Explore every episode of the podcast The CyberSangha Podcast

Episode 78 · Series 4 — 2025 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Danny Lewin, Ph.D., Ed O’Malley, Ph.D., and Geshe Tenzin Wangyal

This enlightening online dialog brings together the ancient wisdom of Tibetan dream and sleep yogas with cutting-edge sleep science. Host Danny Lewin, Ph.D., and his guests Ed O’Malley, Ph.D., and Geshe Tenzin Wangyal will explore the profound interplay between traditional spiritual practices and modern scientific understanding of sleep. The discussion will delve into the role of sleep in both spiritual practice and physical health, featuring insights on biofeedback and sleep technology such as the WHOOP and Oura Ring health tracking devices.

This event is one of a series of eight “Kathmandu Dialogues” offered by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche in conjunction with a February 2025 celebratory event for His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, the foremost living teacher and protector of the Yungdrung Bön tradition of Tibet. Learn more

Episode 77 · Series 4 — 2025 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Matteo Pistono and Alejandro Chaoul

Join us for an engaging CyberSangha dialog between Matteo Pistono and host Alejandro Chaoul. The live online conversation explores Matteo’s groundbreaking book Breathe How You Want to Feel, which offers practical methods to harness the power of breath for emotional balance, improved focus, and overall well-being. As part of our series of science & spirituality dialogs, the session delves into the mechanics of breathing and the research into its profound impact on our daily lives, including better sleep, increased energy, and enhanced meditation practice.

Discover how conscious breathing can become your secret tool for resilience and personal growth. Whether you are seeking to calm your mind or elevate your energy levels, this dialog provides valuable insights that can transform your approach to health and wellness. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from two experts in the field!

Episode 76 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Tulku Jorge René and Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D

Join us for a captivating dialog that delves into the fascinating life of Tulku Jorge René as a recognized tulku in the ancient Bön tradition of Tibet. Our guest will share insights into his extraordinary journey, from his early education in Tibetan language and philosophy to his current studies at Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu, and will guide a closing meditation. The broadcast will also highlight Tulku Jorge René’s ongoing online course, which offers an introduction to the fundamental concepts of the Yungdrung Bön tradition. This event promises to be both educational and inspiring, appealing to those familiar with Tibetan Buddhism as well as newcomers curious about this rich spiritual tradition.

Episode 75 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

In a live Internet broadcast and in celebration of Giving Tuesday, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche guides us through a contemplative exploration of generosity, inviting us to reflect deeply on the kindness we have received throughout our lives and explore how we can cultivate and extend that kindness to others. A short meditation helps us to connect with the transformative power of generosity.

Episode 74 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Guy Desbiolles & Alejandro Chaoul

Expanding on his September 4, 2024, online discussion with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, HeartMath practitioner Guy Desbiolles explains and guides a practice of cardiac coherence. The practice relies on simple, rhythmic breathing exercises to synchronize heart rate variability and bring the nervous system into a state of equilibrium. It helps us to manage stress, regulate emotions, and promote overall well-being, including improvements in physical, emotional, and cognitive health. The session is hosted by Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D.

Episode 73 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Guy Desbiolles, Alejandro Chaoul & Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

In an online broadcast, HeartMath practitioner Guy Desbiolles and prominent Tibetan meditation teacher Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche come together to discuss cardiac coherence, a practice that relies on simple breathing exercises to bring the nervous system into a state of equilibrium. How can we use this simple, effective tool to manage stress, control our emotions, and experience other benefits to our physical, emotional and mental health? Hosted by Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D.

Episode 72 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Ido Portal, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, and Alejandro Chaoul

What happens when a world-renowned movement teacher and a Tibetan meditation master meet to talk about the body, mind, and freedom? In this lively conversation hosted by Alejandro Chaoul, Ido Portal and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explore how movement can unlock “the issues in the tissues,” awaken joy, and support emotional and spiritual healing, while stillness deepens clarity, presence, and inner freedom. Drawing from martial arts, capoeira, Bön Buddhist practice, and real-life stories of pain, aging, and burnout, they share practical insights on making everyday life a 24-hour practice—whether you are walking, hanging from a bar, or sitting on a cushion. This dialogue is an invitation to rethink what it means to “practice,” and to discover how befriending both movement and stillness can transform your relationship to your body, your emotions, and your life.

