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The Kind Heartfulness Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Erric Solomon
The Kind Heartfulness podcast arose from the wisdom of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in concert with the activities Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Austria-Germany. Each year many brilliant Buddhist teachers, scholars and sublime meditators grace the programs and seminars of our meditation center nestled atop the beautiful hillside above Scharnstein Austria. Therefore, this podcast is a way to share some of their insight and wisdom with you.In each episode we will explore the inner reaches of the heart, the mind, and the very nature of reality. We are in the process of establishing a fully accredited university, so in that spirit, we will have as our guests some of the greatest living Buddhist philosophers currently teaching in major universities. This will be presented in an accessible manner that is interesting, entertaining and enlightening for everyone who is curious. Please join us on our journey as we explore, with an open heart and an inquisitive mind, the very essence of what it means to be huma
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- 1 weeks ago21 min
Where Wisdom and Knowledge Meet - Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche on his vision for Kremsegg University
In January, soon after the castle at Kremsegg was acquired, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche sat down with Erric to talk about what he hoped might grow there — a home for kind heartfulness and for wisdom. Nine months on, the vision has deepened. This time the conversation takes place inside the castle itself. In it, Rinpoche describes a university unlike the Buddhist one he established in Kathmandu: not the preserve of a single tradition, but a meeting place for the wisdom traditions of the world, held together with modern science, business and leadership. The great religions have studied mind and conduct for centuries. Much of that knowledge is now set aside as superstition — and Rinpoche speaks plainly about what is lost when it is. He and Erric talk about what a scientist might find at Kremsegg that no laboratory can offer, which of our problems science and policy cannot solve alone, and what is most at risk of being lost in this generation. Rinpoche speaks of this project as the culmination of one of the most important things he is doing with his life, and as a gift he wishes to leave the world.
- Sep 11, 202637 min
He Spent Six Years in Retreat. He Says Start With a Weekend - Lama Gerry Prindiville
Lama Gerry Prindiville is a teacher in the Chokling Tersar tradition of Tibetan Buddhism with nearly two decades of experience leading retreats. He studied Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan language for five years at Rangjung Yeshe Institute before completing two traditional three-year meditation retreats under the guidance of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. At Rinpoche's request, much of his time since the first long retreat has been spent teaching — including more than fifteen Vajrasattva retreats across the United States and Mexico. His approach is grounded and experiential, less concerned with the exotic than with how practice meets an ordinary day. He's also a longtime backpacker with over two thousand miles on the trail, and that connection to the natural world runs through the way he teaches. In this conversation we get into war stories from long retreat, the practical work of learning to be with our own minds, and Gerry's conviction that retreat isn't reserved for people who can disappear for years — that anyone can learn to make one, even if it's only for a weekend.
- Aug 22, 202634 min
Bringing Shantideva Home with Verena Pfeiffer
What happens when a text written a thousand years ago starts to change how you speak to a colleague, or how you meet your own mind at three in the morning? This episode we're joined by Verena Pfeiffer, a senior teacher in the Rigpa community, to talk about Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara — why a text like this still speaks to us, and how to actually work with it in the middle of an ordinary day: at work, in traffic, in the small frictions of family life. Verena's path began in 2005 and deepened quickly. She took part in the seven-month teaching periods of Rigpa's three-year retreat from 2006 to 2009, and has studied since 2007 at Rigpa Shedra East in Pharping, Nepal, under Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche. Today she teaches at the Shedra, guiding students through the Bodhicharyavatara itself, and leads retreats internationally — including a much-loved annual weekend at Dzogchen Beara in Ireland, where she's known for the calm, spacious atmosphere she creates for contemplation. She has a particular love for exploring the dharma with younger practitioners, and for putting these teachings into language that's genuinely usable on an ordinary Tuesday. Originally from Germany, Verena now lives in the Netherlands with her partner and their much-adored dog.
