual practitioner and teacher: psychotherapist, a Christian mystic, a leader in Buddhist-Christian dialogue, an environmental activist, a retreat leader, and the director and host of The Empty Bell, a contemplative sanctuary in Northampton, MA. , as well as a husband, father, and grandfather. He’s also a master of the Shakuhachi (a Japanese bamboo flute) and an author whose books include Rebecca: A Father’s Journey from Grief to Gratitude; two biographies of Father Henri Nouwen; and his most recent work, the award-winning, My Dear Far-Nearness, which explores Christianity’s Holy Trinity as three dimensions of consciousness. We spoke about the mysticism, the grace of grief, his friend Henri Nouwen, and his provocative interpretation of the Trinity. He also gifted us with a meditative performance of a traditional song on Shakuhachi.

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Igniting Your Juicy Life With Stephanie James

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Stephanie James is a psychotherapist, a transformation coach, an international speaker, a filmmaker, an author, and the host of the podcast “Igniting the Spark,” on mindbodyspirit.fm, where you will find interviews, (including one with me). Her new book, which we talk about here, is Your Big Fat Juicy Life (And Everything After). The book, according to the press material, “illuminates how we perceive life, death, and the magnificent spectrum of human experience. It is also a jubilant invitation to us all to wake up, breathe deeply, and dance with the mysteries of existence.” Much of our conversation was about how a serious consideration of death and reincarnation can enrich our lives here and now.

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The Hero's Journey of St. Francis with Craig Bullock

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Craig Bullock (aka Isha Das) is the Spiritual Director of the Assisi Institute in Rochester, New York, where he integrates mystical Christianity and teachings from the Kriya Yoga tradition. He has an advanced degree in religious studies from the University of Notre Dame and another in clinical psychology from Duquesne University. He is also an authorized Kriya Yoga teacher, having been trained by Roy Eugene Davis, who was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. In addition to his transformational work with students at the Assisi Institute, Craig is a retired psychotherapist, a public speaker, and an author. His books include Open Wider the Door: The Integration of Kriya Yoga and Mystical Christianity, and his latest, Merchant to Mystic: The Hero’s Journey of St. Francis of Assisi. We talked about his work integrating east and west and, mainly, the spiritual journey of St. Francis and lessons we can all learn from his story.

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The Fifth Season with Mark Nepo

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Mark Nepo returns to Spirit Matters for a conversation about spirituality in the second half of life. Mark is a poet, a spiritual teacher, and a bestselling author of some 26 books, including You Don't Have to Do it Alone: The Power of Friendship; Falling Down and Getting Up; Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity; and best-known of all, The Book of Awakening, which has sold more than a million copies worldwide over the last 20 years. Mark has won numerous awards, has appeared on several national television shows, including Oprah's, and has made personal appearances throughout the world - all devoted to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship. His latest book, the one we talk about here, is The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life, which, he says, celebrates "living from the inside of the one life we’re given." Learn more about Mark here.

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Exploring Jewish Mysticism With Rabbi Tirzah Firestone

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Tirzah Firestone is an author, a Jungian psychotherapist, and a rabbi. She has been a leader in the international Jewish Renewal movement and a scholar and teacher widely known for her groundbreaking work on Kabbalah, depth psychology, intergenerational trauma healing, and the re-integration of the feminine wisdom tradition within Judaism. She lectures and teaches about how harvesting ancestral wisdom can help us at what she considers a critical time in world history. Her books include With Roots in Heaven: One Woman's Passionate Journey Into the Heart of Her Faith; The Receiving: Reclaiming Jewish Women’s Wisdom; and her most recent, Wounds Into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Jewish Trauma, which combines research in depth psychology, neuroscience, and collective traumatology. We dove into the little-known treasures of Jewish mysticism and the spiritual implications of intergenerational trauma.

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The Power of Spiritual Imagination with Rodger Kamenetz

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Rodger Kamenetz is an award-winning poet, author and teacher. He has authored nine books of poetry and several nonfiction books, including (not in chronological order) The History of Last Night’s Dream, which earned him an interview with Oprah Winfrey on her “Soul Series” program; Burnt Books; Stalking Elijah, which won the National Jewish Book Award; and his best known book, The Jew in the Lotus, about an historic dialogue between the Dalai Lama and a group of rabbis that became an international bestseller and prompted a reevaluation of Judaism in the light of Buddhist thought. He is also the founder of Natural Dreamwork, an approach to using dreams for spiritual growth. Now he's written a new book, Seeing Into the Life of Things, which is about the use of imagination in the spiritual life. We spoke mainly about that book, but also about many other intriguing and practical topics.

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Pure Unlimited Love With Stephen Post

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Professor Stephen G. Post is one of the world’s leading scholars on altruism, love, compassion, and the science of giving. A professor of preventive medicine, he has held leadership positions at various medical schools and is the founder of the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love, which is active across the us and worldwide. Quoting from his bio, “His work bridges science, spirituality, and ethics with a mission to understand how unselfish love heals, uplifts, and transforms both individuals and cultures.”

He is also the author of several books, including God and Love on Route 80 and the best-selling Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Simple Act of Giving. Now he has a new book, Pure Unlimited Love: Science and the Seven Paths to Inner Peace, with a Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We talked about that book, altruism, unlimited love, and other topics that couldn't be more relevant today. Learn more about Dr. Post here.

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Karmic Relief Revisited with Phil Goldberg Interviewed by Beryl Bender

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This is the second episode in which Spirit Matter's host, Philip Goldberg, moves to the other side of the interview table. The occasion is the publication of his latest book, Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life. In it, he dives into what karma is, what it is not, and all the practical implications of understanding the laws of karma. His interlocutor this time is Beryl Bender⁠, who has been teaching yoga and meditation since 1971 and has been training yoga teachers through her school, The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute, for nearly 50 years. She’s also the best-selling author of several books on yoga, including ⁠Power Yoga⁠; ⁠Beyond Bower Yoga⁠; and ⁠Yoga for Warriors: Basic Training for Strength, Resilience, and Peace of Mind. She also co-founded the Give Back Yoga Foundation has been a leader in addressing the relationship between yoga practice and activism and service. [Listen as well to an earlier interview about the book with Rabbi Rami Shapiro interviewing Phil.]

⁠

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The Wisdom of the Kashmir Sages with Paul Muller-Ortega

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Paul Muller-Ortega was a distinguished professor of the Indic religious traditions who retired from academia in 2006 and founded his school, Blue Throat Yoga. Since then, to quote from his website, “Paul has been teaching practices of deep meditation and the theories of meditation studies. His primary theoretical focus is founded on the teachings of lineages of the Śakta-Śaiva Tantra, particularly as brought forward by the extraordinary medieval siddha guru, Rājānaka Abhinavagupta. Paul is particularly committed to bringing forward deeply authentic and highly effective practices and teachings of modern meditation practice in the context of householder spirituality. And doing so always on the direct basis of the theoretical and philosophical teachings of this important ancient esoteric lineage of the Kashmiri śaiva masters.” He is also focused on training teachers to help carry on his work. We spoke about what distinguishes Kashmir Shavism from other systems, the practical value of integrating deep meditation and other transformative practices into daily life, and other vital topics for living a spiritual life. Learn more about Paul and Blue Throat Yoga here.

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Spiritual Awakenings with Yvonne Kason

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Dr. Yvonne Kason is a retired family physician, psychotherapist, and faculty member at the University of Toronto. She is also an internationally known expert on near-death experiences, kundalini awakening, and other spiritually transformative experiences (STEs). In 1990, she became the first Canadian MD to specialize in researching and counseling patients with diverse types of STEs, a term she coined in 1994. She is past-president of the International Association for Near-Death Studies and the current president of the organization she founded, Spiritual Awakenings International (SAI). SAI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about all types of spiritually transformative experiences. Dr. Kason has published six books, the most recent of which is Soul Lessons From the Light: How Spiritually Transformative Experiences Changed my Life. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Learn more about Dr. Kason here, and Spiritual Awakenings International here.

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The Yoga of Social Justice with Judith Carlisle

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Judith Carlisle, Ph.D., has a masters degree in Management Information Systems and a doctorate in Computer Information Systems from the University of Arizona. She also earned a masters degree in Yoga Studies from the first-of-its-kind program started by a previous guest on Spirit Matters, Christopher Key Chapple, at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Judith, who began practicing yoga with her grandmother as a young child, is now an adjunct professor in that same Yoga Studies program, She also teaches at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Her teaching integrates the rigorous exploration of yogic and Buddhist texts, philosophies, and history with practices from the Dharmic traditions, e.g. Yoga and Buddhism. Her teaching is dedicated to supporting students and practitioners as they seek to understand how yoga study and practice support personal and worldly transformation, enlightenment, and liberation. She is a credentialed yoga teacher, registered with Yoga Alliance, and her work has included the development and delivery of trauma-informed yoga curricula and the training of Yoga teachers.

