Articles

Interview with John McQuade

John McQuade, an authorized Shambhala meditation instructor since 1984, is the director of the Shambhala Meditation Centre of Toronto. John is also a contemplative photographer and teacher of the Miksang teachings and co-author of Looking and Seeing: A Contemplative Photography Sourcebook.

Interview with Paul Baranowski

Paul Baranowski is a facilitator at True Peace Toronto, which practices meditation and mindfulness in the tradition of Buddhist Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village spiritual community which he leads. Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings focus on the practice of mindfulness in everyday life, as well as on meditation in all its forms.

Interview with Geshe Sherab

We were fortunate to catch up with Geshe Sherab in the middle of his North American tour. In this interview, he talks on emptiness and the Four Noble Truths, cultivating peace in troubling times and the importance of happiness. He also shares some intimate details of the challenges he's faced in his own personal practice and the motivations that have sustained him on his spiritual path.

Interview with Sensei Taigen Henderson

Sensei Taigen Henderson was born in Toronto in 1949 and grew up in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Toronto. Upon his return to Canada he attended Trinity College School in Toronto and later founded his own construction and renovation company. He is now teaches at the Toronto Zen Centre.

Interview with Ven. Samu Sunim

Ven. Samu Sunim was born in Korea in 1941. Orphaned during the Korean War, he entered a Buddhist monastery following a period of homelessness. He studied as a novice monk and then undertook and completed his Zen training under Master Solbong Sunim at Pomo-Sa monastery in Pusan, Korea. When he was conscripted into active military service even though he was a monk, he left his native country for Japan and finally the West. In New York City in 1968 he founded the Zen Lotus Society (now the Buddhist Society of Compassionate Wisdom).

Interview with Doreen Hamilton Sensei

Doreen Hamilton Sensei in the garden

Doreen Sensei received "Tokudo" ordination at Nishi Hongwanji headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, in 1988. Since then she has been studying different ways of passing the essence of Shin Buddhism on to others.

Catherine Rathbun Book Release, Part 3

Catherine Rathbun (Lama Jetsun Yeshe)

On November 20, 2008, TMG was on hand at Tibet Gallery in Yorkville to capture a talk by Catherine Rathbun (Lama Jetsun Yeshe) on the release of her latest book, Clear Heart, Open Mind. In this third and final segment, Catherine reads another passage from the book, a meditative reflection.

Catherine Rathbun Book Release, Part 2

Catherine Rathbun (Lama Jetsun Yeshe)

On November 20, 2008, TMG was on hand at Tibet Gallery in Yorkville to capture a talk by Catherine Rathbun (Lama Jetsun Yeshe) on the release of her latest book, Clear Heart, Open Mind. In part 2 of this talk, the second of 3, she shares a particularly lovely passage from the book along with a few reflections.

Catherine Rathbun Book Release

Catherine Rathbun (Lama Jetsun Yeshe)

On November 20, 2008, TMG was on hand at Tibet Gallery in Yorkville to capture a talk by Catherine Rathbun (Lama Jetsun Yeshe) on the release of her latest book, Clear Heart, Open Mind. In part 1 of this talk, the first of 3, she discusses the search for truth and the importance of maintaining a strong practice in difficult times.

Interview with Franca Leeson

Franca Leeson with her weekly meditation group

Franca Leeson is the founder of Look Again. In this interview, Franca discusses her inspiration to practice meditation, finding her place in the meditation community and some of the teachers who have influenced her practice and teaching. Franca also explores how our motivations to meditate impact our practice.