The Modern Buddhism Podcast - podcast cover

The Modern Buddhism Podcast

The Modern Buddhism Podcastpodcasters.spotify.com
Welcome to the Modern Buddhism Podcast, where we explore how meditation and Buddha's timeless wisdom can help all of us to cultivate a deeper inner peace, happiness, and resilience in daily life. Join us for inspiring conversations with people who live these teachings every day. Hope you enjoy it. Produced by the New Kadampa Tradition

Episodes

30 YEARS OF BUDDHISM IN NYC - HERE'S WHAT THE CITY TAUGHT ME

Buddhist teacher Kadam Morten Clausen talks with Agnes about his 30 years of living and teaching in the Big Apple: the challenges of modern city life and what they've taught him, and his experience of decades of practising meditation and mindfulness in New York City. Morten is the National Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition for the Eastern United States and regularly teaches all around the world; he is the resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center New York City: https://meditati...

Jun 16, 202550 minEp. 22

How I found my lightness: from depression to purpose and joy

In this episode, Adam is joined by Marlise Anthonioz, who discusses openly how her meditation practice has taken her from a place of depression and hopelessness to a joyful optimism, enabling her to live a full and happy life. She discusses how family life was causing her to feel unhappy and unfulfilled and how her Buddhist meditation practice transformed her experience. A desire to understand the deeper meaning of life led her to search and question others. She discovered that meditation was th...

Mar 27, 20251 hr 1 minEp. 21

Find the Real You: How to Build Unshakeable Self-Esteem

Kadam Morten Clausen talks about how our limited or negative view of ourself is the basis for low self esteem. Then how we can change our view of what the self is and through this develop a new way of identifying ourself that gives authentic higher self esteem and we can learn to be happy with ourself. In today’s podcast, Kadam Morten talks about a very important topic—the way we view ourselves and how this view shapes our self-esteem. It's something that many of us struggle with: the negative s...

Mar 20, 202521 min

At Peace with Ourself: How to Create a Healthy Self-Image

Our thoughts don't define our reality, yet we often buy into negative beliefs about ourselves, leading to a distorted self-image. In this podcast, Gen Jigme explores how meditation can help us quiet the negative inner voice and cultivate a more positive understanding of ourselves. While we acknowledge our flaws, we also recognize our growth and appreciate the goodness within us. He guides us through various ways of thinking that can help free us from feelings of isolation and foster a healthier,...

Mar 13, 202541 minEp. 19

How to Meditate: From First Steps to Mastery

Gen Kelsang Rabten joins Adam on the podcast for a wide ranging discussion of the various stages of meditation from the very first steps to how to reach the highest levels. Insights are shared and explored that will help us access our inner strength and stillness; show us how we can use meditation to diffuse negative thought patterns in our mind and replace them with healthy positive alternatives; and the special techniques advanced meditators use to create the ideal mental environment for deepl...

Mar 06, 20251 hr 23 minEp. 18

Work-life Balance & How to Deal with Difficult People

In this illuminating episode, Buddhist Meditation Teacher Kadam Rebecca challenges conventional wisdom about work-life balance. Rather than focusing on time management, she reveals how true equilibrium stems from our inner state of mind. Alongside fellow Teacher and host Kadam Adam, they explores how everyday challenges—especially difficult people—can become powerful catalysts for spiritual and personal transformation. They also dive into how developing a light, positive mindset can help us beco...

Feb 27, 20251 hrEp. 17

The Life-Changing Power Of Compassion

In this episode, Kadam Adam is with Buddhist nun Gen Demo for a thought-provoking discussion on the true nature of compassion. Together, they explore how genuine compassion isn’t about feeling sorry for ourselves or others, but rather a mindset that protects and uplifts us, helping us to navigate life with clarity and kindness. They look at the idea that compassion, when understood correctly, empowers rather than burdens us, bringing emotional resilience and peace. Throughout the conversation, G...

