Venerable Dr Khammai Dhammasmi Part I: On Monkhood and Depending on Society

The first point to understanding and exploring the landscapes around us, whether it is for the purpose of design, travel or learning is to learn how to connect with the nature around us.  Whether you are hiking, gardening or doing a site visit as a designer, to truly connect with nature requires a deep seated concentration.  This can be achieved with mindfulness, which has been scientifically proven to rewire your brain. Did you know that through 30 minutes of mindful meditation a day, the brain chemistry can change with MRI scans showing growth in the hippocampus, which is the area in the brain related to memory and learning and reduction of grey matter in the amygdala, the centre for the brain’s fight or flight response?

My guest in this episode is Venerable Dr Khammai Dhammasami. He has been a Theravada Buddhist monk for over 30 years, teaching mindfulness vipassana meditation and compassion meditation throughout England, the US and in Asia. In England, he founded the Oxford Buddha Vihara and runs regular meditation retreats, conferences on meditation and is also a Buddhist chaplain at Oxford University. His heartfelt and scholarly approach to meditation is what has drawn me to learn more about vipassana meditation and Buddhist teachings. As we truly went deep into the subject, the interview is split into two parts to make the information more digestible.

If you want to learn more about Oxford Buddha Vihara, please visit the website: http://www.oxfordbuddhavihara.org.uk/

They hold a monthly meditation retreat at the Forest of Dean and Oxford. I highly recommend attending, especially to inquire into your own mind and the subject of relating Buddhist philosophies to the landscape around us. You can also get in touch with me to find out more. 

Music by the talented guitarist and composer, Vlad Cuiujuclu. The track name is "Nocturne for Anastasiya".