Exploring the Soto Zen path, Rev. Chimyo Atkinson and Vincent Moore reflect on inclusivity, feminine wisdom, and the beauty of simplicity.

This episode is from the series Paths of Practice. Click here to subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts: https://www.goodfornothingideas.com/selected-projects

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, Rev. Chimyo and Vincent Moore chat about:
- Building a Zen Buddhist community in the Southern United States 
- Rev Chimyo’s profound experience volunteering at a prison as a Zen priest 
- How Rev Chimyo was first introduced to meditation and Buddhism
- The beautiful serenity within taking pause, being still, and doing a Zen practice
- Finding reality in the present moment and realizing that everything else is made up in our minds
- Walking the Soto Zen path and finding depth within simple practices
- Great Tree Zen Women’s Temple and holding space specifically for women in the Buddhist world
- Paying attention to what feminine energy can bring to Buddhist practice and temples
- Inclusive spiritual practice and focusing on the shared elements of life 
- The calm and connection that can be discovered through Zen labor 
- Loving others and loving the dharma, wishing peace for all people 
- Doing all daily tasks with the dharma in our hearts and minds

About Rev. Chimyo Atkinson:
Rev. Chimyo Atkinson is a Soto Zen priest that serves the Great Tree Zen Women’s Temple in Alexander, NC, as well as sanghas and centers throughout the United States and internationally. Rev. Chimyo was ordained by Rev. Teijo Munnich in 2007 and received Dharma Transmission in 2015. She received monastic training at Great Tree Temple and completed two Sotoshu International training periods (angos) in Japan in 2010 and 2011, two additional angos at Aichi Senmon Nisodo in Nagoya in 2012 and one ango at Ryumonji Monastery in Iowa in 2014. Chimyo served as Head of Practice at Great Tree Zen Women’s Temple and volunteered with the sangha at Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institute until 2020. For more information, please visit: https://chimyoatkinson.org/

“Just stop, and give not just the breath but the whole being to that stillness, that stop. Be in reality for a minute, for 40 minutes, if you can handle it, 60 minutes. Be in that stop. Experience it. Know there’s reality. Everything else you’re making it up as you go along.” –Rev. Chimyo Atkinson

About Vincent Moore:
Vincent Moore is a media specialist and creative consultant at Good for Nothing Ideas based in San Francisco, California. Vincent has over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry as a producer, performer, and writer in stage, film, and television and wrote a children's book titled, You're a Rubber Duck. He also has a master's degree in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies with a Certificate in Soto Zen Studies. Vincent is also the creator and host of the podcast, Paths of Practice, which features interviews with Buddhists from all over the world. For more information about his work, please visit: www.goodfornothingideas.com

Simplicity on the Soto Zen Path w/ Rev. Chimyo Atkinson & Vincent Moore | BHNN Guest Podcast Ep. 227

Discussing their newest project, Strawberry Moons Media, David Nichtern and Debbie Nutley get into how they truly merged creativity with spirituality and ‘making a buck’.

This episode 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 CSM Podcast, David and Debbie share about:
- The creation of Strawberry Moons Media as a hub for conscious creators and spiritual storytellers
- Having a ‘sky view’ perspective while also staying grounded and executing dreams here on earth
- Experiencing Buddhism and meditation in a way that is accessible, engaging, and entertaining
- Debbie’s inspiration behind Pengwee and Ruby, two mindful penguin best friends who teach compassion and playfulness
- How music bypasses the logical mind, opening the door to intuition and emotional depth
- Rediscovering our natural state as intuitive, spiritual beings
- Breaking down superficiality to reconnect with the sacred and the beyond

Check out Strawberry Moons Media on YouTube, where you can find access to entertainment with meaning, mindful living tips, and mindful lessons for children: 
SMM Mindful Living - https://www.youtube.com/@SMMmindfulliving
SMM Medi-tainment - https://www.youtube.com/@SMMmedi-tainment
SMM For Kids - https://www.youtube.com/@SMMforkids

You can also keep up with Strawberry Moons on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok: 

Instagram 
https://www.instagram.com/strawberrymoonsmedia?igsh=MWdjNmZndTA3ZTNxdw==

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/1RKwtGoKVb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@strawberrymoonsmedia?_t=ZP-8zrN2AbH9MV&_r=1 

About Debbie Nutley:
Debbie Nutley is an award-winning children's picture book author, certified meditation instructor and trained to teach mindfulness to children. Her picture books, Pengwee's Breath and Ruby's Heart Song, both contain engaging stories involving two adorable and best friend penguins. Each story weaves lessons of mindfulness and social-emotional learning. Always finding inspiration in music, Debbie collaborated with composer and songwriter Wells Hanley to create a musical rendition of the signature song embedded in the story of Ruby's Heart Song. Keep up with Debbie on her Instagram and learn more about her books on her website.
“The whole reason why I decided to publish children’s books about mindfulness, and Pengwee and Ruby are these adorable, mindful, heart-centered penguins, they’re best friends, the whole reason I did it is because I thought it would be great for kids to learn about mindfulness at a young age. That it would be a better world if every kid knew about this stuff.” –Debbie Nutley

About David Nichtern:
David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon, is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970. He is also a business consultant with companies creating a variety of offerings integrating meditation in a larger health and well-being context. David is also a multiple Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award-winning musician. David’s journey has crisscrossed with the Maharaji/Ram Dass sangha for decades. He has produced multiple Krishna Das albums and frequently joins the Bhaktettes live on guitar. He considers himself to be a first cousin and an honorary member of the Bhakti community.

