Best Claire Villarreal, PhD Podcasts (2024)

1
Unwinding from your day: guided meditation 29:18

5M ago29:18

29:18

If you've finished your day of work -- or just want to take a relaxing break -- this guided meditation is here for you! This meditation was recorded live as part of the Mind Body Spirit Institute’s Power of Community meditation series. To learn more and register (for free!), click here: https://geni.us/mbsipoc May you and all beings be well. --- Se…

1
Andrew Holecek on reverse meditations for difficult situations 47:53

11M ago47:53

47:53

This week internationally renowned spiritual teacher and author Andrew Holececk about his new book, Reverse Meditation, in which he shares a powerful form of spiritual practice that can transform our relationship to unwanted experiences. In the process, we open more and more fully to the luminous, spacious true nature of the mind. Toward the end of…

1
Guided meditation: two types of focus 26:49

11M ago26:49

26:49

In this guided meditation, we'll start with cultivating focus with an object by imagining light flowing down through the body. But then we switch to "object-less" meditation, which is less well known.As you practice, see if you can notice what it feels like to cultivate each type of focus.May you and all beings be well.--- Send in a voice message: …

1
Buddha... and Barbie? 5:06

12M ago5:06

5:06

Barbie might be the last character you'd expect to be similar to the Buddha... but consider this: The beginning of Barbie's journey into the "real world" comes when she begins to reflect on death and impermanence. Sounds a lot like the story of Buddha's life to me! This episode offers a few thoughts for anyone about to see the hottest movie of the …

1
Tonglen meditation: Tibetan compassion practice with imagery 26:38

1y ago26:38

26:38

This Tibetan-style tonglen meditation on compassion was recorded live as part of the Mind Body Spirit Institute’s Power of Community meditation series. To learn more and register (for free!), click here: https://geni.us/mbsipoc May you and all beings be well. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buddhist-wisdom/messa…

1
Manifesting your desires & Buddhism: Do they go together? 🤔 9:29

1y ago9:29

9:29

I used to think that Buddhism and trying to "manifest" what you want don't go together. But then I realized that actually Buddhist teachings on karma tell us how to put in place the causes for getting what we want. Mind blown! Want to learn more about the basic teachings of Buddhism? You can check out my book, The Buddhist Path to Joy, here: https:…

1
Dharma for dark times: Why Buddhism isn't just about feeling better and how Avalokiteshvara got all those arms 5:14

1y ago5:14

5:14

Today’s episode is a little different. I’m sharing some “inspirational” writing I did for my own sangha, Dawn Mountain’s, newsletter a couple of weeks ago. This is my appreciation for the dharma’s ability to help us not just feel better but also navigate the difficult times in life without giving up. I’ll share the story of how bodhisattva Avalokit…

1
Guided meditation: Resting in buddha nature 24:18

1y ago24:18

24:18

To celebrate the Buddhist holiday of Vesak, which commemorates the birth and awakening of the Buddha, here’s a guided meditation on trusting and resting in our own buddha nature. You (yes, you!) are a buddha masquerading as a human, and the tragedy of human life is that we’ve forgotten we’re already everything we’re looking for. This meditation was…

1
Guided meditation: Relaxing into spacious presence 24:37

1+ y ago24:37

24:37

This episode is a guided meditation on relaxing into the spaciousness of our true nature, which I offered for the Mind Body Spirit Institute's Power of Community series (see link below to register for free). Learning to relax into spaciousness is at the heart of the Buddhist wisdom teachings —and one of the best things we can do for our health and …

1
Buddha nature and the cross: Buddhist reflections on Easter 16:46

1+ y ago16:46

16:46

In this talk, we explore Thich Nhat Hanh's interpretation of the Easter story of the death and resurrection of Jesus from a Buddhist perspective. While acknowledging that this interpretation is not representative of any given Christian interpretation, we use certain aspects of the Christian story and its interpretation for Buddhist purposes.In Chri…

1
More time to meditate with the Pomodoro Method 14:29

1+ y ago14:29

14:29

The biggest challenge most meditators face is finding enough time to practice -- and the Pomodoro Timer method is my favorite way to get around this. In this episode, I’ll dive into the Pomodoro Timer method and show you how it can help you get more time to meditate. So if you’re a meditator who always wishes you had more time for practice, listen …

1
Listening as leadership: Nina Simons of Bioneers 55:59

1+ y ago55:59

55:59

In today’s episode I’ll be speaking with Nina Simons, Co-founder and Chief Relationship Officer at Bioneers, who leads its Everywoman’s Leadership program. Throughout her career, Nina has worked with nearly a thousand diverse women leaders across disciplines, race, class, age and orientation to create conditions for mutual learning, trust and leade…

