Everyday Buddhism 107 - Your Heart Was Made for This with Oren Jay Sofer

Everyday Buddhism 107 - Your Heart Was Made for This with Oren Jay Sofer

Author: Wendy Shinyo Haylett April 11, 2024 Duration: 1:01:41

In this episode I talk with Oren Jay Sofer about his new book, Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity & Love.

Oren teaches meditation and communication internationally. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and is a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for the healing of trauma.

Oren has practiced meditation in the early Buddhist tradition since 1997, beginning his studies in Bodh Gaya, India, and later spending 2-1/2 years living as an renunciate at branch monasteries in the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest lineage. He is a long-time student of Joseph Goldstein, Michele McDonald, and Ajahn Sucitto, and is a member of the Spirit Rock Teacher's Council.

Oren is also the author of the best-seller Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication and two books on teaching mindfulness to adolescents: The Mindful Schools Curriculum for Adolescents and Teaching Mindfulness to Empower Teens.

His teaching has reached people around the world through online communication courses and guided meditations, combining classical Buddhist training with the accessible language of secular mindfulness

In our conversation we talked about, among other things:

  • How our hearts REALLY are made for these times … Our hearts were made to awaken and if we can practice—in small steps—turning toward suffering, we enter a portal to transformation.
  • How the world shapes our hearts in ways not best for us and how we can practice shaping our own hearts.
  • How getting in touch with our true values will guide us through these challenging times.
  • How we need to consciously "change the channel" of our thoughts to be more aligned with our true values.

 
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You might find yourself wondering how ancient Buddhist principles could possibly fit into the rush of a modern workday or the quiet complexities of your personal relationships. Everyday Buddhism: Making Everyday Better explores exactly that, without pretense or esoteric jargon. Hosted by Wendy Shinyo Haylett, who brings her perspective as an author, teacher, and behavioral coach, each conversation feels like a practical dialogue. The ideas discussed aren't about retreating from the world, but about engaging with it more skillfully and with less personal turmoil. You'll hear how mindfulness and compassion translate into actionable strategies for dealing with stress, communication breakdowns, and the general noise of daily life. This podcast treats Buddhist teachings as a lived experience, offering reflections and methods that feel immediately applicable. Whether you're well-versed in spirituality or simply curious, Wendy’s guidance is grounded and clear, focusing on the tangible ways these age-old insights can create more space and resilience. Tune in for a thoughtful companion on the path to making each day a little more manageable and meaningful.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Everyday Buddhism: Making Everyday Better
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