Show Notes
Kim Allen's journey into Buddhist practice began in 2003, sparked by a period of deep personal change and suffering. Guided by her primary teacher, Gil Fronsdal, she devoted herself to intensive retreat practice, sutta study, and a life aligned with the Eightfold Path. With over 1,000 days of silent retreat, including practice in Sri Lanka and Buddhist centers across Asia, Kim brings a depth of lived experience to her teaching.
She has studied with renowned teachers like Shaila Catherine, Bhikkhu Anālayo, and Bhikkhu Bodhi, and now offers teachings on classical texts, sutta study, and the integration of deep Dharma into daily life. In 2020, she took formal commitment as a Lay Contemplative, receiving the Dharma name Sumatimitta—a "wise friend" on the path.
Kim's teaching is rooted in direct experience—the willingness to meet reality as it is, with clarity, compassion, and wisdom. Her approach blends the profound depth of early Buddhist wisdom with the simple beauty of the present moment—whether it's the sound of a hawk's call or the ripple of aspen leaves.
I'm honored to welcome Kim to the podcast today as we discuss the Dharma, the power of retreat practice, and what it means to live a contemplative life in the modern world.
More from Escaping Samsara
Bhante Panya tried the forest monk thing. He wore the Theravada robes in America, followed the Vinaya rules, and watched potential practitioners flee because he looked too foreign, too untouchable, too "religious icon" instead of accessible teacher. So he made a move that freaked out his ego: took Mahayana ordination in Taiwan, moved to Vietnam, and started asking uncomfortable questions about what Buddhism actually needs to look like in the West. This conversation gets real fast.
In this episode, we sit down with Kat Ashtanga, an advanced practitioner, to explore: ✨ How practice evolves through the different series of poses ✨ Balancing lineage with personal practice ✨ Integrating pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood ✨ The subtle benefits of long term asana practice ✨ How the universal energy of prana is conducted via these poses Whether you're deep in your own Ashtanga journey or just beginning to explore, this conversation offers wisdom and inspiration for yogis at all levels. 🔗 Also listen on Spotify / Apple / Substack 👉 Don't miss exclusive writings, bonus episodes, and behind-the-scenes reflections. Subscribe on Substack today: https://escapingsamsara.substack.com Here's the only video of the old school Advanced A practice I'm aware of on YT: • Ashtanga Yoga - ORIGINAL 1974 ADVANCED A S... F ind out more about Kat: https://www.kathache.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and share — it helps the podcast reach more practitioners around the world. #Ashtanga #YogaPodcast #EscapingSamsara #Meditation #Motherhood #Lineage
In the fourth and final episode of our series on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, Nathan sits down with renowned Dharma practitioner and ER physician Daniel Ingram to explore the most confronting and transformative contemplation: death. Drawing from his experience in emergency rooms and deep meditation, Daniel discusses how death can be a powerful catalyst for spiritual urgency, freedom, and insight. They reflect on childhood spirituality, near-death experiences, death rehearsal practices, and the delicate balance between striving and letting go on the path. If you've ever asked yourself what really happens when we die—and how contemplating death can make life more vivid and meaningful—this conversation is for you.
This is episode three in the series on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, contemplations that form the basis of the Buddhist path. In this episode, Ven. Robina Courtin, a Tibetan Buddhist nun with nearly fifty years in the tradition, discusses "The Drawbacks of Samsara". We dive into the nature of suffering in Samsara, the subtle role of attachment, and the practical meaning of the Four Noble Truths. Robina speaks to the balance between devotion and clear-eyed reasoning, showing how both can deepen and stabilize our practice. Our conversation explores the six realms of existence, the workings of karma, and how understanding the nature of Samsara inspires personal responsibility for our inner life. Throughout, she returns to one essential truth: the quality of our thoughts and intentions shapes the quality of our lives. Robina's website: https://robinacourtin.com/ Follow Escaping Samsara:
Episode 2/4 on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, and this time we are talking about the "precious human rebirth" and pondering the unique opportunity that human beings have to practice the path to awakening. And to discuss this I am joined by Joe Evans, founder of the Rangdröl Foundation and teacher of Dzogchen under the name Jigme Rangdröl. The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind, also known as the Four Reminders, are a set of Buddhist contemplations that encourage practitioners to turn their minds away from worldly distractions and towards spiritual practice. These thoughts are: 1) the preciousness of a human rebirth, 2) impermanence and death, 3) karma (cause and effect), and 4) the unsatisfactory nature of samsara (cyclic existence). The first episode of this series was on Karma (see our podcast feed for that one) but it's not necessary to listen to them all in order! To find out more about Joe Evans, visit: https://www.rangdrolfoundation.org/ Follow our substack for weekly posts, essays, and podcasts! Join our Telegram community