Secular Dharma Foundation Podcast

Joining us today is a brilliant philosopher of cognition and cognitive scientist: Dr. Mark Miller. Mark earned his PhD and Master’s degrees in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh under the legendary cognitive philosopher Andy Clark, focusing heavily on the embodied and predictive brain. Today, his work spans across multiple prestigious global institutions. He serves as a Senior Research Fe...

Mitch Takefman has spent more than fifty years in contemplative practice, drawing from dharma, mindfulness, ethics, and the wisdom traditions of multiple lineages. He is the author of six books, including Authentic Connection: The Art of Communicative Mindfulness , and the creator of the Tailored Mindfulness Experience, a structured curriculum that guides students into progressively deeper practic...

"David Garcia is the founder of Off-Grid Retreats , a San Francisco nonprofit aiming to make nature practice accessible to all. His inspiration comes from his own practice in the Insight tradition, especially a yearly retreat held in the remote wilderness of the Lost Coast. An entrepreneur, land artist , and software developer, he splits his time between LA, SF, and his native country, Mexico."

Mirabai Bush is an American author, social entrepreneur, teacher, and spiritual leader, recognized for her pioneering role in integrating mindfulness and contemplative practices into secular sectors of American life, including business, higher education, law, and social activism. As a student of Neem Karoli Baba (often affectionately known as Maharaj-ji ), Bush became part of a notable spiritual l...

Mike Slott from the Secular Buddhist Network joins us again, for another discussion. https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secular-buddhist/id333093081

The Cult of Trauma: Evaluating Negative Impacts on Addiction Treatment Efficacy Currently, there is a trend in addiction treatment services to view recovery as unobtainable without first ‘resolving trauma’. Definitions of trauma are vague, poorly defined, and often trivial. This practice flies in the face of traditional recovery wisdom which sees recovery as possible despite ongoing mental health...

To sign up for upcoming sessions, you can do so HERE Current understanding of the meaning crisis argues that contemporary Western society is facing a deepening and pervasive psychological distress. This is not merely an issue of individual failings but a widespread cultural phenomenon, manifested by an increasing sense of loneliness, incoherence, and insignificance, which directly fuels the rise i...

Brian Dean Williams is a meditation teacher, registered clinical counsellor, and approved clinical supervisor. With a background in activism and community organizing, he went to his first meditation retreat in 2002, and began engaging with Buddhism and eventually teaching. Brian has worked on the frontlines for 28 years with folks struggling with mental health, substance use, housing, and marginal...

Erin is a Buddhist teacher and organizational leader. She serves as Guiding Teacher of Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center and served as Guiding Teacher of the Durango Dharma Center. She teaches at the Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, and has served on the teaching councils and as a consultant for multiple sanghas throughout the country. She is committed to fostering communities of belongin...

To find out more, see the links below.  Reflective Meditation Sati Sangha Pine Street Sangha Reflective Counsel

Historical, theoretical, and practical applications of the teachings of abhidharma are discussed.  https://seculardharmafoundation.com/programs/

Rochelle Calvert, PhD, CMT, SEP, licensed clinical psychologist, certified mindfulness teacher, somatic experiencing practitioner has a devoted love to share the power and healing potential of mindfulness, somatic awareness and nature. She has studied and taught mindfulness for the past 20 years and knows personally the transformational potential. To share the love of these healing practices she h...

What is Realistic Dharma? During this live event we will explore two questions. The session will be 90 minutes.  1. In what ways can contemporary Buddhism and Dharma practice be misleading in the context of modern life?    2. How can we balance aspiration and realism when it comes to making progress in ethics, meditation, mindfulness, and our overall relationship to the world? These monthly events...

Dave and Jessica have been practicing for almost 30 years and share very similar Dharma roots.  Jess Morey is a meditation teacher and contemplative coach. https://jessicamorey.org/ She began practicing meditation at age 14 on teen retreats offered by the Insight Meditation Society (IMS), and has maintained a consistent commitment to meditation since. Diving head first into meditation at such a ke...

  Two questions are explored in dialog between Dave Smith and Stephen Batchelor  1. What is a secular approach to the dharma? 2. How can this approach alter, enhance, or challenge our practice in a meaningful way? These monthly events will explore a range of topics that are both rooted in early Buddhist thought and are relevant to the challenges and issues that we face in our current lived experie...

Maureen Fallon-Cyr, LCSW is a clinical social worker, meditation teacher, and certified Hakomi therapist. She has worked as a mindfulness-based psychotherapist with children and adults for over 30 years, specializing in trauma, somatic release work, and depth psychology. A lover of Dharma, she has sat multiple long retreats and served on the teaching council of the Durango Dharma Center for eight...

Mike Slott is a lifelong US political and labor movement activist. A Buddhist practitioner since 2010, he is the editor of the Secular Buddhist Network website, responsible for their newsletter, Rethinking the Dharma/Reimagining Community . Find out more: https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/ Get the book: https://tuwhiri.org/products/mindful-solidarity  

Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson works at the intersection of politics, law, and contemplative practice.  A journalist, meditation teacher, and professor, Jay is the author of ten books and over three hundred articles. Jay is a contributing writer to New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and other publications, where he most frequently writes about the Supreme Court, religion, LGBTQ issues, a...

Amma Thanasanti first encountered the Dharma in 1979. As a former Buddhist nun of 26 years, she combines the precision and rigor of Ajahn Chah Forest Tradition, compassion, pure awareness practices and a passion for wholeness. Amma is in touch with the natural world and uses nature in her teaching. Amma has been teaching intensive meditation retreats in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia si...

Oren has practiced meditation in the early Buddhist tradition since 1997, beginning his studies in Bodh Gaya, India with Anagarika Munindra and Godwin Samararatne. He is a long-time student of Joseph Goldstein, Michele McDonald, and Ajahn Sucitto, a member of the Spirit Rock Teacher’s Council, a husband, and father. Oren is the author of several books, including the best-seller Say What You Mean:...

Eve Ekman, Ph. D., MSW , is a GGSC Senior Fellow. An experienced speaker, researcher, and group facilitator, she brings a unique background ideally suited to training individuals and organizations in the science of happiness, resilience, compassion, mindfulness, and emotional awareness. Eve creates dynamic trainings adapted specifically for the needs of her participants, drawing upon her deep scie...

Andrew Chapman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the co-director and guiding teacher at Wild Heart Meditation Center , a non-profit Buddhist community center located in Nashville, TN.  He has a psychotherapy practice and also offers mentorship, group facilitation, education, and training for individuals, groups and organizations interested in mindfulness meditation. Andrew is licensed by th...

Bill Duane is the principal at Bill Duane and Associates, a consulting firm focused on innovation. He helps organizations and individuals execute well in ambiguity and rapid change through innovation mindset, managing complexity and resilience. He works with leading companies including tech, pharma and media. He teaches innovation and AI workshops at Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design a...

Evan Thompson is a writer and professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He works on the nature of the mind, the self, and human experience. His work combines cognitive science, philosophy of mind, phenomenology, and cross-cultural philosophy, especially Asian philosophical traditions. He is the author of Why I Am Not a Buddhist (Yale University Press, 2020); Wakin...

In his own words: Sam Himelstein, Ph. D.  I’m a Licensed Psychologist (PSY25229) in the the state of California. Most of my work has involved working with high-risk and marginalized youth in the juvenile justice system, foster care system, and those suffering from addiction issues. I’ve previously worked at the Chemical Dependency program at Kaiser Permanente with teens and their families, in a nu...