The Modern Buddhism Podcast

01:05:27

A Buddhist Monk on Why Life Feels Pointless – But Isn’t!

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/09/23

In today’s episode, Gen Rabten explores one of the biggest questions we can ask about our lives: what is the point? He explains how modern life can leave us feeling increasingly purposeless, whether through anxiety about the future, the pressure to achieve success, changing ideas about work and wealth, or the realization that the things we thought would make us happy often fail to provide lasting fulfilment. Drawing on the teachings of Buddha and the wisdom of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, he

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00:46:39

A Buddhist Monk's Candid Truths About...

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/09/09

In today's episode, host Rebecca Gauthier interviews Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Dragpa.Gen Dragpa shares his journey from a discontented youth to finding deep purpose through Kadampa Buddhism. Reflecting on his personal struggles with anger, expectations, and a painful relationship separation, he explains how Buddha's teachings function as a supportive mirror - helping us understand our own minds rather than blaming external circumstances. He discusses the power of simple meditation

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00:50:21

How Do You Forgive Someone Who Never Apologizes?

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/08/27

In today’s episode, we explore the deeply personal and transformative practice of forgiveness - and why letting go of resentment is ultimately about changing our own mind rather than waiting for someone else to apologize or make things right.The guest explains how our experience of hurt can become tied to blame, self-blame, and the mistaken belief that our faults or painful experiences define who we are. Drawing on Buddhist teachings and the advice of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, including

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00:43:05

Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/08/12

In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Sherab shares the remarkable journey that took him from being a professional musician in Israel and the Netherlands to becoming a Buddhist monk and meditation teacher. Looking back on his early search for meaning, he describes the quiet sense that something was missing from his life, even when everything appeared successful from the outside.His encounter with Kadampa Buddhism introduced him to teachings that helped him understand the nature of samsara, the importance

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00:42:37

What If You Lost Everything... And Were OK?

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/08/12

In today's episode, Kadam Michelle draws on 25+ years as a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso to explore how to find peace amid genuine uncertainty. Recounting her years as a resident teacher through three major hurricanes in Florida, she describes what she calls the "cone of uncertainty" - the idea that our entire life, not just a storm's path, is already pervaded by unpredictability.She explains the practice of patient acceptance: peacefully accepting whatever arises rather than rejecting

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00:50:12

I Gave Up Everything (Best Decision I Ever Made)

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/07/01

In today’s episode, Gen Chodor reflects on a powerful feeling he had as a young person - that life seemed almost dream-like - and how this sparked a deep search for meaning and purpose. Drawing on the wisdom of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, he explores how meditation can help us see reality more clearly, free ourselves from distraction, and discover a deeper, more lasting sense of inner peace.The conversation explores the transformative impact of meeting authentic spiritual teachings, the

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00:38:02

A Buddhist Monk's Honest Advice On Letting Go &...

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/05/09

In today's episode, Gen Kelsang Chökyong - a Buddhist monk from Wales - shares the story of how he stumbled into a Dharma class while sheltering from the rain with a kebab, and never left. Drawing on nearly thirty years of practice and teaching within the New Kadampa Tradition, he explores why the mind - not external circumstances - is the true source of all our happiness and suffering. He explains the Buddhist concept of self-grasping ignorance and how this single delusion drives everything

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00:43:31

Meditation Tools For When You Can't Control What...

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/05/02

n today's episode, Kadam Mick Marcon explores one of the biggest challenges in life - how to cope with uncertainty. Drawing on his own experience of losing his mother, witnessing a stranger's fear on a turbulent flight, and years of practising and teaching within the New Kadampa Tradition, he reveals why our struggle with uncertainty runs far deeper than the unpredictable events of the outside world. He explains how unrealistic expectations - the wish for things to be permanent in a world defined by

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01:08:11

The Buddhist Mind Hack that Stops the Blame Cycle

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/04/11

In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Norden explores the meaning of karma and how understanding it can become a liberating and empowering force in our lives. Speaking from her heart and her own experience of practicing these teachings, she explains how our thoughts and actions shape the way we experience the world and what we encounter in the future.We learn that karma is something we can actively reshape through the choices we make each day. By recognizing that our experiences arise from our own past

