<![CDATA[Black Beryl]]>
blackberyl.substack.com]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/podcastSubstackWed, 03 Jun 2026 22:09:30 GMThttps://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/3074713.rssPierce SalgueroIntelligent conversations about the dark and mysterious sides of Asian religions, medicines, and spiritualitiesepisodicPierce Salgueroblackberyl@substack.comYes<![CDATA[4.1 Metamodern Asian Medicine]]>We concluded the last episode with Jeff Kripal calling upon humanities scholars to break out of our conservative paradigms and to allow ourselves to “get weird.” So, let’s do it! This season, we are going all-in on the mystical, mysterious, profound, reality-bending, and impossible aspects of Asian religions, medicines, and spiritualities.

As usual, we’ll launch the season the tables turned, with Lan taking up the mic to interview Pierce. Together, we think about traditional, modern, and postmodern approaches to Asian medicine. Usually, these epistemologies are competing or people are trying to integrate them… but could there be another approach that celebrates all of them without needing to reconcile dissonance?

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in multidisciplinary conversations about Asian healing and mystical traditions, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also look us up on Substack to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

* Pierce Salguero, “A Metadisciplinary Approach to Asian Medicine (and Other

Epistemological Carnivals)” (2025)

* Pierce Salguero, “The Fractal of Humanities” (2021)

* Pierce Salguero, “A Pedagogy of the Soul” (2022)

* Pierce Salguero, “Let’s Put More Humanity into the Humanities” (2019)

* Pierce’s Human•ities Blog on Substack or on Medium



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/41-metamodern-asian-medicinesubstack:post:200221618Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:05:48 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3210<![CDATA[Extraordinary, Mysterious, and Impossible Experiences, with Jeffrey Kriple]]>Today I sit down with Prof. Jeff Kripal, noted scholar of religion at Rice University, to talk about extraordinary, mysterious, and “impossible” experiences. This is a conversation I’ve been waiting a few years to have. Together we explore what you can or can’t talk about in the humanities — and what we risk when we break the rules. Along the way, we touch on paranormal phenomena, epistemological pluralism, conspiracy theories, Plato’s cave, and why no one dresses up as a humanities professor for Halloween. 

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources related to this conversation:

Subscribe on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/extraordinary-mysterious-and-impossible-43fBuzzsprout-19111692Tue, 05 May 2026 18:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3739<![CDATA[BONUS: Meditation Sickness, with Pierce Salguero (Rebroadcast from the Buddhist Yoga Podcast)]]>I'm happy to share this rebroadcast of an interview I did with James Bae, the host of the "Buddhist Yoga" Youtube channel. In this deep-dive, we discuss my new book, Meditation Sickness, just out from University of Hawaii Press. This edited collection of translations by expert scholars lays out a range of Buddhist viewpoints about the potential side-effects of contemplative practice, and what happens when one crosses the line between expected challenges and true medical crises. Including ancient scriptures, writings by some of the most celebrated Buddhist meditation teachers of all time, as well as contemporary ethnographic reports from all over the Buddhist world, the book details the symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatment of "meditation sickness." Our conversation provides a detailed overview of the contents of the book, and illustrates why it is crucially important for Western meditators to be knowledgable about these phenomena. Enjoy! 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including:

  • PDF of the introduction to the 2026 book. 


Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/bonus-meditation-sickness-with-pierce-3dfBuzzsprout-19032106Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo6353<![CDATA[Awakening & Integration, with Sanjay Manchanda]]>Today I sit down with Sanjay Manchanda, who is an Adjunct Professor at California Institute of Human Science and also teaches at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Sanjay is an awakening facilitator, a practicing psychotherapist, and an inventor and technologist with a PhD in computer science. In this conversation, we talk about the importance of integration after awakening, psychedelics, shadow work, and a helmet that pulses infrared light into the brain to facilitate spiritual experiences. Along the way, we raise the important question of whether we will ever be able to create an enlightenment machine.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources related to this conversation:

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including:

  • $500 discount on the Neuromatrix Headset




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/awakening-and-integration-with-sanjay-314Buzzsprout-18957511Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3067<![CDATA[Tibetan Medicine for Meditators, with Tawni Tidwell]]>Today I sit down with Dr. Tawni Tidwell, a biocultural anthropologist and Tibetan medicine doctor at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Together we discuss how Tibetan medicine approaches the challenges that arise in the course of meditation. Along the way, we talk about reconnecting with indigenous knowledge, establishing a more intimate relationship with the body and the land, and the importance of social context in supporting spiritual practice.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources related to this conversation:

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/tibetan-medicine-for-meditators-with-b26Buzzsprout-18705905Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3525<![CDATA[The Modern Remaking of Kundalini, with Marleen Thaler]]>Today I sit down with Marleen Thaler, a researcher at the University of Vienna and University of Graz. Together, we investigate the history of the transformation of Kundalini from a Hindu goddess resting at the base of the spine to her modern manifestation as a psychiatric syndrome. Along the way, we discuss the central importance of the Theosophical society, the anti-psychiatry movement of the 1970s, spiritual emergencies, and kundalini as a meeting point for religion and medicine.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

  • Full English translation of the Hathayoga Pradipika, which includes description of kundalini coiled at the base of the spine and structured practices to direct her energy toward enlightenment.





Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/the-modern-remaking-of-kundalini-3cbBuzzsprout-18610833Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3540<![CDATA[Spirit Possession and Chinese Medicine Anti-Psychiatry, with Brandt Stickley]]>Today, I catch up with Brandt Stickley, Associate Professor at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland. We discuss his practice of “Chinese medicine anti-psychiatry,” which involves exorcising spirits using acupuncture needles. Along the way, we talk about mass possession, spiritual shark bites, and how to properly unwind a wayward ghost. 

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

  • Brandt Stickley, "Approaching the Origin: The Diaphanous Body and Classical Chinese Medicine" (2024)


Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/spirit-possession-and-chinese-medicine-021Buzzsprout-18429272Thu, 01 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3337<![CDATA[BONUS: Buddhist Ritual Magic, with Zachary Lui (Rebroadcast from 2023)]]>In celebration of the holiday season, here's a bonus episode from the archives. In May of 2023, I sat down with Zachary Lui who is a practitioner of Chinese medicine, magic, and shamanism in the Toronto area. We started by talking about his early work with Chinese martial arts, traditional medicine, and qigong. We then got into Zac’s practice of chaos magic, diverse ritual practices, reiki, and esoteric Buddhist healing. Finally, we discussed his communication with different deities and spirits, as well as the potential dangers of working with them in his healing practice.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in the episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/bonus-buddhist-ritual-magic-with-47fBuzzsprout-18386955Sat, 20 Dec 2025 02:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3012<![CDATA[Self and Nonself, with Nick Canby]]>Today I sit down with Nick Canby, visiting assistant professor at Brown University and a clinical psychologist specializing in meditation and psychedelics. Together, we dive into Nick’s research on the self — what is it and what it’s like to lose it. Along the way, we mention some of the downsides of experiencing oneness and the complications of defining a mental health disorder.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

  • Article summarizing Nick’s dissertation research on “loss of self” experiences
  • 50% off “Varieties of Ego-Dissolution” online course (research overview of the types of self-boundary dissolution and their impacts) 




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/self-and-nonself-with-nick-canby-2a8Buzzsprout-18294213Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3933<![CDATA[Meditation and the (Dys)regulation of Qi]]>Today I sit down with Leo Lok, a retired practitioner of Chinese medicine who now teaches and consults with practitioners treating difficult cases of meditation-caused dysregulation. Together, we discuss how to think about the challenging side-effects of meditation through the lens of the ancestral Chinese arts of qi regulation. Along the way, we discuss the surprising power of ocular alignment, how to gradually condition oneself for spiritual heavy lifting, and medieval Chinese emergency treatments for meditation practice gone wrong.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

  • Pierce's 2017 translation of the complete "Chapter on Illness" from Zhiyi's Shorter Treatise on Śamatha and Vipaśyanā. 




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/meditation-and-the-dysregulation-e74Buzzsprout-18100769Sat, 01 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3917<![CDATA[The Perils of Tantra, with Susannah Deane]]>Today I sit down with Susannah Deane, a scholar of Tibetan medicine, Buddhism, and psychiatry. Together, we delve into her work on Tibetan concepts of "wind disorders" and Tantric practice gone wrong. Along the way, we talk about losing control of spirits, becoming a deity, and how Tibetans choose between religious and medical specialists when spiritual practice goes off the rails.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

  • High resolution image of the Tibetan subtle body system 
  • Susannah's chapter “For This Kind of Thing, the Lama Is Better: Religion, Medicine, and the Treatment of 'Madness' among Tibetans in Amdo," from Buddhism and Healing in the Modern World





Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/the-perils-of-tantra-with-susannah-8cfBuzzsprout-17944974Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3168<![CDATA[Madness & Acute Religious Experiences, with Richard Saville-Smith]]>Today I sit down with Richard Saville-Smith, an independent scholar of madness, religion, and psychiatry. We discuss Richard’s book Acute Religious Experiences (2023), which argues that frameworks from Mad Studies can get us out from under the academy’s current habit of either pathologizing or sanitizing religious experiences. Along the way, we talk about the power struggle between psychiatry & the humanities, the influence of Queer Studies on Richard’s work, and his reinterpretation of Jesus as a madman.   

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

  • Chapter 10 from Richard's book, which presents his D.R.E.A.D. framework for acute religious experiences.


Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/madness-and-acute-religious-experiences-186Buzzsprout-17767109Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo2873<![CDATA[When Meditation Causes Harm, with Willoughby Britton & Jared Lindahl]]>Today I sit down with Willoughby Britton and Jared Lindahl, the interdisciplinary team from Brown University that is responsible for the “Varieties of Contemplative Experience” study on the challenges and adverse effects of meditation. We talk about the design, findings, and outcomes of the study, and how it opened up a new field of interdisciplinary investigation. Along the way we ask: if someone suffers harm from practicing meditation, whose fault is it? What is the ultimate cause? And who gets to interpret the experience? 

