Bhante Panya tried the forest monk thing. He wore the Theravada robes in America, followed the Vinaya rules, and watched potential practitioners flee because he looked too foreign, too untouchable, too "religious icon" instead of accessible teacher. So he made a move that freaked out his ego: took Mahayana ordination in Taiwan, moved to Vietnam, and started asking uncomfortable questions about what Buddhism actually needs to look like in the West. This conversation gets real fast.

We're talking about: **The stuff nobody mentions:**
- How your friend group is a mirror of everything you hate about yourself
- The terror of taking the bodhisattva vow
- What happens when you sit next to someone who's actually realized 
- Why Theravada meditation might be technically superior but Mahayana community outreach hits different
- How to fight the dark spots in your mind when you can't run to a cave
- The difference between controlling your mind and just not reacting to it
- Why unhealed childhood trauma is probably running your whole spiritual path *

Bhante's books: https://www.amazon.com/Thoughtless-love-cultivation-Bhante-Panna https://www.amazon.com/touching-enlightenment-parable-distance-attachments-ebook Donations for Bhante: https://venmo.com/u/bhante ---

*Escaping Samsara is a weekly podcast exploring authentic Buddhist and yogic practice. Subscribe on Substack (escapingsamsara.substack.com) for free articles, teachings, and more episodes!

In this episode, we sit down with Kat Ashtanga, an advanced practitioner, to explore:

✨ How practice evolves through the different series of poses

✨ Balancing lineage with personal practice

✨ Integrating pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood

✨ The subtle benefits of long term asana practice

✨ How the universal energy of prana is conducted via these poses

Whether you're deep in your own Ashtanga journey or just beginning to explore, this conversation offers wisdom and inspiration for yogis at all levels.

🔗 Also listen on Spotify / Apple / Substack

👉 Don't miss exclusive writings, bonus episodes, and behind-the-scenes reflections. Subscribe on Substack today: https://escapingsamsara.substack.com

Here's the only video of the old school Advanced A practice I'm aware of on YT:    • Ashtanga Yoga - ORIGINAL 1974 ADVANCED A S...   F

ind out more about Kat: https://www.kathache.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and share — it helps the podcast reach more practitioners around the world.

 #Ashtanga #YogaPodcast #EscapingSamsara #Meditation #Motherhood #Lineage

Known simply as Darby, his story is one of movement, devotion, and surrender, which led him to India in 1979. There, in Mysore, he met Ashtanga guru Pattabhi Jois and embraced the transformative rigor of the practice. Darby's experiences reflect a deep commitment to both physical and spiritual growth. 

Today, as a husband, father, and teacher, Darby shares how he balances family responsibilities with his practice, emphasizing surrender as the key to fulfillment.

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to yoga, this episode offers wisdom on integrating Chinese Medicine, Hatha, and Kriya yoga into daily life while staying true to your spiritual core.

We cover:

• Life in the original Mysore shala
• The original classical Ashtanga and the modern version
• Kriya yoga and integrating original hatha practices into modern practice
• Coming back to practice after parenthood
• What it really means to walk the yogic path

Kim Allen's journey into Buddhist practice began in 2003, sparked by a period of deep personal change and suffering. Guided by her primary teacher, Gil Fronsdal, she devoted herself to intensive retreat practice, sutta study, and a life aligned with the Eightfold Path. With over 1,000 days of silent retreat, including practice in Sri Lanka and Buddhist centers across Asia, Kim brings a depth of lived experience to her teaching.

She has studied with renowned teachers like Shaila Catherine, Bhikkhu Anālayo, and Bhikkhu Bodhi, and now offers teachings on classical texts, sutta study, and the integration of deep Dharma into daily life. In 2020, she took formal commitment as a Lay Contemplative, receiving the Dharma name Sumatimitta—a "wise friend" on the path.

Kim's teaching is rooted in direct experience—the willingness to meet reality as it is, with clarity, compassion, and wisdom. Her approach blends the profound depth of early Buddhist wisdom with the simple beauty of the present moment—whether it's the sound of a hawk's call or the ripple of aspen leaves.

I'm honored to welcome Kim to the podcast today as we discuss the Dharma, the power of retreat practice, and what it means to live a contemplative life in the modern world.

In this episode we're once again joined by Richard Josephson for a Dharma discussion centred around family life as a vehicle for practicing Buddhist and general liberation teachings. With over 50 years of practice experience both as a monk and a family man, Richard Josephson is perfectly placed to give a wise perspective on how we can best practice, whatever our circumstances. 

1. Listen for insights on:

• Why you should or shouldn't become ordained
• The challanges of being a monk or nun
• How to find time in family life to practice well
• How to cultivate an attitude and find motivation to pursue the noble path
• How to find stillness and release from stress no matter what 

What does it mean to be truly happy? In this episode of Escaping Samsara, I sit down with teachers Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor to explore the deeper layers of practice beyond asana and into meditation and philosophy.

Drawing from their decades of experience in spiritual practice, they discuss the subtle intersections of yoga, Buddhism, and embodiment—revealing how happiness is not just an emotion, but a fully integrated state of being.

We dive into the challenges of modern yoga, the pitfalls of spiritual ego, and how to navigate tradition without becoming dogmatic. Richard shares candid insights on guru culture, the Westernization of yoga, and the fine line between devotion and delusion, while Mary offers grounded wisdom on cultivating joy through breath, presence, and compassionate awareness.

Join us for an illuminating conversation on the art of practice, the paradox of happiness, and what it really means to escape Samsara.

Check out Richard and Mary's new book: Feeling Happy: The Yoga of Body, Heart, and Mind

Find more info about Richard and Mary here.

In the latest episode of Escaping Samsara, I sit down with Spiros Antonopoulos and Barry Silver in person on the banks of the Ganga River in Varanasi to explore their incredible project, Gently Down: Bathed, Beaten, and Blessed — a 20-year journey of artistic and spiritual collaboration rooted in the sacred energies of the Ganga and the Maha Kumbh Mela festival.

Spiros and Barry first met as yoga students in New York City, unaware that their paths would intertwine for decades, leading them back—again and again—to the ancient flow of India's most sacred river. 

We discuss:
🔹 The power of consecration—how objects, spaces, and even moments can be transformed into sacred vessels
🔹 The ritual journey of Bathed, Beaten, and Blessed 3.0 at the Kumbh Mela festival
🔹 How purification, intention, and devotion anchor us in deeper realities
🔹 The intersection of yoga, esoteric traditions, and artistic expression

In this episode, we discuss the positives and drawbacks of different ways of practising Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

Tiaga covers thoughts and perspectives from his diverse backgrounds studying with Ramaswami, Dharma Mittra, and his experience teaching Mysore style for over 20 years.

We also cover the core Tristana method, getting into the technique of breath and bandha, and how mudra exploration can enhance a regular asana practice.

So if you enjoy Ashtanga or any form of Vinyasa yoga and want a good geek-out with two long-term practitioners, prepare a cup of chai, sit back and listen in.

Ajahn Kovilo joins me from the Clear Mountain Podcast and Richard Josephson - a lay yogi living in a California temple.

We discuss the intersection of yoga, Buddhism, and mysticism in general. We cover Emptiness, pranayama, and the different paths of the renunciate and the layperson and how they can both lead to awakening.

This is a deep-dive discussion covering the transformative effects of sadhana in the modern world. We wonder what Samsara is and if we escape from it.

This is our 4th Escaping Samsara Bookclub and we are joined by author and teacher Daniel Simpson to discuss Gregor Meahle's "Chakras, Drugs, and Evolution: A Map of Transformative States."

Daniel and I discuss our thoughts on Chakras and how they are used in new ways by modern practitioners, our drug experiences and how they affect the spiritual path, and how our subjective experience shapes our practice.

Daniel Simpson

Daniel makes timeless insights accessible and relevant.

He's the author of The Truth of Yoga, an engaging overview of history and philosophy. He also hosts the Ancient Futures podcast.

His latest course is a year-long immersion, The Path of Knowledge – you can find out more and join us here.

"In this ground-breaking book, Gregor Maehle shows how the chakras offer a blueprint for the natural evolution of life via single-cell organisms, reptiles, mammals and humans. He draws on his experiences with mind-altering plant agents and chemicals during the late 70's and early 80's, as well as extensive research, to objectively describe how drugs influence each chakra, including their potential but also spiritual setbacks and dangers. The author further explores whether psychoactive substances are a useful supplement, shortcut or accelerator of spiritual evolution. The book culminates in a complete map of transformative and mystical states, including their potential accessibility through psychedelics versus traditional yogic methods."

This our final episode in our exploration of sex, bindu, rajas, and Brahmacharya and the second of two episodes looking at female practitioners especially.

We are joined by Tova Olsson, a scholar of religion, author, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in education.

We discuss:

• The reproductive model of the yogic body vs Kundalini models
• How Tantra relates to methods of conserving vital energies
• How female practitioners can understand sexual continence in spiritual practice.

She holds a MA in Religious Studies and is currently working on her PhD, researching the construction of gender in contemporary tantra in Europe. She is the author of the book "Yoga and Tantra: history, philosophy and mythology" and runs the online school Saraswati-Studies, where she strives to combine an academic, critical understanding with the experience of a long-term practitioner, joining devotion and discernment. 

https://saraswati-studies.teachable.com

This is the first of two episodes expanding the previous topic of Sex, Semen Retention, and Brahmacharya as it may or may not apply to women.

Female practitioners of yoga don't show up in the old texts but there have been many female-specific physical practices through the ages. And who better to explain how to practice with these archaic information than Ruth Westoby.

Ruth Westoby is a yoga practitioner and academic researcher in yoga studies. Ruth Westoby holds a PhD from SOAS University of London on 'The body in early haṭha yoga', supervised by James Mallinson and Richard Williams. Ruth is working on two book projects from her doctoral thesis that passed without corrections. Ruth has published early research findings in the peer-reviewed Religions of South Asia and numerous public articles. Ruth is Visiting Lecturer in Indian Religions at Roehampton University, teaching postgraduate theory and method in the study of religion and undergraduate courses on asian religions, cultures and ethics, contemporary issues in global religions, being human and religion, ecology and politics. Ruth collaborated with the Haṭha Yoga Project's 'embodied philology', interpreting postures from an 18th-century text teaching a precursor of modern yoga, the Haṭhābhyāsapaddhati, in 2016 and 2017. In 2010 she received an MA in Indian Religions from SOAS, University of London, with Distinction.