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Embodying Philosophy with Jacob Kyle

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jacob Kyle is a scholar, educator, yoga teacher, meditation teacher, and writer. He holds a master of philosophy degree in classical Indian religions from Oxford University, an MA in philosophy from the New School for Social Research, an MS in political theory from the London School of Economics (2007), and is currently earning a doctorate at Oxford, researching a philosophy of creativity rooted in Kashmir Shaivism. A passionate advocate and practitioner of Kashmir Shaivism, he is the founding director of Embodied Philosophy, an online learning platform with an extraordinary collection of courses, lectures, and workshops, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. He also hosts the podcast “Chitheads” (chit means consciousness in Sanskrit). His guiding mission, he says, is “to re-imagine the modern function of the yoga teacher so as to be in greater alignment with the teachings, texts, and traditions of yoga's rich and profound history.” We spoke about the challenges of doing that, the origin and purpose of Embodied Philosophy, and more. Jacob's website.

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Conscious Living, Conscious Dying With Ramdev Dale Borglum

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Ramdev Dale Borglum has been a pioneering figure in the conscious dying movement for decades, beginning when he founded and directed the Hanuman Foundation Dying Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in collaboration with Ram Dass, Philip Levine, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, and others. Since 1986, he’s served as Executive Director of the Living/Dying Project, which is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The program guides individuals through the sacred journey of death, combining Eastern spirituality and Western psychology. He is also a meditation teacher, a workshop leader, the host of the podcast Healing at the Edge. He is the co-author of Journey of Awakening: A Meditator’s Guidebook, and his forthcoming book, How to Live So You Can Die Without Fear, will be released in 2026. He also offers one-on-one support to select individuals. This conversation focuses mainly on what he's learned in his decades of work with the dying, and also his fascinating spiritual journey, which brought him into the company of extraordinary individuals such as Ram Dass, Ananda Mayi Ma, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and his guru, Neem Karoli Baba.

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Karmic Relief With Philip Goldberg

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

A special episode of Spirit Matters. Regular host Philip Goldberg moves to the other side of the table, turning over hosting duties to Rabbi Rami Shapiro for a conversation about Phil's forthcoming book, Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life. It's an in-depth discussion of the concept of karma, which is at once simple and complex. The term, which is used more and more frequently in ordinary conversation, is often misconstrued. The conversation delves into common misunderstandings of karma and teases out a lot of its nuances and its relevance to everyday life. Karmic Relief will be released in October; click here to pre-order it on Amazon (authors are grateful for pre-orders as they upgrade the book's position on Amazon).

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The Spirituality of Literature and Aging With Kamla Kapur

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Kamla K. Kapur was born and raised in India and studied in the United States. Her writing has included plays, novels, poetry, essays and re-imaged Indian and Mid-eastern spiritual writings. She is the author of 8 books, including: The Singing Guru, which is a novel about Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh tradition; Ganesha Goes to Lunch: Classics From Mystic India; Rumi’s Tales From the Silk Road; and her latest, The Privilege of Aging: Savoring the Fullness of Life. She is based in the seaside town of Del Mar, which is just north of San Diego, where she taught literature, creative writing, mythology, and Shakespeare at Grossmont College for 15 years.

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Reimagining Christianity With Robert K.C. Forman

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Dr. Robert K.C. Forman had a distinguished, twenty-year career as a professor of comparative religion at the City University of New York, during which time he had a major influence on the study of mysticism and authored several books and more than forty academic articles. A writer, popular public speaker, and spiritual counselor, he has shared his insights in Sweden, Iran, Finland, Israel, England, and across the U.S. After retiring from academia, he founded and ran the Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change (full disclosure: I was on the board), and also served as a board-certified hospital chaplain, an ordained interfaith minister, and a certified meditation teacher. His academic books include The Problem of Pure Consciousness and his books for the general reader include Enlightenment Ain’t What It’s Cracked Up to Be, and his latest work, which we’ll be discussing here, Christianity Reimagined: A Mystical Approach for Doubters and the Dubious.

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Come Home to Yourself With Sadhvi Bhagavati Saraswati

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is an American woman who was raised in Hollywood and educated at Stanford before her life was unexpectedly transformed by a journey to India. For the last 30 years, she has lived at Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, the famously sacred city in the Himalayan foothills. At the direction of her guru, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, she serves as Parmarth’s international director and gives daily spiritual teachings to ashram residents and guests. A popular public speaker, she has addressed various worldwide forums, including the United Nations, on issues ranging from sustainable development to gender equality. She also serves as the Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith Wash Alliance, the world’s first interfaith initiative for water, sanitation, and hygiene, and as President of the Divine Shakti Foundation, which is dedicated to uplifting women and children. Her work earned her a presidential lifetime achievement award for service from President Joe Biden. She’s also the author of the memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas and her new book, Come Home to Yourself. We spoke about the substance of that book, about Sadhvi's unique and fascinating path, and about today's spiritual challenges.

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Embodied Spirituality With John Prendergast

Mon, 26 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

John Prendergast Ph.D. is a nondual spiritual teacher who is now retired from psychotherapy practice and his role as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he taught masters level counseling students for twenty-three years. Among his major spiritual influences are Jean Klein and Adyashanti. John offers residential retreats with his wife, Christiane, at leading venues in the U.S. and Europe as well as online. He’s also an author. His books include Listening From the Heart of Silence; The Sacred Mirror; In Touch; The Deep Heart; and his latest, Your Deepest Ground: A Guide to Embodied Spirituality. We spoke mainly about the content of that last book and the importance of remaining deeply grounded as we evolve on the spiritual path.

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Living Grace With Miranda Macpherson

Mon, 12 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Miranda Macpherson is a widely respected contemporary spiritual teacher who has been guiding others into the direct experience of the sacred for more than 30 years. Born and raised in Australia, she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, where she trained and ordained more than 600 ministers and spiritual counselors over the course of ten years. Now based in the San Francisco Bay area, she leads the Living Grace Global Sangha and offers retreats internationally and online. Among her spiritual influences are Sri Ramana Maharshi, A Course in Miracles, and The Diamond Approach, in addition to her extensive study of the world’s wisdom traditions. Her books include The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation; Boundless Love; and Meditations on Boundless Love. She is also a kirtan musician whose albums of mantra chanting include Streams of Grace and The Heart of Being. We spoke about her remarkable spiritual history (from which there is much to learn), how to recognize and abide in Grace; turning suffering into transformation; the proper understanding of nonduality; and appropriate spiritual responses to challenging world conditions. The episode ends with Miranda leading us in a guided meditation. Click here to learn more about Miranda and her work.

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The Kindness Within, With Leon Logothetis

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Leon Logothetis had a highly successful career in London's financial industry, but he was deeply depressed. So he switched gears entirely and became a global adventurer, a TV host, a motivational speaker, and a bestselling author. All of which was fueled by an exploration of kindness – both the giving of it and the receiving of it – and shining a light on the best of the traits human beings have in common. This led to a hugely successful television series called The Kindness Diaries, and to other globetrotting projects that combined adventure with

meaningful causes. They raised a great deal of money for people in need. It also led to

best-selling books such as Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, The Kindness Diaries, and Live, Love, Explore. He recently produced a fascinating film called The Kindness Within: A

Journey to Freedom. The film, which is streaming online, follows Leon on his spiritual quest in India, where he searched for answers to questions that still plagued him and the chronic depression that continued to plague him. The answers he found can illuminate all of our spiritual paths.

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The Seven Stone Path to Wisdom With Peter Bolland

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Everyone wants to be wise. But what is wisdom, and how does one acquire it? We spoke about that and more with Peter Bolland, professor of philosophy and humanities at Southwestern College near San Diego, California. Peter has taught world religions, Asian philosophy, world mythology, and ethics there for the past 34 years. In addition to being an award-winning singer-songwriter and poet, he was a columnist for 15 years at both Unity Magazine and the Dan Diego Troubadour, and has given presentations and workshops at lifelong learning communities and spiritual centers all over the U.S. His YouTube channel has over 400,000 viewers. He also has Substack titled "Finding a Way" and a guided meditation on the Insight Timer app. He’s also the author of The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom, which was the focus of much of our conversation. His website is peterbolland.com.

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Spiritual Aging With Carol Orsborn

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Dr. Carol Orsborn received a master degree in theological studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University with a specialty in adult development. She has taught at Georgetown University. An internationally recognized thought leader on fulfilling human potential through all life stages, she is the guiding force behind the spiritual aging study and a support group movement that offers in-person and online gatherings of "old souls" worldwide. She’s also the author of 36 books about life stage and spiritual development, including her newest publication, Spiritual Aging: Weekly Reflections on Embracing Life. Our conversation focused on that book and the overall challenge of aging as a path of spiritual development. We spoke about working through common stumbling blocks and aging with self-acceptance, freedom, and joy.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 11 Swami Sarvapriyananda

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual

Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired.