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloads of these PDFs:

  • “Challenging and Adverse Meditation Experiences: Toward A Person-Centered Approach” (2021)
  • “Prevalence of meditation-related adverse effects in a population-based sample in the United States” (2021)




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/when-meditation-causes-harm-with-80bBuzzsprout-17497011Sun, 03 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo4051<![CDATA[Emergent Phenomena, with Daniel M. Ingram]]>Today I sit down with Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, a retired ER physician, co-founder of the Emergent Phenomena Research Consortium, CEO of Emergence Benefactors, and a noted adept in Buddhist meditation. Together we explore “emergent phenomena,” or the spiritual, mystical, magical, energetic, and psychedelic possibilities at the deep end of human experience. Along the way, we discuss dark nights of the soul, ontological fruit salad, brain scans of peak meditation states, and warning labels on spiritual practice. 

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including PDFs of these resources. 



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/emergent-phenomena-with-daniel-m-e39Buzzsprout-17441051Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo4025<![CDATA[The Mandala of Animist Forces, with Josh Schrei]]>Today I sit down with Josh Schrei, storyteller, sound artist, and host of The Emerald Podcast. Josh helps us to embrace and center the spirit world in our understanding of contemporary Buddhism. Along the way, we talk about Tibetan weather makers, shamanic battle, the trance-inducing effect of stories, and how to diplomatically negotiate with animistic forces.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including a video lecture by Pierce with a detailed introduction to Thai animist culture and healing practices. For other videos, see courses.piercesalguero.com. 




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/the-mandala-of-animist-forces-with-88aBuzzsprout-17280879Mon, 09 Jun 2025 22:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3762<![CDATA[Spiritual Weirdness and Shadow Work, with Mary Shutan]]>Today I sit down with Mary Shutan, a spiritual teacher specializing in awakening and shadow work. Our conversation focuses on the weirdness, emotional volatility, darkness, and other challenges that inevitably accompany serious spiritual practice. Along the way, we talk about the diverse range of awakenings, the difficulties of managing kundalini energy, and what to do in the case of a spiritual emergency.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out our members-only benefits on blackberyl.substack.com. Enjoy the show!


Resources mentioned:

Resources provided on blackberyl.substack.com:

  • Chapter 23 of Mary's new book ("Engaging the Deep Wild")
  • Preface & Chapter 1 of Pierce's new book ("Preparing for the Journey")
  • Plus, sign up with a paid subscription before the end of the month to receive a bookmark in the mail from Lan Li!   


Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/spiritual-weirdness-and-shadow-work-370Buzzsprout-17105854Wed, 07 May 2025 14:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3686<![CDATA[Meditation Side-Effects and Other Altered States, with Miguel Farias]]>Today I sit down with Miguel Farias, an experimental psychologist and researcher of religion, spirituality, and cognition. Together we try to get to the bottom of whether meditation is actually good for you through a comparison of Miguel's research on the adverse effects of meditation with my research on Asian notions of meditation sickness. Along the way, we discuss the limitations of modern Western understandings of consciousness, and explore whether we can develop a more expansive, multifaceted understanding of altered states both pleasant and unpleasant.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out our members-only benefits on blackberyl.substack.com. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned:

Resources provided by the interviewee on blackberyl.substack.com:

Introduction to the Oxford Handbook of Meditation




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/meditation-side-effects-and-other-5f7Buzzsprout-16906226Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo4179<![CDATA[Daemons, Tantra, and Cultural Exchange, with David Gordon White]]>Today I sit down with David Gordon White, a distinguished indologist and scholar of Tantra. Our conversation focuses on David’s most recent project tracing the transregional histories of spirits, gods, demons, and their associated rituals across Eurasia. Along the way, we dive into an intellectual conversation about dog-headed men, angry goddesses, alchemical mercury, body-snatching yogis, the origins of Dracula, and much, much more. 

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out our members-only benefits on blackberyl.substack.com. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned

Resources provided by the interviewee on blackberyl.substack.com:

  • PDF of David's chapter in Oxford Handbook of Tantric Studies 
  • PDF of David's article, "Were-Creatures of the Eurasian Ecumene"
  • PDF of David's article, "Dracula’s Family Tree" 


Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/daemons-tantra-and-cultural-exchange-bc5Buzzsprout-16721461Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3354<![CDATA[Magic, Death, and Necromancy in Thai Buddhism, with Justin McDaniel]]>💀💀 Warning: This episode contains potentially disturbing content! 💀💀

Today I sit down with Justin McDaniel, a scholar of Theravada Buddhist literature and art. Together we explore the darker side of Thai Buddhism, including meditation on decomposing bodies, fetus spirits, corpse oil, and the spectrum of white and black magic. We discuss the logics of rituals, their role in Thai communities, and how a misfit Catholic punk from Philly found himself in a rural Thai monastery.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Resources provided by the interviewee on blackberyl.substack.com:

  • PDF with introduction to The Lovelorn Ghost and the Magical Monk


Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/magic-death-and-necromancy-in-thai-880Buzzsprout-16543734Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3138<![CDATA[Daoist Exorcism, with Josh Paynter & Jack Schaefer]]>Today I sit down with Jack Schaefer and Josh Paynter, co-abbots of the Parting Clouds Temple, to discuss their practice of Daoist exorcism. We talk about the differences between spirits, ghosts, demons, and other entities; as well as a range of practices including talismans, body replacement, curse breaking, and spiritual battle. Along the way, we make eye contact wth snake and fox spirits, contribute to the elimination of suffering for all beings, and learn why dogs never stick around during an exorcism. 

