Science & Wisdom LIVE

Paul Howard - The Universe’s Profound Interconnectedness

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0100

In this discussion, filmmaker Paul Howard delves into the Profound Interconnectedness of the Universe and the connection between science and spirituality through the life and ideas of David Bohm, a pioneering quantum physicist. Paul recounts his serendipitous introduction to Bohm's work and how his philosophy bridges the gap between the physical sciences and deeper spiritual insights.

The discussion highlights Bohm's concept of the Implicate Order, the unfolding nature of reality, and the influence of quantum physics on our understanding of consciousness and existence.

This profound conversation brings science, philosophy, and spirituality together to offer new ways of understanding reality.

🗣️ Learn more about Paul Howard: https://sciwizlive.com/speakers/paul-howard/

👉 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/Xudo0Vz61wk

Science & Wisdom LIVE brings meditation practitioners in conversation with scientists to address the problems of contemporary society and come to new possible solutions.

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Understanding the Nature of Consciousness - Vervaeke, Swami Sarvapriyananda & Woollacott

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Swami Sarvapriyananda, neuroscientist Prof. Marjorie Woollacott, and cognitive scientist Prof. John Verveke explore the nature of consciousness. Moderated by Scott Snibbe, the discussion explores the fundamental questions surrounding consciousness: What is it? What does it do?

Swami Sarvapriyananda offers insights from Advaita Vedanta, suggesting consciousness is a fundamental reality that illuminates our experiences. Prof. Woollacott describes it as a vast, limitless awareness responsible for the universe's essence, while Prof. Vervaeke addresses the integration of consciousness and function, highlighting its role in salience landscaping in complex situations. The speakers provide diverse perspectives from science, philosophy, and spirituality, offering viewers a comprehensive understanding of this age-old mystery.

"I think as this infinite consciousness is the essence and the foundation of the universe. I believe it is responsible for bringing this manifest universe into existence through its own infinite freedom and creativity."
—Prof. Marjorie Woollacott

"I instead would argue that there's a way of answering the two of these together. And the way to do that is to first see from a cognitive science perspective why the two questions are challenging, why they're problematic, why consciousness is the Holy Grail of cognitive science."
—Prof. John Vervaeke

👉 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jOKc-pV-7So

Science & Wisdom LIVE brings meditation practitioners into conversation with scientists to address the problems of contemporary society and come to new possible solutions. Addressing topics such as AI ethics, gender equality, climate change, and the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.

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Paul Howard - The Deep Connection Between Science and Spirituality

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0100

In this discussion, filmmaker Paul Howard delves into the connection between science and spirituality through the life and ideas of David Bohm, a pioneering quantum physicist. Paul recounts his serendipitous introduction to Bohm's work and how his philosophy bridges the gap between the physical sciences and deeper spiritual insights.

The discussion highlights Bohm's concept of the Implicate Order, the unfolding nature of reality, and the influence of quantum physics on our understanding of consciousness and existence.

This profound conversation brings science, philosophy, and spirituality together to offer new ways of understanding reality.

Learn more about Paul Howard

Listen to the full Talk here

Juan Santoyo - Meditation's Role in Improving Lives

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 08:00:00 +0100

Researcher and contemplative practitioner Juan Santoyo explores meditation's role in improving lives. This insightful talk delves into how meditation extends beyond brain changes to enhance psychological well-being. Juan discusses the clinical relevance of meditation, its benefits, and the importance of personalised approaches. Learn about the intersection of meditation, equity, ecological justice, and the convergence of Buddhist and indigenous knowledge.

Discover how contemplative practices can address social, political, and ecological challenges in our interconnected world. This discussion highlights the evolving research themes in meditation, emphasising accessibility and diverse perspectives. Join Juan in understanding how meditation can significantly improve our lives, foster community, and support ecological well-being.

Learn more about Juan Santoyo

Paul Howard - Exploring Bohm’s Hidden Variables Theory

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:00:00 +0100

In this insightful discussion, filmmaker Paul Howard explores David Bohm's Hidden Variables Theory and how it challenges conventional quantum mechanics interpretations, such as the Copenhagen Interpretation and Many Worlds Hypothesis. Paul Howard breaks down the double-slit experiment, wave function collapse, and David Bohm's belief in a single wave function orchestrating the universe.

He emphasises Bohm’s unique approach to non-locality, quantum entanglement, and the potential for a deeper understanding of reality through the Hidden Variables Theory. Paul also touches on current scientific efforts at institutions like the University of Toronto and UCL in London, aimed at proving Bohm’s quantum potential.

Learn more about the ongoing research and how David Bohm's ideas resonate with both scientific and philosophical perspectives on the nature of reality.

Learn more about Paul Howard

Listen to the full Talk here

Geshe Tenzin Namdak - Developing Mental Clarity Through Mindfulness Meditation

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0100

Join Buddhist Scholar Geshe Tenzin Namdak as he delves into developing mental clarity through mindfulness meditation. In this discussion, Geshe Namdak explains how mental factors such as mindfulness and alertness play a crucial role in achieving concentration and clarity. He elaborates on Buddhist meditation techniques and the importance of mental factors in our daily practice.

Learn how to train your mind to stay focused and present, and discover the benefits of mental clarity for solving problems and achieving peace of mind. This video offers valuable insights for anyone interested in mindfulness and meditation.

Learn more about Geshe Tenzin Namdak

Vanessa Zuisei Goddard - Mind Training to Transform Your Thoughts with Meditation

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0100

Join Zen teacher Vanessa Zuisei Goddard as she explores effective mind-training techniques inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings. This video delves into the metaphor of the mind as a garden, emphasising the importance of choosing which seeds (thoughts and actions) to nurture and which to let dry up.

Learn practical methods to cultivate positive thoughts and how to address unskillful ones using a simple mnemonic: SWITCH (Switch, Warn, Ignore, Trace, Chop). Discover the power of persistence, patience, and the transformative potential of meditation.

Learn more about Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

Dr. Ekaterina Denkova - Why Attention is Crucial for Memory and Mindfulness

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 15:00:00 +0100

Neuroscience Researcher Dr. Ekaterina Denkova discusses why attention is crucial for memory and mindfulness. Attention is the cornerstone of all cognitive activities, impacting our memory and mindfulness practices. Ekaterina explains how paying attention is essential for remembering and how our minds often wander, leading to distractions. She shares scientific studies that demonstrate how mindfulness can help us train our attention, reduce internal distractions, and enhance our cognitive control.

She highlights the importance of the default mode network in our brain and its role in mind wandering and memory. Through practical examples and research findings, she illustrates how mindfulness practices can attenuate this network's activity, helping us stay present and focused. Join her to learn more about the science behind attention and how mindfulness can transform our mental processes.

Learn more about Dr. Denkova Ekaterina

Exploring Buddhist Philosophy - Q&A with Scott Snibbe

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0100

Join Scott Snibbe in a thought-provoking Q&A session as he explores Buddhist philosophy, Consciousness & AI. In this conversation, Scott takes us on both an intellectual and experiential journey, exploring the intersections between mindfulness, technology, and consciousness.

Through the lens of Buddhist philosophy, Scott addresses questions on the nature of consciousness in relation to software and AI, the physical and non-physical aspects of the mind, and the transformative power of meditation and mindfulness in our digital age.

Watch the full talk here

Learn more about Scott Snibbe

Dr Ekaterina Denkova - Mental Health Strategies for Adaptive Thinking

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0100

Neuroscience Researcher Dr Ekaterina Denkova discusses effective mental health strategies for adaptive thinking. By exploring mental time travel and mindfulness, she reveals how our memories influence our future and the significance of staying present. She delves into the benefits and potential pitfalls of remembering and ruminating, demonstrating how mindfulness can help us break free from maladaptive thought patterns and enhance our well-being.

Join as she explores the dynamic interplay between memory, mindfulness, and brain function to improve mental health.

Learn more about Dr. Denkova Ekaterina

Juan Santoyo - Exploring the Embodied Mind through Cognitive Science and Meditation

Fri, 31 May 2024 14:00:00 +0100

Juan Santoyo explores the concept of the embodied mind in cognitive science and its profound connection to meditation practices. Drawing on the influential work of pioneers like Ben Thompson, Eleanor Roshan, and Francisco Varela, Juan discusses how the brain and mind are not isolated entities but are deeply intertwined with the body and environment.

This conversation highlights the importance of first-person methodologies in studying the mind and the emerging paradigm of contemplative science. Discover how the integration of meditation practices with scientific research is paving the way for new insights and understanding.

Learn more about Juan Santoyo

Scott Snibbe - Exploring Human Consciousness Through Science and Spirituality

Wed, 01 May 2024 10:00:00 +0100

Join Scott Snibbe, a renowned speaker and the founder of a Skeptics Path to Enlightenment, as he dives into exploring human consciousness through science and spirituality. In this enlightening session, Scott reflects on his early fascination with consciousness sparked by philosophical works and his subsequent discovery of Buddhist perspectives.

He critically examines the concept of consciousness through scientific and philosophical lenses, discussing theories from notable figures such as Daniel Dennett and David Chalmers. This video offers insight into the profound questions of human consciousness and its relation to our subjective experiences.

Watch the full talk here

Learn more about Scott Snibbe

Scott Snibbe - Understanding the Mental Factors

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0100

Scott Snibbe discusses "Understanding The Mental Factors" within Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism. This video delves into the five present mental factors that accompany every moment of consciousness, offering a deep dive into how these elements influence our perception, emotions, and actions.

By understanding contact, perception, feeling, attention, and urge, we uncover how our minds are shaped by past conditioning and how we can transform our responses to create more meaningful and compassionate interactions with the world around us. Discover the practical applications of these mental factors in everyday life and learn how to harness the power of your mind for positive change.

Watch the full talk here

Learn more about Scott Snibbe

Exploring the Nature of Consciousness - Marjorie Woollacott, Dr. John Vervaeke and Swami Sarvapriyananda

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Neuroscientist Prof. Marjorie Woollacott, cognitive scientist Prof. John Vervaeke, and Swami Sarvapriyananda from the Advaita Vedanta tradition explore the Nature of Consciousness from diverse perspectives.

