Welcome to Kadampa podcasts, where we explore the art of living a happier and more fulfilling life through the teachings and meditations of Kadampa Buddhism. Buddhism is a philosophy and way of life that has been practiced for centuries, and its principles can be applied to our modern world to help us navigate the challenges of daily life with greater ease and compassion. In these podcasts, we'll delve into the core concepts of Buddhist meditation, such as mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom, and explore how they can be applied to our daily lives to cultivate a greater sense of peace, clarity and happiness. Each episode is an inspiring extract taken from a teaching given by various Kadampa Buddhist meditation teachers worldwide. Whether you're new to Buddhism or have been practicing for years, these podcasts are for anyone looking to live a more peaceful and fulfilling life. So join us on this journey of self-discovery and transformation as we explore the timeless wisdom of Buddhism and its practical applications for modern living.
In society, we often seek something or someone to blame for our problems. Whether it’s ourselves, others, or external circumstances, the list of potential culprits is endless. However, the thoughts that arise when we point the finger are often negative, leaving us feeling unhappy and discouraged. This episode explores a different perspective on blame—how shifting our understanding of what’s truly responsible for our struggles can help us break free from negativity and find greater peace of mind. By clearly identifying the source, we can liberate ourselves from the weight of blame and its harmful effects. Based on the book How to Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Available as a free download. Gen Demo is the Resident Teacher at International Retreat Center Grand Canyon.
All wisdom paves the way to happiness, but the highest wisdom—the wisdom of non-ignorance, or the wisdom that realizes ultimate truth—holds the key to lasting peace. This profound understanding of emptiness removes suffering at its root, offering us freedom from all pain. Gen-la Dekyong beautifully introduces this transformative wisdom through three powerful analogies given by Buddha. These analogies help us to see how things may seem to exist in one way, but in truth, they exist in a much deeper, more profound way than we initially realize. The podcast is an extract from a talk based on the book How to Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. It is available as a free ebook download and is available in 11 languages.
This podcast offers an insightful yet practical exploration of Buddhism, with a special focus on Kadampa Buddhism. Kadam Bridget delves into the core idea that Buddhist teachings are designed to protect the mind. She explains that without this protection, especially in the face of the constant stimuli of daily life, achieving true happiness becomes difficult. Through the podcast, she illustrates how the wisdom of Dharma can be seamlessly integrated into our everyday lives, helping to enhance our happiness and mental well-being. The podcast is an extract from a talk based on the book Modern Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. It is available as a free ebook download and is available in 11 languages.
In this podcast, Gen Menla explores the benefits of concentration and mindfulness, helping us understand that they are not rigid, static states of mind, but dynamic practices that help us to evolve through the cultivation of our inner good qualities. We also learn how training in concentration brings both physical and mental comfort, fostering greater well-being and stability. An extract from a teaching given in KMC Dallas based on the book How to Understand the Mind by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Understanding the nature of our mind and the different levels of consciousness opens the door to a true and profound understanding of reality. According to Buddhism, misunderstanding the nature of our reality is the root cause of many of our problems and suffering. In this incredibly inspiring podcast, Kadam Morton encourages us to follow in the footsteps of the great meditators of the past, to get to know our minds, and to experience the extraordinary peace and flexibility that this brings. This is an extract from a teaching given in Kadampa Meditation Center New York City based on the book Mahamudra Tantra by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
By gaining a deeper understanding of the nature of our mind, we free ourselves from identifying with our faults and painful emotions, allowing us to stop being controlled by them. This ability to step back from the grip of negative feelings forms the foundation of stable self-confidence and lasting inner peace. This is an extract of a teaching by Kadam Tim Laracombe based on the book How to Solve our Human Problems by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
To make meaningful progress in meditation or to gain greater control over our minds in daily life, we must learn to manage and overcome distractions. Gen Demo provides insightful guidance on how to recognize and prevent distractions from derailing our focus. She highlights that it’s not just about managing external interruptions, but also about cultivating an inner determination to stop distractions before they take hold. By developing this mental resolve, we can create the conditions necessary for sustained focus and deeper meditation, ultimately leading to greater clarity and mindfulness in all areas of life. Book reference Universal Compassion by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
In this podcast, from Kadam Lucy James, learn why now is the only time to take the real meaning of human life, which is the attainment of enlightenment. Now, now today! Tomorrow is too far off. An extract from a teaching given in KMC New York based on the book Joyful Path of Good Fortune by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong explores the essential relationship between inner peace and happiness. Drawing on the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kalsang Gyatso Rinpoche, she emphasizes that true happiness stems from a peaceful mind rather than external conditions. Despite the allure of material possessions and favorable circumstances, real contentment is achievable only through cultivating inner peace. Dekyong outlines spiritual practices to develop a peaceful mind, such as moral discipline, giving, and patience, encouraging listeners to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
The teaching focuses on the fundamental Buddhist principle that true happiness comes from inner peace rather than external circumstances. Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong explains that while we often try to manipulate external conditions like jobs, relationships, or possessions to find happiness, these cannot bring lasting contentment unless our mind is peaceful. She introduces six spiritual practices taught by Buddha—Moral Discipline, Giving, Patience, Effort, Meditation, and Wisdom—with special emphasis on the first three. The teaching emphasizes that developing inner peace is a gradual process of cultivating positive mental habits while reducing negative ones like anger, jealousy, and greed.
One of the methods for improving and extending our mind of love is to realise we are all connected to each other, we are not islands, isolated from each other. In this podcast Gen Menla explores the Buddhist teaching that all beings have been our mothers in previous lives and have shown us great kindness. When we develop this view we feel an incredible sense of connection and awaken our mind of affectionate love. He encourages us to adopt this view simply because it brings great happiness. An extract from a teaching given in KMC Texas based on the book Joyful Path of Good Fortune by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
In this podcast, Gen Thekchen explores how our attachment to the pursuit of happiness can make us vulnerable, leading to a dependence on external factors that fuel our restlessness and dissatisfaction. He emphasizes that by practicing the mind-training teachings of the Buddha, we can cultivate mental resilience and create the inner space needed to genuinely experience and enjoy life. An extract from a teaching given in KMC Ottowa based on the book The New Eight Steps to Happiness by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso