Alubomulle Sumanasara
Ven. Alubomulle Sumanasara, a Buddhist monk schooled in the Theravada tradition, has written more than one hundred books addressing the practical application of Buddhist thought and practice to daily life. Born in Sri Lanka in 1945, he became a novice monk at the age of thirteen and was ordained in 1958. After teaching Buddhist philosophy at the University of Kelaniya, he first went to Japan in 1980 to study Japanese Buddhism on a fellowship from the Sri Lankan government, pursuing his doctoral studies at the graduate school of Komazawa University. In 1994 he established the Japan Theravada Buddhist Association, through which he continues to spread the Dharma and lead others in the practice of vipassana meditation. Sumanasara’s sincerity and gentle manner, as well as his facility as a speaker in both English and Japanese, have earned him a broad following. Focusing on the fundamental teachings of Buddha, he explains how Buddhism offers down-to-earth wisdom that anyone can put into practice to better understand and manage the challenges of the here and now. He lives in Tokyo.
Books, Courses & Podcasts
Freedom from Anger
Anger is a poison that ruins health and damages relationships. In today’s fast-paced and reactionary world, it’s all too easy for anger to grab hold of us and not let go.
This timely book offers practical advice on how to put aside anger and ego and embrace laughter and reason. Like a friendly family physician, Venerable Sumanasara helps you see what triggers your anger, what effect it has on you, and what you can do about it. In short, bite-sized chapters, he offers wisdom, along with a laugh, that you can use to lead a healthier, happier life finally freed from anger.
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Beyond Distraction is also available as an upcoming Wisdom Academy online course!
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Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
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This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Shaila Catherine, who has been practicing meditation since 1980, with more than eight years of accumulated silent retreat experience. She has taught insight meditation since 1996 in the U.S. and internationally, dedicating several years to studying with masters in India, Nepal, and Thailand. She is the founder of Bodhi Courses—an online Dhamma classroom, and Insight Meditation South Bay—a Buddhist meditation center in Silicon Valley. Shaila has completed a one-year intensive meditation retreat and trained in jhana, metta, samadhi, and vipassana practices. Shaila is also the author of Beyond Distraction, Focused and Fearless: A Meditator’s Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity, and Wisdom Wide and Deep: A Practical Handbook for Mastering Jhāna and Vipassanā.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Shaila discuss
- what distraction and intention mean for meditators at every level of experience;
- ‘wholesomeness’ and mental states rooted in greed, hate, and delusion;
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- her experience with deep meditative states and practical wisdom we can apply now;
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- wisely approaching concentration and the joyful cultivation of insight;
- and much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
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Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
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Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
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This is a story about love.
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Click here for an animated video based on the story.
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Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
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Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
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Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
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Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!