“I think we’re creating a whole new genre of something: bite-sized pieces people can check out and in 3-4 minutes get a very tangible sense of what meditation practice is about, what the Buddhist teachings are, but without feeling like you’re going to the dentist.” –David Nichtern

Strawberry Moons: A New Kind of Media with Debbie Nutley & David Nichtern | CSM Podcast Ep. 59

Ram Dass on Opening to Death | Here and Now Ep. 288

Challenging the idea that struggle and conflict are a necessary part of life, J. Krishnamurti and Dr. Allan Anderson explore a different way of living.

To start at the beginning of this 18-part dialogue on consciousness, spirituality and navigating life with J. Krishnamurti and Dr. Allan W. Anderson: https://youtu.be/rcn0gXWv9UU

This time on Freedom from the Known, J. Krishnamurti and Dr. Allan W. Anderson discuss:
- What it truly means to live and face the profound mystery of death
- Discovering the meaning of existence through awareness of the present moment
- Ways that people attempt to escape from the monotony of daily routine 
- How to meet the ‘battle of life’ with clarity and compassion
- The highest form of education: teaching that there is a way of living without conflict
- Being aware of the correct uses of thought and knowledge
- The destructive, negative energy that is created through conflict and battle
- Considering how love can exist in a world filled with inner and outer battle 
- Digging deeper into the reality of consciousness, beyond definitions

“If you could, as a professor, teacher, parent, point this out, the impracticality of the way we are living, the destructiveness of it, the utter indifference to the earth. We are destroying everything we touch. And, to point out a way of living in which there’s no conflict. That seems to me is the function of the highest form of education.” – J. Krishnamurti

This talk was originally recorded in 1974 at San Diego State University and curated by the Krishnamurti Foundation of America

About J. Krishnamurti:
For nearly six decades until his passing in 1986 at the age of ninety, Jiddu Krishnamurti traversed the globe, delivering spontaneous and captivating discourses to large audiences. Krishnamurti assumed the role of an investigator rather than an authority figure, encouraging individuals to question assumptions and explore the depths of their consciousness. His extensive body of work, estimated at over 100 million words, spans more than six decades of relentless inquiry and dialogue. His teachings, compiled in numerous books and translated into multiple languages, continue to inspire seekers worldwide, inviting them to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and understanding. J. Krishnamurti’s legacy endures as a guiding light, offering timeless wisdom for those who dare to challenge conventional thinking and explore the complexities of existence.

About Dr. Allan W. Anderson:
Dr. Allan Anderson was a poet, author, Professor Emeritus, beloved teacher, scholar of the Oracular Tradition, and a gifted religious linguist. He helped to form the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State College in 1969. Dr. Anderson later became chair of that department, specializing in Eastern Religions, until his retirement in 1985.

J. Krishnamurti: A Different Way of Living - Freedom From the Known Podcast Ep. 13

Through teachings on non-duality and the illusion of separateness, RamDev explains how true healing comes from recognizing our inherent wholeness.

Ep. 129 - Healing Everything

Jack Kornfield and Prof. Rajiv S. Joshi share uplifting spiritual wisdom on how inner climate change shapes outer climate healing, the environment, and the future of humanity.

Ep. 307 – Inner Climate Change with Prof. Rajiv S. Joshi

For episode 271, Sharon sits down with poet, author and Zen master Henry Shukman. 

After a spontaneous spiritual awakening at the age of 19, Henry embarked on a long journey of healing and deeper awakening through meditation. Since then, he has been leading a growing number of practitioners in Europe and the US. He is the Spiritual Director Emeritus of Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Henry has also created the app, The Way, and is the author of several books, including his latest 2024 release, “Original Love.” This is Henry’s first appearance on the podcast.

In this conversation, Sharon and Henry speak about:
- Henry’s challenges in early life
- Discovering Zen teachings
- Henry’s new book, Original Love
- Mindfulness, Support, Absorption, Awakening
- Original Love versus Original Sin
- Mental health in spiritual practice
- The power of community and connection
- Henry’s meditation app, The Way
- How to microdose lovingkindness
 
The episode closes with Henry leading a guided meditation. You can learn more about Henry’s books and teachings on his website right here. You can also learn about his app, The Way, right here.

