Get it on Google Play

At the Intersection of Science and Spirituality: An Astrophysicist talks Buddhism

At the Intersection of Science and Spirituality: An Astrophysicist talks Buddhism

Author: The Modern Buddhism Podcast January 9, 2025 Duration: 52:07
The Modern Buddhism Podcast
ReligionReligion & SpiritualityBuddhismSpirituality

In this special episode, guest host Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Rabten is in conversation with astrophysicist and lay Buddhist teacher Kadam Peter Kurczynski.

Their wide ranging discussion touches on the common points between science and spirituality - for example, how discoveries in quantum physics correlate to profound Buddhist teachings on the nature of reality - but also how meditation can open us to experiences completely beyond the reach of the physical sciences.

Kadam Peter has an extensive background in science as a post doctorate student, researcher and university teacher and currently works as the chief scientific officer for NASA’s cosmic origins program. 

In parallel to this life in science he has trained in meditation for 30 years and taught Buddhism extensively. He currently teaches classes for Kadampa Meditation Centre Washington DC.

Kadampa Meditation Centre Washington DC's website is: https://meditation-dc.org/

You can watch videos of Peter explaining light from the first stars and the stars within us in these youtube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU6KXoO0NEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFULDp3QHVQ&t=26s

And giving a dharma talk here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXyWeiocwdI 

Gen Rabten has been a Buddhist monk under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche’s guidance since 1994, and currently serves as the National Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU for Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

During the conversation Gen Rabten reads excerpts from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s texts: New Eight Steps to Happiness and Joyful Path of Good Fortune.

These books can be purchased from Tharpa Publications by following these links:

https://tharpa.com/the-new-eight-steps-to-happiness

https://tharpa.com/joyful-path-of-good-fortune

The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide.

See more https://kadampa.org/ 

Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en 

Listen to teaching clips: youtube.com/nktikbu https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z 

Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast Socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernbuddhismpodcast 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernbuddhismpodcast/ 

TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast 

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@modernbuddhismpodcast

#modermbuddhismpodcast #buddhism #podcast #science #QuantumPhysics #Spirituality #Reality #Meditation #Astrophysics #BuddhistMonk 

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individual and do not reflect the views of NASA or the US federal government.


There’s a quiet space between the rush of daily life and the ancient wisdom of Buddhist teachings, and that’s where you’ll find The Modern Buddhism Podcast. Rather than presenting philosophy as a distant theory, this series focuses on tangible, practical application. Each episode features conversations with individuals who are actively integrating meditation and Buddha’s insights into their modern routines, demonstrating how these practices foster genuine resilience and a more steady sense of contentment. The discussions are grounded in real experience, exploring how inner peace isn’t about retreating from the world but engaging with it more skillfully. You’ll hear from a variety of voices within the New Kadampa Tradition, who produce the podcast, sharing their personal journeys and the subtle shifts in perspective that come from consistent practice. This isn’t about abstract ideals; it’s about the texture of daily life-managing stress, navigating relationships, and finding moments of happiness amidst ordinary challenges. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful dialogue where timeless principles meet contemporary questions, offering listeners a resource for cultivating a stronger, more peaceful mind right where they are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 43

Official website RSS
spotify
The Modern Buddhism Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How Do You Forgive Someone Who Never Apologizes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:21
In today’s episode, we explore the deeply personal and transformative practice of forgiveness - and why letting go of resentment is ultimately about changing our own mind rather than waiting for someone else to apologize…
Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:05
In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Sherab shares the remarkable journey that took him from being a professional musician in Israel and the Netherlands to becoming a Buddhist monk and meditation teacher. Looking back on his…
What If You Lost Everything... And Were OK? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:37
In today's episode, Kadam Michelle draws on 25+ years as a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso to explore how to find peace amid genuine uncertainty. Recounting her years as a resident teacher through three major h…
I Gave Up Everything (Best Decision I Ever Made) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:12
In today’s episode, Gen Chodor reflects on a powerful feeling he had as a young person - that life seemed almost dream-like - and how this sparked a deep search for meaning and purpose. Drawing on the wisdom of Venerable…
A Buddhist Monk's Honest Advice On Letting Go & Finding Inner Peace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:02
In today's episode, Gen Kelsang Chökyong - a Buddhist monk from Wales - shares the story of how he stumbled into a Dharma class while sheltering from the rain with a kebab, and never left. Drawing on nearly thirty years…
Meditation Tools For When You Can't Control What Happens Next [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:31
n today's episode, Kadam Mick Marcon explores one of the biggest challenges in life - how to cope with uncertainty. Drawing on his own experience of losing his mother, witnessing a stranger's fear on a turbulent flight,…
The Buddhist Mind Hack that Stops the Blame Cycle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:11
In today’s episode, Gen Kelsang Norden explores the meaning of karma and how understanding it can become a liberating and empowering force in our lives. Speaking from her heart and her own experience of practicing these…
Meditation in Hollywood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
Cameron Mathison Opens Up About Facing Hate on Social MediaPart 2 of 2 (Part 1 is here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oSYw1flcsUDbauL2feq0h?si=rPsZdHERQOeZcLyr9TqXfA )In this second part of the interview with actor C…
The Day I Lost Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:13
Cameron Mathison on how he rebuilt his life after the LA fires, cancer, death, and divorceIn today’s episode, we’re delighted to welcome actor and talk show host Cameron Mathison, who shares his deeply personal journey—f…

12345»