The Skeptical Buddhist

The Skeptical Buddhist

Author: chenrezigproject April 10, 2025 Duration: 18:10

Disbelief, Wariness, Incredulity . . . 

There are many Mahayana Buddhist perceptions and perspectives, notions and insights, practices and methodologies that on the (worldly/samsaric) surface initially might not make sense . . . ideas requiring an open mind in order to penetrate and allow the practical understandings that arouse our curiosity and interest sufficient to lean-in abit and engage -- bringing deeper learning, more penetrating contemplative experiences . . . and progressively awakening moments.

For your consideration . . . a questioning mind is an essential catalyst for both intellectual alertness and developing confidence in one's spiritually innate qualities.  

(Length: 18 minutes)

The Elegant Mind is written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder, CO) with accompanying music composed and performed by the San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. 

contact: mwinwood@gmail.com


Nestled within the broader conversations around spirituality, Tibetan Buddhism: The Elegant Mind offers a grounded space for exploring Himalayan Buddhist thought. This podcast emerges from the Chenrezig Project, a study group based in Boulder County, Colorado, and features a series of discussions and interviews that feel both timely and timeless. The focus here is on practical notions and methodologies, making the often profound teachings accessible to anyone-whether you're simply curious, have a budding interest, or are a long-time practitioner. You'll hear voices and perspectives primarily from the Pacific Northwest, though the insights resonate universally. The conversations avoid dense academic theory, instead aiming to illuminate how these ancient principles can inform a modern life. Tuning into this podcast is like joining a thoughtful, ongoing dialogue where complex ideas are unpacked with clarity and relevance. Host Mark Winwood and the Chenrezig Project facilitate these exchanges, ensuring each episode provides tangible reflections for daily contemplation and practice. It’s a resource for those seeking to understand the elegance and practicality of the Tibetan Buddhist mind, without requiring any prior expertise.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 71

Tibetan Buddhism: The Elegant Mind
Podcast Episodes
’Splendid’ Impermanence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:24
Everything is changing, advancing . . . collectively and individually . . . moment-by-moment. Until instinctive insights begin to manifest, reactions to impermanence set many of our challenges into motion, swirling into…
Lao Tzu and the Mahayana Path [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:08
The legendary Lao Tzu was living and teaching a harmonious way of being -- simple, modest and true -- traveling throughout China centuries before Siddhartha's birth. Upon achieving enlightenment, Siddhartha Buddha refine…
(Instant) Karma Redo? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:37
Consider: How convenient would it be to have a 'Karma' Replay Command Center into which we could call when needed to replay an action or moment we had participated in? An at-the-ready 'redo' button for any occurrence tha…
The Ongoing Process of MInd [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:43
"How does my mind work?" It was a question posed to the 21st Century Bodhisattva at the conclusion of a teaching. After pausing to collect her thoughts, the Bodhisattva smiled softly and began to speak not only about the…
Buddha(s) Far and Near . . . [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:28
The historians tell us Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, lived more than 2,500 years ago in Northern India. Having uncovered and freed the enlightened mind, it is said he taught the path of similar achievement t…
Backstage at the Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:27
Posed by a student to the 21st Century Bodhisattva at the conclusion of a teaching: "There's this nagging question, What do I want? The truth is, it's slippery. How can I ever know what I truly want when everything is al…
Within Dependent Origination, ’Perfect’ Never Occurs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:31
Absolutely everything (i.e., anything) we can point to as 'this' or 'that' is occurring in a dynamically ever-changing manner . . . organic . . . on the fly . . . at times seemingly chaotic . . . the sum of its parts . .…
The Buddhist Embrace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:52
Reflection upon a foundational Diamond Sutra verse yields a clear and relevant message to those on the Mahayana path: Every sentient being is equally worthy of our attention, caring, cherishing, virtuous intentions and a…
The i-Karma Kounter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:03
Finally . . . tangible proof. Announcing: a product that confirms Karma does exist, via a boundless system of seeds (or traces of directional disposition) that both 'plant' and 'blossom' in every moment of consciousness,…
Our Most Precious Links [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:10
In our rush to purchase and consume, everything becomes commodity, and we often forget about -- if we ever considered them at all -- the sources from which our desired goods and products come. And we easily ignore all th…