Swami Sarvapriyananda is a Hindu monk belonging to the Ramakrishna Order. The current

resident swami and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of New York, he is a renowned expert on Vedanta, the culmination of the ancient Vedic tradition, whose online videos are known for making this practical wisdom easily understandable and accessible. Here he shares traditional teachings on topics such as impermanence, detachment, the true nature of the Self, and the four keys to managing life’s challenges.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 12 Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is a self-proclaimed “Jewish practitioner of perennial wisdom,” who was

ordained by Hebrew Union College and earned a Ph.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. He writes the Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler column for Spirituality

and Health magazine and has written more than thirty books, including Holy Rascals – Advice for Spiritual Revolutionaries; The Tao of Solomon: Unlocking the Perennial Wisdom of Ecclesiastes; Judaism Without Tribalism; and his latest, Zen Mind, Jewish Mind: Koan, Midrash, & The Living Word. In this interview, he shares perennial wisdom about grieving for the dead and the dying, addiction and recovery, the profound concept of being surrendered, and what it means to be a holy rascal.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 10 Mirabai Starr

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Mirabai Starr is a celebrated author and expert on mysticism who teaches and speaks in various venues on contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialog. Her earlier books taught readers about Christian mystics such as John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of

Avila. Her more recent books include Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation, and her latest, Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground. In this conversation, she shares the blessings of the Sabbath, the deep meaning of the dark night of the soul, the wisdom of the divine feminine and turning loss into transformation.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 9 Sally Kempton

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The late Sally Kempton was a renowned spiritual teacher and author of books such as Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga.

As Swami Durgananda, she was a monastic in the Siddha Yoga tradition for 20 years,

teaching, editing, and leading workshops. After setting aside monastic life in 2002 she taught

students around the world until her passing in 2023. In this interview, she shared

yogic wisdom for building resilience, finding meaning in upsets, developing the

inner witness, and integrating the energy centers of the mind, heart, and belly.

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Enlightenment in Dante's Divine Comedy with Frank Ambrosia

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0000

Everyone has heard of Dante Alighieri, the great Italian poet whose Divine Comedy is a staple of Western literature and religion. Some of us have read the monumental poem, or parts of it, while others have a vague idea of Dante's conception of sin and the afterlife. Frank Ambrosio, an associate professor of philosophy, emeritus, at Georgetown University, contends that Dante's great work of art is a guidepost for spiritual development and portrays spiritual transformation through metaphor and imagery. Dr. Ambrosio taught at Georgetown for 40 years after receiving his doctorate from Fordham University. During his professorial tenure, he received five distinct awards for excellence in teaching. He is also the author of Dante and Derrida: Face to Face and the founding director of Georgetown's online platform “My Dante Project,” which takes readers on a unique experience of The Divine Comedy. It has so far been utilized by over 20,000 students worldwide.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 5 Adam Bucko

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Father Adam Bucko is an Episcopal priest, an interfaith activist, and a leading voice in

the renewal of contemplative spirituality. Born and raised in Poland under a totalitarian regime, his early exposure to spiritual activism greatly influenced his life trajectory. He is actively involved in social and ecological justice efforts and is leading voice in the movement for engaged spirituality. He is the author of Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision

for a New Generation; The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for

Contemplative Living, and his newest book, Let Your Heartbreak be Your Guide:

Lessons in Engaged Contemplation. and programs that combine contemplative practice with

activism. Adam is currently the director of the Center for Spiritual Imagination, which is located at the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York. He lives in New York

with his wife, Kaira Jewel Lingo, a Buddhist teacher and former nun in the community of Thich Nhat Hanh. Together they lead The Buddhist-Christian Community for Meditation and Action. Learn more about Adam here.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 7 Jamal Rahman

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Imam Jamal Rahman is the co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community

Sanctuary in Seattle. He also teaches at Seattle University and Pacific Lutheran University. A popular speaker on subjects related to Islam, Sufism, and interfaith relations, he has, since 9/11, collaborated with a rabbi and a Christian minister as part of The Interfaith Amigos. The three have toured the country sharing the message of spiritual inclusivity. He is also the author of several books, including Sacred Laughter of the Sufis; Spiritual Gems of Islam: and The Fragrance of Faith: The Enlightened Heart of Islam. He is also coauthor of Religion Gone Astray; Out of Darkness into Light; and Finding Peace Through Spiritual Practice: The Interfaith Amigos Guide to Personal, Social, and Environmental Healing. Learn more about Jamal here.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 6 Michael Bernard Beckwith

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational community in Los Angeles. Founded by Rev. Beckwith in 1986 to bring a practical approach to spirituality through meditation, affirmative prayer, and Life Visioning, (his proprietary method for inner transformation and peace), Agape became a hugely popular LA spiritual destination and has since transcended its humble origins to become a global community that welcomes thousands of local members and global live streamers every Sunday. Rev. Michael is the host of the podcast Take Back Your Mind and the bestselling author of books that bridge science and spirituality. They include Life Visioning, The Answer is You, and Spiritual Liberation. He is also co-founder of the Association for Global New Thought and co-chair of the Season for Nonviolence. Learn more about Michael here.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 8 James Finley

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed

twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing

the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today

as when they first aired.

James Finley is a clinical psychologist and a spiritual director, who, early in life, was a cloistered monk in a Trappist monastery and a novice under the tutelage of the renowned ystic and author Thomas Merton. After leaving the monastery, Dr. Finley became a clinical psychologist, a popular leader of retreats and workshops, and a recognized authority on contemplative Christianity and mysticism. He is currently a faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation and a core teacher with The Living School, both organizations founded by Father Richard Rohr. Dr. Finley is also the author of several books and audio sets, including Merton’s Palace of Nowhere; The Contemplative Heart; Christian Meditation: Experiencing

the Presence of God; and his latest, The Healing Path: A Memoir and an

Invitation. Learn more about Jim here.

Get the book Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times by Philip Goldberg

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Zen Minds and Jewish Minds with Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is a self-proclaimed “Jewish practitioner of perennial wisdom,” who was ordained by Hebrew Union College and earned a Ph.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. He is the codirector of the One River Foundation, writes the Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler column for Spirituality and Health magazine and has written more than thirty books on religion and spirituality. His books include Holy Rascals – Advice for Spiritual

Revolutionaries; The Tao of Solomon: Unlocking the Perennial Wisdom of Ecclesiastes; Judaism Without Tribalism; and his latest, Zen Mind, Jewish Mind: Koan, Midrash, & The Living Word. As I wrote in my endorsement of the last book, “Not into Zen? Not a Jew? Not a problem.

Anyone on any path will benefit enormously from this profoundly illuminating book.” The same is true of this deep and wide-ranging conversation.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 4 Barbara De Angelis

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000

A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired.

The popular workshop leader, relationship expert, and author of numerous best-selling books, including The Choice for Love, Barbara De Angelis tells us why it’s vital to treat difficult times as part of our “cosmic curriculum.” She counsels us to always remain authentic, and to

practice “courageous compassion.”

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – EP 3 Andrew Harvey

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Renowned author and expert on the world’s mystical traditions, Andrew Harvey, tells us how we can thrive spiritually while also helping birth a new humanity in this perilous time for our planet. The founder and director of The Institute of Sacred Activism, Andrew invites concerned people around the world to take up the challenge of our global crises by becoming inspired, effective, and practical agents of change in order to create peace and sustainability.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series- EP 2 Sharon Salzberg

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this interview Philip talks with meditation pioneer, renowned teacher and bestselling author Sharon Salzberg. She was among the first to bring Buddhist practices to mainstream

American culture over fifty years ago, inspiring generations of mindfulness practitioners, spiritual teachers, and wellness influencers.

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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series- EP1 Mark Nepo

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this interview, the first of a 12 part series, Philip talks with poet, philosopher, and author Mark Nepo. Mark has written 23 books, including the bestseller, The Book of Awakening. He shares his hard-earned insights on how to secure a foothold in the sanctuary that

resides within us.

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The Power of Music and the Spirituality of Songwriting With Beth Nielsen Chapman

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Beth Nielsen Chapman is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who has recorded hits of her own and written hits for a multitude of artists (to name a few, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings). She has won numerous awards and was nominated for a Grammy in 1999.

Her most recent album, “Crazytown,” was released in 2022, and recently, a song from that album, Put a Woman in Charge, went viral. In addition, Beth is an inspirational speaker, a workshop leader, and a lecturer on the magic of creativity. Some of her songs are rooted in deep personal experience of grief and loss (she’s lost two husbands to cancer). Her best-known song, Sand and Water,” was famously performed by Elton John in memory of Princess Diana. We spoke about the spiritual alchemy of both grief and creativity (songwriting in particular).

