In today’s episode, we explore the deeply personal and transformative practice of forgiveness - and why letting go of resentment is ultimately about changing our own mind rather than waiting for someone else to apologize or make things right.The guest explains how our experience of hurt can become tied to blame, self-blame, and the mistaken belief that our faults or painful experiences define who we are. Drawing on Buddhist teachings and the advice of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, including teachings from The New Eight Steps to Happiness, she explores how we can learn to recognize our faults without identifying with them, understand the perspectives and suffering of others, and develop a healthier relationship with our own mistakes.The conversation examines betrayal, neglect, difficult childhood experiences, anger, resentment, and the expectations we hold about how life and other people should have treated us. Through the practice of patient acceptance, we can begin to let go of the painful idea that things should have been different and instead work with the reality we actually face.This episode offers a practical and compassionate approach to forgiveness - one that does not excuse harmful behavior or depend on receiving an apology, but helps us release our own pain, develop compassion, and gradually create the freedom to respond differently.Timetable00:00 Losing a Father & the Root of Blame05:32 Seeing Your Own Role: A Cultural Story12:01 No One to Blame: Self vs. Delusions18:19 Karma, Conditions, and Feeling Neglected23:43 When Neglect Is Real: Learning to Forgive31:28 The Journey to Genuine Forgiveness39:51 Forgiveness, Compassion, and Self-Compassion46:07 Preventing Relapse on the Forgiveness PathBook Referencesby Geshe Kelsang Gyatso📖 How To Transform Your Life:  ⁠https://howtotyl.com/⁠📖  The New Eight Steps to Happiness: ⁠https://kadampa.org/book/eight-steps-to-happiness⁠Want More?Find a meditation center near you: ⁠https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en⁠Listen to teaching clips:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z⁠Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastSubscribe to get notifications of new episodes.#Kadampa #KadampaBuddhism #Buddhism #Forgiveness #SelfForgiveness #LettingGo #InnerPeace #MindTraining #Meditation #PatientAcceptance #Compassion #AngerManagement #EmotionalHealing #BuddhistWisdom #GesheKelsangGyatso

In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Sherab shares the remarkable journey that took him from being a professional musician in Israel and the Netherlands to becoming a Buddhist monk and meditation teacher. Looking back on his early search for meaning, he describes the quiet sense that something was missing from his life, even when everything appeared successful from the outside.His encounter with Kadampa Buddhism introduced him to teachings that helped him understand the nature of samsara, the importance of moral discipline, and the possibility of transforming the mind through meditation. He recalls the books that first captured his attention, including Clear Light of Bliss, Tantric Grounds and Paths, Introduction to Buddhism, and Joyful Path of Good Fortune, and explains how these teachings gradually changed the direction of his life. Sherab also reflects on his mother’s death, difficult experiences with his family, his decision to give up music, and the painful process of realizing that the Buddhist path he had built for himself needed to be completely rebuilt. Throughout the conversation, he explores the role of the Dharma Protector, the importance of learning from our mistakes, and why meditation is not about fighting the mind but learning to understand and work with it. Ultimately, this is a story about discovering what truly brings happiness, having the courage to change direction, and finding a deeper purpose through Dharma practice.00:00 From Musician to Buddhist Monk05:01 Searching for a Spiritual Guide10:05 Discovering Kadampa Buddhism and Books15:00 Samsara, Sorrow, and Losing His Mother20:00 Choosing Ordination Over Music25:02 Family Conflict and Spiritual Growth30:00 Understanding the Dharma Protector35:00 Virtue, Truth, and SamsaraBook Referencesby Geshe Kelsang Gyatso📖 Introduction to Buddhism: https://kadampa.org/book/introduction...📖 Clear Light of Bliss: https://kadampa.org/book/clear-light-...📖 Tantric Grounds and Paths: https://kadampa.org/book/tantric-grou...📖 Joyful Path of Good Fortune: https://kadampa.org/book/joyful-path-...Want More?Subscribe to get notifications of new episodesFind a meditation center near you:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search...Listen to teaching clips:⁠YouTube:    / @nktikbu  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEy...Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  Instagram:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  TikTok:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  #KadampaBuddhism #Buddhism #Meditation #BuddhistMeditation #GenKelsangSherab #ModernBuddhism #Dharma #SpiritualJourney #BuddhistMonk #InnerPeace #Samsara #DharmaProtector #JoyfulPathOfGoodFortune #MindTraining #Happiness

In today's episode, Kadam Michelle draws on 25+ years as a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso to explore how to find peace amid genuine uncertainty. Recounting her years as a resident teacher through three major hurricanes in Florida, she describes what she calls the "cone of uncertainty" - the idea that our entire life, not just a storm's path, is already pervaded by unpredictability.She explains the practice of patient acceptance: peacefully accepting whatever arises rather than rejecting it, since rejection never changes reality and only adds mental pain on top of an already difficult situation. Michelle shares how thinking of our possessions, and even our own bodies, as merely "borrowed" for this life helps loosen the grip of attachment, and how meditating on death - not to create fear, but to clarify what truly matters - transforms daily interactions into something meaningful.She also addresses a common objection: doesn't real change require anger? Drawing a distinction between the destabilizing energy of anger and the stable, wise energy of compassion, she makes the case that a peaceful mind is not passive, but is in fact the most effective foundation for helping others and for living, and eventually dying, well.00:00 Introduction: Life in Florida's Hurricane Season04:45 Patient Acceptance and Letting Go of Attachment10:06 Community, Compassion, and Helping After Disaster16:06 Uncertainty, Impermanence, and Life's Storms21:04 Training the Mind Through Patient Acceptance26:08 Is Anger Ever the Right Response?30:17 Building an Inner Refuge Through Meditation34:24 Meditating on Death to Live MeaningfullyBook ReferencesHow To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso https://howtotyl.com/The New Meditation Handbook by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso https://kadampa.org/book/the-new-medi...Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes.Want More?Find a meditation center near you:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search...Listen to teaching clips:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEy...Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  Instagram:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  TikTok:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  #KadampaBuddhism #PatientAcceptance #Impermanence #Meditation #InnerPeace #BuddhistWisdom #GesheKelsangGyatso #MindfulLiving #Detachment #MeditationOnDeath #Compassion #NewKadampaTradition #ModernBuddhism #Resilience #SpiritualPractice

In today’s episode, Gen Chodor reflects on a powerful feeling he had as a young person - that life seemed almost dream-like - and how this sparked a deep search for meaning and purpose. Drawing on the wisdom of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, he explores how meditation can help us see reality more clearly, free ourselves from distraction, and discover a deeper, more lasting sense of inner peace.The conversation explores the transformative impact of meeting authentic spiritual teachings, the decision to dedicate one's life to Dharma practice, and the profound benefits of training the mind. Through personal stories and practical insights, Gen Chodor shows how genuine happiness and purpose arise not from external achievements, but from developing wisdom, compassion, and a positive state of mind.Chapters00:00 Questioning Reality and Finding Buddhism05:21 Meaning, Happiness and Inner Development10:09 Morning Meditation and Setting Direction13:03 Leaving Corporate Life Behind20:18 Death, Impermanence and Living Without Regret28:35 Why Spiritual Life Brings Meaning31:17 Discovering Your Authentic Self36:07 Grasping, Reality and the Dreamlike Self43:20 The Extraordinary Potential of the Mind49:04 Books and Final AdviceBook ReferencesHow To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang GyatsoHow to Understand the Mind by Geshe Kelsang GyatsoSubscribe to get notifications of new episodes.Want More?Find a meditation center near you:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips:https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4zFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast#Buddhism #Meditation #Kadampa #NewKadampaTradition #GesheKelsangGyatso #MindTraining #InnerPeace #LucidDreaming #SpiritualGrowth #BuddhistWisdom #HowToUnderstandTheMind #ModernBuddhism #Concentration #MeaningOfLife

In today's episode, Gen Kelsang Chökyong - a Buddhist monk from Wales - shares the story of how he stumbled into a Dharma class while sheltering from the rain with a kebab, and never left. Drawing on nearly thirty years of practice and teaching within the New Kadampa Tradition, he explores why the mind - not external circumstances - is the true source of all our happiness and suffering. He explains the Buddhist concept of self-grasping ignorance and how this single delusion drives everything from daily irritation and relationship problems to the world's largest conflicts. Gen Chökyong highlights how meditation and compassion gradually erode this grasping, revealing a natural peace that was always there. He shares life-changing insights into the nature of feelings - pointing out that most of what torments us is just a feeling, and feelings always pass. He concludes with a very helpful approach to making mistakes. Instead of turning on ourself, we can realize that without making mistakes it’s unlikely that we’ll learn and improve. Warm, funny, and deeply practical, this episode is a masterclass in how Buddhist wisdom applies directly to modern anxiety, relationships, and the art of letting go.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Finding Dharma 05:00 Seeing Through the Fantasy of Worldly Life 09:20 How the Mind Creates Its Own Suffering 15:00 Buddhism's Relevance for Modern Life and Young People 22:40 Confidence, Self-Image, and Letting Go of Comparison 27:20 Working with Difficulties 28:45 Feelings and the Power of Letting Go 33:55 Compassion and Learning from MistakesBook ReferencesIn this episode Gen Chökyong references: 
How to Solve our Human Problems
 - https://kadampa.org/book/how-to-solve-our-human-problemsHow to Transform Your Life
 - https://howtotyl.com/Gen Chökyong is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide.