Feb 20, 20251 hrEp. 16

What Facing Death Taught Me About Life

In this episode, we hear the inspiring journey of Gen Lingpur, a Buddhist nun whose life took an unexpected turn after a routine medical check-up. For years, she thrived in her career and enjoyed a fulfilling life. But everything changed when she was diagnosed with cancer. Faced with fear and uncertainty, she began searching for deeper answers to make sense of her situation.It was during this time of searching that Gen Lingpur discovered Kadampa Buddhism. The teachings offered the wisdom she had...

Feb 13, 202552 minEp. 15

How Meditation Helped Me Succeed

Entrepreneur, Author, and Meditation Practitioner Len Foley shares invaluable insights into how to succeed in work and relationships using meditation as a powerful tool. An Abridged version of this conversation is available in video format on Youtube 0:00 - Introduction Host welcomes Len and introduces the topic of success, meditation, and balancing a busy life. 0:13 - Len's Background Len shares his journey as a business owner, author, and meditation/Buddhism teacher. 0:57 - The Search for Mean...

Feb 06, 202545 minEp. 14

Mastering Your Mind Is The Only Way To Be Free

In this episode, host Agnes sits down with Kelsang Sama, a Buddhist nun, to delve into the deeper concepts of freedom and personal transformation. Together, they explore the difference between cutting ties with the external world and cultivating true inner freedom. While society often emphasizes the importance of shedding external constraints—such as material possessions, relationships, or status—Kelsang Sama emphasizes that genuine freedom lies in mastering one’s inner world and breaking free f...

Jan 30, 202553 minEp. 13

Buddhism Behind Bars: What I Learned Teaching Meditation in Prisons

In this episode, we sit down with Gen Thekchen, a Buddhist monk who was invited to teach meditation to prisoners in Canada. He shares his remarkable journey of teaching controlling the mind behind bars, revealing how the inmates’ surprising resilience and unwavering determination to master their minds in such a tough environment inspired him. Tune in as Gen Thekchen reflects on the profound lessons he learned from the very people society often overlooks. Book references How to Transform Your Lif...

Jan 23, 202535 minEp. 12

How I Found Peace After Tragedy

Gen Gomlam returns to the podcast for a deeply personal and moving conversation about how to heal and find peace after personal tragedy, addressing the feelings of grief, guilt, anger and shame that often arise in the aftermath and how to work through them and find healing. ** Trigger warning : this episode includes discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. Your discretion is advised. ** *** Book references: How to Solve Our Human Problems Joyful Path of Good Fortune Living Meaningfully Dying...

Jan 16, 202558 minEp. 11

At the Intersection of Science and Spirituality: An Astrophysicist talks Buddhism

In this special episode, guest host Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Rabten is in conversation with astrophysicist and lay Buddhist teacher Kadam Peter Kurczynski. Their wide ranging discussion touches on the common points between science and spirituality - for example, how discoveries in quantum physics correlate to profound Buddhist teachings on the nature of reality - but also how meditation can open us to experiences completely beyond the reach of the physical sciences. Kadam Peter has an extensive...

Jan 09, 202552 minEp. 10

Bonus Episode: Meditation on Our Precious Human Life

Happy New Year Everyone! While we continue our break from our usual conversation episodes, please enjoy Kadam Adam briefly explaining and then guiding a meditation on how our life is precious, rare and meaningful. This beautiful contemplation energizes us and inspires us to seize the very essence of each day - an excellent way to start the new year. Full epsiodes resume next week.

Jan 02, 202522 min

Bonus Episode: Meditation on Love and Kindness

While we take a brief break over the festive season, please enjoy this bonus episode: a beautiful guided meditation on love and kindness called equalizing self with others. Full conversation episodes will resume in mid January, but check in again next week for another guided meditation.

Dec 26, 202419 min

How To Overcome Your Fear of Failure

We live in a world that constantly tells us we need to do more, be more, and achieve more. We set insanely high standards for ourselves, pushing to be successful in every area of life—yet, even when we reach those goals, we're left feeling like it’s still not enough. The truth is, we’re never truly satisfied. We’re always chasing the next milestone, believing we have to be better to be happy. But this constant pressure, this endless pursuit of perfection, is rooted in a disproportionate sense of...