Ruth has practiced yoga for almost 30 years and in 2015 was authorized by Sharat Jois to teach Ashtanga level 2. Ruth has studied closely with and assisted Hamish Hendry and Richard Freeman. Ruth does not practice at studios that display images of Pattabhi Jois on altars in solidarity with those who were sexually abused by him. Ruth founded and chaired the successful environmental campaign for floodplain meadow restoration at Bartonsham Meadows, Hereford.

www.enigmatic.yoga ruthwestoby@gmail.com Instagram @ruthwestoby

In the fourth and final episode of our series on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, Nathan sits down with renowned Dharma practitioner and ER physician Daniel Ingram to explore the most confronting and transformative contemplation: death.

Drawing from his experience in emergency rooms and deep meditation, Daniel discusses how death can be a powerful catalyst for spiritual urgency, freedom, and insight. They reflect on childhood spirituality, near-death experiences, death rehearsal practices, and the delicate balance between striving and letting go on the path.

If you've ever asked yourself what really happens when we die—and how contemplating death can make life more vivid and meaningful—this conversation is for you.

• 0:13 – Introduction

• 4:18 – Early spiritual experiences and childhood insights

• 7:05 – Daniel's Dharma path and balancing practice with life

• 13:30 – Contemplating death and its spiritual impact

• 19:57 – Near-death experiences and ontological humility

• 24:44 – Do you have a death plan?

• 32:28 – Death as suffering and transformation

• 43:06 – The urgency of practice: why not now?

• 51:48 – Balancing striving with surrender

• 58:56 – Daniel's current projects and final thoughts

More about Daniel here: https://www.integrateddaniel.info/

This series has been quite popular. In our climactic (pun intended) episode, we speak to Richard Freeman about sex and Brahmacharya.

• The context of Brahmacharya within Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga system
• Specific yoga poses and mudras that move sexual energy
• The use of mula bandha in using sexual energy to reinvigorate your body and mind
• How yoga can be used in all stages and spaces of life

We are happy to welcome back to the podcast Simon Borg-Olivier who has been practicing semen retention for over 30 years.

We discuss how semen retention, loving relationships, and mindful sex can enhance health and spiritual practice.

From Simon's bio: "I have been studying traditional forms of posture, movement, breathing and mental control for more than 50 years. Over this time I have worked as a research-based scientist, exercise-based physiotherapist and a university lecturer in several science fields. My passion for these subjects has led me to understand that the world is a very connected place. I believe that to make the world a better place people should treat each other, all life and the Earth itself in a way that acknowledges the connections between everything. I believe the best way of beginning this practise is to acknowledge and enhance the connections within yourself."

Find out more here: https://simonborgolivier.com/

This is the start of a three-episode exploration into one of yoga's least understood, but possibly most important topics: Brahmacharya or as we might term it, semen retention. 

Through loss of semen (bindu), [his] lifespan is diminished and he becomes weak. .... Through constant retention of semen, a fine odour arises in the body of the yogin, (-) so the yogin should make every effort to preserve his semen.

(Dattātreya's Discourse on Yoga, trans. James Mallinson)

This is just one of many similar instructions in yoga texts. So what are we to make of this practice? 

And what other issues are at play? Pornography and sex addiction are getting worse in our society. How can men handle some of their pressures and find more fulfilling relationships with themselves, their partners, and their practice?

Tyson Adams is a trauma-informed IFS men's coach, somatic bodyworker and psychedelic facilitator. After spending 20 years addicted to pornography, he outgrew it seven years ago and has found his passion and purpose in helping other men master their lifeforce energy. He also co-facilitates men's work leadership intensives and works with couples experiencing intimacy challenges. When he's not working you'll catch him on a rock wall or riding a slackline in sunny, San Diego.

https://thriive.kartra.com/page/lifeforcedojo

https://www.instagram.com/tysonadams__

In this episode, we explore the intersection of yoga and Ayurveda with Amy Landry. Amy, a global yoga teacher, mentor, and Ayurvedic practitioner, has shared her wisdom through renowned publications and sold-out retreats. She has focused on integrating Indian wisdom traditions into her daily life and we find out how she manages this balancing act. Join us as we dive into her journey, her approach to living yoga, and the blend of yoga and Ayurveda that shapes her practice.

https://amyelandry.com/

In today's episode, we dive into the transformative journey of renowned yoga teacher Eddie Stern.

Over the last three years, Eddie has radically altered his approach to practicing asanas, moving away from the Ashtanga practice that defined his teaching to embrace a path of growth and exploration. He embarked on a journey of incorporating new asanas and adjusting sequences, eventually leaving behind old structures entirely in favor of his own asana and pranayama experiments.

We speak to about his new realization: that he no longer practices or desires to practice as he once did and we explore how he has recaptured the curiosity and joy that initially drew him to yoga.