Find out more about Philip Goldberg

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Progressive Christianity With Rev. Nicole Lamarche and Rev. Jim Burklo

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:27:00 -0000

Just in time for Christmas 2024, we have two ministers who are associated with Progressive Christianity, a growing movement that runs counter to fundamentalism and the mainstream churches whose attendance continues to decline. Together, they present a vision of a different kind of Christianity.

Rev. Nicole Lamarche has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ since 2005 and now serves as pastor of Community UCC in Boulder, Colorado. She believes that “communities of faith can be powerful places for personal and social transformation.”

Rev. Jim Burklo is the pastor of the UCC church in Simi Valley, CA, and also serves as Executive Director of Progressive Christians Uniting. Formerly the Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California, he’s the author of seven books on Progressive Christianity, the latest of which is Tenderly Calling: An Invitation to the Way of Jesus.

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The Yamas and Niyamas with Professor Christopher Chapple

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Christopher Key Chapple is Doshi Professor of Indic and comparative theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the founding director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies at the same school. He’s a specialist in the religions of India and the author of more than twenty books, most recently Living Landscapes: Meditations on the Elements in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain Yogas and The Samkhya System: Accounting for the Real.

He serves as an advisor to multiple organizations including the Forum on Religion and Ecology, the Ahimsa Center, the Dharma Academy of North America, the South Asian Studies Association, and the International School for Jain Studies. Our conversation centered around the five yamas and five niyamas of Classical Yoga. These are essential guidelines for living a profoundly ethical and deeply spiritual life.

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Discovering Indian Philosophy With Dr. Jeffery Long

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Jeffery D. Long is a professor of religion, philosophy, and Asian studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, where he has taught since receiving his Ph.D from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2000. Both a practitioner and a scholar of Hinduism, his work focuses primarily on the religions and philosophies of India and themes such as nonviolence, pluralism, religion and popular culture, and the concept of rebirth.

He has spoken three times at the United Nations and appears in documentaries for PBS and the History Channel. He is also the author, editor, or co-editor of twelve books, including A Vision for Hinduism: Beyond Hindu Nationalism; The Historical Dictionary of Hinduism; and the award-winning Hinduism in America: A Convergence of Worlds. His latest book is D iscovering Indian Philosophy: An Introduction to Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Thought.

Find Jeffrey Long on Facebook

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Trans-Traditional Marriage with Tadd and Carol Allman-Morton

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Rev. Carol Allman-Morton is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, and her husband, Rev. Tadd Allman-Morton, is the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, United Church of Christ. They met at Andover Newton Theological School, where Carol was awarded the James Luther Adams Award for excellence in the study of liberal theology” and Tadd was a member of the Jonathan Edwards Honors Society. We talked about their early spiritual experiences, their motivation for seeking ordination, the decline in church participation and doctrinal belief, and what the marriage of ministers of different theological orientations is like.

Read this article in the Berkshire Edge about Rev. Tad Allman-Morton

Find out more about Philip Goldberg here

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The Heart of Interfaith With Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan and Imam Jamal Rahman

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000

With the Middle East aflame with violence, we explore the opposite with two of the three Interfaith Amigos. Laura Duhan-Kaplan is Rabbi Emerita of Shalom Synagogue in Vancouver and professor emerita of philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. The recipient of many awards for teaching excellence, she is a popular lecturer and retreat leader, and the author or editor of ten book, including The Infinity Inside: Jewish Spiritual Practice Through a Multi-Faith Lens; Encountering the Other: Christian and Multi-Faith Perspectives; and Spirit of Reconciliation: A Multi-Faith Resource.

Imam Jamal Rahman teaches at Seattle University and Pacific Lutheran University, and is the co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary. A popular speaker on subjects related to Islam, Sufism, and interfaith relations, he is the author of several books, including Sacred Laughter of the Sufis: Awakening the Soul with the Mullah's Comic Teaching Stories and Other Islamic Wisdom; Spiritual Gems of Islam; and The Fragrance of Faith. He is also coauthor of Finding Peace Through Spiritual Practice: The Interfaith Amigos Guide to Personal, Social, and Environmental Healing; Religion Gone Astray; Out of Darkness Into Light; and other works. Their inspiring work together has healing messages for harmony among religious traditions.

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Making Room For Spiritual Service With Carl Siciliano

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Carl Siciliano is a nationally recognized advocate and provider for homeless LGBTQ youth. In 2002, he founded the Ali Forney Center (AFC) in New York City. AFC has grown to become the nation’s largest and most comprehensive housing program for homeless LGBTQ youth.

His work has been featured by NPR, CNN, The Daily Show, and New York magazine. Now he’s told his compelling story in a new book, Making Room: Three Decades of Fighting for Beds, Belonging, and a Safe Place for LGBTQ Youth. We spoke about his own coming out, his relationship with the Catholic Church, his spiritual transformation, the value of engaging in service work, and his moving experiences over many years of advocacy for a disadvantaged population.

Find out more about Carl Siciliano and The Ali Forney Center

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Yoga Therapy and Yoga Research with Catherine Justice and Sat Bir Khalsa

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000

A special episode on the growing discipline of yoga therapy and scientific research on the benefits of yoga practices. Two guests this time. Catherine Justice is an integrative physical therapist, certified yoga therapist, and the program manager for the Division of Integrative Medicine at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. The associate editor of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, she has conducted research on yoga for arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and lower-back pain.

Sat Bir Khalsa has been engaged in research on the effects of yoga and meditation practices on physical and psychological health since 2001. He’s conducted clinical research on a number of disorders, including insomnia, PTSD, and anxiety, and his numerous affiliations include: certified instructor of Kundalini Yoga; director of research for the Kundalini Research Institute; research associate at the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine; research affiliate of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy and chair of the scientific program committee for the International Association of Yoga Therapists' annual symposium on yoga research.

Catherine Justice The Art of Well Being

Sat Bir Khalsa

International Association of Yoga Therapists

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Original Love With Henry Shukman

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Henry Shukman is a poet, author, and Zen master in the Sanbo Zen lineage. Born in the UK, where his parents taught at Oxford, he now resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he’s spiritual director emeritus of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center. He teaches various forms of mindfulness meditation and is the creator of a meditation app called The Way. He tells his personal story in a memoir titled One Blade of Grass, and he’s the author of a new book, Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening. We spoke of his spiritual origins, the different forms Zen teaching has taken on, the nuances of mindfulness and meditation, and especially his new book and what he means by "original love."

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Spiritual Emergence Anonymous With Marie Grace B.

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Marie Grace B. is a cofounder of, and spokesperson for, Spiritual Emergence Anonymous (SEA). SEA describes itself as "a grassroots world-wide 12-step program for spiritual emergence." The program's purpose is "to support spiritual emergence in individuals whose spiritual transformation is so powerful that they desire assistance and support from a group in integrating their spiritual experience by seeking stability, clarity, and being of greater service in the world." Because SEA is modeled on the 12-step ethic, anonymity is a central principle, which is why Marie Grace, when representing SEA, does not use her last name or state her professional training and background. We spoke about the origins of SEA and the value it has in the lives of participants.

https://spiritualemergenceanonymous.org/

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In These Holy Mysteries with Mirabai Starr and James Finley

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0000

We welcome two returning champions to Spirit Matters. James Finley is a clinical psychologist, a spiritual director and a faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation. Early in his life he was a monk in a Trappist monastery and a novice under the well-known mystic Thomas Merton. He is a recognized authority on contemplative Christianity and mysticism whose books include Merton’s Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart, Christian Meditation, and The Healing Path.

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative non-fiction and contemporary translations of sacred literature. She teaches and speaks in various venues on contemplative practice, mysticism, and inter-spiritual dialog. Her earlier books taught readers about the great Christian mystics (John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila). Her more recent books include Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation, and her latest, Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground.

They are on the show together because they are teaching a workshop together this fall (November, 2024) under the auspices of Gladdening Light, in which they will draw upon the teachings of Christian and Non-Christian mystical traditions to offer "practical guidelines in the gentle art of contemplative practice."

James Finley

Gladdening Light.org

Find our more about Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Learning Across Borders with Dr. Francis X. Clooney

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Francis X. Clooney is the Parkman Professor of Divinity and professor of Comparative Theology at Harvard Divinity School. Prior to that, he taught at Boston College and was the director of Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions. He is a renowned scholar of Hinduism and at the same time, a Catholic theologian and an ordained Jesuit priest for more than half a century. He is also a leading figure in the developing field of Comparative Theology, which involves studying traditions other than one’s own.

Dr. Clooney is a prolific author whose books reflect a deep interest in interfaith enquiry. They include: Theology After Vedanta: An Experiment in Comparative Theology; Comparative Theology: Deep Learning Across Religious Borders; Reading the Hindu and Christian Classics: Why and How it Matters; and his recently published memoir, P riest and Scholar, Catholic and Hindu: A Love Story. We spoke about his extraordinary life and the spiritual benefits of reaching beyond our borders.

