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PODCAST · religion

Wisdom and Compassion

by Lama Lekshe

Buddhism for here and now. The Wisdom and Compassion podcast is an offering of Dekeling, a Buddhist community in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to sharing the principles and practices of Buddhism in an accessible and inclusive way, to human beings everywhere. We support your right to awaken to your spiritual potential in whatever way inspires you.

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Episodes

  1. Guided Meditation: Tonglen for Self-at-all-Ages

    Tonglen is part of the ancient compassion practice tool box of Seven Points of Mind Training. In this meditation, you're guided in Tonglen for yourself, at every stage of being, from pre-birth, though life, death and afterlife. Follow the instructions as you hear them and learn in real time where...

  2. Tonglen for Someone who is Dying

    We can do Tonglen for someone who is dying if we are with them, or not. We can do Tonglen for people who have died at another time. whether we were there or not. Tonglen may be done for people we know, and complete strangers. Of course it can be done for animals, as well.

  3. Pondering Difficult Times

    These are indeed difficult times and not the first and not the last. As practitioners, we have to find balance in chaos, or at least enough steadiness and equanimity to move forward to awakening and to ease the suffering of the world. In the midst of everything--is everything. In the midst of the...

  4. The Spirit of Less and Less

    The writer, Annie Dillard, in her book, The Writing Life, said “The life of sensation is the life of greed; it requires more and more. The life of the spirit requires less and less; time is ample and its passage sweet.” In this episode we explore the life of less and less, which as it turns out…

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  5. Inclusivity in our Dharma Community

    As practitioners, what is inclusivity? What is integration? How are these principles and practices entwined with truth and dharma?

  6. Guided Meditation: Tonglen for a Broken Self?

    Tonglen is a profound yet accessible practice in Tibetan Buddhism—an act of taking in suffering and sending out goodness. In a traditional tonglen session which is done in stages, we begin with ourselves, and progress to a loved one, a neutral person, a difficult person, and finally, all beings....

  7. Calm Abiding in the Midst of a Storm (original Post #1)

    This episode was originally published on April 28, 2020. Everything you need to awaken is right here, right now. It's your life. Will you live it? Dekeling, in Tibetan, means 'a place of happiness'. Our offering is to support for your dharma practice & your life in an accessible, inclusive way.…

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  8. Guided Meditation - 10 minutes of Guidance for Breath Meditation

    This simple meditation can help you calm and stay present in experience. No bells, no liturgy, just simple bare-bones mind on the breath meditation.

  9. Guided Meditation: Body Like a Mountain

    In this classic Buddhist meditation, we use the experiential metaphor of sitting like a mountain to help accomplish stability, stillness, and groundedness in the midst of change, busyness, and all the 'weather' of life.

  10. Always Be Resting

    In this episode Lama Lekshe talks about sage advice from other practitioners and her own journey to discover the possibility of resting...all the time.

  11. Guided Meditation: Wellbeing for All

    Using the metaphor of snowfall, experience absorbing the wellbeing that is always available, no matter the circumstances. Care for yourself and all beings as you share the experience with a larger group of beings in each stage of in the classic way of 'dissolving the barriers.' This not only sets...

  12. Practicing When Things are Difficult

    Challenging times can be the best times to practice. Suffering is compelling, so you might find that resting awareness on your experience is easier than when things are going well. This episode has a longish riff on how to find a teacher and how you know when you've met a true teacher.

  13. Guided Meditation: The Stages of Dying (concise)

    This is a brief guided meditation on the stages of dying or 'bardos.' In Buddhism, the term 'bardo' typically refers to the intermediate state between death and rebirth; though it can refer to any transition. The most well-known and elaborated upon teachings on the bardo come from texts like the...

  14. Holding a View, True or Not

    Why would I experiment of holding a view if I am not sure it's true? This experiment can cause you to learn something beyond your current knowing—through direct experience. No belief is required. Just hold a new view, and see how it impacts your thoughts, speech and actions. If you like the...

  15. Common Misconceptions about Tibetan Buddhism

    You know those rumors you heard about Tibetan Buddhism? Listen and see if they are true. Any time we adopt a custom, philosophy or tradition from another culture, we're bound to misinterpret a few things. This talk unravels a few of the veils of misunderstanding surrounding Tibetan Buddhism,...

  16. The Seven Branch Prayer

    The mindful recitation of Seven-Branch Prayer, which is often done inside another practice—like Green Tara, for example— epitomizes all the practices of gathering the accumulations as well as the purification of harmful deeds, thoughts, or speech and also of obscurations. All the major points of...

  17. Guided Meditation: Tonglen for a World in Conflict

    Step into a space of introspection and compassionate inquiry as you embark on a contemplative journey through the landscape of global conflict. If you are an experienced practitioner of Tonglen, you already understand its profound power to use suffering as a springboard for compassion; to allow...

  18. Guided Meditation: Tonglen Practice for a Dying or Dead Animal

    As we journey through life, our paths often intertwine with those of animals, who become companions on our journey. Their presence enriches our lives, offering us love, loyalty, and a profound connection to the natural world. In their eyes, we see reflections of ourselves, reminding us that their...

  19. Guided Meditation: Counting the Breath

    Counting the breath meditation involves a deliberate and focused observation of the breath. The practitioner assumes a comfortable posture conducive to alertness and relaxation. With eyes either gently closed or slightly open, attention is drawn inward to the sensation of breathing. As the breath...