Eddie's experience sheds light on the fluid nature of practice and the importance of being present and aware in the face of change. Join us as we explore Eddie's evolution, the challenges of maintaining "my practice," and how to find what truly serves us.

Eddie's website: 
https://eddiestern.com/ 

Yoga Sangraha:
https://eddiestern.com/weekly-class/ 

The Breathing App:
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/the-breathing-app/id1285982210 

Escaping Samsara:
https://escaping-samsara.com/

Some mentions in this episode:

• Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari
• Reinhard Gammenthaler

Liked this interview? Leave us a review!

The latest bookclub episode from Escaping Samsara podcast. This time Nathan is joined by Oliver Crossley A.K.A the Yogic Physio (@yogicphysio on Instagram) to discuss Christopher Wallis' book "Near Enemies of the Truth."

Join us as we dissect key themes, share reflections, and discuss Wallis' take on watered down spirituality and lame platitudes.

Whether you're reading along for the first time or revisiting the book with fresh eyes, this episode is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to truly seek a the Truth.

From the book's description:

Have you ever been told, "You create your own reality"? Have you been encouraged to "be your best self" or "follow your bliss"? Nowadays these slogans are everywhere, but what if they're doing more harm than good? After over thirty years as a scholar-practitioner of meditation and Tantric philosophy, acclaimed author Christopher Wallis (also known as Hareesh) explores the most widespread distortions of spiritual teachings present in our world today. Rooted in the Asian wisdom traditions, Wallis's book uncovers why these oft-heard platitudes are "near enemies" to the truth, often detour us off the spiritual path, and can even cause unnecessary suffering.

One of my favorite episodes so far! In which we discussed many of my favorite subjects: perennialism and blending traditions, issues with exporting Asian traditions to the west, diet, esoteric yoga, and how magick forms an enriching part of both our practices.  

Our guest is Yogacharya Craig Williams, practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine, Vedic Sciences, Gnostic Spirituality, and Martial Arts. He is also the author of Entering the Desert, Cult of Golgotha, and Tantric Physics Vol. I & 2, as well as numerous articles on health, martial arts, and authentic initiation in the Kali Yuga.

Craig Williams is an ordained Bishop (Tau Lazarus) with Apostolic Succession. He has a private medical practice in Austin specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga, and Jyotish. He is the recipient of the prestigious Vedakovid and Yogacharya titles awarded by Vamadeva Shastri and the American Institut of Vedic Studies.

More information about Craig can be found at: www.ayurvedaaustin.com

and his blog: https://arisearjuna.wordpress.com 

In this enlightening new episode, we delve deep into Buddhism. Join us as we welcome Ven. Sampanno, a long-term Buddhist monk, for an insightful discussion on the differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.

In this episode, Ven. Sampanno will shed light on the unique philosophies, practices, and historical contexts of these two major Buddhist traditions. Understand the nuanced perspectives each brings to the spiritual path and how they shape the practice and beliefs of their followers.

Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of Buddhism with Ven. Sampanno on Escaping Samsara Podcast. Tune in to explore the rich tapestry of Buddhist thought and practice.

Nathan is joined by Marc Kate and Chad Lott from "Scary Thoughts Podcast" to discuss Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now."

Unless you've been stuck in a Twitter flame war for the last 20 years, you will know about Tolle's bestselling spiritual treatise. But is it a classic or a self-help rip off?  We discuss the book, it's flaws and strengths and come to some new conclusions.

We also discover Marc and Chad's meditation practices, the effect of nihilism and find out what Eckhart Tolle and Charles Manson have in common

http://scarythoughts.org/

https://failingforms.bandcamp.com/album/00

Welcome to the realm of real Hatha Yoga, where yogis use the body as a tool to transcend the body.

For this episode, we're honored to introduce Shandor Remete, also known as Sundernath, a master practitioner whose life has been steeped in yoga from his earliest days in Hungary.

An initiate of the revered Kanpatha Hatha Yogins, Shandor embodies the legacy of yoga luminaries Sri Gorakhnath and Sri Matsyendranath. Today, he stands as a custodian of Tantrik Hatha Yoga, imparting the wisdom that traces back to the earliest forms of yoga.

Join us as we unravel the layers of this transformative practice with a yogi who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of this knowledge.

We discuss:

• The proper use of asana
• Mudras and bandhas
• Samadhi
• Pranayama

https://shadowyoga.com/

This is episode three in the series on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, contemplations that form the basis of the Buddhist path. 

In this episode, Ven. Robina Courtin, a Tibetan Buddhist nun with nearly fifty years in the tradition, discusses "The Drawbacks of Samsara". 

We dive into the nature of suffering in Samsara, the subtle role of attachment, and the practical meaning of the Four Noble Truths. Robina speaks to the balance between devotion and clear-eyed reasoning, showing how both can deepen and stabilize our practice.

Our conversation explores the six realms of existence, the workings of karma, and how understanding the nature of Samsara inspires personal responsibility for our inner life. 

Throughout, she returns to one essential truth: the quality of our thoughts and intentions shapes the quality of our lives. 

Robina's website: https://robinacourtin.com/

Follow Escaping Samsara:

https://escapingsamsara.substack.com/

Instagram: @escsamsara

Welcome to a special bookclub episode of Escaping Samsara, where we delve into the profound teachings of Chogyam Trungpa's classic, "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism." In this episode, we're thrilled to host Ty Landrum, an esteemed yoga teacher known for his insightful and deeply rooted understanding of Eastern and Western philosophy.

We discuss the concept of spiritual materialism, the tendency to see spirituality as a means to enhance our ego rather than to dissolve it. And Ty discusses how to apply these teachings on the mat and in daily life, helping us to navigate our spiritual journey with more awareness and authenticity.

This episode isn't just for avid readers or seasoned practitioners. It's for anyone curious about the intersection of yoga, Buddhism, and the journey towards true self-awareness. Whether you're new to these concepts or a long-time follower of Trungpa's work, you'll find fresh perspectives and thoughtful discussions to inspire your practice.

https://www.tylandrum.com/

Lovers of technical yoga talk rejoice! In this extraordinarily geeky interview Gregor sheds light on nuances of pranayama and meditation practices described in great detail in his books. We also talk about his most recent book about the Map of Transformative States and get a glimpse into the upcoming work with a fascinating discussion on mudras. This is a great interview for everyone going deeper into the higher limbs of Ashtanga Yoga.

Show notes

• On Stanislav Grof and Aldous Huxley
• Chakras and brain circuits
• On Nadi Shodhana and types of visualisations
• Ista Devata visualisation in Kumbhaka
• Surya vs Chandra Bhedana
• On relationship with the spirit world
• On Basti kriya
• Kundalini rising techniques and Ego
• Mudras!
• Things to consider when sequencing different practices

To find out more about Gregor's teaching, learning materials, courses and in-depth blog article visit https://8limbs.com/

Check out new books by Gregor Maehle:

CHAKRAS, DRUGS AND EVOLUTION: A Map of Transformative States

"How To Find Your Life's Divine Purpose: Brain software for a new civilization"

It's easy to get caught up in the intellectual debates of spirituality, or spending hours creating exalted states of consciousness, but the actual effects of all this practice are borne out in your everyday life and nowhere is that more apparent then in your intimate relationships. 

Marriage is an interesting thing from a spiritual perspective. It could be an excuse to end your practice and focus on "real life". Or it could be something you use your practice to escape from. Both of these pitfalls deny the chance to use "relationship yoga" as a tool to bring about lasting changes, reduced suffering, and the embodiment of deep wisdom. 

To help us understand this, we speak to Mark Usher, a men's coach, who has made marriage his main life practice. 

David Garrigues has been practicing Hatha Yoga, specializing in advanced Ashtanga Vinyasa for about 30 years. Few people understand the rigors and challenges of long-term asanas practices as deeply.

As a fellow vinyasa enthusiast, and keen meditator, I've long been fascinated by the overlap between the two and how much asana practice can be considered a meditation in and of itself -- and not just a preparation.

In our discussion, we look closely at the integration between medieval Hatha Yoga and its modern forms, how long-term practice challenges your faith, and the struggle between defining, and leaving things unsaid.

Check out David's new book: Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa here

This is a companion episode to our "Ashtanga and Fatherhood" episode. We're talking about how yoga practice changes for women after pregnancy and in the years of child-rearing.

We talk about the challenges of physical recovery and the requirements of emotional labor. How time is the essential factor, and how we witness time can change everything.

Today, we sit down with Rich Ray, a seasoned practitioner of meditation and director of Ashtanga Yoga Portland Maine (and also creator of some dope Instagram visuals @richrayyoga)

With over 25 years of Zen and Ashtanga experience, Rich's commitment to self-discovery and inner peace led him on a transformative path as a resident monk at a silent monastery four years. During this profound period of self-reflection, he cultivated profound insights that continue to influence his life and teachings. As well as founding his studio, Rich also taught yoga and meditation at state prisons in California and New Hampshire and started a meditation program at a women's county jail in Boston, Massachusetts.

In our chat we discuss:

• The intersection of Zen and Ashtanga practice.
• How to make Ashtanga practice more meditative.
• Yoga and aging.
• And the secrets of the Advanced Ashtanga series.

In this episode, we try to find out if the yogis and the Buddhists are describing the same thing when they talk about Samadhi. Are the paths aiming at the same experience but using different language to talk about it? Or are there deeper differences?

To find out, we host a conversation between Gregor Maehle and Leigh Brasington who practice and teach deep Samadhi meditations from the yogic and Buddhist schools, respectively. 

MC Owens is a Buddhist teacher, translator, and author who uses a sutra-based curriculum to teach the history, philosophy, and practices of Buddhism. He has taught in universities, colleges, monasteries, and a variety of unique venues including museums, teahouses and nightclubs.

Through Lotus Underground, MC Owens offers courses and private study, and is building the Lotus Underground School of Buddhism, which will combine traditional methods with immersive technologies to provide resources and develop innovative approaches to the study of Buddhism. 