Episode 71 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Eric Garland, Ph.D., and Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D.

Can we ease our physical and emotional pain simply by increasing our sensitivity to natural, healthy pleasures? In Dr. Eric Garland’s MORE research, participants learned a savoring practice in which they intentionally focused on the sights, sounds, smells, and touch of a pleasant experience, such as a beautiful sunset or their connection to a loved one. In appreciating and absorbing their positive emotional response to these sensory impressions, their pain and craving for opioids lessened. Eric and Alejandro will discuss how savoring relates not only to mindfulness meditation, but also to dzogchen meditation and its experiences of oneness, or non-duality.

Episode 70 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Ed O’Malley, Ph.D., and Geshe Tenzin Wangyal

How do the light of day and darkness of night impact our experience as human beings, including the quality of our sleep? What is light, from the perspectives of both modern science and ancient Tibetan wisdom? Ed O’Malley and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explore the implications not only of sunlight, but also of the clear light of awareness and the five pure lights described in the dzogchen teachings of Tibet. Join us for a fascinating inquiry into our universe of light and dark.

Related: “Sleeping, Dreaming & Well-Being: a Scientific & Spiritual Exploration of Sleep, Part 1” with Danny Lewin, Ph.D., and host Geshe Tenzin Wangyal. Learn more & view recording.

Post-broadcast summary: Ed O’Malley discussed the importance of circadian rhythms and light on human sleep patterns, emphasizing the negative effects of light pollution and the benefits of natural daylight. He underscored the role of healthy sleep patterns for overall health and longevity, citing recent research to support this claim. Lastly, he and Rinpoche explored the interconnection between inner and outer light, traditional practices that integrate the two, and the cultural significance of circadian rhythms.

Episode 69 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Danny Lewin, Ph.D., and Geshe Tenzin Wangyal.

How do modern science and ancient Tibetan wisdom define the different states of sleep? What is the best advice for improving sleep and circadian health and being more aware while dreaming? What can researchers learn from the ancient practices of dream and sleep yoga? Psychologist Danny Lewin, Ph.D., former director of Clinical Sleep Medicine at the National Center on Sleep Research, joins Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche in an in-depth discussion of the health implications of sleeping and dreaming of the deities.

Episode 68 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Sleep is very important for our health on all levels, physically, mentally and spiritually. In an online talk, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche discusses 11 key points we can all follow to sleep better each night.

The 11 points are:

• Go to sleep and wake up around the same time every day. A regular sleep schedule is key to sleeping well at night.
• Get regular morning exercise, at least half an hour per session. Even better is to combine exercise with sun exposure, such as taking a brisk morning walk, to set your circadian clock. Morning exercise plus sunlight is one of the two primary keys to sleeping better.
• Dim the lights in the evening. Just as morning sunlight received indirectly by our eyes is a wakeup cue, less light and lower light exposure in the evening prepare us for sleep.
• Reduce evening exposure to blue light from screens. Try putting your phone away and turning off the TV, or wearing blue light-blocker glasses 90 minutes to 2 hours before retiring.
• Avoid caffeine after midday, and alcohol in the evening. Both can affect our sleep quality.
• Skip dinner or eat a lighter dinner no later than about 3 hours before bedtime.
• Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature based on your physical needs. Our body temperature normally lowers as we fall asleep and rises as we awake. At night it’s generally recommended to keep the room quieter, darker, and cooler, around 65F/18C.
• Short power naps of 20 minutes or less can be good for our health. But longer naps can have a negative affect on our nighttime sleep. If you have problems falling asleep or staying asleep, avoid napping and see if that helps.
• A regular sauna and cold shower or cold plunge are said to have a lot of benefits for both our health and our sleep. What works or doesn’t may depend on your physical condition.
• Meditate to help to calm your mind, balance your breath, and reduce stress and anxiety. Anxiety is the main cause of sleep problems, so meditation may help you to enter into deeper sleep and remain asleep.
• Choose delicious healthy meals rich in melatonin and having other sleep-promoting properties, such as a dessert of cooked rice, milk, goji berries, banana, pistachios, and jaggery.

