In this episode of Inspired Evolution, we are inspired by Gelong Thubten, a celebrated global expert on Mindfulness & Tibetan Meditation. In the episode of the Inspired Evolution, we explore Thubten’s journey to meditation. This is an especially surprising story as growing up he wasn’t really interested in meditation. In fact, he recounts that in his late teens he was actually quite wild, living the party lifestyle as an actor living in NewYork. Burning the candle at both ends as he put it.

He was at Kagyu Samye Ling only 3 days before he become ordained as a monk. The commitment was initially for a full 12months. However, as it would turn out, once he was there for 9 months he decided to commit to staying for longer. In his second year, he did his first 9month isolated retreat. It was here that he decided to commit to monkhood. A powerful decision yet an obvious one: to best serve himself and humanity. His decision being powered by the desire to live outside of his ego, which he identified as being unhealthy. Driven by compassion, he ended up taking lifevows committing to monkhood and this way of life, for life. He joyfully remarks that his friends at this point though he’d lost the plot and that he was lucky that his family supported his decision. He’s now been a monk for over 25 years since he was 21 years old, on a lifelong journey now towards perpetual growth and learning.

In this conversation, we talk about keeping mindfulness “now”, updated and modern. Specifically, how Thubten keeps mindfulness relevant for the 21st century and today’s society. How his unique approach blends ancient wisdom with modern challenges. Both Thubten and I are thrilled that neuroscience now complements ancient wisdom.

Thubten describes his passions to help people, not from a place of wanting to spread Buddhist philosophy, but to simply help people meditate and transform their minds. He started by supporting local prisons 25 years ago with mindfulness and meditation programs. Introducing mindfulness in a very pragmatic and needed situation.

This conversation then deeply explores the theme and challenges of forgiveness and letting go. Thubten remarks that with the stresses of current society forgive is a hot topic and he shares his consultative approaches to forgiveness. Wisely, in this conversation, he eloquently describes how the process of forgiving others is the same as forgiving ourselves. He also remarks that on an international level as we’re increasingly more connected and there’s always dreadful news shared via mainstream media, it can be challenging to let go of transgressions and embrace forgiveness. He reminds us that it is consistently in our best interests to forgive in order to let go of the burden of toxicrage and anger.

A mindful perspective arriving when we surrender our ego and realize such global thoughts patterns such as “hurt people hurt people”. Implying that we are only inflicted upon by people because of their own sadness, anger, and ego. People act out of their own inner impulses and negativities, rarely, ifever is they out to get another person, people merely end up in each other’s way perhaps more due to circumstance than anything else.

Whilst he’s definitely not advocating becoming a human doormat, Thubten’s invitation is to accept the human condition. Softening the edges of the blame.

Thubten invites us to continually live from the heart, with Love and Compassion. Modern approaches to mindfulness (and focussing on the breath) run the risk of not going deep enough (beyond scratching the surface with stressmanagement and achieving clarity/performance benefits). Mindfulness can really lead to greater happiness and an increased sense of purpose if you embrace it.

He believes that as the stress around the world is becoming increasingly more pronounced and diverse, the solution – meditation and mindfulness is also becoming ever more apparent, accessible and widespread.

We discuss the importance of mindfulness and meditation and all the ways that Gelong Thubten is actively promoting this work. Introducing his new Samten App (Meditation and Mindfulness Journey in an app). Resulting in the widespread promotion of meditation and mindfulness across the planet.

This conversation is one for the heart. It calls on us to live our most purposeful life, by being compassionate and living beyond our ideas of Self. Thubten’s story invites us to transform and cultivate a positive relationship with ourselves. In this conversation, we explore Gelong Thubten’s wisdom, habits, hacks, philosophies, and tools that have formed the threads of his success, happiness, health, and wealth. This is a story that reminds us that we are all here to live peacefully and content. Thubten inspires a life of healing, transformation, and growth. Life is a gift and it is up to us to honor it as best we can with our positive virtues greater than our self.