They discuss the Nature of Consciousness, its role in manifesting the universe, and the mind-brain complex's function as a filter of our perceptual experiences. They share Insights into meditation's impact on brain activity and its ability to expand awareness, offering a unique blend of scientific and spiritual viewpoints on consciousness and self-awareness.

This dialogue is moderated by Scott Snibbe, host and producer of the meditation podcast ‘a Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment’.

This is an excerpt from a previous episode, listen to the full episode here.

Show notes:

0:00: Introduction
2:20: The Mind-Brain Complex
3:57: Consciousness & Light
5:52: Subjective vs Objective Reality
9:19: Meditation & Wisdom
12:56: Self-awareness
15:06: The Unchanging Nature of the Seer
18:01: Conclusion

Prof. Anil Seth - Consciousness and the Perception of Self

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Prof. Anil Seth, a leading researcher in consciousness studies, delves into how our brains construct our perception of reality and self.

In "Consciousness and the Perception of Self" Seth challenges dualistic views, promoting a materialistic perspective that closely ties consciousness to brain processes. He describes our experience of reality as a 'controlled hallucination', crafted from diverse sensory inputs by the brain. Seth also touches on the relevance of quantum physics, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of matter and its relationship to consciousness.

This dialogue is moderated by Scott Snibbe, host and producer of the meditation podcast ‘a Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment’.

This is an excerpt from a previous episode, listen to the full episode here.

Show notes:

0:00: Introduction
0:40: Brain's Role in Conscious Experience
1:09: Disputing Dualism in Consciousness
2:44: Consciousness as Organizational Function
3:40: Quantum Perspectives on Physical Reality
6:42: The Illusion of Self
10:38: Bodily Perceptions and Self-Identity
14:28: Qualia and Conscious Experience
17:45: Consciousness Science and Vitalism Parallel

Satish Kumar - Ecology, Non-Violence and the Path to True Happiness

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Satish Kumar, a peace pilgrim, activist, educator, and former Jain monk, along with journalist and author Vicki Mackenzie, delve into the realms of ecology, non-violence, and the path to true happiness.

Their conversation weaves through Satish's journey from monkhood to global activism, shedding light on how personal transformation and environmental consciousness are pivotal to societal change. Exploring the intricate ties between spirituality and activism, they reveal how living in harmony with nature and embracing non-violence can lead to a deeper sense of fulfilment.

This episode is part of the Lighthouse Dialogues, a collaboration between Science and Wisdom LIVE and Jamyang London Buddhist Centre.

This is an excerpt from a previous episode, listen to the full episode here.

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction
0:42: Why People Die?
1:52: Becoming a Monk: Seeking Answers to Mortality
2:40: Understanding Death and Transformation
4:36: From Monkhood to Activism
4:52: The Peace Pilgrimage
5:37: Encounters of Compassion and Challenge
8:06: Philosophy of Non-Violence and Peace
10:31: Human Evolution and Consciousness
13:33: Nature and Spirituality

A Dialogue on Life, Death, and Transformation with Rev. Cynthia Carter, Dr. Eva Natanya and Dr. Nigel Hamilton

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Three contemplative scholars and practitioners – Rev. Cynthia Carter Perilliat, Dr. Eva Natanya, and Dr. Nigel Hamilton – explore the difficult topic of mortality. They will discuss how we can deal skilfully with the inevitable fact of death, and what can death and dying teach us about life and living.

Our speakers delve into the Tibetan Buddhist perspective of the Bardo, the Christian understanding of meeting the divine, and the universal experience of transitioning into a higher consciousness. Whether you're interested in the spiritual, psychological, or philosophical aspects of life and death, this conversation offers a rich tapestry of thought-provoking insights.

Listen to the full episode here.

show notes :

0:41 - Near-Death Experiences: An Overview
0:59 - Understanding the Bardo in Tibetan Buddhism
1:20 - Stages of Consciousness Loss According to Tibetan Buddhism
1:47 - The Experience of 'Fanaa' and Transitioning to Light
2:43 - Exploring Identity and the Concept of 'I' at Death
3:35 - The Cessation of Mental Consciousness in Deep Meditation
4:41 - Encountering the Ground Core Conscious Awareness
5:56 - Transition of Consciousness: A Christian Perspective
9:02 - After Death: Comparing Different Spiritual Traditions
13:35 - Sufi Perspectives on Death and the Unseen Light

John Butler on Meditation, the Spirit and Inner Peace

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Author Vicki MacKenzie enters in conversation with John Butler, a modern mystic and meditator.

In this dialogue, John will share his life’s journey and his experience of the sacred through meditation, discussing how silence and stillness can lead to feelings of presence, love, and connection with the divine. The simplicity of his words speaks directly to the heart, inviting us to journey deeper towards an inner peace that we always carry within ourselves.

Listen to the full episode here.

Show notes:

0:35: A Natural Beginning
2:04: Dreams of Farming
2:59: Adventures in Peru
4:35: Discovering Meditation
6:03: Love and Meditation
7:37: Silence, Stillness, and Spirit
9:36: The Great Adventure
11:36: Reconciling the Finite and Infinite

How do we Navigate the Path from Trauma to Healing - Deb Dana, Rob Preece, and Dr. David Robinson-Morris

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

This enlightening talk, delves deep into the complex world of trauma and its healing processes, focusing on "Understanding Trauma and Recovery." Joined by a panel of esteemed speakers, including Deb Dana, Rob Preece, Dr David Robinson-Morris, and Scott Snibbe, we explore the multifaceted nature of trauma from both scientific and contemplative perspectives.

The conversation sheds light on how trauma affects the mind and body, highlighting the significance of connection, mindfulness, and the power of contemplative practices in the journey toward recovery. Each speaker brings their unique expertise to the table, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms of trauma, individual and communal healing, and the role of meditation and spirituality in addressing emotional wounds.

The dialogue is moderated by Scott Snibbe, who is also host and producer of a Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment.

Listen to the full episode here.

Show notes:

0:30: Defining Trauma
1:36: Fragmentation and Connection
3:11: Communal Impact and Meditation
5:01: Interruption as Invitation
6:31: Body Awareness and Healing
8:26: Compassion and the Nervous System
10:51: Spiritual Bypass and Present Moment
14:06: Suffering, Expansion, and Interconnectedness

What can Near Death Experiences Teach us About Consciousness - Geshe Namdak and Dr. Pim van Lommel

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

In this dialogue, Dr Pim van Lommel, a former cardiologist for 26 years in Rijnstate Hospital who is now doing full-time research on the relationship between brain and mind, and Geshe Tenzin Namdak, a revered Buddhist monk and scholar discuss, what can near-death experiences (NDEs) teach us about consciousness?

Learn about the profound insights near-death experiences (NDEs) offer about the nature of consciousness. This conversation bridges the gap between ancient Buddhist teachings and contemporary scientific research. Explore the origins of our conscious experiences, the intriguing relationship between consciousness and quantum phenomena, and how NDEs alongside contemplative practices can fundamentally transform our understanding of life and death.

Listen to the full episode here.

Show notes:

0:30: Origin of Consciousness
6:57: Non-local Consciousness and Brain Function
13:24: Near-Death Experiences and Memory
19:51: Buddhist Perspectives on Death and Consciousness
26:18: Meditation and Subtle Consciousness
32:45: Continuity of Consciousness and Rebirth
39:12: Transformation from Near-Death Experiences
45:39: Meditation, Psychedelics, and Modern Implications

Women's Transformative Role in Buddhism and Christianity - Wendy Garling, Cynthia Bourgeault and Vicki Mackenzie

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Wendy Garling, Cynthia Bourgeault and Vicki Mackenzie discuss the transformative role of women in religious traditions. This is an excerpt of a previous Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, "The Buddha’s Mother & Mary Magdalene".

Listen to the full episode here

Dr. Thupten Jinpa on What Can Science and Buddhism Learn from Each Other?

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:00:00 +0100

In this Interview a respected Tibetan Buddhist scholar, former monk, and the principal English translator for the Dalai Lama, Dr. Thupten Jinpa delves into the profound dialogues between Buddhism and science, exploring the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern scientific inquiry. He shares insights from years of collaboration with world-renowned scientists, including the impact of these interactions on both Buddhist practice and scientific understanding.

This conversation sheds light on the mutual enrichment of Tibetan Buddhism's profound knowledge of the mind and contemporary scientific discoveries, highlighting the Dalai Lama's significant contributions to bringing compassion into the realm of science and everyday life.

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'Buddhism, Science, Compassion, and Climate: An Interview with Dr. Thupten Jinpa'.

Listen to the full episode here

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction
1:00: Early Inclinations and the Shift Towards Science
1:37:What Scientists Learn from Tibetan Buddhism
2:35: Science Enhancing Understanding of Buddhism
4:36: The Intersection of Quantum Physics and Buddhism
6:50: Critical Thinking in Buddhism
7:53: The Role of Ethics and Compassion in Society
10:28: Advancing Compassion in Modern Science

Kim Stanley Robinson on Literature, Spirituality, and the Climate Crisis

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'Surviving the Climate Crisis, with Kim Stanley Robinson'.

Watch the full episode here

Vandana Shiva, David Loy, and Stephan Harding on COP26, spirituality, and the climate emergency

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0100

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'Deep Ecology, Mindfulness, and Climate Emergency'.

Watch the full episode here

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo & Vicki MacKenzie on How Can We Recognise Our True Nature?

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:00:00 +0100

Explore the intricate relationship between mind, meditation, and the nature of reality in this enlightening dialogue featuring Tibetan Buddhist Monk Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo hosted by author Vicki Mackenzie.

Jetsunma with decades of meditation practice and spiritual teaching, dives deep into Buddhist models to unravel the mysteries of consciousness, mental factors, and their impact on our daily lives. This session provides a unique blend of philosophical discourse and practical meditation techniques to guide attendees toward a profound understanding of their own minds.