Whatever steps you take to improve your sleep, be sure to apply them according to your own physical condition and to consult in advance with a medical professional.

Episode 67 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues

With Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D.; Alison Jefferies; and Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D

Discover how yoga, tai chi, massage therapy, and other mind-body practices can contribute to your health and wellbeing well beyond the simple relaxation response. Cohen and Jefferies, co-authors of Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six, will discuss the latest scientific findings along with practical advice for expanding these practices into six key areas of your life.

The more profound results, for example, come when the physical, energetic, and mental effects of mind-body practices start filtering into our sleeping and eating habits or our social consciousness. Lifestyle improvements have a way of influencing all aspects of brain function and biological processes. They have increasingly been recognized for their role in preventing and treating cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, cognitive disorders, and most other non-communicable diseases.

Episode 66 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Mark Siegert, Harvey Aronson, and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

This video begins with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s sweet offering, “I Am No One.” For some this may be enjoyed as a poem, a creative expression; others may recognize it as a pointing out instruction which can be experienced as well as understood.

Rinpoche and his guests then discuss their sometimes similar and sometimes differing views on identity as well as the processes for dealing with painful identity. This group speak as therapists, practitioners, teachers. All agree that spaciousness is desirable for goals of both Buddhist practitioners and patients of psychotherapy, regardless of the ultimate goal.

When pain and inner struggle are engrained and become so familiar, they are not necessarily even experienced as pain but rather are simply experienced as “me.” How do we find the path back to natural mind or even to ability to enjoy life? What are the obstacles to being able to host our pain with self-compassion? While the goals of psychotherapy and dzogchen meditation may be very different, just how do the approaches differ? Can they complement one another? How can the psychotherapist’s view allow for the possibility of spontaneous recognition?

Episode 65 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Eric Garland, Fadel Zeidan, David Vago, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

In this fascinating conversation our distinguished presenters share neuroscience discoveries and effects of powerful interventions such as mindfulness, reappraisal and savoring that enable health-enhancing changes in one’s perspective and habitual mindsets. Learn also what brings these scholars to study the effects of ancient meditation traditions on pain relief, opioid addiction and human suffering. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche joins the conversation from Nepal with less than ideal internet service. He is however totally present and connected.

Episode 64 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Mark Siegert and Harvey Aronson

Just what is one’s identity? One Western meaning is that identity is a single, healthy part of development required for a happy, successful life. Another view, both in Buddhism and in some aspects of Western psychotherapy, is that identity includes multiple identities, and under extreme pain, especially with a history of prior trauma, these identities can lead to severe distress. In psychotherapy, this level of distress, under certain conditions, may potentially lead to serious mental disorders such as dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder). But even in the absence of a significant mental disorder, identity can still be problematic to living. Western psychotherapists and Buddhists both work with all of these, but in very different ways with different goals. In both, they aim to increase self-knowledge and free up problematic areas. But in Buddhism, the goal goes further, all the way up to full liberation.

Episode 63 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

According to the dzogchen teachings, abiding in the spaciousness of our mind can be our doorway to the refuge of the nirmanakaya — the pure movement of energy and genuine warmth that arises from the inseparable openness and awareness of our true nature. In a live online broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche helps us to enter through the door of spaciousness.

