Everyday Buddhism: Making Everyday Better

In this episode I talk with Natalie Baker. Natalie is a psychotherapist and Buddhist teacher, with more than 30 years of personal practice and 2+ decades of teaching experience. She is the founder of Neurofeedback Training Co. and a practicing psychotherapist in New York City, Natalie blends the wisdom of Buddhist psychology with modern therapeutic techniques, empowering individuals to navigate life's challenges with mindfulness, compassion, and resilience. Natalie teaches from the strength of her own Buddhist practice, sharing the transformative power of mindfulness and meditation with others. In addition to her psychotherapy practice, Natalie has been instrumental in bringing neurofeedback—a cutting-edge brain training technology—into the mainstream. Neurofeedback is often described as "meditation for the limbic brain", helping individuals achieve greater mental clarity and emotional stability by training the brain to self-regulate. Stay tuned as we talk about some of my favorite subjects, including: Mindfulness and meditation Buddha Nature as basic goodness or fundamental sanity Finding the brilliance in the energy of fear Fearlessness and gentleness as key tools for self-healing and self-discovery Connecting with our warm heart And more!   Learn more about Natalie: https://buddhistpsychotherapyny.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurofeedbacktrainingco/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiQ-_zRCvrL3GdEq7k6rIGQ   Natalie Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-baker-0a025212/     Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits, including a membership community and virtual sangha:https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism   Join the Everyday Sangha: Join the Everyday Sangha   Join the Membership Community: https://donorbox.org/membershipcommunity   Check out my Substack and podcast, Words From My Teachers: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/   If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations   Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism   Support the podcast and show your support through the purchase of Everyday Buddhism merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/everyday_buddhism   NOTE: Free shipping on ALL (unlimited) items (Everyday Buddhism merch or gifts from other stores) if you join Zazzle Plus for $19.95/year: https://www.zazzle.com/zazzleplus

In this episode I talk with Nadia Colburn. Nadia is the author of the poetry books, I Say the Sky and The High Shelf, and her poetry and prose have appeared in more than eighty publications, including The New Yorker, American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, Spirituality & Health, Lion's Roar, and The Yale Review. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Columbia University, is a yoga teacher and serious student of Thich Nhat Hanh, and is the founder of Align Your Story Writing School, which brings traditional literary and creative writing studies together with mindfulness, embodied practices, and social and environmental engagement. The school has a community of over 30,000 mindful writers. Nadia lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband and two children. Stay tuned as we listen to Nadia read some poems from her book and talk about, among many other things: The relationship between Buddhist / meditation practice and writing. Poetry and literature as a companion or an offering as a mirror to yourself. Literature as a place where people can speak truths that are sometimes uncomfortable but not talked about all the time. Writing as therapy and healing. And much more! Sit back and enjoy the flow of conversation and poetry with the delightful Nadia Colburn.   Buy the book (Amazon affiliate link): I Say the Sky   Learn more about Nadia: https://nadiacolburn.com/   Free writing and meditation resources: https://nadiacolburn.com/free-resources/   Free 5-day meditation and writing challenge:  https://nadiacolburn.com/free-mindful-writing-challenge/   Nadia Colburn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadia.colburn/   Nadia Colburn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alignyourstory/     Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits, including a membership community and virtual sangha:https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism   Join the Everyday Sangha: Join the Everyday Sangha   Join the Membership Community: https://donorbox.org/membershipcommunity   Register for the next Introduction to Buddhism course (virtual-Zoom), beginning Thursday, August 29, 2024! Register NOW to get the first readings and reflections in your email, before the class! https://www.everyday-buddhism.com/p/introduction-to-buddhism-course-and-registration-1/   If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations   Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism   Support the podcast and show your support through the purchase of Everyday Buddhism merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/everyday_buddhism   NOTE: Free shipping on ALL (unlimited) items (Everyday Buddhism merch or gifts from other stores) if you join Zazzle Plus for $19.95/year: https://www.zazzle.com/zazzleplus