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00:17:33

Meditation in Hollywood

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/04/04

Cameron Mathison Opens Up About Facing Hate on Social MediaPart 2 of 2 (Part 1 is here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oSYw1flcsUDbauL2feq0h?si=rPsZdHERQOeZcLyr9TqXfA )In this second part of the interview with actor Cameron Mathison, we learn how it feels to play one of TV's most despised characters. Cameron explains how he was able to see the truth of Buddha's teachings reflected in the character, using it as a mirror that helped him deepen his own spiritual training. However, the

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00:45:13

The Day I Lost Everything

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/03/21

Cameron Mathison on how he rebuilt his life after the LA fires, cancer, death, and divorceIn today’s episode, we’re delighted to welcome actor and talk show host Cameron Mathison, who shares his deeply personal journey—from success in the entertainment industry to discovering lasting inner peace through the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.Cameron opens up about a series of profound life challenges, including his battle with cancer, his mother’s dementia and passing, job loss,

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00:39:14

Pain Is Not From Loss

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/03/07

I Grieved for 20 Years… Until I Learned ThisWe are delighted to welcome back Gen Gomlam in this powerful episode. How do you transform the pain of loss into something life-enhancing? In this conversation, Gen Gomlam – a Buddhist nun and former hospice nurse – shares her deeply personal journey through grief, from the loss of her brother to the healing of her relationship with her father.Drawing on Buddha's teachings on the mind, she explores how attachment keeps us locked in pain, why grief

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00:36:37

A CEO’s Guide to Resilience

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/02/21

In today’s episode, Kadam Adam speaks with Shelley about her journey through illness, business leadership, and spiritual transformation, explaining how facing cancer became a powerful wake-up call to re-examine her priorities. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she reflects on the challenges of bringing compassion and wisdom into the workplace, especially when making difficult decisions such as letting staff go or navigating ethical dilemmas. She describes how

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00:36:14

Turn Pain Into Purpose - A Buddhist Nun’s Journey...

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/02/14

In today’s episode, Gen Rinchung reflects on loss, grief, spiritual growth, and the transformative power of Dharma. Drawing on her personal experience of losing her brother at a young age and her subsequent search for meaning, she shares how this loss revealed there was something within herself that was causing her pain. Seeing how destructive mental states shaped her suffering set her on a quest to find a spiritual teacher—someone who could teach her about her mind and how to work with it.Meeting

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00:41:05

Take Control of Your Mind

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/02/07

In this episode, Gen Ananda explores the Buddhist practice of patience, understanding it as a profound practice of acceptance - not passive tolerance, but a powerful method for transforming anger, conflict, and emotional pain. Through real-life examples, personal stories, and Kadampa Buddhist wisdom, we learn how patience creates inner freedom, courage in difficult conversations, and a healthier way to meet conflict - without suppressing our feelings or fueling them. A deep, practical conversation

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00:48:49

Inner Peace in a World We Can’t Control

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/01/31

In today’s episode, Gen Demo shares her journey of working with the mind through Kadampa Buddhism and how this practice has transformed her experience of happiness and meaning. Reflecting on her early encounters with Buddhist teachings, international festivals, and meeting Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, she explains how learning to observe and train the mind gradually shifted her priorities and sense of fulfillment. Gen Demo describes how ordination and daily practice helped her see that

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00:44:00

Turn Crisis into Calm: A Buddhist Nun’s Guide to...

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/01/24

In today’s episode, Gen Chogma shares her personal journey of working with anxiety and panic attacks, explaining how meditation transformed her relationship with her mind. Drawing on her lived experience and the teachings of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she explains how intense feelings can seem overwhelmingly real, even when nothing is actually wrong externally, and why it is so important to control our mind—otherwise, it can easily deceive us.Through clear, honest examples from everyday life, she

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00:37:31

Why Our Own Thoughts Scare Us

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/01/17

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

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00:51:45

When It All Goes Wrong, Change Your Expectations

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2026/01/10

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

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00:37:53

Beyond Materialism - A Buddhist Perspective

The Modern Buddhism Podcast ·

2025/07/07

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

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