WANT MORE?Find a meditation center near you
:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips
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#KadampaBuddhism #Buddhism #Meditation #InnerPeace #MindTraining #GesheKelsangGyatso #NewKadampaTradition #BuddhistTeachings #Mindfulness #LetGo #SelfGrasping #Compassion #Patience #HappinessWithin #BuddhistPodcast

n today's episode, Kadam Mick Marcon explores one of the biggest challenges in life - how to cope with uncertainty. Drawing on his own experience of losing his mother, witnessing a stranger's fear on a turbulent flight, and years of practising and teaching within the New Kadampa Tradition, he reveals why our struggle with uncertainty runs far deeper than the unpredictable events of the outside world. He explains how unrealistic expectations - the wish for things to be permanent in a world defined by impermanence - are at the very root of our suffering, and why no amount of external change has ever, or will ever, resolve this inner conflict.Kadam Mick walks us through the tools Buddhism has to offer for working with the mind - from breathing meditation to the contemplation of impermanence - and distinguishes between the pain of attachment and the freedom of genuine love. Whether you are struggling to let go of a past relationship, facing the loss of someone you love, or simply overwhelmed by the chaos of the modern world, this episode offers a genuinely transformative perspective on how to truly be at peace with uncertainty.Chapters00:00 Introduction - Uncertainty and Human Nature 05:10 Bushfires, Escape Artists, and the Unprepared Mind 08:00 The Travel Blogger on a Turbulent Flight 11:00 Why Taming the Mind Feels Impossible 15:38 Informal Meditation - Becoming a Student of Life 18:07 The World's Problems and the Internal Answer 23:27 Unrealistic Wishes and the Root of Suffering 30:08 Letting Go of a Painful Past 36:03 Relationships, Meaning, and Inner Development 38:14 Detachment vs. Non-Attachment Explained 42:47 Love, Attachment, and the Teachings on ImpermanenceSubscribe to get notifications of new episodes.Want More?Find a meditation center near you - 
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In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Norden explores the meaning of karma and how understanding it can become a liberating and empowering force in our lives. Speaking from her heart and her own experience of practicing these teachings, she explains how our thoughts and actions shape the way we experience the world and what we encounter in the future.We learn that karma is something we can actively reshape through the choices we make each day. By recognizing that our experiences arise from our own past actions, we can free ourselves from the painful mental states of blame, victimhood, and resentment, and instead cultivate genuine personal responsibility and inner freedom.Gen Norden also explains the “mirror of karma,” the idea that every experience reflects our actions back to us, helping us to live with greater integrity and authenticity. She reminds us that at the end of our lives, what remains with us is not how others saw us, but the imprints of our own actions.Alongside this, she shares transformative practices such as taking and giving meditation and rejoicing in the happiness of others, showing how compassion and selflessness not only bring happiness and confidence, but also create powerful positive karma.This episode offers a clear and heartfelt presentation of one of Buddha’s principal teachings, and a practical guide to living with greater authenticity, freedom, and joy.Chapters00:00 A Powerful Method to Overcome Fear6:33 The Secret to Feeling Joy Anytime15:50 Can You Love People Who Hurt You?19:20 Why We Lose Control (And How to Catch It)23:28 Is Reality Actually Subjective?31:07 Why You’re Not Stuck in Your Life35:15 How to Take Control of Your Future47:10 Integrity, Authenticity and Self-Confidence 53:00 Can I be Happy In an Uncertain World? 58:05 The Path to Inner FreedomSubscribe to get notifications of new episodes.

Book References

In this episode Gen Kelsang Norden references:How to Transform Your Life
 - https://howtotyl.com/The New Eight Steps to Happiness - https://kadampa.org/book/eight-steps-to-happinessWant More?Find a meditation center near you - 
https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips
 - https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z#Buddhism #Meditation #MindTraining #Karma #InnerPeace #SelfGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #Mindfulness #Compassion #SpiritualGrowth #AnxietyRelief #EmotionalIntelligence #LettingGo #HappinessWithin #Wisdom #Dharma #Podcast