Jetsunma discusses the foundational Buddhist concepts of emptiness, interdependence, and the seamless connection between consciousness and matter, inviting a transformative exploration of the mind-brain relationship.

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'Lighthouse Dialogue I - Vicki Mackenzie interviews Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo'.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction to Buddhism
1:15: Mind and Consciousness
2:01: True Nature of Self
3:29: Overcoming the Ego
4:30: Meditation and Ego Transcendence
5:45: Managing Fear and Insecurity
7:48: Cultivating Compassion and Positive Thoughts

Gaia, Deep ecology, and the Ecological Self - Dr. Stephan Harding

Wed, 31 May 2023 15:00:00 +0100

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'Reawakening the Ecological Self', with Dr. Stephan Harding.

You can listen to the full episode here.

***
Dr. Stephan Harding was born in Venezuela in 1953. After his first degree in Zoology at Durham University he was a field assistant for the Smithsonian’s field ecology research in Venezuela. His doctorate at the University of Oxford was on the behavioural ecology of the muntjac deer.

After teaching conservation biology at the National University of Costa Rica, he became a founder member of Schumacher College. Here he met James Lovelock – the originator of the Gaia hypothesis – with whom he has maintained a long-lasting friendship and scientific collaboration that lead to their joint appointment as founding chair holders of the Arne Naess Chair in Global Justice and the Environment at the University of Oslo.

Stephan is the author of Animate Earth: Science, Intuition and Gaia, and Gaia Alchemy, which was published in January 2022 by Bear and Co.

The New Bodhisattva Path: Buddhism, Nature, Society - Dr. David Loy

Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'Reconnecting with Nature and our Inner Being'.

You can listen to the full episode here.

David R. Loy is a professor of Buddhist and comparative philosophy, a prolific writer, and a teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition of Japanese Buddhism. His books include Money Sex War Karma, A New Buddhist Path, and most recently Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis. He is especially concerned about social and ecological issues. In addition to offering workshops and meditation retreats, he is one of the founders of the new Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center, near Boulder, Colorado.

In June 2014, David received an honorary degree from Carleton College, his alma mater, during its 2014 Commencement. April 2016 David returned his honorary degree, to protest the decision of the Board of Trustees not to divest from fossil fuel investments.

Why do we feel shame? Tenzin Chokyi and Dr. Eve Ekman

Wed, 03 May 2023 09:00:00 +0100

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'What's shame got to do with it?'.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Tenzin Chogkyi first became interested in meditation and Buddhism in the early 1970s, and became a student of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist teachers in early 1991. Tenzin took novice ordination in 2004 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and completed several long meditation retreats over a six year period. Tenzin teaches Buddhist philosophy and meditation within the FPMT network, and also teachers Cultivating Emotional Balance. She is passionate about social justice and interfaith work in addition to her Buddhist practice, and has been teaching in prisons for more than a decade.

Dr. Eve Ekman is a Senior Fellow at the University of California Berkeley Greater Good Science Center, Director of Cultivating Emotional Balance Training Program and volunteer clinical faculty at the UCSF Department of Pediatrics. Ekman draws from an interdisciplinary set of skills and knowledge from her professional work and personal practice in clinical social work, integrative medicine, emotional awareness, contemplative science, and meditation.

Ekman’s inspiration for research and training were inspired by her experience as a medical social worker in the emergency department of San Francisco General Hospital coupled with her training in emotion awareness and meditation intervention which she now leads: Cultivating Emotional Balance, CEB.

Rupert Sheldrake and Geshe Namdak on Buddhism, Consciousness, Karma and Evolution

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0100

Join, Biologist and author Rupert Sheldrake and Tibetan Buddhist master Geshe Namdak to explore Buddhism, Consciousness, Karma, and Evolution as they dive into the profound power of meditation.

They discuss the power of meditation to transform destructive emotions. Geshe Namdak, explains that our stream of consciousness is individual and has no beginning or end. Each moment of consciousness is produced by the previous moment, and this chain of moments carries with it probabilities of future thoughts and emotions. Through meditation, we can purify our consciousness and eliminate the probability of destructive emotions, leaving only the probability of virtuous thoughts and states of mind. This, in turn, leads to happiness and well-being.

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'Interdependence & the Nature of Reality'.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Show Notes:

0:40: Introduction to Modern Science and Interconnectedness
2:25: The Nature of Consciousness and Quantum Theory
4:01: The Hard Problem of Consciousness and Panpsychism
5:31: The Buddhist View on Reality and Consciousness
8:28: The Role of Karma and Virtuous Thoughts
10:47: Creativity, Evolution, and Memory in Science and Philosophy
13:39: The Role of Probabilities in Science and Buddhism
14:48: Buddhist Contributions to Neuroscience and Research

Fr Laurence Freeman on Is Meditation a Form of Prayer?

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0100

Join Father Laurence Freeman OSB a Catholic priest and a Benedictine monk of the Monastery of Sta Maria di Pilastrello, in Italy, and the Director of the World Community for Christian Meditation. As he explores Is meditation a form of prayer?

Freeman emphasizes meditation as a form of prayer, a tool for connecting with the divine and achieving inner peace. He explores how meditation helps us transcend our egos, fostering love and letting go of negativity.

Drawing inspiration from the early Christian monks who utilized meditation for spiritual growth, Freeman shares their practices and their relevance in our modern lives. He even delves into scientific evidence showcasing the positive impact of meditation on our mental and physical well-being.

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'The Journey from the Mind to the Heart'.

Listen to the full episode

show notes:

0:00: Introduction
1:30: What are destructive emotions?
2:30: Meditation as a tool for transformation
3:30: Connecting with the divine through meditation
4:30: Letting go of the ego and finding peace
5:30: The legacy of meditation in early Christianity
6:30: Science supports the benefits of meditation
7:30: Conclusion and getting started with meditation

Geshe Tenzin Namdak - Can meditation transform destructive emotions?

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000

This episode is an excerpt of a past Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, 'How Meditation Shapes Our Brain and Helps Us Deal With Negative Emotions'.

Listen to the full episode here.

Beyond Fear, Towards Resilience - Interfaith dialogue with Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Dr. Zachary Markwith, and Tenzin Chogkyi

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

In this interfaith dialogue moderated by Scott Snibbe, Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Dr. Zachary Markwith, and Tenzin Chogkyi discuss how to process fear and anxiety, what are the differences between these emotions, and how we can deal with them in a skilful way through the wisdom of contemplative traditions.

Insight, Consciousness, and Non-Duality - Q&A with John Vervaeke, Marjorie Woollacott, and Swami Sarvapriyananda

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Today, we share the second part of the dialogue on ‘Meditation, Consciousness, and the Pursuit of Wisdom’, which was released last month. Today’s episode is a Q&A session with Prof. Marjorie Woollacott, Prof. John Verveke, and Swami Sarvapriyananda.

The speakers discuss the interplay between self-inquiry, dialogue, and meditation; how meditation and contemplation can help us live more fulfilling lives by making us more deeply grounded in reality; and what’s the connection between the development of wisdom and the experience of non-duality.

To hear more about upcoming events, dialogues, e-courses, sign up to our newsletter and check out our website at www.sciwizlive.com.

Meditation, Mystical Experiences, and the Nature of Consciousness - John Vervaeke, Marjorie Woollacott, Swami Sarvapriyananda, and Scott Snibbe

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Our guests today are neuroscientist Prof. Marjorie Woollacott, cognitive scientist Prof. John Verveke, and Swami Sarvapriyananda, a renowned teacher and scholar in the Advaita Vedanta tradition.

The speakers discuss the nature and function of consciousness, bringing together different perspectives from the cognitive sciences and various contemplative traditions. Drawing from their research and contemplative experience, they talk about the potential of meditation and mystical experiences, the nature of qualia, the fundamental ground revealed by deep meditative states, and how to develop greater wisdom and insight.

Today’s dialogue is moderated by Scott Snibbe, host and producer of the meditation podcast ‘a Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment’.

Prof. Anil Seth - How the brain creates the self

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000

The guest of today’s episode is Prof. Anil Seth, one of the foremost researchers in the field of consciousness studies. Interviewed by Scott Snibbe, the host of a Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment, Anil Seth discusses the nature of consciousness and why, according to modern neuroscience, our perception of the self and of reality is like a hallucination. He also talks about the hard problem of consciousness, quantum mechanics, agency and free will.

Lighthouse Dialogues IV – Satish Kumar interviewed by Vicki Mackenzie

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0100

Our guest today is Satish Kumar, peace pilgrim, activist, educator, and former Jain monk. He is the founder of Schumacher college and director emeritus of Resurgence and the Ecologist. He is interviewed by Vicki Mackenzie, British journalist and author, discussing his life, ideas, and the connection between ecology, activism and spirituality. This episode was recorded as part of the lighthouse dialogues, a collaboration between Science and Wisdom LIVE and Jamyang London Buddhist Centre.

Guided Meditation: What happens when you die? – Scott Snibbe

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:00:00 +0100

Today, we share a meditation workshop offered by Scott Snibbe, the host and producer of the meditation podcast ‘A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment’, and long-time collaborator of Science & Wisdom LIVE. Scott is a twenty-year student of Tibetan Buddhism, and leads meditations that infuse the pure lineage of the great Buddhist masters with science, humor, and the realities of the modern world.

This guided meditation session, inspired by ancient Buddhist techniques, helps us explore a precise series of steps that our consciousness may experience as we die, in order to probe the boundary of life and death with curiosity and wonder.
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Scott Snibbe is a regular guest moderator of Science & Wisdom LIVE during talks and events. He is also the founder and host of the meditation podcast ‘A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment’.

Snibbe is a twenty-year student of Tibetan Buddhism whose teachers include Geshe Ngawang Dakpa, Choden Rinpoche, Ven. Rene Feusi, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Inspired by his teachers, he leads meditations that infuse the pure lineage of the great Buddhist masters with science, humor, and the realities of the modern world.