He is also a teacher for the San Francisco Dharma Collective, where he currently hosts Dharma Doors, a Sunday evening gathering that brings sutras to life through recitation, translation, humor, and storytelling. 

MC Owens' dharma talks, sutra recitations and deep dives into Buddhist texts can be found on the Lotus Underground soundcloud and youtube. 

He is also the author of the historical fiction novel, A Sacrifice of Monks

A little Ashtanga episode for your ear holes! Nothing I like better than a fine and geeky Ashtanga-based chat and what a privilege to do so with the raconteur himself, Russell Case.

Russell has been practicing and teaching Ashtanga yoga for more than 25 years. A humble and refined teacher, he was given Authorization by Pattabhi Jois in 2005. Case is known for his joking spirit, and his perpetual eye toward social justice work. When Pattabhi Jois invited him to his pranayama class in 2007, he considered this distinction to be the highest grade. 

Russell co-hosts the Finding Harmony Podcast with Harmony Slater which is one of my favourite yoga podcasts and if you like Ashtanga you should check them out

Shaila Catherine is the founder of Insight Meditation South Bay, a meditation group in Silicon Valley, and also Bodhi Courses, an online Buddhist classroom. She has been practicing meditation since 1980, with more than nine years of accumulated silent retreat experience. She has taught since 1996 in the USA, and internationally. Shaila studied with several Asian masters in India, Thailand, and Nepal, including H. W. L. Poonja, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, in addition to the founders of several western meditation centers including Christopher Titmuss and Joseph Goldstein. She completed a one-year intensive meditation retreat with the focus on concentration and jhana, and authored Focused and Fearless: A Meditator's Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity. Shaila practiced under the guidance of Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadaw from 2006-2015, and authored Wisdom Wide and Deep: A Practical Handbook for Mastering Jhana and Vipassana to help make this traditional approach to meditative training accessible to western practitioners.

In 2014, Shaila founded Bodhi Courses to develop and offer teachings in an online classroom.

Episode 2/4 on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, and this time we are talking about the "precious human rebirth" and pondering the unique opportunity that human beings have to practice the path to awakening. And to discuss this I am joined by Joe Evans, founder of the Rangdröl Foundation and teacher of Dzogchen under the name Jigme Rangdröl.

The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind, also known as the Four Reminders, are a set of Buddhist contemplations that encourage practitioners to turn their minds away from worldly distractions and towards spiritual practice. These thoughts are: 1) the preciousness of a human rebirth, 2) impermanence and death, 3) karma (cause and effect), and 4) the unsatisfactory nature of samsara (cyclic existence).

The first episode of this series was on Karma (see our podcast feed for that one) but it's not necessary to listen to them all in order!

To find out more about Joe Evans, visit:

https://www.rangdrolfoundation.org/

Follow our substack for weekly posts, essays, and podcasts!

Join our Telegram community 

Stu Girling is a yoga teacher, anatomy expert and author. He runs Love Yoga Anatomy online and on Youtube, and is the author of Illustrated Yoga Anatomy book. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions about yoga, ashtanga, avoiding injury and maintaining healthy bodies. 

We asked questions such as:

• How to return to yoga practice after pregnancy?
• How to do yoga asana with sciatica?
• Avoding ankle pain in lotus pose
• Why should spiritual yogis care about anatomy?
• How crosstraining can stop you getting injured
• What's with Setu Bandhasana? 

Find more from Stu

https://loveyogaanatomy.com/
Stu's book: https://illustratedyogaanatomy.com/

There's been a lot said and written about the changes female yogis go through when they become mothers. Now, for the first time, we discuss Ashtanga Yoga and fatherhood. Our guests, Mark Robberds, Prem Carlisi, and Scott Johnson have about 80 years of practice and teaching experience between them, close to 100 if you include me. 

Mark and I are new fathers, Scott Johnson's kids are teenagers, and Prem is a grandfather. It was really special to sit with a group of men and learn about realising the goals of yoga in family life. 

Show Notes

• Becoming a father and how men experience having a baby
• How to continue a yoga practice while holding the responsibilities of family life
• How to maintain a quality relationship with your partner
• And the play of masculine and feminine in the yoga of relationship

Check out our guests online!

https://www.markrobberds.com

https://www.markrobberds.com/

https://stillpoint.yoga/

https://www.ashtangayogabali.com/

Ben Goresky is a counsellor, coach, and explorer of consciousness.

He is involved in addiction recovery and working with men as part of the Samurai Brotherhood. He also teaches counscious relationship training, a modern take on the old yoga of coupling.

Show notes

Nathan and Ben are both recovered addicts and share deeply about abuse, drug addiction, and recovery.

They delve into the spiritual practices that have helped Ben and Nathan on their journey to recovery and get into the spiritual power of "men's work" - a worldwide movement to support and heal the masculine.

Find out more about Ben's coaching and online trainings here: https://evolvingman.com/

Ash Hope is a Brisbane-based Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher and a student of Nancy Gilgoff. Her fascination about the body's self-healing abilities led her to study CranioSacral therapy with the Upledger Institute in Singapore. Ash explores the practice of meditation in the Zen tradition and teaches traditional Mysore style classes in her shala in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.