Episode 62 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Wim Hof, Elissa Epel, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

Tibetan tummo is an ancient method for cultivating inner fire — the joy, bliss, and warmth of our being. We all naturally have these qualities within us, but they are often unreliably available because we have not learned to access them or to stabilize our attention in open awareness. With practice, tummo is said to produce the “inner fire of realization.”

How is this inner fire produced? Does it manifest as actual heat?  How does this inner fire heal?

To find answers to these and other questions, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, who among many Tibetan practices also teaches tummo, Alejandro Chaoul-Reich and their guests discuss these and other practices that generate inner heat. Dr. Epel shares some of her ongoing research into the Wim Hof Method and breathing practices. Wim Hof enthusiastically describes how breathing practices, in cold environments, improve the body’s ability to handle stress and slow aging.

Episode 61 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

According to the dzogchen teachings, resting deeply in the silence of speech can be our doorway to the refuge of the sambhogakaya — the pure, infinite awareness of our true nature. In this video for the cybersangha, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche helps us to enter through the door of silence.

Episode 60 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Adriana Dal Borgo, Peter Payne, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, and host Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

Contemplative movement can include a number of practices such as yoga, dance, tai chi, tsa lung trul khor and yantra yoga. In their own unique ways, these practices integrate self-awareness, rhythm, sound, movement, conscious breath, disciplined form, or free flowing choreography. Pulled into a harmony, or potent melody, the effects may include release of tensions and blockages in body and mind.

This Science & Spirituality panel discussion delves into the inner workings of contemplative dance and somatic healing practices. Adriana is intimately prepared to communicate her understanding of body as mandala. Peter’s life studies, practice, and research suggest that the sciences also are discovering the bridges between higher mind and body.

Episode 59 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

According to the dzogchen teachings, the simple act of resting in the stillness of our body can serve as a doorway to the refuge of the dharmakaya: the pure, unbounded spaciousness of our true nature. In a live online broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche helps us to enter through the door of stillness.

Episode 58 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Sarah Prinsloo, Julieta Galante, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

The last two decades have seen a rise in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) that support healing of mind and body. This Science & Spirituality dialog gives us the opportunity to hear about the health benefits of mindfulness and other meditation practices, as well as promising results from relevant research at University of Cambridge and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

What is the healing potential for techniques that alter the way that the brain functions? What are the implications for reducing pain and speeding recovery from surgery? What is new in the MBI field? What is current research revealing about how these practices may improve mental health and prevent disease?

Episode 57 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

It’s human nature that we continually struggle to become — to become healthier, wealthier, more knowledgeable, more attractive, or better at what we do, feel, or think. But lasting happiness and joy arise not from becoming, but from our ability to be: to be completely present with whatever experiences life brings. In a live online broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche guides a meditation to help us connect with the power of being.

Episode 56 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Richard Freeman, Mary Taylor, Paul Dallaghan, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

For millennia, yogis have made the breath an integral part of spiritual practice. Even the simple, intimate practice of breath awareness can help us to quickly silence thoughts, calm nerves, soothe anger, and dispel fear. In a live CyberSangha broadcast, invited presenters look at pranayama and other breath practices from Ashtanga, Tibetan, and other forms of yoga. The group will also share scientific interpretations of what goes on as we bring light to our sacred bodies.

Episode 55 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With James Duffy, Charles Raison, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost your mind, you’re not alone — even top scientists remain uncertain of the mind’s location. Based on both contemplative science and anecdotal evidence from direct meditative experience, researchers are reconsidering the relationship between the brain and the mind. In a live online discussion, James Duffy, Charles Raison, and host Alejandro Chaoul-Reich discuss the role of the physical nervous system according to modern science and ancient Tibetan wisdom. The CyberSangha broadcast is part of “A Year of Body, Speech, and Mind,” a free 2021 online program of live teachings, practices, and science & spirituality dialogs. Learn more