Over the course of a career as a digital artist and entrepreneur, Snibbe has created bestselling art, music, and social apps, and collaborated with musicians and filmmakers including Björk, James Cameron, and Philip Glass. His interactive exhibits have been collected by both science and art museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Life, Death, and Transformation – A Dialogue with Rev. Cynthia Carter, Dr. Eva Natanya, and Dr. Nigel Hamilton

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0100

“[In death,] so many people experience – whether or not they had a religious conviction – the surrender to a state of consciousness, a state of being, so much greater than what they thought they were during this lifetime.”

Three contemplative scholars and practitioners – Rev. Cynthia Carter Perilliat, Dr. Eva Natanya, and Dr. Nigel Hamilton – explore the difficult topic of mortality. In this episode, they will discuss how we can deal skilfully with the inevitable fact of death, and what can death and dying teach us about life and living.

Drawing on the teachings of major religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Sufism, they will also talk about the transformations that our consciousness undergoes during the process of dying, and why meditating on death and impermanence can support our personal growth and the development of inner qualities.

This dialogue was recorded as part of our event on Death and Rebirth organised in collaboration with Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, and it was moderated by Scott Snibbe, host and producer of the meditation podcast ‘A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment’.

The interview was recorded LIVE during our recent event on ‘Death and Rebirth’. To hear more about upcoming events and courses, please visit our website www.scienceandwisdomlive.com and sign up to our newsletter, YouTube channel, and social media platforms.

On death and dying: towards a new paradigm - Ven. Fabienne Pradelle interviews Dr. Peter Fenwick

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0100

Our guest today is Dr. Peter Fenwick, a neuropsychologist who carried out extensive research on near death experiences and the nature of consciousness.

Dr. Fenwick is a senior lecturer at King’s College London and the consultant neuropsychologist at both the Maudsley and John Radcliffe hospitals. He is also the president of the Horizon Research Foundation and president emeritus of the Scientific and Medical Network. In this episode of Science and Wisdom LIVE, he is interviewed by Venerable Fabienne Pradelle, the Director of Jamyang London Buddhist Centre. They discuss our existential fear of death, Near Death Experiences and their connection with personal transformation, and the connection between consciousness and the brain.

The interview was recorded LIVE during our recent event on ‘Death and Rebirth’. To hear more about upcoming events and courses, please visit our website www.scienceandwisdomlive.com and sign up to our newsletter, YouTube channel, and social media platforms.

“The plain fact is that none of us understands these phenomena. As for the soul and life after death, they are still open questions, though I myself suspect that NDEs are part of the same continuum as mystical experiences.”

About our guest:
Dr. Peter Fenwick (born 25 May 1935) is a neuropsychiatrist and neurophysiologist who is known for his studies of epilepsy and end-of-life phenomena. Fenwick is a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied Natural Science. He obtained his clinical experience at St Thomas’ Hospital.

Fenwick is a senior lecturer at King’s College, London, where he works as a consultant at the Institute of Psychiatry. He is the Consultant Neuropsychologist at both the Maudsley, and John Radcliffe hospitals, and also provides services for Broadmoor Hospital. He works with the Mental Health Group at the University of Southampton, and holds a visiting professorship at the Riken Neurosciences Institute in Japan.

Fenwick is the president of the Horizon Research Foundation, an organisation that supports research into end-of-life experiences. He is the President of the British branch of the International Association for Near-Death Studies. Fenwick has been part of the editorial board for a number of journals including the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, the Journal of Consciousness Studies and the Journal of Epilepsy and Behaviour.

Fenwick’s interest in near-death experiences was piqued when he read Raymond Moody’s book Life After Life. Initially sceptical of Moody’s anecdotal evidence, Fenwick reassessed his opinion after a discussion with one of his own patients, who described a near-death experience very similar to that of Moody’s subjects. Since then, he has collected and analysed more than 300 examples of near-death experiences. Fenwick argues that human consciousness may be more than just a function of the brain.

The Lighthouse Dialogues III - Vicki MacKenzie interviews John Butler

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0100

In this third interview of the Lighthouse Dialogues, author Vicki MacKenzie enters in conversation with John Butler, a modern mystic and meditator.

In this dialogue, John will share his life’s journey and his experience of the sacred through meditation, discussing how silence and stillness can lead to feelings of presence, love, and connection with the divine. The simplicity of his words speaks directly to the heart, inviting us to journey deeper towards an inner peace that we always carry within ourselves.

The Lighthouse Dialogues is a series of new events, organised in collaboration with Jamyang Buddhist Centre London and Science & Wisdom LIVE. Author Vicki MacKenzie interviews spiritual ‘lighthouses’, experienced contemplative practitioners whose wisdom and compassion could function as a lighthouse – a beacon of light and understanding – for our society.

The interviews will be focused on the inner experience of people who have dedicated their lives to genuine spiritual search, service, and meditation. We believe that the inner values and qualities developed through lifelong contemplative practice can be profoundly healing for our society and help us move beyond the crises that our world is facing today.

At first sight, John Butler is not one to make much of an impression. Quiet, soft-spoken and usually alone, he became known – in the 1970’s – as one of the first organic farmers.

Having, throughout his life also practiced meditation, 4 years ago, at the age of 79, he was recommended to ConsciousTV, a Youtube channel, focusing on those with experience of higher consciousness. Unwilling at first to face publicity, he was later persuaded to be interviewed. This has since become the most popular item on the channel with 2.5m views.

Soon after his debut on ConsciousTV, Phil Shankland found one of John’s books in a charity book sale in Sheffield, was interested, came to see him, and then decided to move and live nearby. Encouraged by success on Conscious TV, they decided to make some videos themselves. This developed into the Youtube Spiritual Unfoldment Channel, which presently has over 200,000 subscribers and 15 million views.

How has this happened? Though brought up with Christianity and familiar with it, John follows no particular teaching but speaks entirely from his own experience, using examples from nature and simple common sense. Liking the name ‘Mr Nothing’, he suggests to his followers, ‘Feel your feet on the ground – listen and look’. Practiced with attention, this brings the mind to rest – in silence, which may then expand into stillness or peace, spaciousness, freedom and an abiding sense of spiritual presence. Traditional religious teaching that, ‘The Lord is with us’ begins to come into real life experience.

Vicki Mackenzie is a British national journalist and author. She has written six internationally best-selling books including Cave in the Snow (Bloomsbury), featuring Tenzin Palmo; Reincarnation – the Boy Lama (Bloomsbury), featuring Lama Thubten Yeshe and Osel Hita Torres; and recently, The Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi – British Feminist, Indian Nationalist, Buddhist Nun (Shambhala).

Science & Wisdom LIVE is a project of Jamyang London Buddhist Centre. Our events and podcasts explore the middle ground between science and contemplative wisdom, focusing on themes such as the nature of consciousness, the ethics of artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, and the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.

Trauma, Transformation, and Healing - with Deb Dana, Rob Preece, Dr. David Robinson-Morris, and Scott Snibbe

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0100

Trauma can take different forms. One can speak of individual trauma, ancestral trauma, and collective trauma. All of these are happening on different, yet interconnected levels of (all!) our lives. Historically, the word ‘trauma’ comes from the Greek, and literally means ‘wound’ or can be taken in its active form of ‘to wound’. Although originally the word was taken to mean physical wounding, Sigmund Freud was the first (in his book Beyond the Pleasure Principle of 1920) who would use it in his psychological practice with patients to describe their psychological wounding. Currently, trauma is often defined by its response of fear, anxiety, a feeling of overwhelm, and symptoms like PTSD (Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder).

In other words, trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences. It is also important to recognise that trauma does not discriminate and is pervasive throughout the world. A World Mental Health survey conducted by the World Health Organization found that at least a third of the more than 125,000 people surveyed in 26 different countries had experienced trauma. While there are no objective criteria to evaluate which events will cause post-trauma symptoms, circumstances typically involve the loss of control, betrayal, abuse of power, helplessness, pain, confusion and/or loss. The event need not rise to the level of war, natural disaster, nor personal assault to affect a person profoundly and alter their experiences. Traumatic situations that cause post-trauma symptoms vary quite dramatically from person to person. Indeed, it is very subjective and it is important to bear in mind that it is defined more by its response than its trigger.

In this episode of Science & Wisdom LIVE, 3 experts - Deb Dana, Rob Preece, and Dr. David Robinson-Morris - discuss the nature of trauma and how we can deal with it in a skilful way that is healing and transformative. The dialogue is moderated by Scott Snibbe, who is also host and producer of a Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment, and will focus on topics such as the connection between psychological healing and contemplative practices, how to understand trauma through the lenses of polyvagal theory, and the relationship between individual and collective trauma.

Pim Van Lommel & Geshe Namdak on What can Near Death Experiences (NDEs) Teach us About Consciousness?

Wed, 25 May 2022 13:00:00 +0100

Buddhist monk and scholar Geshe Tenzin Namdak enters in conversation with Dr. Pim van Lommel. After working as a cardiologist for 26 years in Rijnstate Hospital, Dr. van Lommel is doing full-time research on the relationship between brain and mind, and is one of the world’s leading experts on Near Death Experiences (NDEs).

In this dialogue, Geshe Namdak and Dr. van Lommel discuss the origins of our conscious experiences, comparing the insights of Buddhist teachings with modern scientific research on NDEs. They will also explore the relationship between consciousness and quantum phenomena, and explore the transformative power of NDEs and contemplative practices.

The dialogue is moderated by Scott Snibbe, host and producer of A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment.

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction and Initial Discussion
6:55: Exploring Consciousness and Near-Death Experiences
13:20: Buddhist Perspectives on Consciousness
19:45: Scientific Approaches to Studying Consciousness
26:10: Interactions Between Brain Function and Consciousness
32:35: Consciousness Beyond the Brain
39:00: Implications of Enhanced Consciousness
45:25: Concluding Thoughts and Future Research

The Buddha’s Mother and Mary Magdalene - Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Wendy Garling, and Vicki Mackenzie.