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The Evolution of Spirituality with Daniel McKanan

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Daniel McKanan is a senior lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, occupying a chair named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Faculty Director for the school’s Program for the Evolution of Spirituality. His scholarly work focuses on religious and spiritual movements for social transformation in the united states and beyond, with an additional focus on the Unitarian Universalist tradition and the Anthroposophical movement, which was founded by Rudolph Steiner in the early 20th century.

Professor McKanan is the author of six books, including Prophetic Encounters: Religion and the American Radical Tradition; Eco-alchemy: Anthroposophy and the History and Future of Environmentalism; and most recently Camphill and the Future: Spirituality and Disability in an Evolving Communal Movement. He is also deeply involved in the training of Unitarian Universalist ministers and scholars and has served as board chair of the International Communal Studies Association.

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Reloading the Perennial Philosophy with Dana Sawyer

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Dana Sawyer is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and World Religions at the Maine College of Art & Design. The author of biographies of two prominent 20th Century thinkers, Aldous Huxley (2002) and Huston Smith (2017), his primary expertise is in Hinduism and Buddhism. For more than twenty years Dana's work has focused on comparative mysticism, theories of the “perennial philosophy,” and the value of psychedelic experience in the study of mysticism. His most recent books are an analysis of the Transcendental Meditation Movement for Cambridge University Press (2023), and The Perennial Philosophy Reloaded, published by Monkfish in July, 2024. Our conversation focused on that last book, whose subject, Perennialism, is vital for understanding spirituality in today's complex, pluralistic landscape.

www.danasawyer.com

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Adapting Buddhism To a Secular, Pluralistic America With Kaira Jewel Lingo

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Kaira Jewel Lingo lived for 15 years as an ordained nun in Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastic community, Plum Village. She now teaches internationally in the Zen and Vipassana traditions, as well as in a secular mindfulness context. Her work is at the intersection of racial, climate and social justice with a focus on activists, black, indigenous, and people of color, as well as artists, educators, families, and youth.

Her work continues the Engaged Buddhism developed by Thich Nhat Hanh, interweaving nature, ecology, embodied mindfulness practice, art and play. She draws inspiration from her parents’ lives of service and her father’s work with Martin Luther King, Jr. She’s the author of We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons in Moving Through Change, Loss and Disruption and the co-author of Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors, Joy and Liberation. She is married to, and sometimes works with, Adam Bucko, who has also been a guest on this podcast.

https://www.kairajewel.com/books

https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh

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Revealing Unity in the World's Religions with Paul John Roach

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Paul John Roach is a native of Wales, UK. He earned BA and MA degrees in English from Oxford University and a postgraduate degree in education from the University of Wales. Paul was ordained at Unity Ministerial School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1988 and served as the senior minister at Unity of Fort Worth until his retirement in 2018. He has also served the Unity movement in other ways, including as a board member of Unity World Headquarters.

For 14 years, Paul hosted a program on Unity FM titled World Spirituality, where he interviewed spiritual leaders and authors from around the world. He is the author of the award-winning book Unity and World Religions, which focuses on the perennial philosophy within all spiritual traditions, which is prime focus of this conversation.

Paul John Roach web site

Connect with the host of Spirit Matters- Philip Goldberg

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Explore Vedic Wisdom and Roar Like a Goddess with Acharya Shunya

Wed, 29 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Acharya Shunya is the first female head of a spiritual lineage that goes back 2,000 years in India. In her teaching, Acharya reinterprets and re-contextualizes Vedic wisdom, the nondual perspective of Advaita Vedanta, the lifestyle principles of Ayurveda, and Yoga philosophy and practices – and in so doing attempts to make the ancient insights relevant to modern sensibilities and needs. She says her purpose is “to create a learning and awakening path for contemporary seekers, empowering people everywhere to lead spiritually fearless, fulfilled and enlightened lives.”

A motivational speaker, podcast host, workshop facilitator and retreat leader, she’s the founder of the Awakened Self Foundation and Vedika Global. She is the author of three books, Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom; Sovereign Self; and Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful.

Meet the host of Spirit Matters Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Mindfully Meeting a World in Crisis with Oren Jay Sofer

Sun, 19 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Oren Jay Sofer holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and now teaches Buddhist meditation, mindfulness, and communication internationally. A certified trainer of nonviolent communication, he is a practitioner of somatic experiencing for the healing of trauma and the author of several books. They include: Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication and his current book, Y our Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love. We spoke mainly about that second book and the need for spiritual responses to current world conditions.

Meet the host of Spirit Matters Philip Goldberg

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A Nuanced Discussion of Spirituality, Religion and More With Swami Medhananda

Thu, 09 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Swami Medhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and a distinguished academic, currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in philosophy at the Vedanta Society of Southern California. He received his Ph.D. in 2009 from the University of California at Berkeley, and also studied at Humboldt University in Berlin and at Oxford University in the UK. His current research focuses on the global philosophy of religion, the epistemology of mystical experience, cosmopsychism, Indian scriptural hermeneutics, and Vedantic philosophical traditions.

The Section Editor for the International Journal of Hindu Studies, he has published over thirty articles in leading academic journals as well as several books, including Swami Vivekananda’s Vedāntic Cosmopolitanism; Infinite Paths to Infinite Reality; and Panentheism in Indian and Western Thought. He also serves as Hindu Chaplain at both UCLA and USC.

Swami Medhananda

Find Swami Medhananda on YouTube

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Diving Into Kashmir Shaivism, Shaktipat, India and More With Swami Brahmananda

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, originally David Nowe of Pittsburgh, met Swami Muktananda and received Shaktipat initiation from him in 1975. He spent the next 8 years studying with and working for Muktananda in various ashram settings. Along the way he took initiation as a sannyasi and received the name Brahmananda. He returned to householder life for a period of time, then resumed the swami life. At one point he founded the God Realization Ministry, which taught the principles of siddha yoga in more than 200 churches, and was also the spiritual director of Simple Peace Retreats in Assisi, Italy.

Since the time Covid broke out, he has been offering satsangs and conducting Shaktipat intensives in India. He is also a team member of American Veda Tours, co-leading (with the host of this podcast) journeys to sacred sites in India. We spoke about Muktananda, Kashmir Shaivism, and other illuminating topics.

Find out more about Philip Goldberg books here

Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Mysticism, Social Change, and African-American Religion with Alton B. Pollard III

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Dr. Alton B. Pollard III is a scholar, author, consultant, and public speaker on the subject of African American and U.S. religion and culture. He is about to join Wake Forest University as the Chair of Baptist Studies in the School of Divinity and professor of African American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

His prior positions include: President Emeritus of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Dean of the School of Divinity and professor at Howard University, Director of Black Church Studies at the Candler School of Theology, and Chair of American Religious Cultures at Emory University. He is the author of several books, including M ysticism and Social Change: The Social Witness of Howard Thurman, and a new edition of W.E.B. DuBois’s T he Negro Church. He has also written dozens of book chapters, journal articles, and op-eds. We spoke about Thurman, DuBois, and the influence of Mahatma Gandhi on the American civil rights movement.

Find our more about the host of Spirit Matters, Philip Goldberg

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Spiritual Imagination and Engaged Contemplation with Adam Bucko

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Adam Bucko is an Episcopal priest, a teacher of contemplative spirituality, and an interfaith activist. Born and raised in Poland under a totalitarian regime, his early exposure to spiritual activism greatly influenced his life trajectory. His books and teachings often include collaborations with spiritual leaders and activists from different faith traditions. He is the author of Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation; The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living; and his newest book Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide: Lessons in Engaged Contemplation. Actively involved in social and ecological justice efforts and programs that combine contemplative practice with activism, Adam is currently the Director of The Center for Spiritual Imagination, which is located at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in New York.

Adam Bucko https://fatheradambucko.com/

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Confluence and Constructive Development with Kimberley Lafferty

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Kimberley Theresa Lafferty is a teacher-practitioner who specializes in what she calls Constructive Developmental Psychology as well as Indo-Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. She offers private online psycho-spiritual counseling for individuals and couples, and in that work integrates the latest research on adult ego development, contemplative psychology, and other disciplines. She leads multi-year, private spiritual education cohorts through her organization, The Confluence Experience, which is also the url of her website. She is also an active board member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity.

The Confluence Experience https://confluenceexperience.com/

Find out more about Kimberley Theresa Lafferty

Connect with the host of Spirit Matters Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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The Hard and The Soft of Yoga with Beryl Bender

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Beryl Bender has been teaching yoga and meditation since 1971, and has been training yoga teachers through her school, The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute, for nearly 50 years. She’s also the best-selling author of several books on yoga, including Power Yoga; Beyond Bower Yoga; and Yoga for Warriors: Basic Training for Strength, Resilience, and Peace of Mind, which was written especially for active duty military service members and veterans.

