Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast

Trudy Goodman, a Vipassana teacher and founding teacher of InsightLA, offers a warm, practical guide to cultivating calm. She explores calm as a factor of awakening, stories from retreats that reveal how stillness steadies the mind, practical steps for quieting agitation, and how loving-kindness and attentive presence deepen inner peacefulness.

Resting in the field of love that ‘just is’, Gil Fronsdal explores how to live for the benefit of both self and others.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil Fronsdal explores:Resting in the field of love without expectations Love that does not require anything of othersAppreciating the simplicity of love through the simplicity of awareness What the Buddha said about becoming a wise personLiving for the benefit of both self and othersThe selfless nature of parenting Understanding the circle of ‘we’ and the dynamics of family, society, and being a part of a wholeTaking time to be with reality rather than immediately responding and reacting This episode was originally recorded at a family retreat and published on DharmaseedAbout Gil Fronsdal:Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Vipassana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Vipassana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011, he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma. “Love that just is, it’s not something that requires something of others. It doesn’t require them to be any particular way, to perform, to reciprocate, love is just there.” –Gil FronsdalSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shaolin Martial Artist Paula Lazarz explores the alchemy of self-defense and Zen Buddhism to reach ultimate inner and outer balance in practice.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Paula Lazarz provides insights on:Developing a beginner's mind and a commitment to practiceIncluding the mystery of Zen for Kung Fu testingGuiding love in a martial arts environment How martial arts reflect the true nature within youInterweaving Zen practice with self-defenseFacing violence in the world and within ourselves Discovering more about our own anger and shadows Uniting our minds and bodies in a complete wayReleasing embedded cellular anger in order to practice more deeplyPracticing stillness just as much as we practice movementPaula’s ‘homecoming’ within monastic practice This conversation was originally recorded on the Paths of Practice Podcast. Listen to more episodes HERE.About Paula Lazarz:Paula Lazarz is a full-time Shaolin martial artist. She also served as an ordained priest in the Zen Buddhist lineage of Shunryu Suzuki for 10 years before giving up her robes in 2026. Her over two decades of study in the martial arts and Buddhist practice has been an exploration of the idea of the historical Shaolin Temple, culminating in Warrior’s Path Buddhist Academy. Paula studies the connection, both practical and historical, between Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism. Her teaching and business philosophy places an emphasis on helping individuals of all ages gain physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual balance using the multi-faceted disciplines of Shaolin Kung Fu. Paula is a co-owner of Energy Fitness, Inc., Head Instructor at HealthKick Kung Fu and a Practice Leader at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate.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.“Martial art practice forces you to look at the dark side of humanity on a daily basis; you’re learning how to defend yourself against violence so you’re thinking about the reasons people get violent all the time. This is the Shaolin perspective: we know that if we only look at that all of the time that we might become an extremely aggressive person that doesn’t understand how to use it properly, that’s why there needs to be a balance in the training as well.” –Paula LazarzSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Illuminating the power of boundless love, Frank Ostaseski explains how love dissolves perceived limits and transforms our relationship to fear, doubt, and desire.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Frank Ostaseski holds a session on:How love enables us to do things we never imagined possibleExperiencing a love without limitations Love as the background of all experiences and the very essence of our beingMaking space for pain so that it can moveHow love aligns us with the true purpose of our lifeDifferentiating between love and attachment Soul friends who know how to be with us in times of grief and sufferingDeveloping a deep trust in an intelligence greater than our ownLiving from the vantage point of boundless love  “When the veils between the worlds get very thin, like birth and death, love shows itself very easily. It allows us sometimes to do things we never thought were possible.” –Frank OstaseskiAbout Frank Ostaseski:Frank Ostaseski, an internationally respected Buddhist teacher and pioneer in end-of-life care, has accompanied over 1,000 people through their dying process. Acclaimed author of The Five Invitations, Frank co-founded the first Buddhist hospice in America—The Zen Hospice Project. In 2005, he founded the Metta Institute, through which he has trained countless clinicians and caregivers, building a national network of educators, advocates, and guides for those facing a life-threatening illness.“Is there a greater gift we can give to ourselves or someone else than to receive them as is? Love is not a gated community. Every part of ourselves is welcome. ‘No part left out’, we say in zen. This is the receptive function of love. Once we know this treasure, there is no point in keeping it to ourselves. The ground of love is limitless. We don’t have to be stingy about it. We don’t have to think of love as a commodity that we trade with others. There is an endless supply of love, so we can endlessly give it away.” –Frank OstaseskiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trudy Goodman offers dharma teachings on conflict and kindness, helping us build a loving awareness of who we truly are.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Trudy Goodman holds a talk on:How our thoughts shape our identity and can create mental prisonsBreaking free from fixed ideas about ourselves, others, and the worldStarting with ourselves: offering kindness to our inner critic Uniting in our shared intention to cultivate loving-kindnessLiving in a world of complexity without creating suffering in ourselves and othersThe Tibetan practice of exchanging the self for another Inspiration from children and appreciating the present momentMaking friends with our lives rather than living in conflict Relating wisely to situations and forgiving ourselves for being imperfect   This recording from a 2013 retreat at Spirit Rock was originally published on DharmaseedAbout Trudy Goodman:Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about Trudy’s flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com “We live in a very conditioned culture, probably every culture is to some extent. We see so clearly the various 'isms' that cause suffering. Racism, ageism, sexism, classism, all the gender stereotypes, homophobia, the list goes on and on. We’re studying here how to be present in loving awareness. When we’re not caught, there’s such a sense of possibility.” –Trudy Goodman See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gil Fronsdal, longtime Vipassana and Zen teacher and author, shares stories from retreats and monastic life. He explores the Four Resolves—truth, wisdom, generosity, peace—and why facing suffering and staying present builds inner discipline. Short anecdotes and metaphors like the ocean and bell bring the practice to life.

