The Buddha Pill Podcast

Most forms of meditation claim to transform us, but how do different practices actually change one’s heart, mind, and behaviour? In this episode of the Buddha Pill podcast, Miguel Farias explores the science and spiritual traditions that show us how meditation can unlock authentic compassion and love. By speaking to experts from clinical psychology, Islamic meditation, cognitive science, neuroscience of meditation, and philosophy, we revisit ideas about the importance of the heart as a source of knowing, and look at the empirical evidence for how meditation can modify our brain and social behaviours. Miguel Farias is a writer, teacher, and researcher. He holds a doctorate in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford, where he has lectured and tutored for the past twenty years. He is the co-author of The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You? and the lead editor of The Oxford Handbook of Meditation. He has written for the BBC and New Scientist.The Buddha Pill Podcast is produced by the Academic Podcast Agency and has been funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. The episode features contributions from:  Abdullah Rothman The Executive Director of the International Association of Islamic Psychology, working at the intersection of Islamic spirituality and mental health practice. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Kingston University, London. Contemplation: An Islamic Psycho-Spiritual Study by Dr. Malik Badri Free guided meditation audio recording by Dr. Abdallah RothmanDavid Leech  A philosopher of religion who has worked at Bristol University and the University of Oxford. He holds a PhD in the Philosophy from Cambridge University and is currently working on a book about ‘Heart Intelligence’.Tallon, Andrew (1997). Head and Heart: Affection, Cognition, Volition, as Truine Consciousness. New York: Fordham University Press.Steinbock, Anthony J. (2021). Knowing by Heart: Loving as Participation and Critique. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press.Erickson, Robert A. (1997). The Language of the Heart, 1600-1750.  Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.Steinbock, Anthony J., (editor) (2022). Phenomenology and Perspectives on the Heart.  Cham: Springer.Justin BarrettHe is one of the founders of the Cognitive Science of Religion and the author of numerous articles and books on religious belief. He has been a Professor of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. He is the founder and President of Blueprint 1543.Barrett, Justin (2004). Why Would Anyone Believe in God? Barrett, Justin (2012). Born Believers: The Science of Children’s Religious BeliefTania Singer A social neuroscientist, psychologist and world expert on empathy and compassion. She has a passion for creating bridges between fields that typically never interact such as linking neuroscience with economics, science with arts or science with spirituality.Linz, R.; Puhlmann, L. M.; Engert, V.; Singer, T.: Investigating the impact of distinct contemplative mental trainings on daily life stress, thoughts and affect – evidence from a nine-month longitudinal ecological momentary assessment study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 142 (2022)Trautwein, F.; Kanske, P.; Böckler-Raettig, A.; Singer, T.: Differential Benefits of Mental Training Types for Attention, Compassion, and Theory of Mind. Cognition 194, 104039 (2020)Here is a full list of her published scientific papers and for more information on the Resource project click HEREKendelle BondA Behavioural Psychologist with extensive experience working within healthcare and founder of the National Centre for Behaviour Change (NCBC)

In this episode off the Buddha Pill podcast we embrace the mystery of altered states of consciousness and consider the intersection of meditation, science, and spirituality. Host Miguel Farias discovers how meditation traditions have mapped unseen worlds and identified clear hierarchies of consciousness states. But how does one navigate these altered states? To explore this question Miguel speaks to experts from Western and Eastern philosophy, neuroscience and psychology of consciousness, Tibetan Buddhism and Asian medical traditions. He finds out that while meditation experiences can open doors to a greater understanding of life, death, and human potential, they can also lead to difficult and unwanted experiences.Miguel Farias is a writer, teacher, and researcher. He holds a doctorate in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford, where he has lectured and