Wed, 11 May 2022 14:00:00 +0100

Today’s episode is a dialogue between Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault and Wendy Garling, moderated by Vicki Mackenzie. In this dialogue, they will discuss the role of two inspiring women in buddhism and christianity – Mahaprajapati, the woman who raised the Buddha, and Mary Magdalene – and reflect upon archetypal and symbolic figures of womanhood in contemplative traditions.

This dialogue was produced in collaboration with Jamyang London Buddhist Centre to celebrate International Women’s Day 2022.

About our guests:

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeaultis a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader. She is also a longstanding member of the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW). She divides her time between solitude at her seaside hermitage in Maine and tending to a global network of students and practitioners. Her signature contribution to the Christian contemplative reawakening has focused on four main areas: 1) Centering Prayer; 2) The Christian Wisdom Tradition; 3) The Western Esoteric and Fourth Way traditions; 4) The Path of Conscious Love.

She has worked closely with fellow teachers and colleagues including Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, and Richard Rohr, and is an emeritus faculty member of the Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation. Cynthia has actively participated in numerous inter-spiritual dialogues and events with luminaries and leaders such as A.H. Almaas, Kabir Helminski, Swami Atmarupananda, and Rami Shapiro.

Cynthia Bourgeault is a longstanding member of the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW). For Cynthia’s most current writings, offerings, and her calendar of upcoming events please refer to her personal website: CynthiaBourgeault.org

Wendy Garling is a writer, mother, gardener, independent scholar, Tibetan Buddhist practitioner and authorized dharma teacher with a BA from Wellesley College and MA in Sanskrit language and literature from the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of "Stars at Dawn: Forgotten Stories of Women in the Buddha’s Life", a ground-breaking new biography of the Buddha that relates his journey to awakening through the stories of Buddhism’s first women and The Woman Who Raised the Buddha. Her dream is to bring back the stories of Buddhism’s first women, reawaken their voices, and ensure that they are not just remembered, but valorised as integral to the roots of Buddhism.

Vicki Mackenzie is a British national journalist and author. In 1976, while working on The Daily Mail, she stumbled into her first Buddhist meditation course at Kopan, Nepal. This lead to an ongoing journey into Buddhism resulting in many articles for The Sunday Times, The Observer, Sunday Telegraph and many national magazines. She has written six internationally best-selling books including Cave in the Snow (Bloomsbury), featuring Tenzin Palmo; Reincarnation – the Boy Lama (Bloomsbury), featuring Lama Thubten Yeshe and Osel Hita Torres; and recently, The Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi – British Feminist, Indian Nationalist, Buddhist Nun (Shambhala).

Lighthouse Dialogue II - Vicki Mackenzie interviews Sister Jayanti Kirpalani

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 14:00:00 +0100

In this second episode of the Lighthouse Dialogues, author Vicki Mackenzie interviews Sister Jayanti Kirpalani, a spiritual teacher for over 50 years, who has dedicated her life to self-transformation and service to humanity. Sister Jayanti continues to champion the co-operative role of spiritual organisations in creating a just and peaceful world, bringing spiritual principles to the discussion tables of politicians, economists, business leaders, scientists and nearly every stakeholder of our times. Sister Jayanti sees the erosion of spiritual values as the underlying cause of the crises the world is facing today.

The Lighthouse Dialogues is a series of new events, organised in collaboration with Jamyang Buddhist Centre London and Science & Wisdom LIVE. Twice or thrice a year, author Vicki MacKenzie will interview spiritual 'lighthouses', i.e. inspiring and profoundly wise contemplative practitioners, who could function as a lighthouse – a beacon of light and understanding – for others. The interviews are accessible to the general public via LiveStream, and will also be recorded and made freely available on our Podcast and YouTube channels. Future guests of this series include Satish Kumar, former Jain monk and founder of Schumacher college, and John Butler, Christian contemplative and meditator.

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Sister Jayanti Kirpalani is Additional Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris. She is also the Director of Brahma Kumaris activities in Europe and the Middle East. The Brahma Kumaris is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) of the United Nations, accredited with General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Sister Jayanti is its representative to the UN in Geneva. Since 2009, she has led the Brahma Kumaris delegation to the UN Climate Change Conferences and spoken on many international platforms about spiritual perspectives on the environmental crisis.

As a spiritual teacher for over 50 years, Sister Jayanti has dedicated her life to self-transformation and service to humanity. She continues to champion the co-operative role of spiritual organisations in creating a just and peaceful world, bringing spiritual principles to the discussion tables of politicians, economists, business leaders, scientists and nearly every stakeholder of our times. Sister Jayanti sees the erosion of spiritual values as the underlying cause of the crises the world is facing today.

Buddhism, Science, Compassion, and Climate: An Interview with Dr. Thupten Jinpa

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:00:00 +0100

Our guest today is Dr. Thupten Jinpa, renowned Buddhist scholar and practitioner, chair of the Mind and Life Institute, and co-founder of the Compassion Institute. Dr. Jinpa holds a PhD in religious studies from Cambridge University, and served for decades as the Dalai Lama’s principal translator.

In this interview with Scott Snibbe, Dr. Jinpa talks about the relationship between science and Buddhism, discussing the role of critical thinking in contemplative practices and scientific inquiry. He also focuses on the powerful role of compassion, on how ethical principles can help us address the climate crisis, and on the key virtues that promote fulfilling relationships and a harmonious family life.

This episode is the fruit of a collaboration between Science & Wisdom LIVE and A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment. A Skeptic's Path to Enlightenment draws on modern science and psychology to bring the ancient inner science of Buddhist meditation to twenty-first century people hungry for happy, meaningful lives. Find out more: www.skepticspath.org

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Thupten Jinpa Langri was educated in the classical Tibetan monastic academia and received the highest academic degree of Geshe Lharam (equivalent to a doctorate in divinity). Jinpa also holds a BA in philosophy and a PhD in religious studies, both from the University of Cambridge, England. Since 1985, he has been the principal English-language translator to the Dalai Lama. He has translated and edited many books by the Dalai Lama, including The World of Tibetan Buddhism, Essence of the Heart Sutra, and Ethics for the New Millennium. Jinpa has published scholarly articles on various aspects of Tibetan culture, Buddhism, and philosophy, and books such as Songs of Spiritual Experience (co-authored) and Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Thought. He serves on the advisory board of numerous educational and cultural organizations in North America, Europe, and India. He is currently the president and the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Tibetan Classics, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to translating key Tibetan classics into contemporary languages. He also currently chairs the Mind and Life Institute.

If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Jinpa's, he’s currently leading an online course at the Compassion Institute on Building Compassion from the Inside Out.

How to Survive the Climate Crisis: an interview with Kim Stanley Robinson

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Our guest today is Kim Stanley Robinson, one of the greatest living science fiction writers and one of the few people to have developed a credible solution to the climate crisis. In this interview, he discusses with Scott Snibbe about transcendental experiences, Buddhism in his life and fiction, the outdoors as meditation, and the potentials for space exploration; but the main focus of this episode is the pressing issue of climate change. How can we survive the climate crisis, and what can every one of us do to help?

“We’re on the brink of starting a massive extinction event”

“Humanity is an expression of Earth’s biosphere”

“You should know your carbon burn the same way you know your weight on a scale”

“Spend more time outdoors than you usually do. It’s great for you, and it’s fun!”

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Kim Stanley Robinson is an American science fiction writer. He is the author of more than 20 books, including the international bestselling Mars trilogy: Red Mars,Green Mars, Blue Mars, and more recently Red Moon, New York 2140, and 2312, which was a New York Times bestseller nominated for all seven of the major science fiction awards—a first for any book. 2008 he was named a “Hero of the Environment” by Time magazine, and he works with the Sierra Nevada Research Institute, the Clarion Writers’ Workshop, and UC San Diego’s Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination.

Stanley Robinson has won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy awards. In 2016 he was given the Heinlein Award for lifetime achievement in science fiction, and asteroid 72432 was named “Kimrobinson.” In 2017 he was given the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society.

Find out more: https://www.kimstanleyrobinson.info/

Deep Ecology, Mindfulness, and Climate Emergency – Dr. Vandana Shiva, Dr. Stephan Harding, and Dr. David Loy

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Can inner shifts in perspectives help us respond more skilfully to the climate and environmental crisis?

In this third Science & Wisdom LIVE dialogue, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Dr. Stephan Harding, and Dr. David Loy discuss the urgent topic of the climate emergency and environmental crisis. This Dialogue is a collaboration between Science & Wisdom LIVE and The Global Tree Initiative.

As scientists and activists warn us about the potential dangers ahead, new paradigms are emerging to help us navigate the challenges of our times. Deep Ecology invites us to experience (and act from) a deep feeling of our interconnectedness with the natural world. Similarly, contemplative practices (such as mindfulness and meditation) can deepen our sense of oneness with the living universe around us

Does a skilful response to the environmental crisis follow spiritual development and a more mature awareness of our interdependence with nature? And how can we act in the world without becoming depressed or feeling powerless in the face of climate emergency?

Dr. Vandana Shiva, Dr. Stephan Harding, and Dr. David Loy discuss the outcome of the recent COP26, how we can understand the climate emergency as a dysregulation of Earth’s self-regulation, and how the environmental crisis reflects a deeper crisis of values in Western civilization. They advocate a shift from a mechanistic understanding of the world towards a deeply spiritual science, inspired by the feeling of deep connection with the Earth, and talk about the kind of spiritual practices that help us cultivate our sense of belonging to the living planet and act selflessly, without attachment to the results of our actions.

Carlo Rovelli with Geshe Namdak on What is Conciousness?

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Prof. Carlo Rovelli a renowned Quantum physicist enters in dialogue with Buddhist scholar Geshe Tenzin Namdak on the connections between Buddhist philosophy, as exposed by the scholar scholar Arya Nagarjuna, and the discoveries of modern quantum physics.

They discuss consciousness's enigmatic nature, whether consciousness can be broken down into quanta, and the implications of viewing the mind and matter from scientific and philosophical perspectives. They delve into the concept of consciousness as a process rather than a static entity, drawing parallels with the nature of life itself as understood through modern science and deep philosophical inquiry.