Pioneer of Buddhism in Africa, Bhante Buddharakkhita, dives into building a sangha, practicing meditation, and the journey from pleasure to lasting peace.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Bhante and Vincent discuss:Bringing the dhamma to Africa and creating the Uganda Buddhist Center Creating a self-sustaining Sangha out of simplicity & self-sufficiency What made Bhante commit to ordination as a Buddhist monkDisillusionment with experiences that were once pleasurableEducation and excellence in training one’s own mindThe joy and fascination of looking into the mind through meditationMaking a habit out of meditation rather than only focusing on pedagogyCultivating happiness and peace in your life as the first step to living fullyStepping out of books and into a retreat or working with a teacherThis conversation was originally recorded on the Paths of Practice Podcast. Listen to more episodes HERE. “Really meditate in order to find peace within oneself, because for me, there is one thing that brings me a lot of joy, which is to be able to see and look at my mind. There are many aspects of Buddhism, ceremonies, rituals, culture, and academics. Of all the things we can do, what I found to be very helpful is to really learn how to meditate and make it a habit. It's such a fascinating thing being able to look at your mind.” –Bhante Buddharakkhita, PhDAbout Bhante Buddharakkhita, PhD:Venerable Bhante Buddharakkita was born in Uganda, Africa. He first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while studying and living in India. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk by the late Most Venerable U Silananda in 2002 at the Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California. He then spent eight years under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia. He is the founder and Abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Center in Uganda. Besides spending time at the Uganda Buddhist Center, he is a visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and he holds an Honorary Doctorate in Buddhist Studies from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Thailand. He is long-time member of Global Buddhist Relief’s advisory council in New Jersey.He has been teaching mindfulness meditation in Africa, the U.S., and worldwide since 2005, and he is a much-loved teacher in many countries. His book, Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa, tells the story of his religious and spiritual work in the continent of his birth. Keep up with Bhante on his website.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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From meditation retreats to pop music, Vipassana teacher Trudy Goodman describes cultivating devotion in both obvious and unlikely places.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Trudy Goodman illuminates:Cultivating devotion through seeing things with a positive connotationThe activity of compassion as a beautiful possibility to experience the sacredA story of Trudy’s daughter and facing severe illness with graceHolding a deep gratitude for life and the dharma Practicing devotion through pop music and romance balladsRemembering the present moment, the only moment we haveExperiencing devotion through the tenderness of our shared joys and sorrows Enduring messy and painful moments with gratitude and continuing to enjoy our practiceHow judgment and worry fall away when we are truly present A lesson from Ram Dass on loving everything Emerging from the mystery of the cosmos This recording from a 2025 retreat at Spirit Rock was originally published on DharmaseedAbout Trudy Goodman:Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about Trudy’s flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com “Of course, these songs are romantic songs, devoted to you, my lover. But, you could say devoted to you, the Buddha, the dharma, the sangha. You could listen to all those teenage ballads that way, and it deepens your practice. You can listen to beautiful religiously inspired music like Bach, but you can also listen to pop songs. It can be about the Dharma. Devotion everywhere." –Trudy GoodmanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gil Fronsdal explores practicing in accord with nature, showing how mindfulness and honesty help us release resistance and move with the natural flow of the Dharma.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil Fronsdal lectures on:Being in accord with the dharma, with truth, and with natureThe painful attitudes that we often bring to changeAccepting our feelings rather than pushing them awayHow resistance to reality causes more suffering Mindfulness: creating the ideal conditions for the natural process of healingFloating down the stream of Dharma rather than struggling up a mountainStudying nature rather than rushing into conclusionsBecoming an observer of our own lives with child-like openness and adult-like resolveAbout Gil Fronsdal:Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Vipassana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Vipassana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011 he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma.This recording was originally published on Dharmaseed"We're in this stream of the dharma, this stream of practice. It is not fighting up a mountain and struggling so much. It is finding a place to rest in the stream and we find ourselves being carried along beautifully into the ocean. The ocean is so big it can hold all of us. Isn't that nice? It's not like you're going to be king of the mountain. We're all going to be brothers and sisters in this great ocean of the dharma." –Gil FronsdalSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are starting a special mini-series featuring Ram Dass and guests from his Satsang on Maui.This episode kicks things off with Kirtan by Uma Reed, as Ram Dass humorously explores the wonder of aging and seeing the entire world as God.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.“Aging is wonderful, all you have to do is stay conscious.” –Ram DassIn this Satsang with Ram Dass, the group talks about:Dealing with pain, injury, illness, and other effects of agingSeeing the body as simply a vehicle for this plane of realityRam Dass’s book Still Here and aging with awarenessFocusing on our consciousness rather than concerning ourselves with the body’s declineRam Dass’s story of seeing Krishna in a police officerPlaying our roles while we are in this worldly plane Karma Yoga and seeing the entire world as GodThis talk was recorded in 2008 at one of Ram Dass' quarterly Sunday Satsang gatherings in Studio Maui. “I’m learning the aging process has to do with the body and my consciousness need not be concerned with my body. The body is a car, it’s a transport for this plane.” –Ram DassSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.