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In this episode, we'll discuss wisdom and why developing wisdom is the most important (and urgent) thing each of us can do for ourselves and our communities.  We'll look at the 5 wisdom superpowers and the 5 mind poisons, and how we can work with these to bring our unique wisdom into our lives.  Please join the wisdom movement by signing up at www.thewisdomtoolbox.com for the monthly newsletter and other resources. When you subscribe you will receive the free wisdom superpower cheat sheet referred to in the episode.  With love,  Nicola 

In this episode we will be discussing Pema Chodren's book "Becoming Bodhisattva's" where she provides a practical commentary on Shantideva's 6th century teaching on the 'Path of the Bodhisattva'.  The episode focusses on how we can find bodhicitta (or an awakened heart) within our ordinary, day to day lives.  This is a recording of a live talk given at Kagyu Samye Dzong Tibetan Buddhist centre in South Africa.   To follow along for more content, please subscribe to the podcast and follow Nicola at www.thewisdomtoolbox.com 

Is the world and, with it, all our thoughts and ideas as solid & fixed as we believe? In this episode, we'll be discussing the teachings and science behind illusory form and understand how through training our minds we can expand our perceptions. When we are able to loosen our grip on our reliance on form, our beliefs, concepts and ego we make space for freshness and being in the now. The book discussed is: 'Dreams of Light: The profound daytime practice of lucid dreaming' by Andrew Holecek  This is a live recording of a talk given for Kagyu Samye Dzong in South Africa.  Enjoy!  Nicola 

Welcome to Season 2! In this season we'll be exploring teachings on inter-connection and non-duality, kicking off with this first episode inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings on inter-being. There's a lot of noise in the world right now and our incorrect perceptions cause a lot of suffering both to ourselves and other beings - and most definitely to the environment. By learning to see clearly, we can clear our perceptions and see the truth of how things really are. Books referred to in the episode (both amazing!): 'How to See' by Thich Nhat Hanh 'Becoming Animal, an Earthly Cosmology' by David Avram 

How do the 5 elements (water, earth, fire, air and space) influence, and manifest through, our emotions? How can we work with the 5 elements to transform our negative emotions into their positive attributes?  In this talk (it's fairly long - you may want to make a cup of tea!) we'll examine how the elements manifest in the most subtle, inner forms and how, by working with the energy of the negative emotion as it arises, we can let it go and transform it into pure expression of our awakened nature.  This is part 3 of a series of live talks held at the Kagyu Samye Dzong in Cape Town.  I'd recommend listening to the other live talks in the series to gain a comprehensive overview.  If you have any questions or want to find out what books or teachers could support your further learning, please be in touch by email - [email protected] 

Working with the elements - earth, water, fire, air and space - is an act of continual balancing. We can learn about the elements by observing them in their outer/external form: in nature, our home environments and even in our bodies. This recording is an extract from live talk recorded at the Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist centre in Cape Town on 1 May 2021. This is a beginner talk - it's recommended you listen to part 1 of the series first for the general context- Podcast episode 6 (Working with energy & the elements to achieve inner balance.)  Please visit https://capetown.kagyu.org.za/  if you'd like to learn more about the Kagyu Samye Dzong centres.  Enjoy & please be in touch with me via email if you have any questions or comments. 

Loneliness is such a common but painful human experience and is so prevalent in our fast-paced world.  Although we all seek connection, and even may have more connections than ever before thanks to technology, what we are often missing is authentic, heart-felt belonging.  In this episode we'll unpack loneliness from an energetic perspective and talk about the various 'portals' (such as relationships, our inner self, and nature) that we can work with to access our shared awareness and oneness.  When we can touch the space and energy that connects all life, we are no longer able to feel lonely. We can shift loneliness to oneness.  With love and connection, Nicola xx 

In this episode, I'll share a live recording from a talk held at the Cape Town Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist centre in April 2021.  In Tibetan Buddhism, it is taught that all energy that arises from the ground of existence (also called emptiness / space) manifests as the five elements, and so it's important to look at energy in general before we dive deeper into the elements themselves.  The topics covered include why we meditate, getting to the root of our habits and tendencies and using the five elements to create balance. We'll go over the various laws of energy that govern the relationship between the elements.  This is a beginner talk and no prior knowledge is needed before you dive in.  Please visit https://capetown.kagyu.org.za/  if you'd like to learn more about the Kagyu Samye Dzong centres.  Enjoy & please be in touch with me via email if you have any questions or comments. 

We so often have the best intentions behind making changes but then never fully following through or implementing them. Why?  In this episode we'll cover the energetic laws that govern our lives, and how to apply the pattern of birth/death/rebirth to the changes we are looking to make.  We'll also explore the wisdom tools of hearing, contemplation and meditation and how these would be applied to different stages in our change-journey.  If you would like notes or further reading on this topic please contact me.  With love, Nicola   

"Living from the heart" is a common catchphrase but what does it actually mean and how do we try it for ourselves?  In this episode, we'll explore how we can work with the outer landscape, inner landscape and energies to make a lasting shift toward balancing body & mind, head & heart.  We'll explore everyday tools such as doing a home audit, an energetic element assessment and some quick breathing techniques you can try right away.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact me via @heart.space.podcast on Instagram or by email.  With love, Nicola 

Although we're human animals, we've become increasingly disconnected from our natural environment and this disconnect makes us believe that we are, in fact, separate from the natural world and other species.  This perception of separateness from everything fuels dualistic thinking and strengthens our egoic sense of self.  In this episode, we'll explore how this disconnect has made its way into our spiritual practices and contemporary culture, and why it's important that we work to heal the perception of separation.  

In this short episode,  we'll cover a beginner-friendly guide on how to connect to nature.  Nature connection is something available to all of us and is part of healing our disconnect and separation with the earth, other species and one another.  When we allow ourselves to drop in to our animal body and experience the web of life from the inside, we are able to expand our awareness beyond our current beliefs of who we are.