This discussion invites us to reconsider the fundamental questions about the mind, brain, and their interconnectedness with the universe, suggesting that a comprehensive understanding of consciousness may require a synthesis of scientific insight and contemplative wisdom.

Show Notes:

0:07: Introduction to Quantum Consciousness
1:00: Exploring the Depths of Consciousness
2:05: Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics
2:45: Consciousness as a Process
4:13: Scientific Perspectives on Consciousness
6:35: Neuroscience Meets Meditation
9:03: Mind-Brain Interactions
10:50: Philosophical Reflections on Mind and Matter

Lighthouse Dialogue I - Vicki Mackenzie interviews Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:00:00 +0000

In this first interview of the Lighthouse Dialogues, author Vicki Mackenzie enters in conversation with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: a Buddhist nun who has taught Dharma internationally and is the founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Tashi Jong, India. Her life is the subject of Vicki Mackenzie’s book Cave in the Snow.

In this dialogue, Jetsunma and Vicki discuss how to connect our hart with our rational mind, what it means to be a monastic in the 21st century, how psychic pollution is as urgent as environmental pollution, and how to bring more mindfulness and joy into our lives.

About Our Speakers:

Born in Britain, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo met her teacher, the eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche, in India in 1964. She was one of the first Westerners ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. After studying with her teacher for six years, she went to a small monastery in Lahaul, India, where she practiced more intensely. Seeking better conditions for meditation, she lived in a cave in the mountains in Lahaul for twelve years, after which, in 1988, she went to Italy.

She has taught Dharma internationally and is the founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Tashi Jong, India, where she now lives. Her life is the subject of the book Cave in the Snow, written by author Vicki Mackenzie.

In February 2008, Tenzin Palmo was given the rare title of Jetsunma, which means Venerable Master, by His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, Head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage in recognition of her spiritual achievements as a nun and her efforts in promoting the status of female practitioners in Tibetan Buddhism.

Reawakening the Ecological Self, with Stephan Harding

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Science & Wisdom LIVE, Scott Snibbe interviews Stephan Harding, Deep Ecology Research Fellow and founding member of Schumacher college

Stephan will discuss his work as an educator at Schumacher College, James Lovelock’s Gaia theory, and the role of intuition in scientific research and ecological thinking.

He will also discuss which kind of practices can deepen our connection with Nature and our experience of being part of the living planet.

Dr. David Loy on Reconnecting with Nature and our Inner Being | Our Gift to the Earth

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Our guest today is Dr. David Loy, Professor of Buddhist and Comparative Philosophy, writer, and teacher in the Zen tradition of Japanese Buddhism.

In today’s interview with Scott Snibbe, he discusses the necessity of engaging with the world and transcending duality as part of one’s contemplative practice; how Buddhism and other contemplative traditions change in response to the needs of the contemporary world; and how to respond appropriately to the challenges of our time, without falling into the extremes of indifference or despair.

They will also talk about the need to deepen our relation with, and love for, Nature and wilderness; how personal transformation is necessary in order to enable collective growth; and how Buddhism and other contemplative teachings can help us face what Noam Chomsky called "the most dangerous moment ever in human history".

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction
7:18: Exploration of Zen and Academic Careers
13:33: Ecodharma and Connection with Nature
19:56: Buddhism's Influence on Western Society
26:30: Personal Transformation and Social Engagement
32:47: Environmental Concerns and Spiritual Responses
39:01: Overcoming Dualities and Embracing Non-Duality
45:24: Looking Ahead: Buddhism's Role in Modern Crises

Climate Emergency: From 'What is' to 'What if', with Rob Hopkins

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0100

Our guest today is Rob Hopkins, environmentalist, founder of the Transition Town Totnes and Transition Network, author, artist, and host of the podcast ‘From what if to what next’. In this interview with Scott Snibbe, he talks about his work with the Transition Network, the relationship between one’s spiritual life and action in the world, and the potential of communities to promote positive change. He also discusses possible solutions to the current climate and ecological crises, the role of positive narratives, and the lessons that we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemics.

Citizens of the Universe: on Mindful Stargazing, with Dr. Mark Westmoquette

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0100

Scott Snibbe interviews Dr. Mark Westmoquette, Zen Buddhism teacher and Astrophysicist. During the episode, they discuss our connection with universe and how can reflecting on it can help us transcend duality and bring more meaning into our lives. This way of exploring interconnectedness is a key point of Zen Buddhist practice: as we look more closely to ourselves and our universe, the illusion of separation slowly fades away.

What's Shame Got To Do With It? Exploring Shame, Contempt & Disgust with Dr. Eve Ekman and Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0100

Most of us would do almost anything to avoid feeling shame, an emotion that creates a feeling that we are fundamentally flawed. Shame is a self conscious emotion - one connected to how we view ourselves through the eyes of others. Shame has an evolutionary purpose for sustaining social norms and can be seen in its most contemporary manifestations through “cancel culture.” Our other “self conscious” emotions contempt, disgust, and guilt — perpetuate the judgement and “othering” polarizing us from others and degrades our ability to engage with our full hearts of empathy.

In order to transform our shame we must see it closely and hold it with great care. Ven. Chogkyi and Dr. Ekman will unpack the scientific understanding of shame and consider its cognitive, emotional and somatic impact on our lived daily experiences. They will consider: is shame to be avoided at all costs? Is there any purpose to these emotions, do these emotions have any kind of a message for us? How can we learn to manage these emotions mindfully and with compassion?

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Join Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi as she explores shame with Dr. Eve Ekman, a foremost emotions researcher. Dr. Ekman is the director of Cultivating Emotional Balance and has been exploring burnout, shame and other emotions in her teaching and research.

This episode was recorded during 'Healing the Body, Healing the Mind', a weekend of workshops and talks organised by Science & Wisdom LIVE in collaboration with Jamyang London Buddhist Centre and Land of Medicine Buddha.

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About Ven. Tenzin

Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi is a Buddhist monastic who first became interested in meditation and Buddhism in the early 1970s, and became a student of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist teachers in early 1991. Ven. Tenzin took novice ordination in 2004 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and completed several long meditation retreats over a six year period. Ven. Tenzin teaches Buddhist philosophy and meditation within the FPMT network, and also teachers Cultivating Emotional Balance. She is passionate about social justice and interfaith work in addition to her Buddhist practice, and has been teaching in prisons for more than a decade. She resides at Land of Medicine Buddha.

About Dr. Eve Ekman

Eve Ekman is a Senior Fellow at the University of California Berkeley Greater Good Science Center, Director of Cultivating Emotional Balance Training Program and volunteer clinical faculty at the UCSF Department of Pediatrics. Ekman draws from an interdisciplinary set of skills and knowledge from her professional work and personal practice in clinical social work, integrative medicine, emotional awareness, contemplative science, and meditation.

Ekman’s inspiration for research and training were inspired by her experience as a medical social worker in the emergency department of San Francisco General Hospital coupled with her training in emotion awareness and meditation intervention which she now leads: Cultivating Emotional Balance, CEB.

Erik Jampa Anderson - The Sowa Rigpa Revolution: Tibetan Medicine, Ecology, and the Breath of Life

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 18:00:00 +0100

In today's episode, we will explore the rich and fascinating world of Sowa Rigpa, the Tibetan Science of Healing, and discover some of the ways that traditional medicine can help to revolutionise our approaches to health, personal and social wellness, and environmentalism. For years, scientists have been warning of an impending rise in zoonotic infections like Covid-19. A perfect storm of deforestation, global warming, widespread inequality, and disrespect for the ‘sensitive’ regions of the planet have forced us into a new and frightening era of uncertainty. But beyond tackling this singular epidemiological eruption, how can we truly heal on a deeper level?

800 years ago, the renowned yogi-physician Yuthok Yönten Gönpo composed a collection of texts that would come to represent the basis for all Tibetan medicine, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge Indian, Chinese, and Greco-Arabic medical developments with indigenous healing knowledge. Of particular interest is Tibetan Medicine’s unique theory of ‘provocation’ (Tib. gDon). Rooted in a deep and sophisticated indigenous understanding of the energies of the natural world, Tibetan scientists like Yuthok concluded that infectious diseases arise in part due to an imbalanced relationship with the natural world.

We will also explore Tibetan perceptions of rLung (‘wind’), a highly sophisticated and fascinating framework for conceptualising mind-body interactions, along with a simple traditional method for soothing excess rLung on your own. Together, these two concepts – rLung and gDon – illustrate two of the many ways that traditional medicine can help us to unite disparate fields of science, health, and philosophy to enter into a new age of revolutionary wellness.

This episode was recorded during 'Healing the Body, Healing the Mind', a weekend of workshops and talks organised by Science & Wisdom LIVE in collaboration with Jamyang London Buddhist Centre and Land of Medicine Buddha.

About Erik Jampa Andersson
Erik Jampa Andersson, director and founder of Shrīmālā, is a Sowa Rigpa practitioner, SKI teacher, and meditation instructor with students and clients across the world. Erik is one of the few westerners to have completed a comprehensive education in the Gyu-Zhi (Four Tantras of Tibetan Medicine) as well as clinical training in Tibetan herbalism, dietetics, and manual therapies.

A Buddhist practitioner since age 14, Erik found an early home in the Tibetan tradition under the close guidance of Lama Tsultrim Allione, Tulku Sang-Ngag Rinpoche, and Khenpo Urgyen Wangchuk. After a stint in Tibetan Studies and Eastern Medicine at Naropa University, he completed the Shang Shung Institute’s Traditional Tibetan Medicine program between 2012-2017 and trained extensively under notable senior Amchis such as Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, Dr. Namgyal Tsering, Dr. Nyima Tsering, and other Sowa Rigpa physicians in America and Asia.

Paula Chichester on Healing the Whole Person: Body, Mind, Spirit

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0100

"The first step in healing ourselves is becoming aware of our breathing and how we breathe because that regulates all our bodily systems."