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about healing, transformation, and alternate realities, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also look us up by name on Substack.com to check out our members-only benefits. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Resources provided for members on blackberyl.substack.com:

  • PDF of Jack’s article, “Daoist Celestial Medicine: Community, Cultivation, and Compassion” from Journal of Daoist Studies (2024).


You are not mistaken: this is in fact the podcast formerly known as The Blue Beryl. We have changed our name for season 3, as we are embracing the darkness! You'll notice a new logo and a new URL, but if you're a subscriber, there's nothing you need to do. Everything will automatically be updated.



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/daoist-exorcism-with-josh-paynter-df9Buzzsprout-16372589Thu, 02 Jan 2025 20:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo4367<![CDATA[Season 3: Introducing Black Beryl, with Pierce Salguero]]>You are not mistaken: this is in fact the podcast formerly known as The Blue Beryl. We have changed our name for season 3, as we are embracing the darkness! You'll notice a new logo and a new URL, but if you're a subscriber, there's nothing you need to do. Everything will automatically be updated.

In today's episode, we are launching the new season with the tables turned. Producer Lan Li takes over the microphone to interview me about spirit healing and related practices. Lan has been trying to ask me these questions for the last two years, but I've continued to put them off. Now it's finally time to put some things on the record and clear the air. So in this episode, we dive right in to questions like do spirits exist? Are mystical experiences real? What are the best talismans for healers? We're also going to talk about different kinds of possession and the benefits of holding more than one ontological perspective at the same time.

I hope you enjoy the conversation, and please subscribe to The Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. We also want to invite everyone to check out blackberyl.substack.com. Our episodes are going to continue to be free as always, but we now have paid subscriptions where we can make exclusive resources available to members for a small fee. Your payments help us with production costs of the pod, so thanks for your support! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:


Resources provided for members on blackberyl.substack.com:

  • Full manuscript of the short book book Traditional Thai Medicine: Buddhism, Animism, Yoga, Ayurveda (2106), with chapters on spirit healing, talismans, and other topics covered here. 


Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/season-3-introducing-black-beryl-bd1Buzzsprout-16227399Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3145<![CDATA[Meta-Practice, with Volker Scheid]]>PLEASE NOTE: Shortly, we will be changing our name to Black Beryl. Your subscription will automatically update and no action is necessary on your part. Thanks for your continued support! 

Today I sit down with Volker Scheid, an interdisciplinary scholar and longtime practitioner of Chinese medicine. Together, we take an intellectual deep dive into his thoughts about the importance of blurring disciplinary boundaries and how “meta-practice” can make sense of the many different kinds of Chinese medicines. Along the way, Volker and I discuss the commensurability of Chinese medicine and biomedicine, the importance of connecting the self with the ten thousand things, and how premodern ideas can be the basis of a new politics for modern times.

If you want to hear more from experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality then subscribe to Blue Beryl and don’t miss an episode! 


Resources mentioned in this episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/meta-practice-with-volker-scheid-d8dBuzzsprout-16054309Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3044<![CDATA[Bonus: Embodiment and Pedagogy, with Frances Garrett (Rebroadcast from 2023)]]>In this episode I sit down with Frances Garrett, a scholar of Tibetan culture, history, and language. We talk about Frances’s interests in embodiment and movement, and how her experiences as ballet dancer, surfer, and rock climber connect with her work on religion and healing. Our conversation focuses on her commitment to embodied and trauma-aware pedagogy, and how in the interest of flourishing, she engages the whole person in the learning process. Along the way, we talk about Tibetan bards, sacred mountains, and the importance of long walks. 

Enjoy! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here.


Resources 




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/bonus-embodiment-and-pedagogy-with-6b4Buzzsprout-15953481Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3658<![CDATA[Critique, Wonder, and Chinese Anatomy, with Lan A. Li]]>Today I sit down with Blue Beryl's producer, Lan A. Li, a historian of Chinese science, medicine, and the body. We talk about their life-long practice of qigong, the limits of academic critique, and the integration of divergent epistemologies in studying Chinese anatomy. Along the way, we discuss Lan’s new book, Body Maps: Improvising Meridians and Nerves in Global Chinese Medicine, Lan’s relationship to Islam, and how to cultivate wonder through academic study.

If you want to hear more from experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality then subscribe to Blue Beryl and don’t miss an episode!