In her teaching, Beryl addresses the full range of Classical Yoga and its implications for consciousness, spiritual development, and holistic human growth. She also co-founded the Give Back Yoga Foundation has been a leader in addressing the relationship between yoga practice and activism and service.

https://www.power-yoga.com/

Find out more about Beryl Bender

Retreats https://www.power-yoga.com/retreats/

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Heartfulness and Spiritual Anatomy with Daaji (Kamlesh D. Patel)

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Daaji, aka Kamlesh D. Patel, is the fourth and current spiritual guide of the Heartfulness Institute, a century-old lineage that used to be known as the Shri Ram Chandra Mission. The organization has taught Heartfulness Meditation to several million practitioners in 126 countries. In addition to teaching and overseeing an international organization, Daaji gives keynote addresses and conducts workshops around the world.

Formerly a successful pharmacist in New York City for over three decades, he is also an author whose books include: The Wisdom Bridge; Designing Destiny; The Heartfulness Way; and his latest, Spiritual Anatomy: Meditation, Chakras, and the Journey to the Center.

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Walking on Water in Compassion with Rev. Ann Helmke

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Ann Helmke is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and serves as the faith liaison for the city of San Antonio, Texas. Prior to that she was the director of spiritual services at Haven for Hope, a program that serves homeless people. She has taught theology, has led workshops and retreats, co-founded the interfaith San Antonio Peace Center, and co-authored books. All of her work has focused on social justice through civic engagement. Consistent with that mission, she currently works with San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg on Compassionate USA, a campaign designed to promote compassion and community healing. We talked about her metaphor of getting out of the boat and walking on water -- the vital intersection of spirituality and compassionate action in the world.

Meet Rev. Ann Helmke

CompassionateUSA.org

CharterforCompassion.org

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Living and Almost Dying on the Zen Path with Yoshin David Radin

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Yoshin David Radin is the abbot and founder of the Ithaca Zen Center in upstate New York and he also taught regularly at the Rinzai-ji Zen Center in Los Angeles. He began Zen practice in 1976, was ordained a monk in 1983, and an Oshō in 1989. He has been published in Tricycle Magazine and some of his writings have been turned into songs or spoken poems that were released in four collections, including "Love Songs of a Zen Monk." He also edited two books by his teacher, Joshu Sasaki, and is the author of his own book, "A Temporary Affair: Talks on Awakening and Zen." It is a collection of talks he gave at a time when his health was severely compromised and could have died. We talked about his long and interesting path, his somewhat untraditional teaching, and what it was like to experience serious illness and look at the face of death.

Find out more about Ithaca Zen Center and Yoshin David Radin https://ithacazencenter.org/teacher/

https://ithacazencenter.org/books/

Meet Philip Goldberg here Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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The Spiritual Value of Anxiety with Psychologist David Rosmarin

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Dr. David. H. Rosmarin is a board-certified clinical psychologist, a peer-reviewed scholar, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and the director of the Spiritual and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital. A leading expert and recognized innovator in the treatment of anxiety, he founded the Center for Anxiety, which has facilities in New York and Boston. He puts that expertise to use in his new book, Thriving With Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You. In this conversation, we discussed the links between psychology and spirituality, why spiritual people are not immune from anxiety, and how to turn anxiety from a crippling problem to a strength.

Dr. David Rosmarin https://dhrosmarin.com/

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/treatment/smhp

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Godtalk in Conversation with Neale Donald Walsch

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Neale Donald Walsch is the author of the hugely popular Conversations with God series, seven of which were on the New York Times bestseller list (the first one, in 1995, remained on the list for 134 weeks. In all, his forty books on contemporary spirituality and its practical application in everyday life, have been translated into 37 languages and read by millions around the world. His latest book, and the main topic of our conversation, is Godtalk: Experiences of Humanity's Connections with a Higher Power. We talked about his personal path, the reactions to his provocative books, and how to forge a deep connection with the divine.

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The Music, Laughter, and Wisdom of Sufism with Jamal Rahman

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Imam Jamal Rahman is the co-founder of the Interfaith Sanctuary in Seattle. A popular public speaker on subjects related to Islam, Sufi spirituality, and interfaith relations, he has collaborated with a rabbi and an Christian minister as part of The Interfaith Amigos. The trio has toured the country sharing the message of spiritual inclusivity and have been profiled in national media outlets. As an author, Jamal's books include Sacred Laughter of the Sufis; Spiritual Gems of Islam; and The Fragrance of Faith. He is also coauthor of several books, including Finding Peace Through Spiritual Practice. Enjoy and learn from this delightful conversation about the heart and soul of mystical Islam.

Jamal Rahman Interfaith Amigos

Connect with Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Lessons from Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi with Rizwan Virk

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Rizwan Virk is a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur, a video game pioneer, a film producer, a venture capitalist, a computer scientists, and an author whose books explore the intersection of science, business, and spirituality. They include Zen Entrepreneurship and two books at the cutting edge of computer science and metaphysics, The Simulation Hypothesis and The Simulated Multiverse. His most recent book is Wisdom of a Yogi: Lessons for Modern Seekers from Autobiography of a Yogi, referring to the iconic memoir by Paramahansa Yogananda. Our conversation ranges from the profound spiritual metaphor of Simulation, drawn from video game and virtual reality technology, to pragmatic lessons about life on the spiritual path.

www.zentrepreneur.com

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Finding Enlightenment in Movies and Literature With Dean Sluyter

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Dean Sluyter is a public speaker, meditation teacher, leader of workshops and retreats, and the author of several critically acclaimed books, including: Natural Meditation, Cinema Nirvana, The Zen Commandments, and his latest, The Dharma Bum's Guide to Western Literature: Finding Nirvana in the Classics. Dean draws on his studies with a number of teachers from different traditions over many years, and employs his gift for uncovering spiritual teachings in unlikely places, like works of art we don't think of as "spiritual." We talked about "Casablanca" and "Huckleberry Finn," among many other things

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Discovering Self with Kimberly Braun

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Kimberly Braun spent ten years as a nun in a Carmelite monastic order and then moved on to pursue a multidimensional spiritual path. Now, as a public speaker, author, meditation coach, and ordained minister, she helps guide others closer to the divine presence in a number of ways through her workshops, retreats, and online gatherings. We spoke about her fascinating and compelling journey, which she described in her book, Love Calls, Insights of a Former Carmelite Nun. We also spoke about the spiritual community she facilitates online, her latest book (Miracles in the Naked Light), and her upcoming Discovering Self online summit.

Find out more about Kimberly Braun here www.kimberlybraun.com

www.essencetribe.com

https://www.kimberlybraun.com/events/discovering-self-summit/

Meet Philip Goldberg, host of Spirit Matters

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Prosocial Spirituality and Contemplative Life with Kate Sheehan Roach and Jeff Genung

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In our proliferating spiritual environment, with easy access to diverse teachings and practices, Kate Sheehan Roach and Jeff Genung are providing services to help all spiritual explorers find what works best for them. Kate was the founding editor or Contemplative Journal and managing editor at Patheos.com. She currently works at ContemplativeLife.org and Prosocial World. As does Jeff, who is managing director of Prosocial World (a non-profit whose purpose is "to consciously evolve a world that works for all") and co-founder of Contemplative Life ("a digital hub connecting people and communities with transformative practices"). Jeff is also a core team member of transformation365.org.

Meet Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Transcending Boundaries and Beliefs with Robert K.C. Forman

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

As a professor of religion, Robert Forman acquired a stellar reputation for his pioneering work on spiritual experiences and the study of mysticism. Some of the eleven books he wrote or edited became classics in academia, including: The Problem of Pure Consciousness; The Innate Capacity; and Mysticism, Mind, Consciousness. He's also written non-academic books such as Enlightenment Ain't What It's Cracked Up to Be. After retiring from academic life, Robert founded the Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change and The Forge Guild of Spiritual Leaders and Teachers. He later became a hospital chaplain, retiring from that in 2023. We talked about what he's learned from those diverse careers and the book he's currently working on, about how "mystics on the margins" are reinventing Christianity by finding meaning and community even when they don't accept key doctrines and beliefs.

Connect with Robert Foreman

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The Awe-Inspiring Spirituality of Science with J.D. Stillwater

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

J.D. Stillwater is a public speaker, author, and science educator who finds--and helps others find--spiritual insight and inspiration in the empirical, evidence-based discoveries of hard science. An officer of the Religious Naturalist Association and a member of the governing council of the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science, he shares revelations from natural reality to drive spiritual awakening in his various audiences, and in this interview he shares that sense of wonder and excitement with us. You'll see how the cold facts of science reveal the same interconnectedness and oneness that the mystics of all the world's traditions have pointed us to for millennia.