Today, Paula Chichester explores the healing power of our breath. She shares some simple exercises to connect with our breathing, reduce our stress levels and promote healing in our minds and bodies. Finally, she leads a healing meditation technique from Traditional Chinese Medicine, giving a taste of how the breath can connect the body with our inner world.

This talk is part of 'Healing the Body, Healing the Mind', a weekend of workshops and talks organised by Science & Wisdom LIVE in collaboration with Jamyang London Buddhist Centre and Land of Medicine Buddha.

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction to the Dialogue
6:43: Historical Context of Environmental Awareness
15:55: Pete Seeger's Influence and Holistic Views
25:38: The Interplay of Science and Spirituality
35:27: Educational Insights and Spiritual Applications
45:31: Practical Implications for Personal and Societal Change
56:51: Reflections on Personal Growth and Social Responsibility
1:07:01: Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

Timeless Happiness: Achieving Life's Most Important Aims, Mental and Physical Wellbeing - Talk and Meditation with Geshe Namdak

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0100

Can meditation help us to be more focused, reduce our negative emotions, and enhance our mental and physical wellbeing?

In this episode, Buddhist teacher Geshe Namdak explores the relationship between the mind and the body and discusses the three pillars of mind-training according to Buddhist philosophy: self-awareness, self-discipline and loving kindness and meditation. He also leads three short meditations to develop greater awareness and mindfulness of our body, feelings and mind. Finally, he explains how to employ analytical meditation to reduce the grasp of destructive emotions, addictive behaviour and unwholesome habits.

Interdependence & the Nature of Reality - a Dialogue with Dr. Rupert Sheldrake & Geshe Tenzin Namdak

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 15:00:00 +0100

Contemplative traditions suggest that the world as we perceive it is the manifestation of a deeper, unseen process, that can be investigated through meditation and personal inquiry. To what extent can this fundamental level be studied scientifically? And what can this investigation tell us about the nature of reality and consciousness?

Biologist Dr. Rupert Sheldrake and Buddhist teacher Geshe Tenzin Namdak will discuss how science and contemplative traditions can tackle big questions regarding the nature of reality, the interconnectedness of all phenomena and the relation between consciousness and the material world.

Our speakers will also touch upon David Bohm’s theory of implicate order and Dr. Sheldrake’s own hypothesis of formative causation, discussing the connections between these ideas and the insight achieved through contemplative practice.

About Our Speakers:
Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is a biologist and author of ninety technical papers and eight books, including The Science Delusion, and the co-author of six books. He studied natural sciences at Cambridge and philosophy at Harvard. As a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, he was Director of Studies in cell biology, and was also a research fellow of the Royal Society. He worked in Hyderabad, India, as Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and also lived for two years in the Benedictine ashram of Fr Bede Griffiths on the bank of the river Cauvery in Tamil Nadu. From 2005-2010, he was Director of the Perrott-Warrick Project for the study of unexplained human and animal abilities, funded from Trinity College, Cambridge. He is currently a Fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, California and of Schumacher College in Dartington, England. He lives in London. His web site is www.sheldrake.org.

Geshe Tenzin Namdak first worked as an environmental researcher having graduated in hydrology from Van Hall Larenstein University, The Netherlands. He started studying Buddhism at Maitreya Institute in 1993 and took ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama before engaging in his formal studies in Buddhist philosophy and psychology at Sera Jey Monastic University, South India, in 1997. He completed the entire twenty-year Geshe program at Sera Jey in 2017 and the traditional one year Vajrayana study program at Gyume Tantric College in January 2019, the first Westerner to do so. Because of his deep interest and background in science and as a member of Sera Jey’s Education Department he spoke on and organized various dialogues and conferences on contemporary science and ancient contemplative wisdom of the mind and its philosophy. Currently, he is the resident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, and teaches worldwide.

Becoming Embodied Again: Wisdom in and Through the Body, an Interview with Jason Upton

Fri, 28 May 2021 14:00:00 +0100

"The clarity of the mind is nothing other than how you see, how you hear, how you feel… Yes, wisdom is transcendent, but you can open to it through the body"

Welcome to this new episode of Science & Wisdom LIVE.

Our guest today is Jason Upton, an existential psychotherapist and senior lecturer at Regent’s University. Jason is also doing a PhD at SOAS on early Tibetan Buddhist practices which involve the body and sense perception. He has practised Kum Nye and other Tibetan movement practices for over 17 years.

Today, he enters in conversation with Scott Snibbe on ways to become embodied again. Jason will discuss his own experience with trauma, the benefits of Kum Nye, a Tibetan form of movement therapy, and his PhD research on the connection between the mind and the body.

Quantum Potential & the Implicate Order: Exploring the ideas of David Bohm with Professor Basil Hiley

Thu, 06 May 2021 14:00:00 +0100

Professor Basil Hiley, one of the foremost theoretical physicists of our time, enters in conversation with Scott Snibbe on the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics and his collaboration with David Bohm. In today’s episode of Science & Wisdom LIVE, they will discuss:

- The paradox of quantum mechanics and wave/particle duality

- Multiple interpretations of quantum mechanics: the standard interpretation, the multiverse and the quantum potential

- Bohm’s interpretation and the subtle action of the quantum potential

- Testing Bohm’s hypothesis experimentally

- Quantum processes are not mechanical but organic

- Implicate and explicate order and the nature of minds

- The creation of new concepts and process-oriented language

- Why ‘there is no particle, there is just process’.

- The role of observers and measurements in quantum mechanics

- How the quantum potential can bridge individual and collective

- Why we “can’t control nature, and if you think you can you’re going to cause disasters”

- Avoiding fragmentation: a wholistic approach to problem-solving

- Group dynamics and super systems

Infinite Potential: Exploring the Ideas of David Bohm with Paul Howard

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0100

In this episode of Science & Wisdom LIVE, Scott Snibbe interviews Paul Howard, director of 'Infinite Potential: the Life and Ideas of David Bohm'. Together, they discuss the theories of David Bohm, one of the foremost theoretical physicists of the last century, and explore the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics and what modern physics can tell us about the nature of reality.

If the Buddha were born today... An interview with Scott Snibbe

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 16:00:00 +0100

In this episode of Science & Wisdom LIVE, Marco Colnaghi and Sajda van der Leeuw interview visual artist and entrepreneur Scott Snibbe. Scott host and creator of the podcast on meditation ‘A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment’ and has been the moderator of numerous Science & Wisdom LIVE events.

Today, Scott will share some advice about how to start a meditation routine and discuss the benefits of different meditation techniques. He’ll also discuss how to integrate one’s contemplative practice with professional and family life, sharing some of his insights and personal experiences as a visual artist and Buddhist teacher.

[0:42] From art and computer science to Buddhist philosophy
[8:20] A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment: a secular presentation of Buddhist thought
[17:59] How to begin meditating and develop a meditation routine
[30:21] Integrating contemplative practice into one’s professional and family life
[35:49] States of flow, art and creativity
[40:50] Awe, wonder and humility: can science enrich contemplative practice?[48:39] What if the Buddha were born today?

Encounters between Tibetan Monks and Western Scientists: a Talk with Dr. Marieke van Vugt

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0000

“[The purpose of meditation] is transforming your mind, making it more adaptive… and cultivating wisdom.” (Dr. Marieke van Vugt)

Today today we have with us Dr. Marieke van Vugt, a Neuroscientist from the University of Groeningen. In this episode of Science & Wisdom LIVE, Dr. van Vugt introduces the practices of analytical meditation and debate. She describes her experience with Tibetan Monks from Sera Jay University and the challenges of studying these practices scientifically. The last part of the podcast is a conversation between Dr. van Vugt and our audience which took place after her recent webinar. The evidence she presents shows that analytical meditation induces brain states associated with attention and focus and improves emotional regulation, validating scientifically the transformative potential of these ancient contemplative practices.

0:00 Introduction: Encounters between Tibetan Monks and Western Scientists

1:49 Meditation: familiarising your mind with wholesome habits

3:15 An Introduction to Analytical Meditation

8:21 The ‘rules’ of Monastic Debate

13:03 How can we study analytic meditation and debate scientifically?

15:14 Debate increases theta brain-waves, associated with attention and focus

18:02 Does monastic training improve emotion regulation?

21:03 The challenges and the fruits of doing science in the monastery

23:37 Q&A

The Dreaming Brain: The Science of Lucid Dreaming with Charlie Morley

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000

"REM sleep evolved to integrate and process trauma… Dreaming it’s a pre-requisite for healing." (Charlie Morley)

Charlie Morley is a dream researcher and teacher of lucid dreaming, shadow integration and Mindfulness of Dream & Sleep. He has been lucid dreaming for over 20 years and was “authorised to teach” within the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism by Lama Yeshe Rinpoche in 2008. Since then he has written four books which have been translated into 15 languages and has run workshops & retreats in more than 20 countries.

In this podcast interview with Scott Snibbe, Charlie discusses the latest scientific research on dreams and how lucid dreaming can be used to deepen one’s spiritual practice, heal psychological trauma, and become more creative and insightful in one’s waking life.

THE DREAMING BRAIN: THE SCIENCE OF LUCID DREAMING
[1:11] Why do we dream? Are 'bad' dreams actually good?
[6:44] Lucid dreaming: directing and co-creating your dreams.
[11:20] The 3 D’s of becoming lucid: Dream recall, Dream diary, Dream signs.
[18:16] Cups made of mind: can dreams help us understand the nature of consciousness and reality?
[20:43] Does lucid dreaming give you a bigger brain? Insights from contemporary scientific studies.
[24:48] How (not to) waste your lucid dreams.
[27:56] Making the most of your dreaming practice: meditation, mindfulness and psychological healing.
[29:01] Trauma integration and lucid nightmares: healing PTSD in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and integrating traumas.
[31:14] Asking big questions: accessing our ‘inner library of wisdom’.
[32:46] Researching lucid dreaming-induced healing: placebo effect and the nature of the mind.
[35:16] Lucid-dreaming for psychological work: embracing the Jungian shadow.