Resources mentioned in this episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/critique-wonder-and-chinese-anatomy-686Buzzsprout-15873599Sat, 05 Oct 2024 17:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3322<![CDATA[The Body in Classical Hathayoga, with Ruth Westoby]]>In this episode I sit down with Ruth Westoby a scholar, teacher, and practitioner of  yoga. We discuss Ruth’s work on the body in early hatha yoga texts. We talk about the broad diversity of approaches to the material body in these sources, including their ideas about gender, the cultivation of powers, and approaches to liberation. Along the way, we touch on yogic sex, practices to stop menstruating, and the courageous work that modern practitioners have been doing to expose abuse by yoga gurus.

If you want to hear more from experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality then subscribe to Blue Beryl and don’t miss an episode!

Resources mentioned in this episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/the-body-in-classical-hathayoga-with-fb0Buzzsprout-15701183Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3130<![CDATA[Yoga, Disability, and Animism, with Theo Wildcroft]]>Today, I sit down with Theodora Wildcroft, a researcher, anthropologist, and long-time teacher of what she calls “post-lineage yoga.” We discuss Theo's ethnographic research on yoga in the UK, focusing on its connections with animism, paganism, and other somatic practices. We also dive into Theo’s personal approach to yoga as a liberatory practice that allows diverse bodies and minds to thrive. Along the way, we touch on disability, neuro-divergence, cultural appropriation, and the inescapable influence of colonialism for contemporary yogis. 

Enjoy! and subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes.

Resources mentioned in this episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/yoga-disability-and-animism-with-9ceBuzzsprout-15552636Thu, 08 Aug 2024 18:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3494<![CDATA[BONUS: Awakening the Body, with Willa Baker (Rebroadcast from 2023)]]>Today I sit down with Willa Blythe Baker, a writer, translator, and teacher of meditation based on Himalayan Buddhist tradition. We talk about Willa’s early discovery of Buddhism with her mother, her time living as a nun, and our shared experience in graduate school at UVa. We then do a deep-dive into Buddhist tantra and the alchemical transformations of the body-mind that led to Willa’s most recent book, The Wakeful Body, published by Shambhala in 2021. If you find yourself in your head too much of the time, then this conversation is for you!

Enjoy! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here.

Willa's Publications and Activities 



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/bonus-awakening-the-body-with-willa-31dBuzzsprout-15243662Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3466<![CDATA[Nondual Psychosomatic Chinese Medicine, with Brandt Stickley]]>Today I sit down with Dr. Brandt Stickley, associate professor of classical Chinese medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine. We talk about Brandt’s approach, which he calls “nondual psychosomatic medicine.” We also explore how perceiving yin and yang moment by moment can be a portal to nondual experience, and how placing needles in a patient can open up a whole imaginal world of symbols and spirits. Along the way, we talk about phenomenology, Chinese herbs, and how premodern texts might literally speak to us.

Remember, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes. Please enjoy!


 Resources mentioned in the episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/nondual-psychosomatic-chinese-medicine-fc0Buzzsprout-15243635Sun, 23 Jun 2024 23:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo2941<![CDATA[The Enlightenment of the Body, with Naomi Worth]]>In this episode, I sit down with Naomi Worth, a scholar and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism’s postural yoga tradition. We dive into Naomi's experiences in yogic retreats, highlight the vigorous movement and intense visual elements of the practice, and explore yoga’s role in the Nyingma contemplative path. Naomi also shares how she balances her scholarship and practice of Tibetan knowledge with her current work as a high school teacher. Along the way, we mention wrathful deities, sky-gazing, and how to help teenagers find themselves in today’s modern culture.

Remember, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes. Please enjoy!


Resources mentioned in the episode:




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/the-enlightenment-of-the-body-with-23dBuzzsprout-15200352Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo2990<![CDATA[Reiki and the Subtle Body, with Justin B. Stein]]>Today I sit down with Justin B. Stein, a specialist in modern Japanese religion and the preeminent historian of Reiki. We discuss Justin’s new book, Alternate Currents, about the transnational origins of Reiki, and also get into his perspective as a both a scholar and a Reiki practitioner. Along the way, we ask what Reiki has to do with Buddhism, what subtle energy feels like up close, and what kinds of extraordinary experiences might occur when you open up to energy of the universe. 

Remember, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes. Please enjoy!

Resources mentioned in the episode:




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/reiki-and-the-subtle-body-with-justin-39bBuzzsprout-15003064Fri, 03 May 2024 14:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3481<![CDATA[Psychedelics, Mysticism, Aliens, and the Dao, with Dominic Steavu]]>I sit down with Dominic Steavu, a historian of Chinese religion and healing from UC Santa Barbara. We discuss the central role of the body in medieval Daoist practices, and talk about the Daoist use of psychedelics to facilitate mystical experiences. Along the way, we touch on talismanic tattoos, internal alchemy, and embodied nonduality. Plus, Dominic reveals what he thinks about aliens and the Wu-Tang Clan.  

Remember, to hear from more experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality, subscribe to Blue Beryl. Please enjoy!

Resources related to this episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/psychedelics-mysticism-aliens-and-20aBuzzsprout-14812906Tue, 02 Apr 2024 13:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3497<![CDATA[Embodying the Dao, with Paul C. Wang]]>
 In this debut episode of Blue Beryl's second season on embodied spirituality, I sit down with Paul C. Wang, a healer and teacher of Chinese medicine and Daoism, and host of the Daology Podcast. We talk about Paul’s practices of “memetic healing” and “clinical cosmology,” and how he works with Chinese medicine, martial arts, neigong, and spirit healing. Along the way, we discover how to communicate with deceased spirits, and how to embody the Dao through everyday practices. 
 
 Please enjoy! And if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes.

Resources mentioned in this episode:




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/embodying-the-dao-with-paul-c-wang-48bBuzzsprout-14657554Sat, 09 Mar 2024 16:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3053<![CDATA[Intro to Season 2: Embodied Spirituality]]>Welcome to the Blue Beryl, a podcast with intelligent conversations about Buddhism, Asian Medicine, and embodied spirituality.  In this episode, host Dr Pierce Salguero sits down with BBP producer Dr Lan Li to reflect on Season 1 and look ahead to Season 2. We discuss showing up for scholarly work as a whole person, how studying Buddhist medicine challenges the academic status quo, and what do I mean by calling Season 2 “embodied spirituality”? Along the way, we touch on talismanic chants, poisonous centipedes,  dissolving bodies, and the unfolding mystery that this podcast is pursuing.

Enjoy! And subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes.

Resources mentioned in this episode:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/intro-to-season-2-embodied-spirituality-399Buzzsprout-14507192Sun, 18 Feb 2024 18:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3238<![CDATA[BONUS: Buddhist Medicine in Contemporary Times, with Pierce Salguero (rebroadcasted from the Buddhist Medicine & Yoga Podcast)]]>Dr Pierce Salguero is interviewed by James Bae on the Buddhist Medicine & Yoga Podcast. In this extensive and in-depth conversation, we talk about differentiating religion from medicine, what Buddhist medicine can teach contemporary clinicians,  current trends in the field of Buddhist studies, and hybridity versus tradition. We also explore Buddhist medicine in America, different kinds of Buddhist healers in the US, and how Buddhist medicine circulates in the contemporary era. Along the way, we dig into the promise of “metadisciplinary” collaborations, and what it means to engage in “pedagogy of the soul.” This episode combines two interviews, abridged and edited together.

Enjoy, and please subscribe to Blue Beryl so that you do not miss any episodes in the future!

Resources mentioned in the episode:


Dr. Pierce Salguero is a transdisciplinary scholar of health humanities who is fascinated by historical and contemporary intersections between Buddhism, medicine, and crosscultural exchange. He has a Ph.D. in History of Medicine from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2010), and teaches Asian history, medicine, and religion at Penn State University’s Abington College, located near Philadelphia. www.piercesalguero.com.




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/bonus-buddhist-medicine-in-contemporary-13cBuzzsprout-14464611Thu, 08 Feb 2024 15:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo4574<![CDATA[Women & the Body in Buddhism, with Amy Langenberg]]>Today I sit down with Amy Langenberg, a scholar of South Asian Buddhism, gender, sexuality, and the body. We focus on Amy’s work on misogyny in Buddhist texts, her book on Buddhist embryology, and her current project on sexual abuse in contemporary Buddhist communities. Along the way we discuss miscarriage, menstruation, and the importance of feminist scholarship . . . and also, what does the Buddha have in common with Michael Phelps? 

Remember, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhism, Asian medicine, and embodied spirituality, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes. Please enjoy!

Resources mentioned in this episode:





Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/women-and-the-body-in-buddhism-with-3b4Buzzsprout-14225455Sun, 31 Dec 2023 16:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo4082<![CDATA[A Buddhist Approach to Self-care Sovereignty, with Pamela Boyce Simms]]>Today I sit down with Pamela Boyce Simms, a Buddhist practitioner, herbalist, and cultural healer. We talk about how Pamela’s Buddhist practice enables her to facilitate self-care sovereignty for impoverished rural and urban communities. We also discuss how she uses deep meditation states to navigate the stark racial and political divides facing contemporary America. Along the way, we talk about the multidimensional nature of reality, plant spirits, and how the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa inspired her to get involved in environmental activism.  

Enjoy, and don’t forget to subscribe to Blue Beryl to ensure that you don’t miss an episode!

Resources mentioned:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/a-buddhist-approach-to-self-care-d15Buzzsprout-14117506Sat, 09 Dec 2023 20:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo2703<![CDATA[A Chinese American Buddhist Healer, with Kin Cheung]]>In this episode, I sit down with Kin Cheung, a scholar of contemporary Buddhism at Moravian University. We talk about his research on a Chinese American community healer who happens to be his father. We discuss how his father’s practice raises challenging questions for scholars, and reveals gaping holes in current academic approaches to Buddhism. Along the way, we talk about how code-switching between different ontologies is a feature of life for Asian Americans, and hear Kin’s father conduct a blessing ritual.

