Reflections on Buddhism
Reflections on Buddhism is a monthly discussion with local Buddhist teacher Tenzin Chogkyi and Mathew Divaris (host) that bridges the worlds of Buddhist thought, current events and the latest research in the field of positive psychology.
Tenzin Chogkyi (she/her/hers) is a teacher of workshops and programs that bridge the worlds of Buddhist thought, contemplative practice, mental and emotional cultivation, and the latest research in the field of positive psychology. She is also a certified teacher of Compassion Cultivation Training and the Cultivating Emotional Balance program.Tenzin is especially interested in bringing the wisdom of Buddhism into modern culture and into alignment with modern cultural values such as racial and gender justice and environmental awareness. She feels strongly that a genuine and meaningful spiritual path includes not only personal transformation, but social and cultural transformation as well. She loves interfaith collaboration and is a volunteer for the Interfaith Speakers Bureau of the Islamic Networks Group in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to her monthly radio show called “Reflections on Buddhism on KSQD 90.7 she also finds time to create her Unlocking True Happiness podcast which you can check out at unlockingtruehappiness.org where you will also find her current teaching schedule. She is currently based on traditional Awaswas Ohlone land, in what is now known as Santa Cruz, CA.
HOSTS
Mathew Divaris’ (he/him) journey to Buddhism started with a moth-eaten copy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s “The Art of Happiness,” and followed a fairly haphazard course for several decades until he had the good fortune of attending teachings by Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi. He is self-admittedly a fairly poor student, yet is constantly amazed at the relevance of Buddhist philosophy in navigating the joys and tribulations of the time in which we live. In his free time, Mathew is a marketing consultant, dog rescue volunteer, enthusiastic gardener and cook.
Patrick McGinn has worked as a civil rights attorney, also with animal rescue organizations in various roles, and for the last six years has been living and working at Buddhist retreat centers in the western United States. He moved to Land of Medicine Buddha in January 2018, first as a member of the Service Study residential program, then served as Spiritual Program Administrator, and is currently serving as Operations Manager. Patrick enjoys fostering homeless dogs, hiking, writing, listening to KSQD radio and hosted “Reflections on Buddhism” between early 2020 and late 2021.
Brigitte Reardon is a licensed Massage Therapist, Yoga instructor, musician and world traveler. She has a strong passion for holistic health, volunteerism, music and travel. Throughout her travels she’s learned about various philosophies and religions and found her deepest calling in Buddhist and Hindu practices. Brigitte is originally from Southern California and migrated up to the Bay Area in 2015. Brigitte piloted “Reflections on Buddhism,” which was picked up by KSQD and launched in February, 2019.
EPISODES
Cultivating Emotional Balance with guest Dr. Eve Ekman
Our emotions bring us our greatest joys and our deepest sorrows. We wouldn't survive without them, and yet they can also cause us to harm others and ourselves. What is the purpose of emotions, and...
The Case for American Pluralism
The motto of the United States, E pluribus unum (“Out of Many, One”) speaks to a pluralistic democracy with protections for every citizen, and a freedom from the religious tyranny that gripped much...
Acceptance is not Complacency
In these uncertain times, our roles as individuals in the sweeping events washing over the world stage can feel deeply unclear, sometimes frightening and frequently overwhelming. It is tempting to...
The Four Virtues of the Heart
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has often commented that the foundation of Buddhist practice is cultivating a good heart. As important as mindfulness and concentration meditations are within the...
How to Change Your Mind
Our perceptions of “reality” are much more subjective than we often think. In this episode, we will talk about both Buddhist and modern scientific views of the mind, our ways of knowing, and how our...
The Power of Interconnection
The COVID pandemic has led many of us to feel the hidden epidemic of loneliness more acutely than ever, yet loneliness is not much discussed even though scientists now link it to a number of...