Welcome to the Imperfect Buddha Podcast on the New Books Network. Today, we’re stripping away the incense and serenity to look at the cold, hard wall of practice.
We are joined by Mark Shinji Blacknell, author of Just Stare at the Damn Wall!. Mark isn't your typical "mindfulness guru"—he’s been a Marine, a bus driver, and an alcoholic, bringing a crude and ... Show More
Apr 18
Gautamiputra Kamble, "The Seekers" (Blaft Publication, 2025)
The seekers in these stories travel through worlds both ancient and modern, worlds of symbol and fantastical allegory, on their paths to greater truth. The state of Maharashtra is famous for its ancient Buddhist cave complexes. It's also known as the birthplace of leaders in the ... Show More
1h 18m
Apr 1
Kristina Jonutytė, "Between the Buddha and the New Tsar: Urban Religion and Minority Politics at the Asian Borderlands of Russia" (Cornell UP, 2026)
Between the Buddha and the New Tsar: Urban Religion and Minority Politics at the Asian Borderlands of Russia (Cornell UP, 2026) by Dr. Kristina Jonutytė is an ethnography of contemporary urban Buddhism in Buryatia, a republic within the Russian Federation. Kristina Jonutytė shows ... Show More
1h 2m
Feb 2025
Magic, Death, and Necromancy with Justin McDaniel
**Warning: This episode contains potentially disturbing content!**
On this episode of the Black Beryl, I sit down with Justin McDaniel, a scholar of Theravada Buddhist literature and art. Together we explore the darker side of Thai Buddhism, including meditation on decomposing bo ... Show More
56m 39s
Sep 2025
Ruth E. Toulson, "Necropolitics of the Ordinary: Death and Grieving in Contemporary Singapore" (U Washington Press, 2024)
Can a state make its people forget the dead? Cemeteries have become sites of acute political contestation in the city-state of Singapore. Confronted with high population density and rapid economic growth, the government has ordered the destruction of all but one burial ground, fo ... Show More
58m 30s
Jan 2025
197 - A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, I sit down with Cortland Dahl, author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism, to explore how Buddhist teachings and meditation can help us navigate life’s challenges with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.Cortland shares insights from ... Show More
59m 48s
Sep 2024
What Do We Mean by "Mysticism"? With Mirabai Starr
Welcome to Season 2 of Everything Belongs! This season, we'll be exploring Richard's book Eager to Love chapter-by-chapter, and what better way to kick off a brand new season than with our friend, Mirabai Starr. In this episode, we're covering Chapter One: "What Do We Mean by 'My ... Show More
1h 21m
Sep 2025
Mirabai Starr on mysticism for everyone
Host James Martin, S.J., explores the mystical dimensions of the spiritual life with Mirabai Starr, an award-winning author, contemporary translator of sacred literature, and world-renowned teacher of contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialogue. They dive deep into: - Dai ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 2024
A Buddhist Recipe for Handling Turmoil | Kaira Jewel Lingo
<p><em>New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.</em></p> <p><br /></p> <p>We all know that change is inevitable and impermanence is non-negotiable. But somehow it can feel surprising, maybe even wrong, ... Show More
49m 55s
<p><strong>RamDev, host of Healing at the Edge podcast, joins Raghu for a conversation on compassion and openness of the heart.</strong></p><p>This week on Mindrolling, RamDev and Raghu discuss:</p><ul><li>RamDev’s background in mathematics and recognizing patterns</li><li>How pe ... Show More
