(#203) Justin Kelley: Beyond Scholarship: The Meeting of Dharma and Education

In this insightful episode of The Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken engages with Justin Kelley, Executive Director of Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools. Justin spent ten years living in and around Tibetan refugee communities in India and Nepal, studying Tibetan language, Buddhist philosophy, and meditative practices. Where he eventually connected with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Encouraged to pursue his education, in 2022 he completed his PhD from Rice University's Department of Religion where he studied with Dr. Anne C. Klein. Justin's research focuses on different types of personal transformation, how we cultivate these transformations, and what is born from them. 

You'll hear Daniel and Justin explore: 

• Justin's spiritual journey post-college, his transformative experiences in India, and his academic pursuits that led to a PhD focusing on Longchen Rabjam's Great Completeness tradition; 
• Justin's involvement in Tergar Institute's unique blend of scholarship, practice, and application;
• the Tergar Schools Project aimed at infusing Dharma principles into young children's education;
• methods to apply Buddhist teachings in modern contexts, fostering spiritual growth, practical wisdom; and
• much more! 

🌿 To learn more about Tergar Institute please visit http://www.tergarinstitute.org

 📚To donate to the Tergar Schools project visit https://bit.ly/tergarschools-wisdom

 

Note to our listeners: This episode contains the mention of suicide. If you would prefer to avoid this part of the conversation please skip from 16:48 - 23:32.

If you or someone you love are in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. International listeners, please visit The International Association for Suicide Prevention to find crisis care in your region.