- May 16, 202656 min
Breaking the Script: The Art of Awakening with Juri Henley-Cohn
How can ancient wisdom be lived in the middle of family, creative work, and the chaos of modern life? In this episode of The Kindheartfulness Podcast, we sit down with Juri Henley-Cohn, an actor working across film, television, and theater. While many recognize him as Shimon in The Chosen, Juri is also a father, a dedicated student of Phakchok Rinpoche, and a key member of the Samye Institute. Together, we explore his unique journey of "Breaking the Script." Juri shares how his work as an actor—stepping into the lives and minds of others—reinforces his Buddhist practice, and vice versa. We discuss the art of "living the Dharma" not just in a monastery, but in the middle of a busy career and the responsibilities of fatherhood. Highlights of the conversation include: • The Interplay of Performance and Presence: How the vulnerability of the stage mirrors the path of awakening. • Ordinary Modern Life: Juri's particular interest in bringing spiritual principles into daily family and work dynamics. • Beyond the Persona: How Juri uses his acting background to deepen his spiritual practice and vice versa. Whether you are an artist, a parent, or simply looking for ways to stay grounded in a fast-paced world, Juri's perspective offers a beautiful blend of depth and practicality. For more information about Juri: https://www.JuriHenley-Cohn.com or on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1687772/ And his app Savor: https://www.savorapp.ai
- Apr 17, 202658 min
Mapping the Meditative Moment: Exploring Micro-phenomenology with Martijn van Beek
What actually happens in the "micro-moments" of your meditation? We often use broad terms like awareness or presence, but the fine-grained texture of our practice often remains a mystery—even to ourselves. In this special episode of Kind Heartfulness, we are joined by Dr. Martijn van Beek, Associate Professor at Aarhus University and Board Member of Mind & Life Europe. Martijn is an expert in micro-phenomenology—a unique interview technique designed to uncover the hidden dynamics of our subjective experience. In this episode, we try something a bit different: • The Practice: Erric settles into a short meditation session to create a fresh "lived experience." (We edit out the 15 minutes of silence) • The Interview: Martijn leads him through a live micro-phenomenological interview, demonstrating how to peel back the layers of a single meditative moment. • The Theory: We discuss how this technique bridges the gap between ancient contemplative wisdom and modern science. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or just curious about the workings of the mind, this episode offers a rare, "under-the-hood" look at how we experience our own consciousness. Martijn van Beek is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Aarhus University, Denmark. Having previously spent many years working and conducting research in Ladakh and elsewhere in the Himalayan region, his current research explores contemporary forms of contemplative life and the encounter between contemplative traditions, especially Tibetan Buddhism, consciousness research, and modernity. Martijn specializes in ethnographic and (micro-) phenomenological perspectives on meditation. He lives at Vækstcenteret, a contemplative community in Denmark. For more info on micro-phenomenology: https://microphenomenology.com Martijn van Beek: https://www.au.dk/en/mvanbeek@cas.au.dk Mind & Life Europe: https://mindandlife-europe.org/
- Mar 13, 202658 min
Beyond the Brain: Amy Cohen Varela on Sense Making, Consciousness, Kindness, and the ESRI Legacy of Enaction.
