Vanessa Sasson is a religious studies professor and author of Yasodhara: A Novel about the Buddha’s Wife, a fiction based on closely studying historical Buddhist texts on the Buddha’s path to and of enlightenment. She talks with Lion’s Roar magazine’s Andrea Miller about the forgotten story of Siddhartha’s wife, shares an excerpt from the book, and describes some of the hidden lessons in Yasodhara’s story.
Ways to Listen
Recent Episodes
A Zen Priest’s Journey in Unitarian Universalism with James Ishmael Ford
In this episode, Lion's Roar Assistant Editor Sandi Rankaduwa speaks with James Ishmael Ford, a Zen priest and Unitarian Universalist minister.
Designing the Modern Contemplative’s Toolkit with David Germano
Tibetologist David Germano discusses his work on the Generative Contemplation Initiative, a suite of projects that explore in depth the research on contemplative practices.
The Role of a Death Doula with Rosamaria Segura
Mariana Restrepo, deputy editor of Buddhadharma, speaks with Rosamaría Segura about how her Buddhist practice shapes her approach to death and dying.
How to Overcome Othering and the Root of Conflict with Tara Brach
Following her insightful and compassionate commentaries on the war in Gaza for lionsroar.com, Buddhist teacher Tara Brach sits down with editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod to talk about the ultimate root of conflict, the destructive dehumanizing known as othering, and how we can overcome it in ourselves and society.
The Power of Acceptance and Inclusivity with Rev. Melissa Opel
Assistant editor Sandi Rankaduwa talks to Reverend Melissa Opel, a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a minister at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco — the oldest Jodo Shinshu, or Shin Buddhist, church in the mainland United States.
Celebrating Buddhist Women on Film with Sharon A. Suh and Gaetano Kazuo Maida
In this conversation from BuddhaFest 2024, Gaetano Maida, executive director of the Buddhist Film Foundation, explores the intersection of film and Buddhism with Sharon Suh, president of the Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, and author of Silver Screen Buddha. Together, they discuss the importance of telling women’s stories through film, the profound contributions of female filmmakers, and their own experiences watching this year’s selected BuddhaFest films.
Visualizing Compassion through Chenrezig Practice with Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön
Mariana Restrepo speaks to Buddhist teacher and translator Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön about visualization practice, a central aspect of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, followed by a guided Chenrezig visualization practice.
Tibet’s Indigenous Religion with Harvey Rice and Jackie Cole
The authors of Flight of the Bön discuss Tibet’s indigenous religion, its influence on Tibetan Buddhism, and why its earth-centered spirituality is so important today.
Embodying Loving-Kindness with Arisika Razak
East Bay Meditation Center teacher Arisika Razak talks about loving-kindness, intergenerational trauma, recognizing our shared humanity, and the vulnerability in “ugly crying.” Razak then leads a loving-kindness meditation practice.
Buddhanature and Skillful Means with Joseph Goldstein
A deep conversation between Rod Meade Sperry and Joseph Goldstein exploring the nature of mind, buddhanature, enlightenment, and the balance between various teachings.