Episode 54 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Before we can experience the joy of recognizing our true nature — the larger sense of self that is open, spacious, and fully perfected — we must recognize our smaller self: the “pain mind” that is continually dominated by emotions, mental images, and scattered thoughts. In a live online broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explains the pain mind and teaches a meditation practice for healing and moving beyond it. This broadcast is part of “A Year of Body, Speech, and Mind,” a free 2021 online program of live teachings, practices, and science & spirituality dialogs. Learn more

Episode 53 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Ruth Wolever, Richard Rosen, and host Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

Pranayama, or the ancient practice of breath control in yoga and other meditative traditions, plays a crucial role in linking body and mind. Modern research also suggests that certain breathing techniques can promote physical wellbeing, and perhaps even aid in preventing and managing lung ailments such as those associated with COVID-19. The fifth in a series of 2021 Science & Spirituality Dialogs on wellness of body, breath, and mind, this online broadcast is part of a free yearlong online program. Learn more

Episode 52 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Are you voicing your words from a space of vibrant, open awareness? Or, from a place of pain? Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explains how to know when pain speech is active in you; how to connect with it; and ultimately, how to transcend it. This broadcast is part of “A Year of Body, Speech, and Mind,” a free 2021 online program of live teachings, practices, and science & spirituality dialogs. Learn more

Episode 51 · Series 3 — A Year of Body, Speech & Mind

With Cyndi Lee · Dr. Jeff Dussek · Geshe Tenzin Wangyal · Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

This conversation brings together leaders in contemplative science, integrative medicine, and Tibetan meditation to explore how embodied awareness supports healing, resilience, and meaningful change in daily life. Through personal stories and grounded practice insights, the dialogue turns toward the body as a source of wisdom, the voice as a bridge between inner and outer worlds, and the mind as a space of openness, compassion, and creative response.

The guests reflect on pain, health, burnout, and belonging through the lenses of Tibetan yoga, neuroscience, emotional awareness, and micro-practices drawn from lived experience and years of research. What emerges is a simple but challenging invitation: to meet experience directly — in the body, in relationship, and in community — and to allow practice to shape how we move into the future.

Featured themes include:

• Embodied awareness, somatic presence, and mind–body integration
• Pain, illness, and healing within contemplative and medical contexts
• Tibetan yoga, meditation, and everyday micro-practices
• Emotional awareness, compassion, and nervous-system regulation
• Contemplative science, neuroscience, and lived spiritual practice

Listen, subscribe, and explore more conversations and resources at cybersangha.net.

Episode 50, Series 3: "A Year of Body, Speech & Mind"

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Our true self is an open, vibrant state of clear awareness. But whenever negative emotions are triggered in us, we tend to dissociate from who we truly are and to take on a ‘pain body,’ or pain-related identity. In a live Internet broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explains how to know when our pain body is active; how to connect with it; and ultimately, how to transcend it.

Episode 49, Series 3: "A Year of Body, Speech & Mind"

Featuring: Eve Ekman, Elisa Kozasa, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

Meditation can contribute to our emotional health. At the same time, a level of emotional balance is necessary for us to move past our worries and agitation and rest deeply in meditation. In the third of a series of 2021 Science & Spirituality Dialogs, invited panelists explore the close relationship between emotional balance and meditation, and discuss how psychological interventions can complement meditation practice. The dialog is part of a free yearlong online program related to body, speech, and mind. Learn more

Episode 48, Series 3: "A Year of Body, Speech & Mind"

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

As we deepen our familiarity with resting in a state of spacious awareness, the obstacles and obscurations of our habitual patterns naturally dissolve into the openness of our true nature and our positive qualities spontaneously arise. In a live Internet broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche guides us in resting deeply in awareness of inner spaciousness.