Cameron Mathison Opens Up About Facing Hate on Social MediaPart 2 of 2 (Part 1 is here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oSYw1flcsUDbauL2feq0h?si=rPsZdHERQOeZcLyr9TqXfA )In this second part of the interview with actor Cameron Mathison, we learn how it feels to play one of TV's most despised characters. Cameron explains how he was able to see the truth of Buddha's teachings reflected in the character, using it as a mirror that helped him deepen his own spiritual training. However, the training didn't stop there. Cameron faced online hate as well as real-life confrontations from people unable to separate the role from the man behind it. He reflects on how he was able to transform these difficult experiences into spiritual growth that helps and inspires others. The feature concludes with a powerful message: that being authentic and accountable is the foundation of true strength and resilience.Chapters00:00 How Playing a Villain Mirrors the Mind05:02 Handling Hate & Public Criticism08:47 Building Resilience Through Challenges12:03 How Delusions Negatively Shape Our Life15:11 The Inner Conflict of Self-Cherishing17:02 Why We Need Spiritual Friends & AccountabilitySubscribe to get notifications of new episodes.Book References⁠How To Transform Your Life⁠ by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso⁠Eight Steps To Happiness⁠  by Geshe Kelsang GyatsoWant More?Find a meditation center near you -⁠ https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en⁠Listen to teaching clips - https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z⁠Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast⁠⁠Spotify:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4⁠#Kadampa #Buddhism #Meditation #GesheKelsangGyatso #HowToTransformYourLife #EightStepsToHappiness #ModernBuddhism #MindTraining #Lojong #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #Meditation #MentalHealth #BuddhistWisdom #SelfTransformation

Cameron Mathison on how he rebuilt his life after the LA fires, cancer, death, and divorceIn today’s episode, we’re delighted to welcome actor and talk show host Cameron Mathison, who shares his deeply personal journey—from success in the entertainment industry to discovering lasting inner peace through the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.Cameron opens up about a series of profound life challenges, including his battle with cancer, his mother’s dementia and passing, job loss, the breakdown of his marriage, and the devastating loss of his home in a fire—along with the memories it held.In this honest and inspiring conversation, he explains how meditation and Buddhist practice helped him not only navigate these hardships, but transform his experience—becoming happier, freer, and more resilient in the process.Chapters00:00 When Success Was Not Enough05:12 Discovering Kadampa Meditation10:18 Learning to Work With the Mind15:02 Practicing Dharma in the Entertainment Industry19:03 Kindness in Difficult Relationships23:48 Humility, Perspective & Real Success28:04 Accepting Change When Life Falls Apart32:10 Cancer, Loss & Major Life Challenges37:40 Training the Mind Through Hardship43:05 Relying on Sangha, Teacher & DharmaBook ReferencesHow To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang GyatsoEight Steps To Happiness  by Geshe Kelsang GyatsoSubscribe to get notifications of new episodes.Want More?Find a meditation center near you -https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4zFollow the Modern Buddhism PodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lgQNhbjMGoHOxBnjkfmK4#Kadampa #Buddhism #Meditation #GesheKelsangGyatso #HowToTransformYourLife #EightStepsToHappiness #ModernBuddhism #MindTraining #Lojong #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #Meditation #MentalHealth #BuddhistWisdom #SelfTransformation

I Grieved for 20 Years… Until I Learned ThisWe are delighted to welcome back Gen Gomlam in this powerful episode. How do you transform the pain of loss into something life-enhancing? In this conversation, Gen Gomlam – a Buddhist nun and former hospice nurse – shares her deeply personal journey through grief, from the loss of her brother to the healing of her relationship with her father.Drawing on Buddha's teachings on the mind, she explores how attachment keeps us locked in pain, why grief isn't the badge of love we think it is, and how real happiness can only be found within.Whether you're navigating loss right now or simply want to understand your mind better, this conversation offers practical wisdom and genuine hope.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:24 Early Experiences With Loss04:11 Pain Comes From Our Reaction06:41 Understanding Attachment11:27 Prolonged Grief Is Attachment19:07 Love Doesn't Die When They Die20:36 Healing With Her Father27:02 Tara's Mantra and the Funeral31:03 Looking for Love vs. Loving Others34:00 Therapy, Dharma and Lasting ChangeBook ReferencesHow to Understand the Mind  by Geshe Kelsang GyatsoGen Kelsang Gomlam is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide.Want More?Find a meditation center near you:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips:https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4zSubscribe to get notifications of new episodes.Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast#KadampaBuddhism #ModernBuddhism #GesheKelsangGyatso #Geshela #TrainTheMind #ModernLifeBuddhism #InnerPeace #MindTraining #KadampaLife #BuddhistPodcast #HappinessWithin #MeditationPractice #SpiritualJourney #NewKadampaTradition