Spirit Matters Talk

Chris Busch and Dean Sluyter are the cohosts of podcast and YouTube channel “The Filmosophers,”which features interviews with the people who make and who love the movies. Chris was a child actor in the 60’s and hosted the Filmosophers live-streaming weekly radio show for 15 years. He works with the David Lynch Foundation to bring the Transcendental Meditation program to at-risk populations, addressing trauma and toxic stress. Dean Sluyter is the award-winning author of several books, including Natural Meditation and Cinema Nirvana: Enlightenment Lessons from the Movies. He has been a Spirit Matters guest twice before, in 2016 and 2018. Both Chris and Dean have taught meditation for several decades. We spoke about movies, their podcast, and the often surprising spiritual lessons to be found in great films. Learn more about Filmosophers here: https://thefilmosophers.com/

Chris And Dean Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Franz Metcalf teaches religious studies at California State University, Los Angeles. For his Master’s degree at the Graduate Theological Union he compared Buddhist and Catholic spiritual retreats. In his doctoral program at the University of Chicago he was awarded distinction for his dissertation on the question “Why do Americans practice Zen Buddhism?” The Past President of the American Academy of Religion, Western Region, he has published numerous articles and chapters on the psychology of religion and contemporary Buddhism. He is also a founding editor of the scholarly organization H-Buddhism and founding book review editor at the Journal of Global Buddhism. Franz is the author or coauthor of five books, including What Would Buddha Do?, a best seller published in over a dozen languages, and Being Buddha at Work. He is currently working on a historical-spiritual-detective novel set in and around the sangha during the life of the Buddha. We spoke about a variety of issues in contemporary Buddhism in America.

Franz Metcalf Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas is an Episcopal priest, author, retreat leader, and climate activist. A lead organizer of many Christian and interfaith events about care for Earth, she leads spiritual retreats in the U.S. and Canada on spiritual resilience and resistance in the midst of a climate emergency. She is co-editor (with Leah Schade) of Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis), a collection of essays by religious environmental activists. She has been arrested in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere while protesting the expanded use of fossil fuels. She serves as Missioner for Creation Care in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Mass. and the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ, as well as Creation Care Advisor for the Episcopal Diocese of Mass. Her website, RevivingCreation.org contains numerous resources. We spoke about her unique ministry and the urgency of the climate crisis. Learn more about Margaret Bullitt-Jonas here: https://revivingcreation.org/bio/

Margaret Bullitt - Jonas Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Norman Rosenthal, M.D. is a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School and maintains a private clinical practice in Maryland. He earned international attention as the psychiatrist who first described seasonal affective disorder and pioneered the use of light in its treatment while at the National Institute of Mental Health. He has also researched other innovative psychiatric treatments, and is the author of several books including the New York Times bestseller Transcendence: Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation and the national bestseller Super Mind. His latest book is Poetry Rx: How Fifty Inspiring Poems Can Heal and Bring Joy to Your Life. We spoke about that book, the healing power of poetry, and homed in on a few sublime poems. Learn more about Norman Rosenthal at https://www.normanrosenthal.com/

Norman Rosenthal Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

David Nichtern is a senior Buddhist teacher, an Emmy award winning/Grammy nominated musician, and a successful entrepreneur. One of the original students of Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, David is the founder and CEO of Dharma Moon, an online mindfulness-based education platform that offers meditation training and life and career coaching aimed at helping people integrate creative expression, spiritual practice, and livelihood. He has created meditation teacher training programs for a variety of organizations, has consulted for businesses, and has had a successful career in music as a composer, guitarist, and executive. We spoke about teaching Buddhism in America, the integration of business, creativity, and spirituality, based on his most recent book, Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck. Learn more about David Nichtern and Dharma Moon here: https://www.dharmamoon.com/

David Nichtern Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Krishna Das is a leading figure in the burgeoning popularity of kirtan, the traditional practice of call-and-response chanting with Sanskrit mantras, helping to move this form of bhakti yoga from intimate gatherings to large concert halls. Called by many “yoga’s rock star,” for his layering of traditional kirtan motifs with accessible melodies, modern instrumentation, and his distinctive, soulful voice, which is said to touch the deepest chord in even the most casual listener. The best-selling Western chant artist of all time, he has produced numerous albums, one of which, Live Ananda (2012), was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category. He is also the author of memoir, Chants of a Lifetime. On June 6, 2021, he and other prominent kirtan artists will be featured in Chant for India, a free concert to benefit India in its COVID crisis. Learn more about Krishna Das here: https://www.krishnadas.com/about/

Krishna Das Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

David Kundtz spent 19 years as a Catholic priest before leaving the clergy and becoming a psychotherapist. With degrees in psychology and theology and a doctorate in pastoral psychology, he teaches courses on stress management and emotional health. As a writer, he has produced seven books, including Quiet Mind; Moments in Between; and Awakened Mind. His most recent book is The Art of Stopping: How to Be Still When You Have to Keep Going. We spoke about his calling to the priesthood, the subsequent call to relinquish collar, and mainly the substance of his new book on the importance of pausing, being still, and doing nothing. Learn more about David Kundtz here: https://davidkundtz.com/

David Kundt Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Francis X. Clooney is the Parkman Professor of Divinity and Professor of Comparative Theology at Harvard Divinity School. Prior to that he taught at Boston College. He is a leading scholar in the field of Indology and the developing discipline of comparative theology, which is distinguished by the study of traditions other than one’s own. A Jesuit priest, he has written on the Jesuit missionary tradition, particularly in India, and on the dynamics of dialogue and interreligious learning in the contemporary world. His numerous articles and books include influential works on the intersection of Catholicism and Hinduism, such as Theology after Vedanta: An Experiment in Comparative Theology , The Truth, the Way, the Life: Christian Commentary on the Three Holy Mantras of the Shrivaisnava Hindus, and Reading the Hindu and Christian Classics: Why and How It Matters. He is also President-Elect of the Catholic Theological Society of America. We spoke about comparative religion, the value of learning from traditions o

Francis Clooney Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Sharon Salzberg is a leading figure in the American Buddhist community and a major force in the rise in prominence of Buddhist philosophy and practice over the past four decades. In 1976, she cofounded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, which became one of the most prominent meditation centers in the West, and later cofounded the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. A sought-after teacher and speaker, she has led workshops at all the major venues in the US, appeared on leading talk shows and other media outlets, and has actively promoted the scientific study of meditation. Her books include Love Your Enemies, Loving-Kindness, the bestselling Real Happiness, and her latest, Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World. We spoke about her long and fascinating journey, the challenges of life in the pandemic, and the practical advice she offers in Real Change. Learn more about Sharon Salzberg here: https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/

Sharon Salzberg Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Kikanza Nuri-Robins is an organization development consultant who helps people and organizations that are in transition – or ought to be. Her clients include schools, NPOs, government, and faith-based organizations. She has been an advocate for justice, equity and inclusion for her entire career, serving mission-driven organizations across the country. An ordained Presbyterian minister, she has been an advocate for marginalized and targeted people for over 40 years. She focuses on sustaining healthy organizational cultures by improving communication, developing effective leaders, and aligning values with daily practice—making a difference “one conversation at a time.” Kikanza is the author of many articles and six books, including: Cultural Proficiency and Fish Out of Water. She lives in Los Angeles where she has served on the Bio-Ethics Committee of the UCLA Medical Center for 20 years, and on the boards of several social service organizations. In addition to offering several Core Courses, she designs trai

Kikanza Nuri Robins Discussion (1) by Discussion by Dennis and Phil