Enjoy, and please subscribe so that you do not miss any episodes in the future!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/a-chinese-american-buddhist-healer-0cbBuzzsprout-13906875Sat, 04 Nov 2023 15:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3199<![CDATA[Buddhist Healing in Contemporary Japan, with Rev. Nathan Jishin Michon]]>Today I sit down with Rev. Nathan Jishin Michon, a postdoctoral fellow at Ryukoku University and an ordained priest in the Shingon Buddhist tradition. Our conversation touches on diverse Buddhist healing rituals and the role of light in Shingon practice and cosmology. We discuss the playfulness and innovation in modern Japanese Buddhism, and the rise of chaplaincy after the 3.11 tsunami and nuclear disaster. We also talk about Nathan’s ethnographic work in Japan, as well as their experiences volunteering in a “listening cafe.”

Resources mentioned in the episode:




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/buddhist-healing-in-contemporary-f90Buzzsprout-13722437Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3660<![CDATA[Situating Religion and Medicine, with Michael Stanley-Baker]]>Today I sit down for an in-depth conversation with my good friend, Michael Stanley-Baker, a scholar of Chinese religion and medicine. We talk about Mike’s international childhood and how his family history influenced his intellectual life, his training as a Chinese medical practitioner, and his book co-edited with Vivienne Lo, the Routledge Handbook of Chinese Medicine, which is groundbreaking... and open access! We also talk about Mike’s new book with Manchester University Press, Situating Religion and Medicine in Asia, which opens up a critical conversation about how we understand Asian medicine. Then, we look ahead to Mike’s digital humanities project, called Polyglot Asian Medicines. Along the way we talk rabbit-ducks and how fish know that they're underwater. 

I hope that you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. And if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes.

Resources mentioned in the episode:




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/situating-religion-and-medicine-with-df3Buzzsprout-13525839Mon, 04 Sep 2023 14:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3785<![CDATA[Traditional Medicine in Laos, with Elizabeth Elliott and Ounkham Souksavanh]]>Today I sit down with two guests, Ounkham Souksavanh and Elizabeth Elliott, to talk about community engagement and community health in Laos. We discuss how Elizabeth as a medical anthropologist, and Ounkham as a physician, work together to build trust and improve healthcare access across an ethnically and religiously diverse landscape. Along the way, we learn about Elizabeth’s experience of foraging for herbs and Ounkham’s memories of growing up with traditional medicine in his family. If you want to learn about the landscape of Lao traditional healers and medicinal plants — with a few snake bites and plant talismans thrown in — then this episode is for you!

Enjoy! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here. 

Resources mentioned in the podcast: 



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/traditional-medicine-in-laos-with-7e4Buzzsprout-13351417Fri, 04 Aug 2023 21:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo2759<![CDATA[Awakening the Body, with Willa Baker]]>Today I sit down with Willa Blythe Baker, a writer, translator, and teacher of meditation based on Himalayan Buddhist tradition. We talk about Willa’s early discovery of Buddhism with her mother, her time living as a nun, and our shared experience in graduate school at UVa. We then do a deep-dive into Buddhist tantra and the alchemical transformations of the body-mind that led to Willa’s most recent book, The Wakeful Body, published by Shambhala in 2021. If you find yourself in your head too much of the time, then this conversation is for you!

Enjoy! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here.

Willa's Publications and Activities 



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/awakening-the-body-with-willa-baker-62aBuzzsprout-13155896Mon, 03 Jul 2023 22:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3466<![CDATA[Embodiment and Pedagogy, with Frances Garrett]]>In this episode I sit down with Frances Garrett, a scholar of Tibetan culture, history, and language. We talk about Frances’s interests in embodiment and movement, and how her experiences as ballet dancer, surfer, and rock climber connect with her work on religion and healing. Our conversation focuses on her commitment to embodied and trauma-aware pedagogy, and how in the interest of flourishing, she engages the whole person in the learning process. Along the way, we talk about Tibetan bards, sacred mountains, and the importance of long walks. 

Enjoy! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here.


Resources 




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/embodiment-and-pedagogy-with-frances-f86Buzzsprout-12960970Thu, 01 Jun 2023 17:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3658<![CDATA[Buddhist Ritual Magic, with Zachary Lui]]>And now for something completely different! Today I sit down with Zachary Lui who is a practitioner of Chinese medicine, magic, and shamanism in the Toronto area. We start by talking about his early work with Chinese martial arts, traditional medicine, and qigong. We then get into Zac’s practice of chaos magic, diverse ritual practices, reiki, and esoteric Buddhist healing. Finally, we discuss his communication with different deities and spirits, as well as the potential dangers of working with them in his healing practice.

Enjoy! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here.


Resources 



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/buddhist-ritual-magic-with-zachary-65eBuzzsprout-12784494Thu, 04 May 2023 16:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo2986<![CDATA[BONUS: "Buddhish" and "Buddhist Medicine," with Pierce Salguero (rebroadcasted from the Imperfect Buddha Podcast)]]>We'll periodically be sharing a bonus episode outside of our usual monthly schedule. This time, we're rebroadcasting an interview with me that aired on the Imperfect Buddha Podcast in late 2022. Host Matthew O'Connell asks me about my two recent publications, Buddhish and A Global History of Buddhist Medicine. In the first half of our conversation, we talk about why I'm not a Buddhist despite all of the value I've gotten out of the tradition, as well as Buddhism's fundamental commitment to a progressive path-based model. In the second half, we get into how Buddhism has advocated a multi-perspectival approach to health and wellbeing that combines diverse paradigms of healing, even when they seem to contract one another. Along the way, you'll hear about why I think the concept of non-self isn't a good fit for college students and how to balance critique with engagement in the classroom. 