Episode 47, Series 3: "A Year of Body, Speech & Mind"

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche offered a spontaneous online teaching and guided meditation as part of the Month of Speech. This broadcast is part of “A Year of Body, Speech, and Mind,” a free 2021 online program of live teachings, practices, and science & spirituality dialogs. Learn more

Episode 46, Series 3: "A Year of Body, Speech & Mind"

Featuring: Judith Simmer-Brown, Shirley Telles, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and host Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

In the second of a series of 2021 Science & Spirituality Dialogs on wellness of body, breath, and mind, invited panelists discuss the importance and benefits of focused breathing in contemplative practices such as yoga and Buddhist meditation. The dialog is part of a free yearlong online program related to body, speech, and mind. Learn more

Episode 45, Series 3: "A Year of Body, Speech & Mind"

Featuring: Lorenzo Cohen, Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

In the first of a series of 2021 Science & Spirituality Dialogs on wellness of body, breath, and mind, invited panelists discuss the mind-body connection in movement-based practices such as hatha yoga, kundalini yoga, and Tibetan yoga (tsa lung trul khor). How can such physical practices serve us in transforming our state of mind? How can the research inform our practice? The dialog is part of a free yearlong online program related to body, speech, and mind, known in the Tibetan tradition as the “three doors to enlightenment. Learn more

Episode 44, Series 3: "A Year of Body, Speech & Mind"

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

What challenges are you facing right now? How well are you dealing with them? Whether you’re reacting in anger or accommodating your circumstances with serenity and joy, how you respond has everything to do with your sense of who you are. In a Facebook Live broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explains how to distinguish your “pain identity” from your genuine self, and guides a meditation to help you find more serenity through awareness of stillness of the body. He also discusses suggested “homework” for the weeks to come.

Episode 43, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life"

Featuring: David R. Vago, Ph.D., Amishi Jha, Ph.D., Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and host Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, Ph.D.

Can we live more fully just by paying more attention? Our panelists discuss the science behind attention, how mindfulness can help us achieve our greatest potential and strategies for being more present in each moment. Using metaphors from Dr. Jha’s recent bestselling book, Peak Mind, the panelists will discuss three subsystems of attention: the flashlight (selective focus), floodlight (receptive attention), and juggler (executive functioning). They will also discuss the similarities and differences between neuroscientific and Buddhist models of attention, plus recent findings from lab-based and field studies of contemplative training.

Episode 42, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life"

Featuring: Menpa Phuntsok Wangmo, Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and Alejandro Chaoul

Join us for the public premiere of a recorded science/spirituality dialog featuring Menpa Phuntsok Wangmo, Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and moderator Alejandro Chaoul. The talk was first presented to an in-person audience at the Serenity Ridge Retreat Center (plus private online audience) during Serenity Ridge Dialogues, October 2022.

Certain breathing practices, such as the tsa lung exercises of the Tibetan Bön Buddhist tradition, can serve as a powerful tool for balancing the elements and winds of one’s body, speech and mind. Tibetan doctor and dzogchen practitioner Menpa Phuntsok Wangmo discusses the five elements from the perspective of Tibetan medicine, as well as the importance of breathing practice in balancing the elements and healing illness. Breath researcher and Kundalini practitioner Dr. Sat-Bir Khalsa Singh describes much of the research done on breathing practices and their health benefits. Dzogchen master Geshe Tenzin Wangyal describes the five elements from the perspective of the dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Bön Buddhism and responds to related research into the Tibetan breathing practices of tsa lung and trul khor (Tibetan yoga).

This dialog is a must watch for pranayama and tsa lung practitioners, as well as for those interested in the correlations between breathing practice and the five elements and their potential health benefits. It is presented here as part of the Month of Speech in the yearlong program “Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life.” Learn more about the yearlong program.

Episode 41, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life"

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

“Speech” refers here not only to the words we speak, but also to the energy carried by our voice and our breath. The teachings, discussions, and practices of this month explore using speech, mantra, other forms of sound, and/or breathing practices to support us to connect with the pure, unceasing awareness of our true nature. Through allowing our voice to rest in silence, we draw attention to inner silence and continue to release effort that separates us from being fully present. A doorway to deep inner peace, resting in silence allows the light of pure awareness to dawn, awareness that illuminates the source of positive qualities within us and all beings. It helps us to realize our true voice.