"Practicing in a lucid dream is like a laboratory for enlightened action, for enlightened wisdom, that will not only affect the third of your life you’re asleep, but directly impact the two thirds you’re awake."

Embracing freedom in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with Dr. Marco Schorlemmer

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000

"Knowing runs deeper than having information... We should orient our research in AI in a direction that promotes the creative freedom of human beings."
- Dr. Marco Schorlemmer

Why are AI systems so successful and widespread? How can we harness their potential to enhance human creativity and freedom? Is AI going to be our future saviour, or will it ultimately cause our extinction? Dr. Marco Schorlemmer explores these questions in our latest Science & Wisdom LIVE podcast episode:

THE ETHICS OF AI: A HUMANIST PERSPECTIVE

[0:00] Intro by Scott Snibbe
[1:11] Deep Learning and Neural Networks
[3:00] Will AI systems replace human expertise?
[6:20] Intelligence in Western thought: from Aristotle to AI
[9:37] "Intelligent" machines: number-crunching or information processing?
[10:37] The multidimensional nature of human intelligence
[14:26] Harnessing the potential of AI in the age of information
[17:18] Beyond information processing: embracing our creative freedom
[19:40] The contemplative core of scientific inquiry
[21:38] How can AI be at the service of ecological intelligence?

About the Speaker

Dr. Marco Schorlemmer is a Tenured Scientist at the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (IIIA-CSIC) of the Spanish National Research Council and a member of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM).

Part 2 - Destructive Emotions & Distorted Perceptions - Dr. Elena Antonova, Dr. Wendy Hasenkamp, Geshe Tenzin Namdak and Father Laurence Freeman

Sat, 19 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Two scientists, Dr. Elena Antonova and Dr. Wendy Hasenkamp, join two contemplative practitioners, Geshe Tenzin Namdak and Father Laurence Freeman, for a lively discussion on negative emotions and their possible solutions, moderated by Scott Snibbe.

The dialogue begins with an exploration of why we call certain emotions ‘negative’ or ‘destructive’, and how they can lead to patterns of behaviour that bring suffering to ourselves and others. The speakers discuss the possible antidotes to non-virtuous states of mind, and how contemplative traditions offer us practical tools to let go of the grasp of negative emotions.

Dr. Elena Antonova: “An accepted dogma on which a lot of our Western society is based, and which has dominated our baseline idea of the mental state, is the state of anxiety, survival, vigilance and separation (because we also perceive animals primarily as being in a relationship of predator and prey). However, some scientists suggest that we should entertain the possibility that serenity, contentment, and connectiveness is our primary baseline, but that this gets disturbed when we’re put in the state of flight or fight response.”

Dr. Wendy Hasenkamp: “We need to repattern these entrenched patterns that have been developed over the course of our lives – and potentially inter-generationally, which can be done in many ways. We are learning about neuroplasticity and neural pattering, and that there’s a capacity of the brain to change. We need to reactivate a pattern that’s already there, and then carve a different path, which comes close to contemplative traditions where we have to sit with negative emotions, and where we learn about the role of acceptance and how to lovingly embrace what’s happening to us, after which we can start to create a different pathway or outcome.”

Father Laurence Freeman: “There’s a variety of spiritual practices, centred in meditation, that can release us from the pattern of the hold of these negative emotions over time, with support from others… Essentially, as the Buddhist would say, we have Buddha nature, or as the Christian would say, we are in the image of God. We are a living icon of the Divine. Yet we need to build up a likeness to God, over a lifetime, through becoming aware of ourselves and our problems, and also hoping (and later on trusting) that at the core of our being is an essential goodness, compassion and virtue.”

Geshe Tenzin Namdak: “We have a potential of the mind, which Father Laurence mentioned is like icon nature, but then there is obscuration, the ‘clouds’ that obscure that nature. So we need to first find acceptance of the problem, without getting involved in it (as a neutral observer), which will lead to acceptance and the ability to observe instead of engaging with destructive emotions. Then we can start to have an intention for change and repattern our mind accordingly – we then have a freedom before any emotional ‘hijack’ sets in.”

Part 1 - Destructive Emotions & Distorted Perceptions - Dr. Elena Antonova, Dr. Wendy Hasenkamp, Geshe Tenzin Namdak and Father Laurence Freeman

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Dr Wendy Hasenkamp on Understanding the Mind through Contemplative Practice

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Dr Wendy Hasenkamp is the Science Director of the Mind & Life Institute. Her research in contemplative neurosciences focused on the impact of meditation on brain activity and was deeply influenced by her meditation practice and experience.

In this conversation, Dr Hasenkamp shares insights from her journey merging scientific rigour with spiritual practices. She discusses her transition from a fundamentalist Christian upbringing to embracing a broader, more scientifically integrated approach to spirituality, highlighting key moments and influential experiences that shaped her career.

Dr Hasenkamp elaborates on the significance of integrating scientific inquiry with contemplative practices, such as meditation, to deepen our understanding of the human mind and behaviour. She shares anecdotes from her research and collaborative experiences that illustrate the potential of this interdisciplinary approach to unlock profound psychological and neurological insights.

From the interview:

“Brains are constrained by energy flow, and because of that we’re wired to do things in the most efficient way at the cellular way; that’s why we have habits and find it so hard to break habitual patterns because they are the energetically easiest things for our brains to do. When you’re sitting still and being quiet, you are cutting out a lot of the ‘energy suck’ of your life. So you’re able to access all this extra energy that can be used for mental and physical transformation, which are two sides of the same coin.”

“Science has such a tradition of being able to question everything and continually revise itself, but at the same time, I feel science doesn’t have all the answers so I continue to hold that spiritual interest and investigation”

“We’re trying to understand the human mind. To me, [science and spirituality] are two different and extremely complementary ways of doing that, and they inform each other in important ways."

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction to Dr. Wendy Hasenkamp
1:56: Reconciling a Christian Background with a Scientific Mindset
4:27: The Joy and the Challenge of Communicating Complex Ideas
7:16: Neural Circuits and Recurrent Behaviour
10:46: How a Contemplative Perspective Can Benefit Scientific Research
14:16: What’s the Difference Between Empathy and Compassion?
17:46: Healing Disconnection with Others and with the Planet
21:16: Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

Fr Laurence Freeman OSB on The Journey from the Mind to the Heart

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 18:00:00 +0000

“Meditation is the prayer of the heart, what the early Christian monks called pure prayer... Many people speak about meditation as a feeling of coming home.”

How can meditation restore our sense of wonder and help us forge communities and meaningful relationships? Is there any difference between meditation and prayer? What is the role of contemplative practices in a technologically advanced society?

Join Fr Laurence Freeman, Benedictine monk and director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, as he discusses some important insights from his spiritual search and meditation practice. Together with Scott Snibbe, he explores the potential of meditation to nurture and heal communities and relationships, to re-awaken our sense of wonder, and help us journey from our minds to our hearts.

From the interview:
"The idea that humans have failed and need to improve themselves using biotechnologies, or the fear to be taken over by AI, are disturbing ideas, and they are deeply undermining of human dignity and human wonder. Meditation has the great capacity to re-humanise us and restore our sense of wonder."

"We need to remember the primacy of the human, and this means a partnership between contemplative scientists and scientifically respectful spiritual teachers and seekers; and it’s a partnership which will be mutually beneficial and at the heart of it there’s this extraordinary capacity for a contemplative practice seriously faithfully practiced to re-humanise us and to help us to love and revere the humanity in each other."

“Everything that I call 'my prayer' has to be surrendered, together with everything else that I call mine, as the ego gets gradually laid aside. What’s left is 'the' prayer, or the Spirit, which is God as communion of love, dynamism of creativity and transcendence... Meditation is our way into that prayer, by making the journey from the mind to the heart.”

Show Notes:

0:00: Introduction
0:56: Childhood Memories
3:01: Meditative Practices and Community
7:17: Meditation as Prayer
13:45: Science and Contemplation
20:27: Restoring Trust
24:34: Closing Thoughts

When meditation informs scientific research: An interview with neuroscientist Dr. Elena Antonova

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 16:00:00 +0100

“Contemplative practice could educate science, bring it out of scientism and back to its essence. A lot of scientists would benefit from this training of staying with the question and not jumping straight to an answer.” – Dr. Elena Antonova

How can meditation and scientific research help us to better understand the nature of our minds? What is the relationship between consciousness and the brain? Is the deep-rooted belief that “we are our brains” a scientific truth, or just a reductionist assumption?

In this ‘Meet the Speaker’ interview with Scott Snibbe, Dr. Elena Antonova shares some of the key events that led her to become an academic researcher in the field of contemplative neurosciences. She discusses how her research on mindfulness and meditation is strongly informed by her own practice and experiences, and how contemplative practices can rescue science from the limitations of reductionist views.

How Meditation Shapes Our Brain and Helps Us Deal With Negative Emotions - An Interview with Geshe Tenzin Namdak

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 17:00:00 +0100

"If we grasp at a problem, it only becomes more intense. We all have problems, but a lot of mental suffering can be prevented by using particular meditation techniques." - Geshe Tenzin Namdak

In this first 'Meet the Speaker' Interview, Scott Snibbe and Geshe Tenzin Namdak discuss how meditation shapes our brain through neuroplasticity, helping us deal with negative emotions.

They also explore the common ground between quantum physics and Buddhist philosophy and mind-science, referring to Bohm's theory of implicate and explicate order and the Buddhist view of ultimate reality. Finally, they discuss how the dialogue between science and contemplative traditions can help us address the great challenges of our society.

Science & Wisdom LIVE - Trailer

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0100

Welcome to Science & Wisdom LIVE, where scientists and meditators meet.

Science & Wisdom LIVE brings meditation practitioners together with scientists to discuss society’s biggest challenges. Each dialogue explores the middle ground between science and contemplative wisdom. On the podcast, you’ll hear world experts on science and meditation debate on artificial intelligence, gender equality, climate change, mindfulness, and mental health.

Subscribe now on your favourite podcast player or on www.SciWizLive.com.