The Modern Buddhism Podcast

HOW TO FACE THE THOUGHTS THAT SCARE US.In today’s episode, Kadam Lucy James explores the challenges of modern life and the difficulty many people face in keeping their mind peaceful. Drawing on her experience and the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she explains how our minds are often dominated by uncontrolled, anxious, or judgmental thoughts - a state that has become normalized in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world. She points out that most people are unable to sit quietly with their own thoughts, and so are forced to fill their life with busyness and distraction, which creates a vicious circle of mental pain.Using the powerful analogy of the mind as a vast, clear sky and thoughts as passing clouds, she demonstrates how meditation helps us step back from our delusions, gain perspective, and cultivate a deeper sense of self. This episode emphasizes that peace is already present within us, and by gently letting go of distracting thoughts, we can develop the space to be able to deal with things in a more constructive way.Chapters:00:00 Peace and Letting Go02:00 The Basics of Meditation06:26 Modern Life and Distractions11:03 Experiment on Sitting with Thoughts15:45 Fear of Our Own Mind20:12 Uncontrolled Thoughts and Judgment24:40 The Mind as a Sky29:10 Breathing Meditation Practice34:25 Experiencing Inner Peace39:00 Building a Healthy Sense of Self43:50 Long-Term Benefits of Meditation
Book References
Modern Buddhism:
https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhismHow to Transform Your Life
:https://howtotyl.com/Kadam Lucy James is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide.

Want More?Find a meditation center near you
:https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips
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In today’s episode Gen Kelsang Leksang shares her personal journey from a high-powered corporate career to a spiritual life as a Buddhist nun and teacher. Reflecting on her life, she reveals how experiences that once felt like failures were, in fact, profoundly beneficial—shaping her personal development and inner growth. She explains that when life appears to be falling apart, peace and purpose can be found by letting go of attachment, adjusting our expectations, and training the mind in acceptance. Drawing on the wisdom of the New Kadampa Tradition, Gen Leksang explores how focusing on others, cultivating compassion, and developing inner acceptance can transform suffering into clarity and confidence. This episode offers heartfelt reflections on death, purpose, career pressure, and happiness — showing how even life’s most painful moments can become profound teachers. Insightful, practical, and uplifting, this conversation gently challenges modern ideas of success and invites us to discover a deeper, more stable happiness that comes from within.Chapters:00:00 Introduction & Career Shift 02:16 Searching for Purpose 02:30 Father’s Illness & Death 03:36 Refuge, Acceptance, and Peace 05:33 Learning Through Helping Others 07:20 Redefining Success and Happiness 08:10 Finding Depth While Living Fully 12:32 Pressure, Plans, and Life Direction 15:13 Career Advice for Young People 17:09Discovering True Motivation 20:18 Letting Life Evolve Naturally 26:46 Inner Peace Is Happiness 28:02 Acceptance When Life Doesn’t Work OutBook References In this episode Gen Leksang references the following books by by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso:How to Solve our Human Problems https://kadampa.org/book/how-to-solve... Modern Buddhism https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism How to Transform Your Life https://howtotyl.com/ Gen Leksang is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. WANT MORE? Find a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search...  #modernbuddhismpodcast #newkadampatradition #innerpeace #buddhistwisdom#meaningfullife #acceptance #compassion #findingpurpose #meditationpractice #mentalwellbeing

Is it really possible to fulfill your dreams?Can you be truly happy all the time?Agnes explores these profound questions with Buddhist nun Kelsang Sama, offering insights into how we can transform our lives by improving our minds with confidence and wisdom. Sama explains how inner change leads to a life that supports spiritual growth and lasting happiness.Book references:How to Transform Your Life ~ https://kadampa.org/books/free-ebook-...Kelsang Sama is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Manchester in the UK. https://kmcmanchester.org/The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org/WANT MORE?   • FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY: BUDDHIST MEDITATIONS...  Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search...Listen to teaching clips:    / nktikbu   https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEy... Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook:   / modernbuddhismpodcast  Instagram:   / modernbuddhismpodcast   TIkTok:   / modernbuddhismpodcast   #modernbuddhismpodcast #buddhism #podcast #myjourney #InspiringStories #meaningoflife #motivation #BuddhistPodcast #MeditationForChange #personalgrowth #mindfulnesspodcast #Freedom #truestories #emotionalfreedom #RealLifeStories #transformationstories

Buddhist teacher Kadam Morten Clausen talks with Agnes about his 30 years of living and teaching in the Big Apple: the challenges of modern city life and what they've taught him, and his experience of decades of practising meditation and mindfulness in New York City.Morten is the National Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition for the Eastern United States and regularly teaches all around the world; he is the resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center New York City: https://meditationinnewyork.org-----The guests of these podcasts are practising Buddhists who meditate according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.orgWANT MORE?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5J8JlJq2YFind a meditation center near you: https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow The Modern Buddhism PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcastFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast

In this episode, Adam is joined by Marlise Anthonioz, who discusses openly how her meditation practice has taken her from a place of depression and hopelessness to a joyful optimism, enabling her to live a full and happy life. She discusses how family life was causing her to feel unhappy and unfulfilled and how her Buddhist meditation practice transformed her experience. A desire to understand the deeper meaning of life led her to search and question others. She discovered that meditation was the pathway through which she could open her heart to truly love her partner and be a better mother to her children. This podcast will inspire those who feel overwhelmed by family life to see how it can become a way of achieving our potential to love and to feel genuine happiness.Having been born in Cameroon and raised in poverty, Marlise is now the teacher at Centre Boudhiste Lyon in France.https://meditation-lyon.org/The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org/WANT MORE?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5J8JlJq2YFind a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=enListen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z Follow the Modern Buddhism PodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast