Sanity Within Chaos

Connecting with Our Natural State of Calmness and Ease

By: Dzogchen Rinpoche

Narrated by: Dzogchen Rinpoche

One of the most respected living Tibetan Buddhist masters reveals the inner causes of modern overwhelm, sharing solutions to help us in the midst of our most challenging times.

When we’re struggling with uncertainty and confusion—in ourselves or in the world—what can we do to find calmness and clarity? Here, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche shows us the way.

The first step, he teaches, is to look closely at the tumult within us. And though it might sound paradoxical, the best place to start, he teaches, is not with our emotions, but with our thoughts:

“All our emotions—fear, anger, sadness—are simply beautiful energies. But when we distort them with thinking, they become afflictions. Like the flapping of a butterfly’s wings in chaos theory, even a small, fleeting thought can lead to big effects in the weather of our minds. But this also means that just a little awareness and compassion can create big changes.”

Through essential Buddhist insights, modern-day examples, and meditation teachings, listeners will explore how our thoughts and emotions generate suffering, the cognitive patterns that get us stuck in turmoil, resting in the gaps or “vanishing points” between thoughts, and how to return the mind to its natural state of stillness.

“When we change the inner chaos of our minds,” Dzogchen Ponlop teaches, “we also change the chaos of the world.” Through his unique merging of perennial insights, personal experiences with our 24-7 online lives, and wisdom-infused humor, this revered guide maps out a path to authentic peace.

Fantastic

Wonderful teachings, so close to out hearts and much humor. fantastic advices, very clear. Thank you

Listening to teachings directs the mind

Ponlop Rinpoche’s delivery of Buddhist teachings unites ancient and current ways that our mind preforms confusion. I find, hearing new ways for wisdom to be said, can suddenly trigger an expansive view. All truths are the same and though I have been studying texts from India and Tibet for many years, when a skilled practitioner offers their experience of the teachings much is to be gained.
He has a skill of a bringing a lightness, but it in no way diminishes the challenges we practitioners will recognize and try to work with moment to moment.
Where you access his wisdom is unique to you. From someone new, to those working with the mind over many years, we can marvel at minds creative ways of deluding us and gain insight.

Difficult to like

Rinpoche delivers a good story, aligned with western civilities, but there’s nothing here but basic stuff. In my view another poor production from Sounds True.

I have a busy life, I want my time with the dharma to be productive and supportive, yet to the point. Two hours in, Rinpoche mentioned 7 point posture - very briefly. Other than that he likes to joke around, talk about AOL or Google or Starbucks.

Too chatty and I still have no idea what the point of this production is. A very light hearted chat, but not for serious practice.

I am losing hope with Sounds True and their spiritual puppy mill machine.