No Drama Dharma - Podcast Series with Dr. Marco Walther

In this episode, I speak with Jin Choi from the University of Ghent, a specialist on early Buddhism and tea enthusiast, about the connections between tea and contemplative practice. We discuss how the history of tea drinking became intertwined with the spread of Buddhism in China, how tea has been used as a stimulant for meditation, and the various praises of its benefits found in Buddhist texts....

Material objects occupy a particular place in contemplative systems. In this episode, I speak with James Gentry about meditation-infused pills and their role in Tibetan Buddhist practice. We discuss how these pills are made and distributed during rituals called drupchen, and what it means to unite mind and matter in this way. These practices were designed to be relevant for different kinds of peop...

In Vajrayāna Buddhism, devotion is an integral part of practice. Yet it remains notably absent from secular mindfulness. Why is that so? In this episode, I speak with Renée Ford from Ruhr Universität Bochum about the many layers and meanings of devotion in contemplative traditions. We discuss some of the lesser known aspects of this practice and consider why it has been largely set aside in contem...

In this episode, I engage in conversation with Dr. Devin Zuckerman from the University of Virginia, who shares her fascinating research on nearly forgotten elemental practices from the early Nyingtig or Seminal Heart literature of Tibetan Buddhism. We explore the historical trajectory of these practices and examine possible reasons why they have gradually faded from contemporary practice systems,...

Welcome to today’s episode. I’m joined by Dr. Michael Sheehy from the CIRCL Lab at the University of Virginia’s Center for Contemplative Sciences. Dr. Sheehy is here to introduce the Nature Project, which bridges ancient wisdom with modern research. Drawing from the 14th-century Tibetan scholar and practitioner Longchen Rabjampa’s work “Resting in Meditation,” this study explores how specific natu...

In this episode, I discuss with Aaron Proffitt, professor of Japanese Studies at SUNY and Buddhist chaplain, how practice and scripture intertwine in Buddhist traditions. We explore the formation of Buddhist sects in Japan that developed singular practices while remaining grounded in multidimensional backgrounds. We compare the Shin school’s practice of prayer and visualization of Buddha Amitabha...

In unserem zweiten Gespräch mit Gelek Dirk Frettlöh vertiefen wir die Diskussion über die Wirkung traditioneller buddhistischer Kontemplationspraktiken im westlichen Kontext. Als erfahrener Praktizierender der Kagyü- und Nyingma-Traditionen des tibetischen Buddhismus und Ausbilder für Essentielle Psychotherapie gibt er weitere Einblicke in das komplexe Zusammenspiel von Meditation und psychischer...

William Edelglass is having a wide-ranging career with the academic study and teaching of western philosophy and Buddhist teachings that lead him to become the director of study at the Barre Center for Buddhist studies. Here, William and I are having a multifaceted discussion on different approaches to contemplative practices and intersections with western philosophical traditions and their approa...

In dieser Episode diskutiere ich über Meditation und Kontemplation mit Paulus Kaufmann von der LMU München und der Universität Zürich. Als Experte für westliche Philosophie und japanischen Buddhismus führt er uns durch die komplexe Geschichte dieser spirituellen und philosophischen Praktiken aus ganz andere Perspektive. Wir erkunden die ursprüngliche Bedeutung der Begriffe Kontemplation und Medita...

In diesem Gespräch mit Gelek Dirk Frettlöh, einem langjährigen Praktizierenden in den Kagyü- und Nyingma-Traditionen des tibetischen Buddhismus und Ausbilder für die Essentielle Psychotherapie, erkunden wir das vielschichtige Verhältnis zwischen kontemplativer Praxis und therapeutischer Arbeit. Seine buddhistische Perspektive und Erfahrung als Therapeut ermöglichen tiefe Einblicke in die Gemeinsam...

In dieser Folge sprechen wir mit Prof. Dr. Jan Sobisch von der Ruhr-Universität Bochum über seine Arbeit am Gongchig (“die Eine Intention “), einem buddhistischen Werk aus dem 12.-13. Jahrhundert. Dieses umfassende Werk zur buddhistischen Doktrin basiert auf der Anwendung kontemplativer Praktiken. Wir beleuchten, wie sich praktische Übungen und spirituelle Erfahrungen gegenseitig auf die Darstellu...

Frederico Trancoso, born and raised in Brazil, has spent many years engaged in contemplative practice within the Düdjom Tersar Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. As a result, he now serves as the retreat guide at Pema Ösel Ling, a center located in the hills above Santa Cruz, California. In our in-depth discussion, he explores the relationship between written and oral traditions in guiding contemplati...

Tauchen Sie ein in das transformative Potenzial von Achtsamkeit und kontemplativen Praktiken mit unserer Reihe No Drama Dharma mit Marco Walther. Unsere kurzen Videos enthalten Diskussionen mit führenden Wissenschaftlern und Praktizierenden, die erkunden, wie diese Praktiken als wirksame Werkzeuge zur Bewältigung der Herausforderungen des heutigen Lebens dienen können. Von den neuesten Forschungse...

In conversation with Anam Thubten, a meditation teacher trained in the remote Golok region of eastern Tibet and now residing in the Bay Area, we explore the Buddhist concept of the Four Maras, or four devils. These are understood not as external negative forces but as mental states that, when perceived differently, can lead to greater mental freedom and reduced fear. Depending on one’s context and...

In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Susanne Krämer, die seit 2013 im Bereich Kommunikation am Zentrum für Lehrerbildung und Schulforschung der Universität Leipzig lehrt. Sie gibt spannende Einblicke in ihre Arbeit am von ihr entwickelten Mindful Student Programm und die Hintergünde von Achtsamkeit und Mitgefühl. Erfahren Sie mehr über ihre Erfahrungen und Ansätze, die Studierende in ihrer professionel...

In this discussion with Dr. Dan Hirshberg from the University of Colorado, Boulder, we explore how contemplative practices are integrated into the university’s curriculum. We focus on how these practices address students’ mental health and well-being, helping them manage stress and related challenges. At the same time, we examine the difficulties that arise when drawing from spiritual traditions,...

I am joined by Prof. Dr. Julia Stenzel from the Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Kathmandu to discuss the Buddhist concept of compassion, both in its modern and ancient forms. As this idea transfers from Indian and Tibetan traditions into Western perspectives, techniques and views are adapted to different practice environments. However, compassion is consistently regarded as an innate human quality.