In advance of his teaching, Rinpoche encourages creating a bit of space for meditation in your house — in a quiet, peaceful location where you can feel some sense of warmth and connection to yourself. You might provide a comfortable cushion to sit on, and a candle or stick of incense. A supportive outer space can support your inner space during meditation.

Episode 40, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life"

Featuring: Leslie Eisenberg, Ph.D.; Tawni Tidwell, Ph.D.; Geshe Tenzin Wangyal; and host Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, Ph.D.

We all aim to live well, but little is understood about how to die well. Our expert panelists discuss research into tukdam, a post-death meditative state in which the bodies of advanced meditation practitioners show delayed signs of decomposition for as many as three weeks or longer. What insights into the dying process can this research provide for both the dying and their support communities? What are its implications for living and practicing well? What is the role of the physical body in meditation?

Episode 39, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

“Body” refers here not only to our physical body and the tangible world around us, but also to our individual sense of identity as a human being. The teachings, discussions, and practices explored during the Month of the Body help us to connect to the door of the body, clearing obstacles to health and well-being through movement and stillness. Resting our awareness in the stillness of the body opens the door to the clear, open, unchanging experience of our true nature and awakens clear, positive action.

In advance of his teaching, Rinpoche encourages creating a bit of space for meditation in your house — in a quiet, peaceful location where you can feel some sense of warmth and connection to yourself. You might provide a comfortable cushion to sit on, and a candle or stick of incense. A supportive outer space can support your inner space during meditation.

Episode 38, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life

Featuring: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and host Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

Even when pain is unavoidable, suffering is optional. The practices of both mindfulness and dzogchen are renowned for changing how we relate to psychological, emotional, and physical pain, thereby easing our pain-related suffering and even lessening or eliminating the pain itself. Our esteemed presenters all share a deep, abiding interest in easing pain through meditation practice and in the research supporting its effectiveness. The CyberSangha broadcast is part of the Month of the Mind in “Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life,” a free yearlong program of live teachings, practices, and science & spirituality dialogs. Learn more

Episode 37, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life

Featuring: Mauricio Obón Dent, Menpa Phuntsog Wangmo, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

Does the value of exercise grow when we do it mindfully, purposefully? Is medicine more powerful when combined with mantra recitation and visualization? How can a lifestyle that prioritizes good nutrition, healthy sleep habits, and regular exercise prevent disease and enhance spiritual practice? Join us for this engaging dialog for answers and inspiration.

This dialog is built upon in a second dialogue from September 20, 2022, “Natural Paths to Well-Being.”

Episode 36, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Mind refers here to our disturbing emotions and other distracted movements of the mind, as well as to the vast, open nature of mind — the source of all positive qualities — and the capacity to distinguish the difference. As we deepen our familiarity with resting deeply in a state of spacious awareness, the obstacles and obscurations of our habitual patterns naturally dissolve into the openness of our true nature, and our positive qualities spontaneously arise from this source to benefit others.

In advance of his teaching, Rinpoche encourages creating a bit of space for meditation in your house — in a quiet, peaceful location where you can feel some sense of warmth and connection to yourself. You might provide a comfortable cushion to sit on, and a candle or stick of incense. A supportive outer space can support your inner space during meditation.

Episode 35, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Speech refers here not only to the words we speak, but also to the energy carried by our voice and our breath. The teachings, discussions, and practices of this month explore using speech, mantra, other forms of sound, and/or breathing practices to support us to connect with the pure, unceasing awareness of our true nature. Through allowing our voice to rest in silence, we draw attention to inner silence and continue to release effort that separates us from being fully present. A doorway to deep inner peace, resting in silence allows the light of pure awareness to dawn, awareness that illuminates the source of positive qualities within us and all beings. It helps us to realize our true voice.

