Hi, I’m Bodhipaksa, and I set up Wildmind in 2001 with the help of several friends who offered me their time and technical support when I was a grad student with no financial resources at all. I’m a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order, I’ve been a practicing Buddhist since 1982, and I’ve been teaching meditation since the late 1980’s.
I’m the author of Wildmind: A Step-by-Step Guide to Meditation, a book called Living as a River, which explores the Buddhist teaching of not-self though a traditional reflection on interconnectedness called the Six Element Practice, and Vegetarianism: A Buddhist View, which is a book on Buddhism and the practice of vegetarianism. Additionally, I’ve written I Can’t Believe It’s Not Buddha! (a book on fake Buddha quotes), This Difficult Thing of Being Human (on self compassion), and A Year of Buddha’s Wisdom (which is a collection of daily readings, reflections, and meditation suggestions). I’m also the author of ten audiobooks of guided meditations.
In Oct 2012 gave a TEDx talk on compassion.
I was given the name Bodhipakṣa when I joined the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1993 (although at that time it was called the “Western Buddhist Order”). “Bodhi” means enlightenment and “paksha” (there’s a dot under the “s” which gives it a “sh” sound) means “wings.” So my name means “Wings of Enlightenment.”
I was born and brought up in Scotland, although I now live in the US. For three years, I was the director of Dhanakosa retreat center, in the Highlands of Scotland, and after that I ran the Edinburgh Buddhist center. For three years, I taught Buddhist meditation in the Religious Studies department at the University of Montana, before moving to New Hampshire.
I love teaching meditation. It’s had a tremendously positive effect on my own life, and I’ve seen it have an equally large effect on the lives of my students. Over and over again, students have told me how learning to meditate has changed their lives.
For many years I’ve been excited by the potential for bringing the benefits of meditation to millions of people over the Internet. That enthusiasm is what led to me setting up Wildmind.
Wildmind started as a project while I was completing a Masters degree in Montana. Supported by a grant from the American Council of Learned Societies, I worked with Dr. Alan Sponberg to develop an innovative Internet based meditation course for the University of Montana, and that experiment formed the basis of Wildmind.
I hope you find these materials useful, and I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to drop me a line using the comment form below. If you want to write more privately use the “contact” link above — the message will get to me.
I also have a personal website where you’ll find links to all my publications, YouTube videos, etc., as well as information about the meditation coaching that I do. It’s at Bodhipaksa.com.
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Hi there,
I'm a yoga and meditation teacher and sometime ago I discovered Bodhipaksa's gudied meditation cds. They are just wonderful!!!
I was wondering if I could do a meditation course with Wildmind sometime later in the year. I know it would further enhance my meditation teaching and help me to understand Buddhism a little more. I am not a Buddhist, but have been interested in Buddhism for a long time and I have a lot of friends who are Buddhists.
Looking forward to your reply,
regards
Penelope
Hi Penelope,
This is Sunada, the person who teaches the meditation classes. You're more than welcome to take my courses anytime. You don't have to be a Buddhist, or even be interested in becoming one (though it sounds like you are). I've had people take the course purely out of a secular interest in the health effects. And if you're interested in learning more about Buddhism, I can accommodate you as well. I tend to be very flexible and let the discussions flow to wherever the students want to go. So please, by all means, join me whenever you'd like.
Best wishes,
Sunada
http://www.mindfulpurpose.com
Hi,
I am a complete newcomer to meditation I am not religious but Buddhism seems the right direction. I can't explain why, but feel it is the right thing for me to calm my hectic work/family/sleep juggling act. I would like to be in control, not of others but of my own mind. Your feedback on Amazon is excellent, and I value your opinion. If possible could you please recommend a meditation cd to begin to calm my mind.
Regards, Reece.
Hi, Reece.
I think you're headed in a fruitful direction. The Buddhist tradition has a lot of wisdom and useful practices to offer, even for people who can't go as far as applying the label "Buddhist" to themselves
If you're asking about my own CDs, I'd suggest the first, Guided Meditations for Calmness, Awareness, and Love. To be honest I'm not that familiar with the other CDs that are out there, but anything by Joseph Goldstein would be highly recommended.
All the best,
Bodhipaksa
Thank you very much for your time and advice, I have ordered your title Meditations for busy people and I shall add your other recommended title to My list. Warm thanks and best wishes, Reece.
You're welcome, Reece. And thanks for buying one of my CDs. Doing that directly helps us to maintain and expand our website.
Hi, I am a beginner learning Buddhism and meditation. Things have been going well, however, recently I have been reading on the 5 hindrances and find that I am feeling increased anxiety during meditations and throughout the normal day than I was previously. I have taken up Buddhism to help with my anxiety condition and have found it has helped until now. In fact, at my class I had to leave the Metta Bhavana because I was overcome with anxiety. I understand that we have to accept all of ourselves but I find anxiety is strong and difficult to deal with. I would like to know what buddhism would advise me to do and also if this is the right path for me with this hinderance. Many Thanks, Catherine
Hi, Catherine.
Some people are predisposed to anxiety for various reasons, and can even get into feeling anxious about feeling anxious. It may be that something like this is going on with you.
My advice is that when anxiety is present, you locate where it is primarily located in the body. It may, for example, manifest most strongly as butterflies in the tummy. You can then treat your anxiety as if it were a suffering being, and direct your lovingkindness towards it: "May you be well; may you be happy; may you be free from suffering." You could regard the anxiety as being like a frightened child or small animal that you are giving unconditional love and reassurance to.
Hello, Mr. Bodhipaksa, First, I like what your name means - Wings of Enlightenment. I heard you and about your work for the first time this morning on National Public Radio's New Dimensions programme. It was most interesting - need I say enlightening - and I listened through all the approximate 55 minutes of it. As one originally from North East India, not very far from where the Great Buddha was born and is held in much reverence, I am familiar with some aspects of the Buddhist belief system. I can fully appreciate the benefits one can derive from the practice of meditation that you were explaining during your talk this morning since meditation is also an integral part of the belief system I was born into and practise viz. Islam. By the way, I love Scotland, have friends there I worked with in India, and try not to miss Fiona Ritchie's Celtic music programme on the NPR of a Sunday evening !! All best wishes for continuing progress of your good work, Sincerely, Habib Quader
Hello Bodhipaksa,
So happy to see that Wildmind is continuing to help people find their Way. I took a meditation class (online) from you about 12 years ago, shortly after my dad's suicide. I credit that class and your help with being able to get through that very difficult time and the next that followed--breast cancer.
I downloaded one of your mp3s and tried to put it on my mp3 player, but it was disallowed. Money is short right now, but I hope to download it again.
I just wanted to drop a line and let you know that I will always be grateful for the gift you gave me. Many, many thanks and may you be well and happy.
Hi, Gyla.
Yes, I remember you! I'm very pleased to hear that you've continued to find the meditation useful. I'll be in touch to sort out the problem with the MP3s. They should work just fine on any MP3 player.
All the best,
Bodhipaksa
Hello Bodhipaksa,
Do you happen to know where the following loving-kindness meditation is from:
May all beings find a resting place within themselves,
May all beings find peace within their hearts,
May all beings find peace with each other.
Thank you! Cindy
Have you tried using Google?
hi Bodhipaksa,
Do you feel like meditation is making you 'outside the world'. not caring about everyday 'nothings?
Daniel