tutored for the past twenty years. He is the co-author of The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You? and the lead editor of The Oxford Handbook of Meditation. He has written for the BBC and New Scientist.The Buddha Pill Podcast is produced by the academic podcast agency and has been funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. The episode features contributions from:  David YaddenAn Associate Professor and the Roland Griffiths Professor of Psychedelic Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research focus is on the psychology of spiritual experiences and the neuroscience of psychedelic and psychedelic-like mental states.Yaden, David, & Newberg, Andrew (2022). The Varieties of Spiritual Experiences: 21st Century Research and Perspectives. Oxford University Press.Gavin FloodA professor of Hindu studies and comparative religion, Oxford University Flood, Gavin. (2004). The Ascetic Self: Subjectivity, Memory, and Tradition. Cambridge University Press. Flood, Gavin (2021).  Hinduism and Meditation: Tantra.David LeechA philosopher of religion and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies, University of Bristol. He holds a PhD in the Philosophy from Cambridge University and is currently working on a book about ‘Heart Intelligence’.Tallon, Andrew (1997). Head and Heart: Affection, Cognition, Volition, as Truine Consciousness. New York: Fordham University Press.Steinbock, Anthony J. (2021). Knowing by Heart: Loving as Participation and Critique. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press.Erickson, Robert A. (1997). The Language of the Heart, 1600-1750.  Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.Steinbock, Anthony J., (editor) (2022). Phenomenology and Perspectives on the Heart.  Springer Nature.Pierce SalgueroA Professor of Asian History and Health Humanities at Penn State University’s Abington College. He holds a Ph.D. in History of Medicine from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and is the host of the Blackberyl podcast. Salguero, Pierce (editor) (2026). Meditation Sickness: A Sourcebook on the Dangers of Buddhist Practice. University of Hawaii Press.Salguero, Pierce (2025). A Lamp unto Yourself: A Beginner's Guide to Asian Spiritual Practices, from Advaita and Buddhism to Yoga and Zen. Beacon Press. Georgios Halkias Director of the Centre for Buddhist Studies and the Glorious Sun Professor in Buddhist Studies, at the University of Hong Kong. Halkias, Georgios (2021).  Buddhist Meditation in Tibet: Exoteric and Esoteric Orientations. Oxford University Press.  Halkias, Georgios (2013). Luminous Bliss: A Religious History of Pure Land Literature in Tibet. University of Hawaii Press.The Tibetan Book of the Dead (translated by Gyurme Dorje) (2007). Penguin Books. 

In this episode of the Buddha Pill Podcast, host Miguel Farias addresses the extraordinary diversity that exists within the world of meditation. Are all meditation practices essentially the same or do they differ significantly in technique, goals, and outcomes? Miguel explores the historical and cultural evolution of meditation by speaking to experts from Hindu philosophy, Tibetan Buddhism, early Christianity, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology. By speaking with them, he discovers how different traditions have understood meditation’s creative power in shaping emotions and cognition.  Miguel Farias is a writer, teacher, and researcher. He holds a doctorate in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford, where he has lectured and tutored for the past twenty years. He is the co-author of The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You? and the lead editor of The Oxford Handbook of Meditation. He has written for the BBC and New Scientist.The Buddha Pill Podcast is produced by the Academic Podcast Agency and has been funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation The episode features contributions from:  Jessica Frazier A lecturer in theology and religion at Trinity College, Oxford, and a fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu studiesFrazier, Jessica (2021). The Self in Meditation: The Art of Self-Transformation. In Miguel Farias, David Brazier, and Mansur Lalljee (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Meditation. Oxford University Press. Forman, Jed (2024).Out of Sight, Into Mind: The History and Philosophy of Yogic Perception. Columbia University Press.Peter SedlmeierAn emeritus Professor of Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany. He has published widely on the psychological effects of meditation.Sedlmeier, Peter. (2022). The Psychology of Meditation: Varieties, Effects, Theories and Perspectives. Hogrefe Publishing.Sedlmeier, P. (2023). What mindfulness, and for whom? And why might it work? Springer Nature.  Matko, K. & Sedlmeier, p. (2023). Which meditation technique for whom? An experimental single case study comparing concentrative, humming, observing thoughts, and walking meditation. Springer Nature.  Brendan Case & Michael Ferguson Brendan Chase is the Associate Director for Research of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University.Michael Ferguson is a pioneering Harvard neuroscientist and founding director of the Neurospirituality Lab, they are both interested in studying the Christian contemplative tradition.Laird, Martin (2021). Western Christianity and Meditation. In M. Farias, D. Brazier & M. Lalljee (Eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Meditation (pp 144-162). Oxford University Press.Palmer, G. (translator)(1951). Writings From the Philokalia on Prayer of the Heart. London: Faber & Faber.The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks. Edited by B. Ward. Penguin Classics, 2003.Georgios HalkiasDirector of the Centre for Buddhist Studies and the Glorious Sun Professor in Buddhist Studies, at the University of Hong Kong. Halkias, Georgios (2021).  Buddhist Meditation in Tibet: Exoteric and Esoteric Orientations. The Oxford Handbook of Meditation: Miguel Farias (ed.) et al.Swami Ambikananda A Hindu monastic and the founder of The Traditional Yoga Association. She also is a Yoga and meditation teacher and the translator of Hindu scriptures.The Uddhava Gita (2000), translated by Swami Ambikananda. London: Francis Lincoln. This is part of the Bhagavatha Purana and is said to be the final teaching of Krishna.  Vasistha's Yoga (1993), translated by Swami Venkatesananda. New York: SUNY Press. This is a teaching of the Sage Vasishtha to the young Prince Rama who stood before him in a depressed state.  It is told by the Sage Valmiki.

In this first episode of the Buddha Pill Podcast, host Miguel Farias challenges stereotypes about meditation, and explores how its use as a stress-release and wellbeing tool contrasts with how religious traditions understand meditation as a catalyst for profound transformation. While speaking to Buddhist and Hindu meditation teachers, and a neuroscientist, he makes the case for why we need to develop a multidimensional science of meditation.Miguel Farias is a writer, teacher, and researcher. He holds a doctorate in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford, where he has lectured and tutored for the past twenty years. He is the co-author of The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You? and the lead editor of The Oxford Handbook of Meditation. He has written for the BBC and New Scientist.The Buddha Pill Podcast is produced by the Academic Podcast Agency and Perfect Motion and has been funded by the Templeton World Charity FoundationThis episode features contributions from: Swami Ambikananda A Hindu monastic and the founder of The Traditional Yoga Association. She also is a Yoga and meditation teacher and the translator of Hindu scriptures.The Uddhava Gita (2000), translated by Swami Ambikananda. Francis Lincoln Ltd. This text is part of the Bhagavatha Purana and is said to be the final teaching of Krishna. Vasistha's Yoga (1993), translated by Swami Venkatesananda. New York: SUNY Press. This is a teaching of the Sage Vasishtha to the young Prince Rama who stood before him in a depressed state. It is told by the Sage Valmiki.Ivana Buric A neuroscientist and mindfulness teacher. She holds a PhD from the University of Radboud, Netherlands, and Coventry University, England, and currently is a Research Fellow at the University of Amsterdam.Buric, I. (2025). Psychoneuroimmunology of Mindfulness: What works, how it works, and for whom?. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity-Health, 46, 101022.Mind the hype: A critical evaluation and prescriptive agenda for research on mindfulness and meditation. Perspectives on psychological science, 13(1), 36-61. British Journal of Health Psychology - Van Dam, N. T., Van Vugt, M. K., Vago, D. R., Schmalzl, L., Saron, C. D., Olendzki, A., ... & Meyer, D. E. (2018). David Brazier A Buddhist priest, lecturer, author, and psychotherapist. He holds a PhD from Keele University, England, and has published widely on Buddhism and Buddhism psychology.The Feeling Buddha: An introduction to Buddhism. (Macmillan Publishers).Who loves dies well: On the brink of Buddha’s Pure Land. (Mantra Books).