Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo & Eva Natanya: Buddhist Meditation, Retreat, and Lojong | Fathom the Mind 003

Our guest on this episode is Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. Jetsunma is a bhikṣuṇī (which is the Sanskrit term for a fully-ordained Buddhist nun) in the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. She is an author and teacher, as well as the founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India. She is well known for having spent twelve years living and practicing in a remote cave in the Himalayas, three of those years in strict meditation retreat. Given Jetsunma’s background, we thought it fitting to bring in CCR Co-founder and Vice President Dr. Eva Natanya as a guest host for this conversation. In addition to her administrative duties, Dr. Natanya serves as a resident teacher at the CCR’s mind lab in Crestone, Colorado, helping to guide dedicated meditators who practice there in long-term, solitary meditation retreat. On a related note, if you’d like to learn more about the CCR’s vision for how this kind of sustained practice might influence the field of contemplative science, please visit our website at https://centerforcontemplativeresearch.org/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=003_jetsunma_tenzin_palmo In their dialogue, Jetsunma and Dr. Natanya cover a wide range of topics—including Buddhist monasticism, psychological upheavals in retreat, mind-training in daily life, and the roles of neuroscience and contemplative practice in studying the nature of consciousness. Across all these topics, one can trace a common thread: that true mental balance is accessible to all of us, so long as we can commit to training our minds in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. This dialogue overflows with memorable stories and hard-won wisdom, and we hope you find something today that you can take into your own lived experience. Please enjoy! *Show Notes* - Learn more about Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo via her official site: https://tenzinpalmo.com/ - Learn more about Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery by visiting their site: https://dglnunnery.com/ - Preorder Jetsunma's new book: Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: The Transformative Power of Lojong Practice (available May 26, 2026): https://www.shambhala.com/change-your-mind-change-your-life.html - In this conversation, Jetsunma mentions a video highlighting a woman who befriends sharks and removes hooks from their mouths, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/G8LmxwOgBhA?si=DF9yIs4U76TVcPU- - Limited time: *double your gift* to support CCR retreatants (gift match ends May 31, 2026) https://donorbox.org/the-2026-retreatant-support-campaign/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=003_jetsunma_tenzin_palmo - Sign up for newsletters from the Center for Contemplative Research: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/F1GR49c/CCRsignup Subscribe to _Fathom the Mind_ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! _Fathom the Mind_ is produced by the Center for Contemplative Research, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Crestone, Colorado. Visit our site at https://centerforcontemplativeresearch.org/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=003_jetsunma_tenzin_palmo to explore our work and access our library ( https://centerforcontemplativeresearch.org/library/ ) with over 70 hours of guided meditations and resources on contemplative practice. As a nonprofit, we rely on the support of generous listeners like you to keep these conversations going. You can find ways to give here: https://centerforcontemplativeresearch.org/donate/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=003_jetsunma_tenzin_palmo #meditation #buddhism #spirituality #wisdom