What happens when we stop seeing the mind as a computer and start seeing it as an emergent, relational system? In this episode, Erric sits down with Amy Cohen Varela, Chairperson of Mind & Life Europe, to discuss the past, present, and future of contemplative science. Recorded following their meeting at the European Summer Research Institute (ESRI) at Gomde, this episode moves beyond the "history" of the Mind & Life Institute to explore what these teachings mean for us today. Amy shares her unique perspective on: • The Origin Story: Witnessing the first meeting in Dharamsala between Francisco Varela and the Dalai Lama. • Enactivism Today: Why the "mind-as-computer" metaphor fails and how consciousness truly emerges. • The Science of Kindness: How "Ethical Know-How" turns abstract philosophy into a lived, compassionate presence in the world. Join us for an Amy-centric look at the intersection of deep science and the kind heart. Amy Cohen Varela is Chairperson of the Mind & Life Europe Board and involved with Mind and Life since its inception. She is also a clinical psychologist specialized in psychodynamic therapy and philosophy. Amy studied comparative literature at Brown and Columbia Universities before moving to Paris in the early '80s, where she received her degree in clinical psychology at the University of Paris 7, with a specialty in psychodynamic theory and practice, and in parallel, completed psychoanalytic training. Click https://mindandlife-europe.org/european-summer-research-institute-esri/ for information about the next ESRI at Gomde in Austria You can find more about Mind & Life Europe at: https://mindandlife-europe.org/
- Feb 1, 202645 min
A Home for Kindful Wisdom with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
Welcome to another episode of the Kind Heartfulness podcast, where we explore the path of living with an open heart and a wise mind. Today we have the distinct honor of welcoming back a very special guest, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. Rinpoche joins us to share a truly vast and inspiring vision. He has recently overseen the acquisition of the historic Kremsegg Castle in Austria—a magnificent 'antique' of European culture—with the intention of transforming it into a University and School dedicated to Kindful Wisdom. In this conversation, Rinpoche explains why he believes the 21st century requires a 'compound' of high-level modern education and ancient spiritual depth. We dive into his new terminology, 'Kindful Wisdom'—the union of the supreme method of a kind heart and the highest intelligence of wisdom. We'll also discuss: • Why intelligence without a kind heart can be dangerous for our world. • How this school aims to be a global home for scientists, technologists, business leaders, and people of all faiths. • And even a beautiful reflection on how respecting 'antiques' and culture can help us reduce the 'trash' and pollution on our planet. This is more than just a talk about a new building; it's a roadmap for how we can all work together to achieve harmony and oneness. Please join Erric for this heartfelt conversation with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. During the podcast, Rinpoche invites us to contribute to the success of this incredibly important new venture. Offers of help or non-monetary donations (such as antique furniture) can be sent to kindfulwisdom@gmail.com . Monetary contributions can be made at https://www.betterplace.org/en/projects/170511-schloss-kremsegg-a-home-for-kindful-wisdom For more information about Rinpoche and his projects more generally you are invited to follow this link: https://shedrub.org/
- May 27, 202550 min
Buddha and Bach with Cellist Barbara Bogatin
Today on the Kind Heartfulness Podcast, we're honored to welcome Barbara Bogatin — a world-class cellist and long-time practitioner of Buddhist meditation. A member of the San Francisco Symphony since 1994, Barbara's musical career has taken her from the stages of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera to intimate chamber ensembles across the world. But Barbara's path is more than music. She's also a dedicated student of Buddhism, with over three decades of Vipassana practice and deep study of the Dharma. Her lifelong meditation practice deeply informs not just how she plays, but how she lives — and teaches. Together with her husband, neuroscientist Clifford Saron, she leads workshops like "The Buddha, the Brain, and Bach," weaving together insights from Buddhist contemplative traditions, neuroscience, and the art of performance. In today's episode, Barbara reflects on how mindfulness and Dharma practice have shaped her as a musician, a teacher, and a human being — and how we can all bring more presence and compassion into our own lives. You can find out more about Barbara at here website: https://www.barbarabogatin.com/home Scroll down the page to find out about her upcoming workshops such as The Buddha, the Brain and Bach or Mindfulness for Musicians.
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About The Kind Heartfulness Podcast
The Kind Heartfulness podcast arose from the wisdom of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in concert with the activities Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Austria-Germany. Each year many brilliant Buddhist teachers, scholars and sublime meditators grace the programs and seminars of our meditation center nestled atop the beautiful hillside above Scharnstein Austria. Therefore, this podcast is a way to share some of their insight and wisdom with you.In each episode we will explore the inner reaches of the heart, the mind, and the very nature of reality. We are in the process of establishing a fully accredited university, so in that spirit, we will have as our guests some of the greatest living Buddhist philosophers currently teaching in major universities. This will be presented in an accessible manner that is interesting, entertaining and enlightening for everyone who is curious. Please join us on our journey as we explore, with an open heart and an inquisitive mind, the very essence of what it means to be huma
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