Echoes & Stories of Dharma

Episode #33 - A second meeting with Shiva Rijal , a University professor at Kathmandu University where he reads, teaches and inspires his students on Shakespeare and spirituality with a particular focus on Buddha’s teachings. Shiva loves to analyse and ponder about the human condition and how the human tragedy, a beloved topic of work for Shakespeare, is actually equivalent to samsara - life as it...

Episode #32 - Renunciation, the precepts, keeping them. A few more musings. It is the end of the year - I have had a difficult 2 months - and I emerge with new ideas for 2025 -

Episode #31 - Just a few musings on living on precepts - Buddhism is not about seeking happiness - rather entraining the mind at removing that which empedes serenity to settle in.

Episode #30 - Experiencing the death of the elder and musing on Bardo chants, funeral chants and lightness of compassion. Funeral Chanting are available at Amaravati Website: https://amaravati.org/teachings/chanting/

Conversation #29 - Ancient insights on stress, anxiety and suffering for modern living straight. We talk compassion, generosity, kindness and mindfulness with Dr Tony Fernando. Another book on mindfulness?! Life Hacks from the Buddha, is rather a fun and lively book on how to hack your mindset and make contentment the GPS of your mind. Dr Tony Fernando is a practising psychiatrist, sleep specialis...

In this Conversation #28 with Michael Kewley - aka as Pañnadipa - we explore the meaning of Pure Dhamma, in a nutshell and how Vipassana or a practice of being aware and present to what is, can help us simplify our lives and reveal the depth of the Four Noble Truths. Michael, writes, teaches and conducts retreats, find more about him on his website and FB

Conversation #27 takes us into the magical world of Tantric Buddhism with Thukten Yeshi and his Novel “The Monk without Dhamma”. Embark with us on a journey across the Himalayas and be inspired by how the narrative takes us into the secret realm of Dzogchen. From storytelling to fiction literature, the novel offers an advanced intellectual discourse on Buddhism, delving into subjects such as the t...

Conversation #25 with Dr Dimple Arora, of Urban Ayurveda ( Bangkok) and Golden Awareness - is a reminder that the core Buddhist principles of Metta, Mudita, Karuna and Upekha (Kindness, Sympathetic Joy, Compassion and Equanimity) are a driving force for wellbeing for ourselves and others. Find her at www.goldenawareness.com

Conversation #24 with Dr Dimple Arora of Urban Ayurveda and Golden Awareness - Based in the heart of the Sukhumvit district of Bangkok - Dr Dimple Arora, has not only navigated the establishment of a Wellness Holistic Clinic on her own, she also has maintained a steady thread of empowering people in understanding their optimal health potential thru blending traditional ayurvedic science with the l...

Follow up to S1 E15 - With Shiva, Conversation #23 dives straight into Drama and Theatre plays with a lens of Buddha’s teachings. Reading the human condition as portrayed by Shakespeare while putting reading glasses of how the buddha’s teaching help solve the riddle of human condition: Suffering, Impermanence, Attachement, and sense of self. More on this: www.accesstoinsight.org or https://thebudd...

Conversation #22 - What happens when altruism and Buddhism meet at the Dental Clinic? When top-notch facilities combine with care and compassion? Ever talked Dhamma at the Dentist Office? Listening to Dr Neil Pande, founder of Healthy Smiles Clinic in Kathmandu, is a reminder that it is possible to be a medical professional, care for others and genuinely sculpt a positive dent in the universe whil...

With Robin from Agastya Ayruveda conversation #21 presents the ancient practice of Kalaripayattu, a martial art that originates in Kerala, India. Interested about Kalari Massages? Check Robin here: http://www.agastyaayurveda.com/ Kalari Massages are available by appointments only.

With Venerable Khenpo Pema Letho, conversation #20 dives straight into the origins of Vajrayana, browses through main highlights, and then continues with visualizations techniques and tips for a nourishing daily visualization practice. More Bhutan Conversations: Episodes #17,#18,#19 Resources: Vajrayana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrayana Oddyana ;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oddiyana Malaya...

Unfiltered, unedited,  conversation #19  is Part #3 of the conversations with Ven. Thinley Jamtsho about some chunks of my personal journey and at being at a junction… There is a lot more about keeping the precepts, and actual seated practice, these here are only a few highlights. Resources:  Abhayagiri: http://www.abhayagiri.org  Amaravati: http://www.amaravati.org Birken Forest Monastery: http:/...

Conversation #18 with Ven. Thinley Jamtsho is Part 2 of the series Conversations in Bhutan - An introduction to the DrukPa Kagyu Lineage - https://www.rtabhutan.org/zhabdrung-ngawang-namgyel-the-founder-of-bhutan/ https://shechen.org/spiritual-development/teachers/shechen-rabjam-rinpoche/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phajo_Drugom_Zhigpo

Conversation #17 with Ven. Thinley Jamthso, at a street-side cafe in Thimphu, is a chance to hear a determined monastic reveal some inside stories about his monastic journey and as Dhamma teacher in Bhutan. Part 2 of Conversations in Bhutan #bhutan #pilgrimage #monasticisminbhutan #thimphu #teachingdhamma

The Land of Thunder Dragon is the focus of our next 3 to 4 episodes… Stay Tuned.

When you keep meeting the same person at a coffee lounge and one day he pulls out of his bag three bran new copies of the Nikayas ( Anguttara, Samyutta, Digha) - Buddha’s discourses - you cant help but encouraging him to read an additional book....

Wrapping up 10 weeks of Pilgrimage on the trails of Buddhist Holy sites in India before moving to Bhutan.

Insights from a Conversation with Lama Matthieu Ricard held at Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu, Saturday 27th January 2024. The world’s happiest Monk encourages us to give a kick to our karma and not wait for things to happen just because there is a “karma”. Karma is action and wholesome actions are exactly that which activate good karma. Here we go… Shechen Monastery: https://shechen.org/ Matthieu R...

Insights and reflections on a six-weeks long full immersion in Bodhgaya energies, a meet-up with the HHDL and surroundings atmosphere of the world’s most Buddhist city, the city of enlightment, a holy place with contrasts, paradoxes and lots of good vibrations. When this happens, the karma activates its energies and you got to flow with them...

Conversation #13 with Ani-La is a refreshing moment with a young novice Nun recently ordained in the Gelug-pa school of the Tibetan Tradition. Considering that Mahayana Buddhism offers a variety of ways for women to enter the Monastic life it also encourages them to develop the aspiration of studying Dharma and Tibetan language as their male peers. Ani-la demeanour expresses determination and ligh...

This episode is both in French and English - Published separately. (look for Conversation #13) Conversation #12 est une exclusive en français pour nos auditeurs francophones. Ani-la est une nonne novice de l’ecole Gelug-pa de la traditition Tibetaine. Le Boudhisme Mahayana offrant d'amples opportunités moniales pour les femmes, Ani-la nous presente le parcours qu’elle a choisi: apprendre le Tibeta...

Conversation #11 is all about compassion in action. From the slums of Central India to Tasmania and back again to India, the dedication that Ayya Yeshe puts forward for being by the side of underprivileged, looking after the betterment of their livelihoods and maximise their chances for a stable future out of poverty is inspiring. Her determination is fierce and fills her purpose as a Buddhist Nun...

Conversation #10 is entirely dedicated on Eco-Dhamma , interconnectedness between humans and the planet. With Pallavi a #verifiedchampion on Sustainability and small business owner of the The Ecoloop Shop in Dubai, we also scan on the recent COP28 final report. This conversation advocates clean energy, green buildings, passive houses, and carbon zero footprint and recalls most of the critical yet...