1
Meditation on relaxing into our ocean-like nature 25:20

1+ y ago25:20

25:20

This is a meditation I led for the Power of Community program hosted by the Houston Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute. It was recorded live, so you might hear background noises. If you’d like to join the Power of Community for free weekly meditation sessions (in English and Spanish), you can register here: https://geni.us/mbsipoc Free course…

1
How to communicate like a Buddhist with Cynthia Kane 51:55

1+ y ago51:55

51:55

In today’s episode I’ll be speaking with Cynthia Kane, the Founder and CEO of the Kane Intentional Communication Institute, which provides services to help individuals and companies improve their communication skills and show up authentically in their most important relationships. She actually has an entire book on the topic of today’s conversation…

1
How to meditate for the dead (including simple Amitabha mantra, OM AMI DEVA HRI) 19:35

1+ y ago19:35

19:35

Welcome, friends, in today’s episode I’ll speak a bit about meditating to benefit those who have died, and then I’ll guide a short practice using the mantra of Amitabha Buddha: OM AMI DEVA HRI. (See below for a short summary.) More on Amitabha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit%C4%81bha If you enjoy this practice, please share this episode and sub…

1
Yoshin David Radin on recognizing that we're more than the body: Zen, mystical experiences, and what's beyond ordinary mind 58:47

1+ y ago58:47

58:47

Welcome, friends, in today’s episode I’ll be speaking with author, Zen monk, and founder of the Ithaca Zen Center Yoshin David Radin. Sylvia Boorstein (co-founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center) described his new book, A Temporary Affair, like this: “These short discourses by an old Zen priest facing his possible imminent death are relaxed and fr…

1
Live teachings this spring (come say hi!) with free and paid options 2:11

1+ y ago2:11

2:11

New year, new you? Come get support and connect with fellow seekers at these live online events! Impermanence and buddha nature with my lamas (and sometimes me) at Dawn Mountain's virtual temple: https://www.dawnmountain.org/teaching-tuesdays-2/ Bring your spirituality to work -- and de-stress your brain while you're at it: https://junghouston.app.…

1
My New Year intention: what I want to be "basic" at! 7:25

1+ y ago7:25

7:25

We've probably all wished we had more time for spiritual practice, and you might have made a resolution to meditate (or journal, pray, etc.) more this year. But what do we have to give up to make space for what's most important? In this video, I share a big lesson from grad school that helps me prioritize what's most important... with some help fro…

1
Guided meditation: renewal in a sacred pool 16:56

1+ y ago16:56

16:56

This meditation uses the imagery of descending into a sacred pool inside a sacred cave to offer an opportunity for renewal: letting the ego self dissolve to light, then emerging again and deciding which parts of our ordinary sense of self we want to keep carrying. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buddhist-wisdom/…

1
Winter Solstice and the wisdom of darkness 3:32

1+ y ago3:32

3:32

Inspired by Deborah Eden Tull's beautiful book Luminous Darkness, here are some reflections on the beauty of this darkest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). Happy holidays. :)--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buddhist-wisdom/message

1
Reincarnation, karma, ancestral spirits, and regression therapy with Dent Gitchell 1:27:29

1+ y ago1:27:29

1:27:29

My friend Dent Gitchell, PhD, an educator, author, and meditation teacher in Arkansas, joins me today to bring a different perspective on reincarnation cases. After a childhood of being open to the unseen aspects of reality, Dent trained with Roger Woolger, a pioneer in past life regression therapy, which helps people recover from previous life tra…

1
The power of rest: the Sabbath, retreat, and rejuvenation with Jake Loveland 49:25

1+ y ago49:25

49:25

I first met my guest today, Jake Loveland, when we recorded an interview for his podcast, Tenaciously Human, about the connections between Buddhism and success in life. (You can find that episode here: https://geni.us/mPbVnik.) One thing Jake mentioned in that first conversation was that he’s a big fan of the Jewish and Christian idea of the Sabbat…

1
Psychedelics, the Grateful Dead, and Buddhism with Dent Gitchell 1:11:25

2y ago1:11:25

1:11:25

Hi, friends, I’m excited to introduce you to Dr. Dent Gitchell, an educator, author, and meditation teacher – a guy with a lot of credentials and a lot of expertise. But what I recently learned about him is that he’s been a fan of The Grateful Dead since he was young, and along with that came a lot of consciousness-expanding experiences with psyche…