J.D. Stillwater Science, Sustainability, Spirituality https://www.jdstillwater.earth/

Meet Philip Goldberg, host of Spirit Matters Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach https://www.philipgoldberg.com/

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Living Language and Transcendent Dreaming with Christina Donnell

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Christina Donnell has worn many hats over the course of a remarkably interesting life. A clinical psychologist, spiritual teacher, public speaker, and writer, she has not only studied Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, she delved deeply into a shamanic tradition in Peru for thirty years. She's the author of Transcendent Dreaming: Stepping Into Our Human Potential and, recently, Encounters with Living Language: Surrendering to the Power of Words. We explored, among many of things, the spiritually transformative use of language, literature, dreams, and her work at the Winds of Change Association.

https://www.christinadonnell.com/ Christina Donnell

https://www.christinadonnell.com/winds-of-change/ Winds of Change

Meet Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Humanity's Team and A New Universal Dream with Steve Farrell

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Steve Farrell was a hugely successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur before transforming his life and devoting his time and energy to service. He's the co-founder and Executive Director of Humanity's Team, a non-profit focused on helping people awaken to their deeper selves and "the divine truth of oneness." The company offers a variety of educational programs on "conscious living" in different spheres of life. We discussed his personal evolution, Humanity's Team, and his new book, "A New Universal Dream," which is both a memoir and a call to action.

Find out more about Steve Farrell here

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Uncovering the Dynamics of Cults and Mind Control with Steven Hassan

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Sadly, many spiritual organizations display the negative characteristics of cults, and many spiritual teachers and leaders abuse their power. As a result, many sincere seekers end up disillusioned, wounded, or traumatized. Steven Hassan is an expert on cults, mind control, and "undue influence," and his Freedom of Mind Resource Center is dedicated to empowering spiritual students to protect themselves and retain their independence. We discuss some of the valuable tools Steven has developed, such as the BITE (Behavior, Information, Thought, Emotional control) model and the Influence Continuum, as well as the indicators of healthy teachers and organizations and unhealthy ones.

Find out about Steve Hassan and the Freedom of Mind Resource Center

Connect with Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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On the Mystical Path of Healing with James Finley

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000

We all have wounds. We've all struggled with pain, grief and loss. In this interview, the psychologist, contemplative teacher, and renowned author, James Finley, discusses what he calls "a path, a way of life, in which we human beings may be healed from all that hinders us from experiencing the steady, strong currents of divinity that flow on and on in the bitter-sweet alchemy of our lives." The author of "Merton's Palace of Nowhere," "Christian Meditation," and other books and audio series, Jim here draws on his latest book, "The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation," pointing us to "the secret opening through which we pass into wholeness."

Find out about James Finley and the Center for Action and Contemplation

Connect with Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Kundalini - What It Is and What It Is Not - With Joan Shivarpita Harrigan

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0000

We've all heard of Kundalini. However, misconceptions about it are commonplace. In this episode we get it all straight by speaking with Joan Shivarpita Harrigan about kundalini and the entire process of spiritual development. An American who was authorized to teach in a traditional lineage based in Rishikesh, India, Joan has practiced, studied, and taught Advaita Vedanta and Raja Yoga for 45 years, 30 of which were spent as Director of Kundalini Yoga Care USA. A retired psychologist as well, she's the author of two books, Kundalini Vidya: The Science of Spiritual Transformation and Stories of Spiritual Transformation: The Fulfillment of Kundalini Process.

KundaliniCare.com

Find out more about Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Discovering Rudolf Steiner and Sophia with Signe and Christopher Schaefer

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0000

In the first half of this episode, we explore the life and teachings of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy and the Waldorf Schools, with two longtime practitioners and teachers in Steiner's tradition, Signe Eklund Schaefer and Christopher Schaefer. Then Christopher says goodbye and Signe discusses her new book, She Was Always There: Sophia as a Story for Our Time. The term Sophia is Greek for "wisdom" and has come to signify the Divine Feminine. We explore Her implications for our spiritual growth. Both Signe and Christopher are authors of previous books and taught at Emerson College in England and Sunbridge College in the U.S.

Signe Eklund Schaefer Author Page

Christopher Schaefer

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Investigating Abuse and Finding Solutions to It with Karen Tate

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Karen Tate is an Interfaith Minister, a public speaker, a podcaster, a social justice activist, and an author. Her books include Sacred Places of Goddess; Voices of the Sacred Feminine; and her latest, Normalizing Abuse: A Commentary on Our Pervasive Culture of Abuse. Observing that "abuse and exploitation are pervasive and global," she warns about the risks of accepting this as "ordinary, acceptable, usual, or standard." The conversation focuses on her research on the various forms of abuse found in spiritual institutions and her advice about protecting ourselves and our communities.

Find out more about Karen Tate here

Connect with Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Lessons from Ralph Waldo Emerson with Mark Matousek

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Mark Matousek is an award-winning author, teacher, and speaker whose work focuses on transformative writing for personal, professional, and spiritual development. He’s the founder of the Seekers Forum, an online community for non-sectarian spiritual dialogue, a founding member of V-Men, an organization devoted to ending violence against women and girls, and he offers workshops in self-inquiry and personal development, featuring a method he calls Writing to Awaken. He blogs for psychologytoday.com and is the author of eight books including the memoir Sex Death Enlightenment, Writing to Awaken, and his new book, Letters from an American Stoic: How Emerson Can Change Your Life. That’s the subject of this conversation, which dives deeply into the valuable lessons to be gleaned from Emerson’s life and thought and the enduring ideas of the American Transcendentalists.

Mark Matousek https://markmatousek.com/

Meet Philip Goldberg- Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path with Connie Zweig

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Connie Zweig, Ph.D., is a retired psychotherapist, a prolific author, and a practitioner and teacher of meditation for more than 50 years. Best known for her research and writing on Carl Jung's concept of the shadow, she's the co-author of Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow and the author of A Moth to the Flame (a novel about the life of the Sufi poet Rumi), the bestselling book on aging, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, and her latest book, Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening. About that book, the author says: "Within each of us is a spiritual longing that prompts us to unite with something greater than ourselves. Yet, no matter the spiritual path we choose, we inevitably encounter our own shadow." How to understand, recognize, and work effectively with our shadow is the main focus of this illuminating conversation.

Connie Zweig, Ph.D.

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A Deep Dive Into Wholeness with Robert Atkinson

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Author, Educator, and Developmental Psychologist Robert Atkinson, joins us to talk about his timely new book, A New Story of Wholeness: An Experiential Guide for Connecting the Human Family. We spoke about the need, in our fragmented time, for a shared vision of our interconnectedness and the unity that binds us in spite of our superficial differences. Atkinson shares his belief that we're approaching what he calls "a consciousness of global integration."

Connect with Robert Atkinson https://www.robertatkinson.net/

Meet author, spiritual counselor, speaker, and writing coach Philip Goldberg

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Tracing the History and Impact of Yoga with Eric Shaw

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Yoga teacher and teacher trainer Eric Shaw joins us to discuss his exhaustively researched book, Sacred Thread, A Comprehensive Yoga Timeline: 2000 Dates That Shaped Yoga History. The subject, and our conversation, goes well beyond just the developments in what's known as "postural yoga." It includes the entire range and depth of yogic precepts and practices and their spread from India to the rest of the world. We also touched upon the impact yoga has had on other traditions and the importance of protecting the system from distortion and dilution. We also discussed some controversies that Eric was involved in.

Find Eric Shaw on Facebook

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Gratitude Revealed-Interview with Director Louie Schwartzberg

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 01:13:00 -0000

Welcome to the official podcast of the MindBodySpirit.fm podcast network. For our debut episode we will explore the concept of Gratitude as a life practice through the eyes of award-winning cinematographer and director of the documentary film Gratitude Revealed, Louie Schwartzberg. We gathered three podcasters from the network Philip Goldberg host of Spirit Matters, Cynthia Occelli host of Rewritten and Dr. Steven Farmer host of The Dr Steven Farmer Podcast-Healing for Your Soul to get their impressions of this incredible film. In a candid Q and A with Louie, each person shared their reactions and feelings about the film. Moderated by Co-Founder Diane Ray, we discover why Louie was drawn to the subject of gratitude, what his definition of gratitude is, and how we can live a more meaningful life full of gratitude.

What began as a short film viewed by millions at TED in 2014 has evolved into a global effort to make this film available to all. If you would like to find out more about this extraordinary film or host your own screening of Gratitude Revealed, please visit www.gratituderevealed.com. If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to hear other podcasters views on the idea of gratitude, visit the Gratitude page https://mindbodyspirit.fm/showcase/gratitude/

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Waking Down in Mutuality with Saniel and Linda Bonder

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Saniel Bonder and Linda Groves-Bonder work together as spiritual teachers through the Human Sun Institute, the organization they co-founded. Best known for the process called Waking Down (later Waking Down in Mutuality), they describe their mission this way: "To being heart-based embodied awakening to a worldwide audience." Our conversation focused on their spiritual histories and their current work, such as what it means to become "a human sun." We also addressed delicate issues relevant to contemporary spiritual seekers: the potential of power abuse by teachers and the vulnerability of their students.