• Spiritual longing: From Eastern Germany to India
• Discovering Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga system after an injuiry
• On synergetic relationship of Primary and Intermediate series
• Weekly sequencing - thoughts on rotation of series
• Meeting Nancy Gilgoff
• Evolution of Pattabhi Jois' teaching approach
• On old-school Advanced A series, teaching methodology
• Ashtanga pranayama
• Meditation practice
• Mixing practices from different schools

Visit https://www.ashtangayogacentre.com.au/ to find out more about Ash and her teaching schedul

Michael W. Taft is a meditation teacher, bestselling author, and the host of Deconstructing Yourself podcast. From Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has been meditating for over thirty five years and has extensive experience in both Buddhist Vipassana and Hindu Tantric practice. Michael authored several books, including "The Mindful Geek, Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept", and Ego (which he co-authored).

• Switching between incompatible models of reality
• Taking it too far
• Buddhist modernism
• Mahayana's critique of Theravada tradition
• Emptiness and the Buddha nature
• On Tantric practice
• Feeling your way through uncharted territory
• Uprooting the seeds of the kleshas
• Parallels between Tantric and Vajrayana practices
• On Vipassana
• Mantra and deities

To find out more about Michael Taft visit Deconstructing Yourself website.

Phil Mistlberger is an explorer of world's philosophic and esoteric traditions, transpersonal therapist, international seminar and workshop facilitator, and author with over thirty years of experience. Phil has written 7 books looking from different angles on wide variety of teachings and teachers. He has co-founded and founded schools and communities of inner work like Samurai Brotherhood, and traveled around the world to study and teach numerous courses and workshops.

• Spiritual experiences and Perennial philosophy
• Moving from one tradition to another
• 21st century destructed mind's dark night of the soul problem
• 3 Dangerous Magi
• On Aleister Crowley
• Studying with Osho
• Benefits of releasing generational rage and guilt
• On addiction, ethics and generational context
• Premature teaching
• On conditioned culture, autonomy and reality tunnels
• Encounter work and men groups

Visit http://www.ptmistlberger.com/ to find more about his work.

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Thomas Van Breda is a scholar of religion specialising in the western esoteric tradition. He joins us to discuss notorious occultist Aleister Crowley and his contribution to the evolution of modern yoga. In 1901, Crowley travelled to Sri Lanka and studied what seems to be a mixture of Ashtanga and Shaivite Yoga. When he returned to the UK he started teaching. Is it possible that he was one of the first western yoga teachers ever? Or did his bombastic and strange personality only obscure the teachings?

• We discuss the occult and rejected knowledge systems
• Crowley's problematic personality
• How Crowley saw enlightenment and how he claimed to have attained it
• We respond to Mark Singleton's 2010 book "Yoga Body: the Origins of Modern Posture Practice" that claims Crowley was a "black magician" who obscured the message of yoga
• How Crowley taught asana before Krishnamacharya, the old school way
• Crowley's experiments and achieving dyana and samadhi states

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• Maggi's artworks especially sacred symbols and geometry
• What kingons and vedic concepts of gunas have in common
• Pattabhi Jois and Bikram back in the day
• A non dual experience slipping into a river
• How the warrior poses are the same as walking
• 70s Hairstyles and the subtle body
• How "The body accepts whatever practice you choose"
• Different catagories of healing
• The wisdom of working with the moon
• Pranic and apanic breathing and moon days
• Ashtanga and aging

http://magginimmo.com/

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While his words are often like poetry and his photos stun you with their raw aesthetics, it is that space beyond the form and beyond the mind that Ty invites us to discover and out which his reflections are generously springing from. He is the wizard of most intricate thought castles, the faqir juggling heavy philosophical constructs with lightness and innocence of a child, while his fascination for exploring the ways of embodiment of the creative principle that animates all life is like a magnet that draws you deeper into inquiry in your own practice. We are absolutely delighted to have Ty Landrum on our show.

• First spiritual experiences, communion with the nature and longing for the sense of connection
• Intellectual intoxication, vinyasas of thought and postures of mind
• Somatic exploration of breath waves
• Terror of letting go of the sense of the self and the brilliance of Ashtanga Vinyasa
• Clinging to a particular idea of what your practice should be
• Asana as embodying the form that supports the liberated movement of creative energy
• Fatherhood and daily practice
• Mixing traditions, following your heart, exploring synchronicities
• Year-long online immersion course "Into the Depth"

Visit Yoga Workshop Online to find out about online classes, workshops and immersions offered by Ty Landrum. Also, check his website https://tylandrum.com/ to discover more about his teaching schedule, as well as some beautiful writing.

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Mumbai-based yoga practitioner and teacher, Deepa Rao shares her experience on Yoga and Meditation with us.