1
Types of Buddhism: Vajrayana 42:47

2y ago42:47

42:47

If you've heard of the three types of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana), you might wonder: What are the origins of Vajrayana Buddhism? How is it similar to and different from Mahayana and Theravada? What are the practices and beliefs of Vajrayana Buddhists? In this video, I'll cover the historical origins of the Vajrayana forms of Buddh…

1
Luminous Darkness: Buddhist teacher Deborah Eden Tull on rest, receptivity, and not knowing 58:42

2y ago58:42

58:42

We’ve all heard of “enlightenment” in the context of spiritual practices like Buddhism. But in this episode, my colleague Deborah Eden Tull walks us through the equally important practice of “endarkenment” and other wonderful explorations from her new book, Luminous Darkness: An Engaged Buddhist Approach to Embracing the Unknown. I very much enjoye…

1
Seeing Life as a Bardo State with Claire Villarreal 22:23

2y ago22:23

22:23

Claire Villarreal talks reincarnation, bardo, impermanence, and an important note on refuge. Claire also has her own podcast you can check out Buddhist Wisdom Modern Life!By Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
More Buddhist Essentials with Anne C. Klein 25:28

2y ago25:28

25:28

Hear more from Anne C. Klein on cultivating compassion and kindess.By Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
Psychedelics and the death process: Pam Stockton 49:16

2y ago49:16

49:16

Y'all, get ready to meet a good friend and dharma sister of mine, Pam Stockton, as we discuss psychedelics and how they can be helpful on the spiritual path—in the right context, with the right preparation, for folks who can benefit from them, which isn't everyone. You can learn more about Pam at her website, which is linked below. And if you'd lik…

1
W.O.N.D.E.R. with Harvey Aronson 20:36

2y ago20:36

20:36

Explore acronym "WONDER" with Dawn Mountain co-founder Harvey AronsonBy Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
The spirituality of personal finance with Emily Anchia 37:24

2y ago37:24

37:24

Y'all, I'm so happy to share a conversation I had with Emily Anchia, the Digital Manager at my home sangha, Dawn Mountain. Her degree is in personal finance, so we talked money stuff, and she comes at the topic from a more spiritual angle that reminds me of Marie Kondo more than the finance bros on YouTube. If you'd like to learn more about the bas…

1
Buddha Seeks the Path- With Mark Yurewicz 19:10

2y ago19:10

19:10

Mark shares with us the story of Buddha's spiritual seeking after leaving home.By Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
Intuitive wisdom: Moriah Williams 51:16

2y ago51:16

51:16

Hello, friends, and welcome to this interview with Moriah Williams, who's going to share with us some of their wisdom about the world we can see and how it connects to the unseen. If you've ever felt like there's more to the human experience than what our senses show us, you'll probably enjoy getting to meet this remarkable healer. If you'd like to…

1
Motivational Value of Shock 19:52

2y ago19:52

19:52

Harvey Aronson touches on the powerful motivation that can come from shocking moments in our lives.By Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
The generosity of the bodhisattva 31:08

2y ago31:08

31:08

A bodhisattva is one who has vowed to train to become fully awakened (enlightened) in order to benefit all beings. This spiritual aspiration has inspired countless people to devote their lives to developing their capacities for wisdom and compassion. The starting assumption for Mahayana Buddhism is that all living beings have the same potential for…

1
My new favorite intro to Buddhism course: Dr. Kate Hartmann and Buddhist Studies Online 1:00:51

2y ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Hello, friends. If you're interested in the basics of Buddhism and want a fun introduction to the history, beliefs, and practices of the various Buddhist lineages, I have a great new learning platform to share with you: Buddhist Studies Online or BSO. Today I'm talking with Dr. Kate Hartmann, a Harvard PhD in Religious Studies and one of the folks …

1
How to practice Tibetan Buddhism (how beginners can start) 31:42

2y ago31:42

31:42

If you’ve ever wondered how to “get serious” about practicing Tibetan Buddhism, you might be relieved to know that you don’t have to become a monk or nun, and you don’t have to spend the rest of your life in a cave. In this episode, I’ll talk with Aaron of the organization Dharma Gates on what’s involved when you want to become a serious student of…

1
Wonders of the Present Moment Full Body Scan Meditation 24:03

2y ago24:03

24:03

This recent guided body scan meditation by Harvey Aronson was done in our summer 2022 Teaching Tuesday series "Wonders of the Present Moment." If you're curious about Dawn Mountain programs you can check out our website www.dawnmountain.orgBy Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
Awakening the heart-mind of the spiritual hero: the bodhisattva, bodhichitta, and the Bodhicaryavatara 21:33

