Ep. 239 - Interfaith Spirituality with Ram Appalaraju and Vincent Moore

Exploring Vedanta and Vipassana practices, Ram Appalaraju discusses interfaith spirituality and his work as an eco-chaplain, honoring the dignity of all beings.

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This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Ram and Vincent discuss:

• Encountering dukkha (suffering) on a day-to-day basis
• Resourcing ourselves so that we can be a resource for others
• Self-discovery and learning how to process our suffering
• The yoga of meditation and cultivating the core aspect of inner growth
• The sense of ease that comes from deepening our practice
• Weaving together Vedanta and Vipassana practices 
• Fostering trust in our own experiences 
• Transitioning from a high-stress work environment to living a more spiritual life
• Offering dignity to ourselves and others, no matter their circumstance
• Ram’s work in prisons and offering compassionate, attentive care to others
• How preconceived notions hinder us from truly connecting with and caring for people

“There’s a human sense of dignity that we can offer to another person and that can only happen when we have dignity within ourselves when we have a sense of acceptance of who we are.” –Ram Appalaraju

This conversation was originally recorded on the Paths of Practice Podcast. Listen to more episodes HERE.

About Ram Appalaraju:

Ram Appalaraju has served on the boards of nonprofit organizations for over eight years after retiring from the high-tech industry where he worked for 35 years. Ram has been studying Buddhism under Gil Fronsdal and is currently in the Insight Meditation Center’s Dharma Leaders Training. He also graduated as a chaplain and an eco-chaplain from the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies. He now teaches as a faculty member at Sati Center’s Eco-Chaplaincy program and is one of the organizing team members at IMC’s Earth Care community group. He also serves as a Buddhist chaplain and Mindfulness Meditation teacher at Santa Clara County Jails and is currently pursuing Clinical Pastoral Education.

Ram has been practicing Buddhism for over 14 years and has engaged with several underprivileged and marginalized communities, teaching meditation and offering support. He is deeply committed to social and ecological causes and serves various groups in nature-based education through science and spirituality. He currently serves on the board of Insight Meditation Center at Redwood City and teaches at the San Jose Insight Meditation Sangha. Ram has also studied Vedanta at Sri Ramakrishna Mission and Chinmaya Mission for over 20 years.

Ram serves as president of Insight World Aid. For more information about Insight World Aid, please see HERE.

“My own capacity to care started to unfold. It is not just an external activity of me learning how to care for someone, that’s a byproduct. The intent is self-discovery: how did I process my own suffering and how and when it's relevant to engage with others who may be suffering for their own reasons.” –Ram Appalaraju

About Vincent Moore:

Vincent Moore is a creative and creative consultant living in San Francisco, California, with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry and holds a graduate degree in Buddhist Studies. For years, he performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, an improv and sketch comedy theatre based in New York and Los Angeles. As an actor, Vincent performed on Comedy Central, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Seth Meyers, Above Average, and The UCB Show on Seeso. As a writer, he developed for television as well as stage, including work with the Blue Man Group, and his own written projects have been featured on websites such as Funny or Die. Additionally, he received a Masters of Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies with a Certificate in Soto Zen Studies and engages in a personal Buddhist practice within the Soto Zen tradition. Vincent is also the creator and host of the podcast, Paths of Practice, which features interviews with Buddhists from all over the world. Learn more on Vincent’s website HERE.

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