In this episode I talk with Scott Snibbe, the creator and host of the popular podcast, A Skeptic's Path to Enlightenment and the author of the new book, How To Train a Happy Mind, with foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Scott is a twenty-five-year student of Tibetan Buddhism whose teachers include Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He leads meditation classes and retreats worldwide in a style that will become evident in our upcoming conversation. His light-hearted approach is infused with humor, science, and the realities of the modern world. Scott is a new media artist whose installations have been incorporated into museums, public spaces, and performances. He has collaborated with musicians and filmmakers including Björk, Philip Glass, Beck, and James Cameron, and his work can be found in the collections of New York MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and other institutions. Listen as we talk about Scott's new book and how you really can build positive habits founded on ancient Buddhist practices, leading to a happy mind. And if you're a skeptic, no problem, Scott has you covered. Check out our conversation and I'm convinced you'll want more! In this conversation, we talk about: The Lam-Rim, a 1000-year old Tibetan teaching tradition that is as effective today in training a happy mind. Analytical meditation—a practice both Scott and I credit for significant transformation in our lives … A practice of pointing the mind at the mind, training our thinking to be a friend and not a distraction. Buddha Nature—What is it? And so much more…   Buy the book (Amazon affiliate link): How to Train a Happy Mind: A Skeptic's Path to Enlightenment   Learn more about Scott: https://www.snibbe.com   A Skeptics Path to Enlightenment YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIcf_cNAKoiIuGilQYL51ow   Scott Snibbe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssnibbe/   Scott Snibbe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottsnibbe/   Scott Snibbe Twitter: https://twitter.com/snibbe   Scott Snibbe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snibbe/   Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits, including a membership community and virtual sangha:https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism   Join the Everyday Sangha: Join the Everyday Sangha   Join the Membership Community: https://donorbox.org/membershipcommunity   If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations   Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism   Support the podcast and show your support through the purchase of Everyday Buddhism merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/everyday_buddhism   NOTE: Free shipping on ALL (unlimited) items (Everyday Buddhism merch or gifts from other stores) if you join Zazzle Plus for $19.95/year: https://www.zazzle.com/zazzleplus

In this episode I talk with Cindy Rasicot, about her new book, This Fresh Existence: Heart Teachings from Bhikkuni Dhammananda. Cindy is an award-winning author of the memoir Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter's Spiritual Quest to Thailand. Cindy also hosted a weekly YouTube series that welcomed people from all walks of life to explore their spiritual practice in conversation with Venerable Bhikkhuni Dhammananda. Guests have included Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstein, Joan Halifax, and many others. The conversations showcase Venerable Dhammananda's wise and warm teaching style. In this conversation we talk about Venerable Dhammananda and her amazing and inspirational life journey from academic to activist to spiritual leader. She is an advocate of serious reform for monastic and lay Buddhists, including—of course—the reestablishment of the Bhikkhuni order. She also speaks out, urging all genders and classes to be advocates of equality for women. We also talk about some of the direct teachings found in 10 chapters of Cindy's book, This Fresh Existence: Heart Teachings from Bhikkuni Dhammananda. Teachings that include meditation, forgiveness, loneliness, grasping, uncertainty, and ageing—among others.   Buy the book (Amazon affiliate link): This Fresh Existence: Heart Teachings from Bhikkhuni Dhammananda   Learn more about Cindy Rasicot: https://cindyrasicot.com/   Learn more about Venerable Dhammananada and her monastery, Sondhammakalayni Temple: https://cindyrasicot.com/about-venerable-dhammanda/   https://www.songdhammakalyani.com/   Casual Buddhism YouTube: www.youtube.com/@casualbuddhism   Cindy Rasicot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindy.rasicot   Cindy Rasicot Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindy.rasicot.author     Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits, including a membership community and virtual sangha:https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism   Join the Everyday Sangha: Join the Everyday Sangha   Join the Membership Community: https://donorbox.org/membershipcommunity   If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations   Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism   Support the podcast and show your support through the purchase of Everyday Buddhism merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/everyday_buddhism   NOTE: Free shipping on ALL (unlimited) items (Everyday Buddhism merch or gifts from other stores) if you join Zazzle Plus for $19.95/year: https://www.zazzle.com/zazzleplus