SanielandLinda.com

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The Art of Magical Surrender with Kute Blackson

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000

To most of us, the word surrender evokes weakness, defeat, captivity, and giving up -- not good things. Yet, many spiritual traditions call upon followers to surrender and portray it as the key to the kingdom. In this spirited and illuminating interview, the globally-known transformational teacher, Kute Blackson, author of the inspiring new book, The Magic of Surrender, describes how surrender, properly understood and applied, can lead to freedom, strength, and spiritual riches by syncing individual consciousness with divine intelligence.

Connect with Philip Goldberg- Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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Learning From the Mystics and From the Pain of Grief with Mirabai Starr

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000

We explore deep and powerful spiritual lessons from the Christian mystics with one of the world's leading experts, Mirabai Starr. From John of the Cross and the dark night of the soul to the liberating teachings in the lives of female saints like Teresa of Avila, there are spiritual blessings to be gleaned. We also plunge into the heart of despair as Mirabai shares from personal experience how to grow spiritually following the heartbreak and grief of a painful loss.

Connect with Mirabai Starr

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The Art of Spiritual Fiction with Arielle Ford

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Arielle Ford was a highly successful agent and publicist who represented some of the world's top self-help and spiritual authors. Then she became an author herself, writing 11 non-fiction books including Wabi Sabi Love and The Soulmate Secret, which launched her on a new career as a respected coach and speaker on the subject of love and relationships. Now she's published her first novel, The Love Thief, about the spiritual transformation of the main character, an American woman who finds herself in India. We spoke about why she wrote the book, the plot and characters (without giving anything away), and why fiction can be especially transformative for both author and reader alike.

Get the book The Love Thief Connect with Arielle Ford here

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Sign up for your chance to see the documentary film Gratitude Revealed for free! https://mindbodyspirit.fm/showcase/gratitude/

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Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground with Rachel Harris

Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Psychologist Rachel Harris, author of Listening to Ayahuasca, joins us to discuss her fascinating new book, Swimming in the Sacred. In recent years, entheogens, aka psychedelics, have enjoyed a resurgence of interest since research on the substances was halted amidst the abuses of the 1960s. Studies undertaken at prestigious universities have been demonstrating the therapeutic applications of the "medicines." While she, like many psychologists and physicians, consider this a promising, if not transformative, development, Dr. Harris is concerned that "research protocols may be significantly different from the best practices developed over decades of work by guides in the underground psychedelic community." We discussed exactly what that hard-earned wisdom consists of and the potential psychospiritual benefits of the careful use of entheogens.

Find out about Psychologist Rachel Harris

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Finding Divinity in Poetry and Prose with Mark Nepo

Sun, 21 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000

A deep and far-ranging conversation with the renowned spiritual teacher, poet, storyteller, and prolific author, Mark Nepo. Mark's 25 nonfiction books have sold more than a million copies. They include The Book of Awakening, which topped the New York Times bestseller list; More Together Than Alone; and most recently Surviving Storms: Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity. In addition, he just came out with a volume of his poetry titled The Half-Life of Angels. We'll learn about the link between creativity and spirituality, how to derive the greatest spiritual benefit from reading poetry, tips for surviving life's biggest challenges, and what we're called upon to do at this moment in history.

Connect with Mark Nepo here

Philip Goldberg- Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach

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The Heart and Soul of Spiritual Memoirs with Richard Lischer

Wed, 10 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000

The spiritual memoir is an extremely popular genre and a time-tested vehicle for conveying spiritual wisdom as well as the blessings and challenges of life on the razor's edge we call the spiritual path. In this conversation, Richard Lischer -- an ordained Lutheran minister and a professor at Duke Divinity School -- discusses his book, Our Hearts are Restless: The Art of the Spiritual Memoir, and his own observations as both a reader and an author of books in that genre. You'll learn how to get the most out of reading a spiritual memoir, and about writing one should you choose to give it a try.

Find out more about Richard Lischer

Get the book- Our Hearts Are Restless: The Art of the Spiritual Memoir by Richard Lischer

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Digging Into the Wisdom of Vedanta with Swami Sarvapriyananda

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000

The culmination of the ancient Vedic tradition, Vedanta represents the core teachings of what we call Hinduism. In its modern expression, it has had a huge influence on spiritual seekers around the world, and its impact continues to grow. In this interview, Swami Sarvapriyananda, the Minister and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of New York, and one of the primary proponents of Vedanta today, makes this profound and practical wisdom easily understandable and accessible.

Vedanta Society of New York

Swami Sarvapriyananda

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The Alchemy of Devotional Music with Jai Uttal

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000

World Music pioneer and leading kirtan artist Jai Uttal joins us for a probing conversation about the spiritual value of music in its myriad forms and expressions. We talked about his musical roots, his discovery of the increasingly popular Indian style of call-and-response mantra chanting (kirtan), and how he and others have integrated Western instruments and motifs into traditional Indian music. We also talked about his latest album, "Dust and Tears," which features a broad range of musical styles, and the transformational impact of music that touches the heart--even when it triggers sadness or longing.

Jai Uttal https://jaiuttal.com/

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Learn About the Brahma Kumaris and Raja Yoga with Gayatri Naraine

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Since 1980, Gayatri Naraine has served as the United Nations representative of the Brahma Kumaris, a worldwide spiritual organization founded in India in 1937 with a strong orientation toward service work and the practice of Raja Yoga, which Gayatri has practiced for over 45 years. She is also a senior teacher at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. We spoke about the origin and unique features of the Brahma Kumaris, its unusual emphasis on female leadership, and her work at the UN, which focuses on exploring and developing the spiritual dimension of UN programs with practical relevance to individual lives, such as its sustainable development goals.

Brahma Kumaris

Brahma Kumaris at the UN

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Opening to Original Blessing with Matthew Fox

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Matthew Fox, the eminent theologian, author, and former Catholic priest, discusses his estrangement from the Church and his highly influential reframing of the Christian tradition with concepts such as Creation Spirituality and Original Blessing. A treasure trove of insights for everyone regardless of their path.

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The Life and Legacy of Swami Vivekananda with scholar Ruth Harris

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0000

The first major Indian guru to come to America, Swami Vivekananda set the template for all the teachers who followed - and his enormous impact persists. Here, Oxford historian Ruth Harris, author of the landmark biography "Guru to the World," explores Vivekananda's fascinating life and enduring legacy.

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Exploring Spiritual Ethics and Integrity with Jac O'Keeffe and Rick Archer

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000

As longtime teachers and practitioners, and as co-founders of the Association for Spiritual Integrity, Jac O'Keeffe and Rick Archer have seen the good, bad, and ugly of contemporary spirituality. Here they dive into the need to promote ethical standards among spiritual teachers and ways to help seekers and students guard against spiritual abuse.

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Ric Archer and Buddha at the Gas Pump

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Yoga at Kripalu with Stephen Cope and Robert Mulhall

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0000

A lively conversation with Robert Mulhall, CEO of The Kripalu Center for Yoga, and Stephen Cope, author, psychologist, and longtime Scholar in Residence at Kripalu. They discuss the fascinating history of the most prominent yoga retreat center in America, the challenges of adapting an ancient tradition to modern life, and yoga's (and Kripalu's) role in generating personal and cultural transformation.

The Kripalu Center for Yoga

Stephen Cope

Author, Spiritual Counselor, Speaker, Philip Goldberg

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Sacred Activism with Andrew Harvey

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0000

A penetrating conversation with the passionate and prolific expert on the world’s mystical traditions, Andrew Harvey. Andrew, the founder and director of the Institute of Sacred Activism, and author of more than 30 books, including Radical Regeneration, discusses the vital need for engaged spirituality in our times -- and much more.

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Awakening the Love of It with Sally Kempton

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this deep conversation with renowned spiritual teacher Sally Kempton, author of Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga and Meditation for the Love of It, we dive deeply into a variety of valuable topics, such as the practical implications of nonduality, the relational aspect of spirituality, working with personifications of the Divine, and meditation as play. And Sally leads us in a guided meditation.

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Exploring Perennial Wisdom with Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode, the interspiritual rabbi Rami Shapiro shows us the transformational value of exploring traditions other than our own. Listen as we discuss perennial teachings across boundaries, Rami's notion of "nondual aliveness," and much more.

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Life, Spirituality, and Buddhist Principles: A Conversation with Robert Thurman

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 22:18:31 -0000

In this first episode of the new Spirit Matters, we have a far-ranging, illuminating, and practical conversation with the renowned scholar of Buddhism, Robert Thurman. A close friend of the Dalai Lama and author of many books, including Wisdom is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life, Bob’s ability to communicate complex ideas in ways that everyone can understand and apply to their lives is on full display here – as is his playful wit.

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