In advance of his teaching, Rinpoche encourages creating a bit of space for meditation in your house — in a quiet, peaceful location where you can feel some sense of warmth and connection to yourself. You might provide a comfortable cushion to sit on, and a candle or stick of incense. A supportive outer space can support your inner space during meditation.

Episode 34, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Stephan Rechtschaffen, M.D.; Wenli Liu, M.D.; Geshe Tenzin Wangyal; and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, Ph.D.

What are the latest trends in natural wellness modalities? How effective are they, really? How important is the mind-body-spirit connection to well-being and longevity? Our knowledgeable panelists explore topics ranging from wellness retreats and intermittent fasting to Blue Zones projects — built environments that that support an active, high-quality lifestyle among community members.

This engaging dialog builds on the June 28, 2022, CyberSangha conversation, “Natural Paths to Longevity.”

Episode 33, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

“Body” refers here not only to our physical body and the tangible world around us, but also to our individual sense of identity as a human being. The teachings, discussions, and practices explored during the Month of the Body help us to connect to the door of the body, clearing obstacles to health and well-being through movement and stillness. Resting our awareness in the stillness of the body opens the door to the clear, open, unchanging experience of our true nature and awakens clear, positive action.

In advance of his teaching, Rinpoche encourages creating a bit of space for meditation in your house — in a quiet, peaceful location where you can feel some sense of warmth and connection to yourself. You might provide a comfortable cushion to sit on, and a candle or stick of incense. A supportive outer space can support your inner space during meditation.

Episode 32, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Wendy Hasenkamp and Adam Hanley, Geshe YongDong, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich.

As we make our way through life, each of us forms a unique perspective of the world and of our place in it. Having a simplified outlook tends to make our day go more smoothly and efficiently — until the world inevitably shifts around us, and our predictable responses no longer serve us. Research suggests that being attuned to the present moment can help us respond more accurately and fluidly to the challenges we face. Our panelists engage in lively conversation about the research and about meditation practices that can bring us to the present moment.

Episode 31, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Mind refers to our disturbing emotions and other distracted movements of the mind, as well as to the vast, open nature of mind — the source of all positive qualities — and the capacity to distinguish the difference. As we deepen our familiarity with resting in a state of spacious awareness, the obstacles and obscurations of our habitual patterns naturally dissolve into the openness of our true nature and our positive qualities spontaneously arise from this source to benefit others.

In advance of his teaching, Rinpoche encourages creating a bit of space for meditation in your house — in a quiet, peaceful location where you can feel some sense of warmth and connection to yourself. You might provide a comfortable cushion to sit on, and a candle or stick of incense. A supportive outer space can support your inner space during meditation.

Episode 30, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Laura Schmalzl, Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich

About one in five U.S. adults practices some form of yoga. An ancient Indian practice with asanas (body postures) and pranayama (breathing practices), yoga is well known for its many health benefits. Just how do yoga-based practices help us to think more clearly, balance our emotions, and improve our bodily awareness? Can we view the breath as one of yoga’s active ingredients? Invited presenters draw on their clinical and academic expertise and their experience as practitioners and teachers as they discuss the future of yoga in health care, its importance as a body-breath-mind practice, and the key role of the breath.

Episode 29, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life”

Featuring: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Speech refers not only to the words we speak, but also to the energy carried by our voice and our breath. The teachings, discussions, and practices of this month explore using speech, mantra, other forms of sound, and/or breathing practices to support us to connect with the pure, unceasing awareness of our true nature. Through allowing our voice to rest in silence, we draw attention to inner silence and continue to release effort that separates us from being fully present. A doorway to deep inner peace, resting in silence allows the light of pure awareness to dawn, awareness that illuminates the source of positive qualities within us and all beings. It helps us to realize our true voice.

In advance of his teaching, Rinpoche encourages creating a bit of space for meditation in your house — in a quiet, peaceful location where you can feel some sense of warmth and connection to yourself. You might provide a comfortable cushion to sit on, and a candle or stick of incense. A supportive outer space can support your inner space during meditation.