  20. Guided Meditation: Stages of the Bardos

    In Tibetan Buddhism, the term "bardo" refers to the intermediate states between death and rebirth. The most well-known bardo is the "Bardo Thodol" or the "Tibetan Book of the Dead," which describes the experiences one goes through during the intermediate state after death. According to Tibetan...

  21. What is an Unbounded View?

    In Buddhism, the concept of the 'unbounded view' typically refers to the perception of reality that transcends narrow, limited perspectives. It involves seeing the interconnectedness and interdependence of all phenomena, understanding the impermanent and ever-changing nature of existence, and...

  22. Shall I Practice the Mahayana or the Vajrayana?

    The choice between practicing Mahayana or Vajrayana Buddhism is deeply personal and depends on individual inclinations, aspirations, and circumstances. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the cultivation of compassion and the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings…

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  23. Tendrel

    In Buddhism, "tendrel" (Tibetan: རྟེན་འབྲེལ་) refers to the concept of interdependence or interconnectedness. It is closely related to the Buddhist principle of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), which teaches that all phenomena arise in dependence upon causes and conditions. The term...

  24. Compassion: What are we afraid of?

    Compassion is the wish that the suffering of others be relieved. It's also the wish that the causes of that suffering be dispelled. When learning compassion practices, people sometimes express fear. What are we afraid of? Vulnerability, fear of boundaries dissolving, fear of overwhelm…

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  25. Generosity: Can We Offer Fearlessness to the World?

    In Buddhism, one of the greatest generosities is to remove fear and the causes of fear for other beings. How can we practice generosity by offering fearlessness to others? What does fearlessness look like? To alleviate suffering brought about by fear, to promote safety and security, to empower…

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  26. Speaking of Giraffes and Dharma

    In this episode I am remembering and sharing memories of my own American dharma teacher's teachings and teaching style. Even thinking about it now inspires my practice and my own teaching. He was humble and remarkably simple in his delivery—but years later I realize how much truth was in every...

  27. Guided Meditation: Five Elements (Jogen)

    A meditation in the Five Elements. Jogen Sensei is a Zen Priest, as well as a facilitator. You can further explore his facilitation and teachings at solisluna.org The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.

  28. Guided Meditation: Body Scan

    The body scan is an effective way to begin or nurture a meditation practice. It helps establish mindfulness. The purpose is to tune in to your body—to connect to the direct experience of the physical body—and to notice all sensations without judgement or commentary. Many people find the body scan...

  29. Doubt is Your Friend

    Doubt is one of the five hindrances. Doubt is also an essential element of practice. In this episode we look at the different kinds of doubt and how to navigate each. We also learn from the Buddha's teachings on the Kalama Sutra about how to know which teachings are true. The music for this…

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  30. Indestructible Ease and Joy

    In this short podcast, Lama Lekshe talks about how to discover 'indestructible' ease and joy. This is a 'pocket practice'. You CAN take it with you--dozens of times each day. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch.…

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  31. Short Chenrezig Compassion Practice

    In Buddhism, Avalokitesvara bodhisattva is regarded as the embodiment of compassion. The Tibetans call this embodiment Chenrezig—the ‘one who watches with a steady gaze.’ To do this practice, take refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Recognize the universal wish of sentient…

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  32. Practicing In Isolation on Full Moon June 5 - Saka Dawa Duchen

    Celebrating Saka Dawa Duchen while in Isolation Saka Dawa Duchen is on June 5th in 2020 In the Tibetan tradition, Saka Dawa is a month of celebration of the birth, enlightenment and passing [Skt. Parinirvana] of the Buddha Shakyamuni. Dawa means ‘month’ in Tibetan. The term Saka comes from…

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  33. Simple Compassionate Abiding Meditation - 1

    In order to be able to stay present in the experience of suffering, we have to able to rest there. Bringing awareness to the suffering of ourselves and others is a very loving thing to do. It also strengthens endurance in times of suffering. In the process of doing this, we can discover that pain...

  34. Death will Come

    Death comes. Then what? Death is inevitable, so knowing how to integrate it is necessary, but what we might not know is that inside death are a number of beautiful teachings on life. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad…

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  35. The Sweet Joy of the Way

    Live in joy, in love, Even among those who hate. Live in joy, in health. Even among the afflicted. Live in joy, in peace, Even among the troubled. Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, Know the sweet joy of the way. —The Buddha, from the Dhammapada When things pile up and when we...

  36. Bring More Joy into Your Life

    In challenging times, how do you cultivate more joy? If you're suffering, one way is to suffer better. Who knew? Hear this and three other ways to increase joy. All of these practices can be used any time, any place. Buddhism has so many tools for waking up to the life you have, regardless of...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Buddhism for here and now. The Wisdom and Compassion podcast is an offering of Dekeling, a Buddhist community in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to sharing the principles and practices of Buddhism in an accessible and inclusive way, to human beings everywhere. We support your right to awaken to your spiritual potential in whatever way inspires you.

HOSTED BY

Lama Lekshe

Produced by Lekshe [Julia King Tamang]

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Wisdom and Compassion have?

Wisdom and Compassion currently has 36 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Wisdom and Compassion about?

Buddhism for here and now. The Wisdom and Compassion podcast is an offering of Dekeling, a Buddhist community in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to sharing the principles and practices of Buddhism in an accessible and inclusive way, to human beings everywhere. We support your right to awaken to your...

How often does Wisdom and Compassion release new episodes?

Wisdom and Compassion has 36 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Wisdom and Compassion?

You can listen to Wisdom and Compassion on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Wisdom and Compassion?

Wisdom and Compassion is created and hosted by Lama Lekshe.
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