2y ago21:33

21:33

A bodhisattva is one who has vowed to train to become fully awakened (enlightened) in order to benefit all beings. This spiritual aspiration has inspired countless people to devote their lives to developing their capacities for wisdom and compassion. The starting assumption for Mahayana Buddhism is that all living beings have the same potential for…

1
Essentials of Buddhism with Harvey Aronson 21:49

2y ago21:49

21:49

Harvey Aronson expands on the story of Prince Siddhartha.By Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
Short meditation practice for someone who's recently died 20:25

2y ago20:25

20:25

The previous episode was a live talk I offered on Insight Timer with some ideas for doing meditation practice for those who have died. Here's the guided meditation from the end of that talk so you can come back to it easily. My free mini-course on the Tibetan teachings on death and rebirth: https://geni.us/bardoscourse Amitabha’s mantra: OM AMI DEV…

1
How to practice for someone who's died (live talk and practice) 40:45

2y ago40:45

40:45

If you've lost a friend or loved one recently -- or just want to offer some practice to help folks you hear about on the news who've recently passed -- here are a few simple suggestions, plus a little background from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. This is a longer, live version of the previous episode, for those who prefer a short talk. I’ll expla…

1
How to pray for someone who passed away (Buddhism) 15:06

2y ago15:06

15:06

If you know someone who’s recently died (or want to help the people we all hear about on the news every day who die of COVID, in wars, or in gun violence), here’s an explanation and a short practice. I’ll explain how to prepare to support your loved one (or a stranger) who’s recently died, based on Tibetan Buddhist teachings as well as modern resea…

1
Thank you, Romania, Bhutan, Ukraine, Mexico, and all listeners to this show 1:40

2y ago1:40

1:40

This is an audio version of a bow of respect to everyone who's listening to this show. Today I want to appreciate you, especially folks in countries where this podcast has been ranked high on the charts for all Buddhist shows for months now. Thank you to everyone who's supported this show with your time and attention. 🙏🏻--- Send in a voice message:…

1
Buddhist teachings for beginners on impermanence (anicca) 17:16

2y ago17:16

17:16

If you've ever wondered what the most important teaching in Buddhism is, now you know! If you understand impermanence -- that things are constantly changing -- then the rest of Buddha's teachings make sense. There are two levels to this constant change or flow: "gross" and subtle. The first level refers to the changes we notice, like when a wildfir…

1
Buddhism & nihilism: what's the difference? 🤔 8:05

2y ago8:05

8:05

I was listening to a Radiolab episode recently (link & description below) that was all about nihilism and why it seems to be having a moment right now. It got me thinking about the difference between Buddhism, with all its talk about how nothing is inherently existent, we're all going to die, etc., and proper nihilism. The difference? Buddha nature…

1
May the 4th be with you | Star Wars and Buddhism 7:13

2y ago7:13

7:13

Happy May the 4th, fellow Star Wars nerds! 🤓 If, like me, you've ever wondered, "Is the Force real?" then this video is for you! I'll share a few thoughts on ideas from Buddhism and Asian martial arts about the life force energy (qi, chi, prana, etc.) that circulates through the body and through the world around us. And did you know that when Georg…

1
Jesus in the bardo: happy Easter, y'all! 1:45

2+ y ago1:45

1:45

Every Easter, I think about the similarities between the Tibetan teachings about the transition from one life to the next -- that we die, experience an in-between state called the bardo of becoming, and then take shape again in our next lifetime. I hope the story of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection helps you reflect on what you're ready to le…

1
Awakening, nirvana, buddhahood: the ultimate freedom 28:25

2+ y ago28:25

28:25

The Buddha taught that awakening is our ticket out of an endless round of deaths and rebirths. But these days, many folks don't believe in rebirth and wonder if nirvana is real. So let's talk about what full awakening means and the ways different traditions describe it. For more on karma, rebirth, nirvana, and more basic Buddhist teachings, see my …

1
Awakening of the Shakyamuni Buddha 23:18

2+ y ago23:18

23:18

Anne shares with a group of high school kids the story of Shakyamuni Buddha's awakening and what it means to be awakened.By Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson, teachers and co-directors of Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhis

1
Rebirth: how karma shapes our lifetimes 32:31

2+ y ago32:31

32:31

There's no "self" in Buddhism, so what gets reborn? Do we keep connecting with loved ones lifetime after lifetime? And most important: what can we do now to optimize our chances of a good rebirth? For more on karma, rebirth, nirvana, and more basic Buddhist teachings, see my book, The Buddhist Path to Joy: https://geni.us/buddhistpathtojoy The prev…

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Claire Villarreal, PhD Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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