The Japanese Immigrant Influence on American Buddhism with Scott Mitchell

The Insight Meditation Society celebrates the 80th birthday of one of its co-founders, Joseph Goldstein this year. In his conversation with Buddhadharma editor Rod Meade Sperry, Goldstein applies the “harmonized understanding” approach he championed in his book One Dharma to the concept of buddhanature, to uncover the concept’s relevance to Buddhist practitioners. In the end, he argues, what matters is not who’s right or wrong about what buddhanature is; it’s whether or not engaging with it leads us to less clinging.

Lion’s Roar editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod talks with Shantum Seth, a teacher in the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition who leads the In the Footsteps of the Buddha pilgrimages. They discuss Thich Nhat Hanh's own pilgrimage to India, how visiting the places where the Buddha lived brings him to life, and bringing Buddhism back to the country where it was born. In partnership with Shantum Seth's company, 11 Directions, this year's Lion's Roar pilgrimage destinations include include India and Vietnam. Learn more at lionsroar.com/pilgrimages This episode is sponsored by Saint John’s College. Find out more at https://www.sjc.edu/lion

White Lotus and Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli is also a novelist, screenwriter, director and musician. He and his partner Victoria Imperioli, a well-known interior designer, talk about how Buddhism informs their life together as artists and entrepreneurs. The Lion's Roar Podcast is taking a momentary pause. In the meantime, enjoy our library of 126 interviews, practices, talks and panels on a diverse range of topics.

Judy Lief, a Buddhist teacher in the Tibetan tradition, talks about how you can work with your desires to find peace. Then Cheryl Fraser, a sex therapist and dharma teacher, shares her article, How to Have Mindful Sex. To close, professor, minister, and author of Living Nembutsu: Applying Shinran’s Radically Engaged Buddhism in Life and Society, Jeff Wilson, talks about the radically inclusive founder of the Jodo Shinshu tradition, Shinran.

Sam likes to chill, and Rex likes to play. When Sam wants to take a break from playing, Rex wonders ‘what’s so great about being still?’ Author Catherine Bailey talks about these characters in her children’s book, Dinos Don’t Meditate, and shares a thirty second practice you can do with your kids. Then, Vanessa Zuisei Goddard talks about her book, Weather Any Storm, in which  “the Wildering Billies”serve as a metaphor for waves of emotion that create an inner storm. Plus, Zuisei shares a short breathing practice for kids.

Feelings of grief, panic and helplessness can lead one to do unpredictable, irrational things. In this selection from Lion’s Roar’s online course, Medicine for Fear, dharma teacher Mushim Patricia Ikeda of the East Bay Meditation Center talks about the art of “feeling all the feelings” without causing harm to yourself and others, and why the smallest act of kindness can be a powerful form of activism.  

The Center for Humane Technology is featured in the Emmy award winning Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, and co-founded by Randima Fernando. He talks about the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence; the existential questions it inspires, how Buddhism is uniquely suited to answering them, and how you can approach this new technology that has the power to change what it means to be human. For more on the future of technology and spirituality, find What A.I. Means for Buddhism at lionsroar.com.

Jane Hirshfield is the author of ten collections of poetry, the most recent being The Asking: New and Selected Poems. She talks about creativity in the liminal state, then Anouk Shambrook—an astrophysicist turned meditation teacher—talks about the intersections between science and spirituality. First, a short reading from Buddhadharma’s Rod Meade Sperry of an article by world-renowned meditation teacher, Mingyur Rinpoche.  Explore the rest of the November 2023 issue of Lion's Roar.  

Dean of Students at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, Scott Mitchell, talks about his book, The Making of American Buddhism and how Western scholarship has largely ignored the role of Japanese immigrants and their American descendants in the development of Buddhism in America.

Internal medicine physician and founder of the End Well Project, Shoshana Ungerlieder talks about the taboo of death and dying among medical professionals and the importance of taking time to ask what really matters to you and your loved ones, while you still can. For more Buddhist wisdom on death and dying join the free, 5 day online event, Death, Love and Wisdom from October 12-16th.