• Deepa's first spiritual recollections
• Amulets, yantras and experience growing up in a Brahmin familiy
• Goenka's Vipassana, practice and studies, aleviation of the fear of darkness
• Equanimity and challenges of daily life
• The story behind Trivikramasana
• How knowledge of mythology can help unravel deeper layers in your asana practice
• Using mantras, themes and affirmations in your practice
• On Ayurveda and diet, prana and apana vayu
• Yoga in modern day India
• Practicing with an American yoga teacher in India

If you want to get in touch with Deepa - visit her Instagram account
https://instagram.com/therowdee

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In this episode of the Escaping Samsara Podcast, we begin a four-part journey into the Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind—a set of foundational Buddhist contemplations that help orient us toward Dharma.

Our focus today is on karma. I'm joined by Ellen Johansson, a long-time Ashtanga teacher and committed Vajrayana practitioner, who brings deep insight into how karma works—not as punishment, but as a mirror of cause and effect, intention and outcome.

We explore how karma is understood across Buddhist and yogic traditions, what it means to take responsibility for our actions, and how this recognition can become a force for transformation.

We also touch on the differences in how Buddhism and yoga approach the idea of selfhood, and how both paths invite us into ethical living grounded in compassion.

Ellen shares about her upcoming yoga teacher training rooted in philosophical inquiry, and we invite you to sit with these ideas—see how they land, and where they lead.

More on Ellen: https://ashtanganepal.com/

And: https://www.instagram.com/ashtanganepal/

Escaping Samsara Substack: https://escapingsamsara.substack.com/

Swami Jaya Devi Bhagavati is the Founder and Spiritual Director of Kashi Atlanta, a nonprofit urban yoga ashram that has served Atlanta for 21 years. She is an urban yoga monk, working to inspire people to live deeply, loving everyone along the way.

Swami has studied yoga, pranayama (yogic breath), meditation, and healing in-depth since 1985. She took her monastic vows in the Saraswati lineage of Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati and was given the title Yoga Acharya (master teacher of yoga) in 2007.

She taught at the 2004 Parliament of World Religions in Barcelona, Spain, and was Grand Marshal of the 2015 Atlanta Pride Parade in recognition of decades of work with the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS communities. In our chat, we get deep on topics such as pranayama, kundalini and karma yoga.

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Sebene Selassie is an African American Buddhist teacher. She has been studying Buddhism for 30 years and teaching for 10. She has worked extensively for not-for-profit organisations everywhere from the Tenderloin in San Francisco to refugee camps in Guinea, West Africa. This year, she published her first book via HarperOne titled You Belong: A Call for Connection. 

In this enriching conversation we tackle the kind of tough subjects that we all think about but need to talk about more. Why have women been sidelined in Buddhist lineages? How can the Dharma respond to racial strife and injustice? And how we can heal cultures of harm wherever we find ourselves. 

• First experiences with bhakti yoga
• History of women in Buddhism 
• Sebene's journey through Buddhist schools
• Kuan Yin and devotional practice
• The question of cultural appropriation 
• How studying history can aid liberation
• The complex problem of unconscious bias
• What was left out when Buddhism was exported  
• Good ol' psychedelics 
• Ancestral healing 
• How we might heal racism in dharma communities
• It's not about separation 
• Guilt vs responsibility
• "The Dharma answers its context" 

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Robert Moses has 50 years' experience as a teacher of yoga and advaita vedanta. Robert served in the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers for 22 years. He is a founder and co-publisher of Namarupa – Categories of Indian thoughts, a magazine about the philosophies and arts of India. He is leading annual pilgrimages to sacred places of India and offering classes on Pranayama, Bandhas, Kriyas, Mudras as well as exploration of Hatha Yoga Pradipika online.

• First glimpses beyond the physical plain of existence
• Intense yoga practice, meditation and fasting
• Hitchhiking through Europe
• "Cry, The Beloved Country" – growing up in South Africa
• The "Continuum concept" (Jean Liedloff)
• "You can't just have bad people in the world raising kids" (Norman Allan)
• Bhakti practice, subtle forms of Tridoshas – Tejas, Ojas and Prana
• Brahmacharya in the context of househoder path
• Looking behind the bandhas
• Uddara – the forgotten bandha
• Addendum: Where to fit a mudra practice?
• Discover Namarupa Magazine, classes and courses by Robert Moses.

Discover Namarupa Magazine, classes and courses by Robert Moses.
https://namarupa.org/

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Dr. Erik Davis is an American writer, scholar, journalist and public speaker whose writings have ranged from rock criticism to cultural analysis to creative explorations of mysticism.

Few people are able to talk about the spirituality with  a precision and accuracy born of a commitment to always remain open to the Mystery. 

Erik shares his own path, describing how he maintains scientific viewpoint while also embracing the weird and unknown aspects in all religions, especially Christianity and Buddhism.

We talk in detail about "the psychonaut"scientifically minded explorers who use psychedelics in an attempt to map the fringes and consciousness - places where there might still be dragons.

Show Notes

• Spiritual and uncanny experiences occurred in Erik's childhood bedroom
• Fear and fascination 
• How Erik spans science and spirituality
• Erik's deep experience with Christian art
• "The weirdest year of your life"
• Erik on prayer and grace
• "America can't escape the shadow of puritanism"
• Psychonauts vs religious seekers 
• Psychosis as an occupational hazard
• Practical Buddhist ethics
• The role of a spiritual teacher
• When Erik met Ram Dass

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