Peter Coyote on Buddhism's Practical Wisdom for Modern Life

How can we find peace and purpose amid the turmoil and distraction of the modern world? Actor, author, and Zen Buddhist priest Peter Coyote believes the answer lies in the timeless wisdom of Buddhism - translated for our modern lives.
In my latest interview, Peter and I explore:
The fundamental Buddhist concept of "dependent origination" and its relevance to our interconnected world
How meditation can help us contain and investigate our emotions, leading to more dignified living
The power of "radical optimism" in the face of life's uncertainties
Applying Buddhist principles to navigate personal and societal challenges
"Buddha discovered that everything in the world is connected to everything else," Peter told me. "He called it dependent origination. You can understand it immediately when you understand that we've never been separate from oxygen, from sunlight, from water, from microbes in the soil."
Video Chapters:
00:00 Living Tribally: Emotional and Economic Support
02:30 The San Francisco Mime Troupe and the Diggers: Questioning Societal Norms
08:04 The Influence of Money in Politics
13:06 The Rise of Christian Nationalists
43:20 The Principles of Buddhism
45:17 Radical Optimism
47:39 Women's Rights and Subjugation
49:30 Self-Awareness and Self-Correction
Podcast links:
Apple Podcast:podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Substack: www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Yepbwb...
Mind, Body, Health, and Politics Podcast Social & Website
Facebook: / drrichardlouismiller
LinkedIn: / dr-richard-louis-mille...
Website: www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/
Newsletter:www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.or...
Books by Dr. Richard Miller:
Psychedelic Wisdom Book: a.co/d/7nOwODC
Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca: a.co/d/9fxNO8a
Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out: a.co/d/d5FS42C
About Dr. Richard Miller: www.drrichardlouismiller.com/
Dr. Richard Louis Miller is an American Clinical Psychologist, Founder of Wilbur Hot Springs Health Sanctuary, and broadcaster who hosts the Mind Body Health & Politics talk radio program from Mendocino County, California. Dr. Miller was also Founder and chief clinician of the nationally acclaimed, pioneering, Cokenders Alcohol and Drug Program, and the Covid Response Network, a model, community-based, non-profit organization sparing injury and saving lives on California’s north coast.
The Mind Body Health & Politics broadcast is known for its wide-ranging discussions on political issues and health. The program’s format includes guest interviews with prominent national authorities, scientists, best-selling authors, and listener call-ins. The programs offer a forum and soundboard for listeners to interact with the show and its guests.
Partner with us: [e-mail]

[@Alahayeshua4u]

Very engaging conversation. Thank you.

[@robertbenz5358]

Richard, thank you so much for having Peter Coyote on for this discussion. I have long been an admirer of his professional work and appreciate his social and political insights. I agree that we are truly nearing an existential moment in our nation's history perhaps in our global history. I'm definitely going to check out Bad Faith.

[@SuzanneTaylorSUESpeaks]

Something my hero, Peter Coyote, said a lot of years ago is one of those things that hit home and affected my life. Stewart Brand was on a book tour, concerned about how stiff he was in television interviews. Peter Coyote told him to shift his focus: "It's not what you do; it's what you do next." You don’t need to control the moment cause there’s always the next moment to compensate for it. It was a graphic lesson about how "sitting with whatever comes up" is the place to be.

[@Pacbaysports]

Fantastic interview and well worth the time but this is the common interview problem. How many will get the full message and listen for over an hour! I firmly believe most discussion points and details can be covered in 30 minutes. Even we, who are sympathetic and aligned with Peter's view, had to move on after 35 minutes. If moderators would clock and direct conversations, more would be said in less time.