The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett Buddhist Teacher: No One Is Talking About This Hidden Epidemic! The Western Lie Behind Depression and Anxiety
Jun 23, 2025
01:51:39
From 6 years in isolation to sounding the alarm, Buddhist Gelong Thubten reveals the hidden epidemic no one is talking about with Stress, Depression, Buddhism, Meditation, Mental Health and more.
Thubten is one of the UK’s most influential meditation teachers, who spent 6 years in isolated meditation retreats, including one which lasted 4 years. He is also the bestselling author of books such as, ‘Handbook for Hard Times: A Monk's Guide to Fearless Living’.
He explains:
The hidden mental health crisis that’s silently destroying your emotional well-being.
Why Western culture increases anxiety, depression, and disconnection
The biggest myths about meditation and how to meditate properly.
The real reason your meditation practice isn’t working.
How screen time and phone addiction are hijacking your brain and inner peace.
Why rejecting pleasure can lead to lasting connection and clarity.
How unresolved trauma controls your mind and how mindfulness can free you.
00:00 Intro
02:32 Why Is Thubten's Message More Important Now Than Ever Before?
03:02 Thubten's Concerns About Western Society
03:51 Where Does Life Purpose Come From?
05:15 Is Search for Purpose a Misplaced Pursuit?
06:28 Why Is Western Society Increasingly Unhappy?
08:55 Is It Wrong to Find Meaning in the Pursuit of Goals?
11:38 What Led Thubten to Become a Monk?
13:50 Gelong's Difficult Past and Its Impact on His Mind
18:06 Where Do Negative Internal Voices Originate From?
19:03 Who Influenced Thubten to Go to a Monastery?
19:53 Thubten's Heart Condition
20:49 Key Aspects of Living as a Monk
22:25 What Are the Advantages of Celibacy?
24:23 Is Abstinence Sufficient to Overcome Compulsive Behaviour?
27:06 What Is Buddhism?
29:43 Thubten's Journey of Healing
31:33 What Is Meditation?
36:38 Benefits of Buddhist Practices
41:12 Can a Buddhist Mindset Go Hand in Hand With Effectiveness at Work?
46:45 Ads
48:41 How Does Buddhism Think About Victimhood and Trauma?
51:51 Breaking Free From Suffering
58:16 Can We Run Away From Our Pain?
1:04:49 How to Love Yourself When You Feel Broken
1:05:56 Coping With Grief and Loss
1:10:21 Focusing on the Pain in a Loving Way
1:13:17 The Practice of Forgiveness
1:20:16 Ads
1:22:12 Are We Living in a Culture of Fear?
1:25:06 How to Protect Yourself From Fear
1:27:13 The Gap Between Impulse and Action
1:28:13 Incorporating Meditation Into Your Daily Life
1:31:21 Live Meditation
1:38:21 How Can Meditation Change Your Life
1:41:39 Why Did Thubten Take Vows for Life?
1:42:26 Does Working on Your Mind Ever End?
1:43:15 The Gap Between Knowing and Doing
1:45:17 Is Meditation Retreat a Good Idea to Get Started?
1:45:54 Is Buddhism a Solution to the Current World Problems?
1:47:54 Question From the Previous Guest
Follow Thubten:
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3FOxXlg
Website - https://bit.ly/45s6Zu0
Books - https://bit.ly/4ebqBF9
You can purchase Thubten’s book, ‘Handbook for Hard Times: A Monk's Guide to Fearless Living’, here: https://bit.ly/3ZDPwuU
You can purchase Thubten’s book, ‘A Monk's Guide to Happiness: Meditation in the 21st century’, here: https://bit.ly/45xFE9O
The Diary Of A CEO:
Join DOAC circle here -https://doaccircle.com/
The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt
The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb
Get email updates - https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt
Follow Steven - https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb
Sponsors:
Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett Vivobarefoot - https://vivobarefoot.com/DOAC with code DIARY20 for 20% off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theexperienceplus.substack.com
Thubten is one of the UK’s most influential meditation teachers, who spent 6 years in isolated meditation retreats, including one which lasted 4 years. He is also the bestselling author of books such as, ‘Handbook for Hard Times: A Monk's Guide to Fearless Living’.
He explains:
The hidden mental health crisis that’s silently destroying your emotional well-being.
Why Western culture increases anxiety, depression, and disconnection
The biggest myths about meditation and how to meditate properly.
The real reason your meditation practice isn’t working.
How screen time and phone addiction are hijacking your brain and inner peace.
Why rejecting pleasure can lead to lasting connection and clarity.
How unresolved trauma controls your mind and how mindfulness can free you.
00:00 Intro
02:32 Why Is Thubten's Message More Important Now Than Ever Before?
03:02 Thubten's Concerns About Western Society
03:51 Where Does Life Purpose Come From?
05:15 Is Search for Purpose a Misplaced Pursuit?
06:28 Why Is Western Society Increasingly Unhappy?
08:55 Is It Wrong to Find Meaning in the Pursuit of Goals?
11:38 What Led Thubten to Become a Monk?
13:50 Gelong's Difficult Past and Its Impact on His Mind
18:06 Where Do Negative Internal Voices Originate From?
19:03 Who Influenced Thubten to Go to a Monastery?
19:53 Thubten's Heart Condition
20:49 Key Aspects of Living as a Monk
22:25 What Are the Advantages of Celibacy?
24:23 Is Abstinence Sufficient to Overcome Compulsive Behaviour?
27:06 What Is Buddhism?
29:43 Thubten's Journey of Healing
31:33 What Is Meditation?
36:38 Benefits of Buddhist Practices
41:12 Can a Buddhist Mindset Go Hand in Hand With Effectiveness at Work?
46:45 Ads
48:41 How Does Buddhism Think About Victimhood and Trauma?
51:51 Breaking Free From Suffering
58:16 Can We Run Away From Our Pain?
1:04:49 How to Love Yourself When You Feel Broken
1:05:56 Coping With Grief and Loss
1:10:21 Focusing on the Pain in a Loving Way
1:13:17 The Practice of Forgiveness
1:20:16 Ads
1:22:12 Are We Living in a Culture of Fear?
1:25:06 How to Protect Yourself From Fear
1:27:13 The Gap Between Impulse and Action
1:28:13 Incorporating Meditation Into Your Daily Life
1:31:21 Live Meditation
1:38:21 How Can Meditation Change Your Life
1:41:39 Why Did Thubten Take Vows for Life?
1:42:26 Does Working on Your Mind Ever End?
1:43:15 The Gap Between Knowing and Doing
1:45:17 Is Meditation Retreat a Good Idea to Get Started?
1:45:54 Is Buddhism a Solution to the Current World Problems?
1:47:54 Question From the Previous Guest
Follow Thubten:
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3FOxXlg
Website - https://bit.ly/45s6Zu0
Books - https://bit.ly/4ebqBF9
You can purchase Thubten’s book, ‘Handbook for Hard Times: A Monk's Guide to Fearless Living’, here: https://bit.ly/3ZDPwuU
You can purchase Thubten’s book, ‘A Monk's Guide to Happiness: Meditation in the 21st century’, here: https://bit.ly/45xFE9O
The Diary Of A CEO:
Join DOAC circle here -https://doaccircle.com/
The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt
The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb
Get email updates - https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt
Follow Steven - https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb
Sponsors:
Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett Vivobarefoot - https://vivobarefoot.com/DOAC with code DIARY20 for 20% off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theexperienceplus.substack.com