Original Love with Henry Shukman & Sharon Salzberg – Metta Hour – Ep. 271

Vipassana teacher Trudy Goodman explores how trusting in the dharma and in ourselves leads to a more peaceful, present life.

Ep. 228 - Trust in Dharma, Trust Yourself with Trudy Goodman

Holding gratitude for the ways Mother Earth supports all beings, Spiritual Healer Taita Pacha Kanchay describes the indigenous mission to be a voice for the land. 

This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Taita Pacha Kanchay chat about :
- The profound indigenous connection to Mother Earth and the wisdom of listening to her deeply
- Healing the planet by embracing unity and recognizing all beings as brothers and sisters
- How to transform the world through indigenous systems of knowledge 
- The sacred power of indigenous ceremonies and honoring our ancestors with reverence
- Opening your heart and mind in order to spread goodness in the world
- The practice of forgiveness—releasing resentment and anger to free ourselves from negative energy
- Living in harmony with the Earth and understanding why indigenous wisdom endures through generations
- Gratitude for Mother Earth’s gifts and the importance of living in reciprocity
- Listening to nature as a way to remember our deep interconnectedness with all life

“This is the time when indigenous tribes need to guide and share the wisdom of our Mother Earth because us as indigenous tribes, we have the mission to be the voices of the lands.” –Taita Pacha Kanchay

About Taita Pacha Kanchay: 
Taita Pacha Kanchay is a healer whose ancestral name means "the sun-glint that penetrates the earth." As a Yanakuna Yachak, also known as a "spiritual authority," Pacha has devoted his life to studying and practicing the spiritual traditions passed down by his ancestors and elders.Today, he serves as a speaker and the Coordinator of the Great National Council of Indigenous Elders in Colombia (ONIC), representing a remarkable alliance of 115 tribes. He is also a representative of the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network, a United Nations Delegate, and an activist for Indigenous Sovereignty and environmental justice. A carrier of the sacred medicine of Yagé (Ayahuasca), Pacha's driving purpose is to exemplify and share the knowledge of coexistence in harmony with Mother Earth's spirit and wisdom. Affectionately known as “the healer of the healers” in Colombia, he offers healing on every level—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Pacha's transformative work inspires individuals worldwide to embrace the interconnectedness of all beings and rediscover their innate connection to nature and tap into the endless wellspring of wisdom that resides within. 

You can reach him at malkupachakanchay@hotmail.com. 

Voices of the Land with Taita Pacha Kanchay & Dr. Anita Sanchez | The Four Sacred Gifts - Ep. 15

Carried by a discourse on The Heart Sutra, teacher and author Susan Piver joins Raghu to explore the truth of emptiness.

This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Susan chat about:
- Practicing The Heart Sutra with only one syllable: ahh
- The truth of emptiness through recitation of non-truths 
- Understanding emptiness as bliss, not as voidness
- The commitment to self interest that many westerners experience
- Releasing the ego as the first step towards embracing emptiness 
- Being both empty and luminous at the same time
- Thinking of emptiness as complete interconnection and fullness
- Susan’s psychedelic experience: staying in the present, being in the womb of bliss
- The six transcendent actions and how they all spring from generosity 
- Check out this free, downloadable translation of The Heart Sutra from Plum Village

About Susan Piver:
Susan Piver has an international reputation as an exceptionally skillful meditation teacher. She teaches workshops and speaks on mindfulness, innovation, communication, relationships, and creativity. Susan has been a student of Buddhism since 1995, graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004, and was authorized to teach meditation in 2005. In 2012, she founded The Open Heart Project, the world’s largest online-only meditation center. Susan is also a New York Times bestselling author. Her most recent book, Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart Sutra, is now available. You can keep up with Susan on Instagram.

“You’re empty of separate existence. Your parents, their parents, their parents, if someone ate a different sandwich a thousand years ago, you wouldn’t be here. Emptiness could just as easily be called fullness, completely connected.” –Susan Piver

The Truth of Emptiness with Susan Piver & Raghu Markus | Mindrolling – Ep. 616

FLI's founders and core team -- Max Tegmark, Meia Chita-Tegmark, Anthony Aguirre, Victoria Krakovna, Richard Mallah, Lucas Perry, David Stanley, and Ariel Conn -- discuss the developments of 2016 they were most excited about, as well as why they're looking forward to 2017.

FLI 2016 - A Year In Reivew

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a nonprofit working to reduce global catastrophic and existential risk from powerful technologies. In particular, FLI focuses on risks from artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, nuclear weapons and climate change.

The Institute's work is made up of three main strands: grantmaking for risk reduction, educational outreach, and advocacy within the United Nations, US government and European Union institutions.

FLI has become one of the world's leading voices on the governance of AI having created one of the earliest and most influential sets of governance principles: the Asilomar AI Principles.