Enjoy, and please subscribe so that you do not miss any episodes in the future!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/bonus-buddhish-and-buddhist-medicine-f2dBuzzsprout-13822663Sat, 22 Apr 2023 16:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo5018<![CDATA[Healing Buddhist Studies, with Paula Arai]]>Dr Pierce Salguero sits down with Paula Arai, a scholar of Japanese Zen, gender, and healing ritual. Paula is an inspiration in the way she blends critical analysis and compassion in her work. In this episode, we talk about how her journey into Zen began with her relationship with her Japanese mother, as well as her work on everyday Japanese healing rituals. Our discussion focuses on the ethics of empathetic scholarship and how Paula’s care for relationships has shaped her five books. Along the way, we touch on the centrality of women in Buddhism and the challenges of facing misogyny and sexism in academia.

Enjoy the conversation! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here. 

Resources:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/healing-buddhist-studies-with-paula-b1bBuzzsprout-12598066Thu, 06 Apr 2023 01:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3135<![CDATA[Buddhism and Traditional Thai Medicine, with Nephyr Jacobsen]]>Dr. Pierce Salguero chats with Nephyr Jacobsen, a traditional Thai medicine practitioner based in Portland Oregon. Nephyr is the founder and director of the Naga Center, and a long time student and teacher of traditional Thai medicine. We talk about Nephyr's experience training in Thailand and some of her writing projects. We focus on the broad diversity of practices and the role of Buddhism in Thai medicine. We also get into social issues, such as ethically engaging with cultural practices in a non-extractive way and her experiences as a practitioner of traditional medicine during Covid.

Enjoy the conversation! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here. 

Resources:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/buddhism-and-traditional-thai-medicine-ad6Buzzsprout-12372988Sat, 04 Mar 2023 17:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3948<![CDATA[Buddhist Responses to Covid, with Ven. Pemaratana]]>Dr Pierce Salguero sits down with Venerable Soorākkulame Pemaratana, chief abbot at the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center and a scholar of modern Buddhism in Sri Lanka. We talk about his role in adapting Buddhist practices to address social and mental health needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. We also compare Buddhist responses to Covid in Pittsburgh and Sri Lanka. Along the way, we talk about how he became a monk, the health benefits of drinking boiled coriander water, and the dire situation in his home country.

Enjoy the conversation! And, if you want to hear from more experts on Buddhist medicine and related topics, subscribe to Blue Beryl for monthly episodes here. 

Resources:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/buddhist-responses-to-covid-with-f74Buzzsprout-12167855Thu, 02 Feb 2023 04:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3113<![CDATA[Zen Chaplaincy, Activism, and Scholarship, with Wakoh Shannon Hickey]]>In this episode, I sit down with my friend Wakoh Shannon Hickey, who is a Soto Zen priest, hospice chaplain, scholar, and activist. We talk about Wakoh’s early experiences with social violence in the 1980s, her work as a hospital chaplain, and her 2019 book Mind Cure, which is a groundbreaking social history of religion and mindfulness in the U.S. 

Resources:

Find all episodes of the Blue Beryl Podcast at www.piercesalguero.com



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/zen-chaplaincy-activism-and-scholarship-4cbBuzzsprout-11998202Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3108<![CDATA[Buddhist Medicine in Tibet, with Bill McGrath]]>In this episode, I sit down with my friend Bill McGrath, a historian of Tibetan Buddhism and medicine. He's one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on this subject, and we get deep into the weeds in an academic conversation about traditional Tibetan medicine, the category of Buddhist medicine, and Bill's perspectives on magic, religion, and science. We also reminisce about the time that Bill once used a Tibetan mantra to save the day when we ran out of gas driving home from a conference!

Resources mentioned in the pod:




Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/buddhist-medicine-in-tibet-with-bill-d1bBuzzsprout-11833504Thu, 08 Dec 2022 15:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo4715<![CDATA[Introducing Season 1 "Buddhist Medicine," with Pierce Salguero & Lan Li]]>Meet your host Dr. Pierce Salguero and producer/editor Dr. Lan Li as we inaugurate the Blue Beryl podcast and kick off our first season dedicated to Buddhist medicine. We discuss Pierce's background as a practitioner of Theravada Buddhism and traditional Thai medicine, some interesting experiences he had at Thai temples and meditation centers, and his work as an academic researcher of Buddhist medicine globally. We also chat about tensions between scholarship and practice, our previous multimedia collaborations related to Buddhism and Asian medicine, as well as our goals for the first season of the podcast.

Resources mentioned in the pod:



Get full access to Black Beryl Podcast at blackberyl.substack.com/subscribe]]>https://blackberyl.substack.com/p/introducing-season-1-buddhist-medicine-ac2Buzzsprout-11641219Sun, 06 Nov 2022 19:00:00 GMTPierce SalgueroNo3493