PRAJNA SPARKS

Paradox as a lens for understanding the third of three primary energies for traveling the Buddhist spiritual path. We tap the precision and poetry of language to unpack the significance of shifting our view from misperception towards nondual wisdom. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insi...

Courage as a lens for understanding the second of three primary energies for traveling the Buddhist spiritual path. We tap the precision and poetry of language to unpack the significance of the tender-hearted motivation to embrace all beings in our path to liberation and omniscience. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leadi...

Simplicity as a lens for understanding the first of three primary energies for traveling the Buddhist spiritual path. We tap the precision and poetry of language to unpack the significance of reorienting the mind to definite freedom. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice fro...

Four True Things for Realized Beings, the Buddha's first public discourse--and the prequel! Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENTS  00:34 Teaching by Lama Yeshe  20:22...

What makes self-Buddhist? Is there such a thing? How do we understand and take it into our lives? Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:33 Teaching by Lama Yeshe 13:48 Conver...

Faith in Buddhist practice and life spans a continuum from skepticism to confidence, vivid clarity, and profound longing. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:37 Teaching by...

How seeing life as like a dream and an illusion can help us begin to emerge from a pandemic with freshness, renewal, and aspiration. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:36...

Debunking common myths about meditation: the practice, the purpose, and the results. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:37 Teaching by Lama Yeshe 12:57 Conversation with L...

Love as warm, openhearted tenderness: what it means, how it is cultivated in Tibetan Buddhist practice, and why it is beneficial. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:37 Tea...

Forgiveness has a decidedly different focus and feel in Buddhist thought and practice, centered on well-being and healing our mindset and making peace with the past, supported by insights from Tibetan Buddhist purification practices. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice fro...

Prajna, or precise knowing in Sanskrit: what is it, how does Buddhist practice cultivate it, and how does it relate to transcending insight. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENT...

How does Dharma help us in understanding and navigating sociocultural divisions among individuals? Yeshe and Tania have a conversation about the intersection of Buddhism and the political divide. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:20 Conversation with Lama Yeshe and Tania Israel  No Song or Guided Meditation in this bonus episode.  PRAJNA SPARKS follows the lunar calendar. Look for new episodes on full...

Samadhi, or meditative stability in Sanskrit, and how it relates to the practice of tranquility meditation called shamatha . Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice grounded in shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding). EPISODE CONTENTS 00:37 Teaching by Lama Yeshe 20:00 Conversation with Lama Yeshe and Tania Israel 36:52 Song: Oh Shamatha (to the tune of Shenandoah ), lyrics by Tania Isr...

Ethical discipline in Buddhist thought, including the ten virtues and ten nonvirtues. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice of meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing, based in shamatha, tranquility meditation. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:35 Teaching by Lama Yeshe 19:55 Conversation with Lama Yeshe and Tania Israel 39:25 S...

Eight worldly dharmas--pleasure/pain, gain/loss, praise/blame, fame/shame--things we chase and avoid that complicate our lives. Lama Zopa guides an experiential practice beginning with shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) and leading into meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:31 Teach...

Nirvana, the cessation of dukkha (in English: suffering, discontent, unsatisfying). Yeshe and Tania have a conversation about liberation. Lama Zopa leads a guided meditation presenting shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) practice and meditative inquiry, an insight practice from the Tibetan that invokes, instills, and integrates prajna, precise knowing. And Heather sings an emotional r...

Craving, the origin of dukkha (suffering, unsatisfactoriness, lack of fulfillment). Yeshe and Tania have a conversation about marshmallows. Lama Zopa leads a guided meditation presenting shamatha (English: tranquility, or calm abiding) practice and an analytical meditation focused on an experiential analysis of craving. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:34 Teaching by Lama Yeshe 18:03 Conversation with Lama Yes...

Lama Yeshe teaches about the challenges and benefits of being cloistered, and you learn a bit about what a 3-year retreat is like. Plus, a Hamilton -inspired song! Lama Zopa leads a guided meditation presenting both shamatha (tranquility) practice and analytical meditation. EPISODE CONTENTS 00:30 Teaching by Lama Yeshe 24:49 Conversation with Lama Yeshe and Tania Israel 41:31 Song: Cloistered (to...

Lama Yeshe teaches about listening, contemplation, and meditation, the foundations of integrative practice; and you learn why the podcast is called Prajna Sparks. Tania Israel joins in for contemplation discussion, then Heather Stevenson sings a song with lyrics Tania wrote as part of her contemplative practice. Lama Zopa leads a guided practice on shamatha, tranquility meditation. Tibetan singing...

A podcast about the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni from the perspective of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, where we listen to a Dharma teaching, contemplate it through conversation and song, and engage in guided meditation.   Discussion with Karma Yeshe Chödrön and Tania Israel.  Guided meditation by Karma Zopa Jigme.  Songs performed by Heather Stevenson.  Tibetan singi...