Dec 19, 202426 minEp. 9

Finding Meaning And Purpose In Your Life

In this episode, guest host Agnes Bednarczyk is joined by Buddhist monk Gen Doryning to explore the deep sense of searching many young people feel in today's world. Surrounded by uncertainty and overwhelmed by modern challenges, many struggle to find meaning and direction through traditional paths. When asked where one can look for purpose, Gen Doryning offers gentle yet powerful guidance, suggesting simple, transformative changes that anyone can make to cultivate a sense of direction and a deep...

Dec 12, 202432 minEp. 8

How Your Meditation Can Go So Much Deeper

Meditation is a popular method to achieve a calm, peaceful state of mind. In this podcast, International meditation teacher, Kadam Morten Clausen, explains how meditation is so much more than just breathing meditation and how you can begin to find answers to the big questions in your life. He explains how Buddha taught meditation as a way to achieve your true potential and life purpose. He explains how to use meditation to increase your inner wisdom and break free from limiting ways of looking a...

Dec 05, 20241 hrEp. 7

I Wouldn’t Wish This On Anyone - But I Wouldn’t Change A Thing

In this Podcast Gen Demo, a Buddhist nun who is dealing with the chronic disease of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), explains how she is learning to let go of worry and accept her illness. Worrying makes everything worse and has a big effect on health. Gen Demo emphasizes how debilitating worry is in her life and how important it is to relax into the uncertainty of her condition and the uncertainty of the future. Worrying makes everything worse and has a big effect on health. She is learning to be gentl...

Nov 28, 202452 minEp. 6

How I Used Meditation To Deal With Conflict

In this episode, Kadam Adam and Buddhist monk Gen Doryning discuss how conflict can become a pivotal time for achieving real success. They both share relatable stories of conflict that helped them to change their reactions and eventually to transform difficult relationships into ones that made them better people. Gen Doryning explains how easy it is for conflict to make us blind to the other person, only seeing them through our own painful feelings. They discuss how having the confidence to view...

Nov 21, 202452 minEp. 5

Freedom from Anxiety: Buddhist Meditations To Unlock Fearlessness

Anxiety is a modern-day epidemic. In this podcast, Buddhist monk, Gen Kelsang Rabten, uses his own experience of anxiety to explain how to deal with this debilitating habit of mind by applying specific, powerful meditation techniques. He describes how anxious thoughts are tricks our mind plays on us and how, by beginning to first identify these thoughts and not believe them, we can dial the intensity of our anxiety right back. He explains one fascinating meditation that Buddha explained as being...

Nov 14, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 4

How I Conquered Chronic Pain: The Inspiring Power of Meditation

In this podcast, Miri (Mirja Renner) discusses how to transform chronic pain. Dealing with chronic pain herself Miri explains an extraordinary and ancient meditation practice that has helped her deal with relentless pain. She has been able to use this practice to not shut down, and become isolated in her illness but has been able instead to feel connected to others and at the same time reduce her own physical and mental suffering. A very powerful conversation giving much hope and solace to anyon...

Nov 07, 202449 minEp. 3

A Guide to Self-Care When Caring for Others: A Buddhist Monk’s Story

In this podcast Gen Menla, a Buddhist monk who has come from becoming a caregiver to his Mother shares what he has learnt from this. He discusses how being a full-time caregiver can be hard, but also a tremendous journey of learning and personal development. Looking at the importance of taking care of yourself, the caregiver, he explains four simple things his teacher recommends for everyone to ensure they can continue to have the energy to be of benefit to others without burnout. For those who ...

Oct 31, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 2

Buddhist Nun Witnesses 100s Of Deaths - What Did She Learn?

In today's episode, Gen Gomlam delves into the profound and often uncharted territory of death and dying. Having worked as a Nurse for over 30 years she has experience of helping others in the final stages of life, and more recently faced up to the possibility of her own death. As a Buddhist nun she shares insights into what actually happens when we die and how that can affect our life in a positive way. In a society that frequently shies away from discussions about mortality, it is refreshing t...

Oct 25, 202456 minEp. 1
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