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What if the path to collective healing begins with facing our inner wounds... not bypassing them?
In this episode, Sean Lee-Davies speaks with Buddhist psychotherapist, author, and teacher Dr. Miles Neale, who blends Tibetan Buddhism, depth psychology, and trauma healing to offer a radically grounded path toward inner transformation. From the crisis of meaning in the West to the commercialization of mindfulness, this is a sobering yet empowering exploration of what it means to truly wake up.
Miles is the author of Gradual Awakening and Return with Elixir, founder of the Contemplative Studies Program, and a long-time student of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With over two decades of clinical and contemplative training, he is a sought-after voice at the intersection of Eastern wisdom and modern psychology.
In this conversation, Miles shares:
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00:00 Episode Trailer
01:16 Why trauma, not pleasure, is the root of suffering
04:42 The “spiritual bypassing” trap in the West
09:31 The real purpose of mindfulness—and how it’s been distorted
13:54 Miles’ path from psychology to Tibetan Buddhism
17:45 The inner split: healing the fragmented self
22:09 Why our culture avoids the hero’s journey
25:34 Initiation, suffering, and transformation
29:12 What Tibetan Buddhism offers modern psychology
32:08 Facing discomfort vs. chasing enlightenment
35:17 Creating safe containers for emotional work
39:50 Reclaiming the wisdom in sacred myths
44:06 From therapy to dharma: integrating ancient maps
47:51 Why commercial mindfulness isn’t enough
51:10 The long arc of gradual awakening
55:44 Final thoughts: courage, compassion, and coming home
