Episode Description

For episode 191 of the Metta Hour, Sharon speaks with scholar, researcher, and author, Alexander Gardner. Alex is the Director and Chief Editor of the Treasury of Lives, a biographical Encyclopedia of Tibet, Inner Asia, and the Himalaya. Alex completed his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies at the University of Michigan in 2007. His research focuses on the collaborative activities of three great nineteenth-century Tibetan Buddhist masters. In 2019, he released the book “The Life of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great” from Shambhala.

Content Warning – This interview includes conversation about suicide. If you are having thoughts of suicide – whether or not you are in crisis – you can find free support & resources via the: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

In this episode, Sharon and Alex discuss

• How Alex was drawn to Eastern studies
• The two-month retreat Sharon and Alex sat many years ago
• The importance of Lineage
• What inspired a book about Jamgon Kongtrul
• How the great Buddhism masters were regular people
• The history of Bodh Gaya, India
• The inspiration for Treasury of Lives
• How technology interfaces with spiritual teachings
• Alex’s exploration of sexuality in Buddhist Teachings
• A chance meeting with a clown nose

Additional Resources

For more information about Alex’s work, you can visit his website or get a copy of his book, “The Life of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great,” available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Listen to the Metta Hour Podcast in the following places: