Video Interviews

Dharma Path of Service Interview with Dharma Gates

With Dharma Gates, USA

When Catherine Sensei was at the Future of American Buddhism Conference in June 2022, she met Aaron Stryker of Dharma Gates, a nonprofit organization dedicated to opening pathways into deep meditation practice for young adults.

They filmed a conversation about Dharma as a path and practice. They chat about Sensei’s personal story in Dharma, the Three Month Intensive Program at Clear Sky Center and the Namgyal lineage’s unique mandate to bring the teachings to new places.

Wasteland to Pureland Interview with Banyen Books

Vancouver, BC

Banyen Books – In Conversation podcast spoke with Doug Duncan Qapel and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei about their book Wasteland to Pureland. They discussed how spiritual awakening is the only sustainable mindset in a universe that appears chaotic and for a planet that is in crisis.  While giving practical tips gained from their experience in setting up Clear Sky Meditation Centre, they offered insights from the path of karma yoga and the wisdom that comes from integrating spiritual life with the realities of modern-day living.

Wasteland to Pureland Interview with Watkins Bookshop

London, UK

Doug Qapel Duncan Sensei and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei were interviewed by Jonathan Clifford at Watkins Bookshop in London UK, about their newly released book ‘Wasteland to Pureland‘. They describe how the book describes spiritual teachings  from Buddhist philosophy, western psychology and wisdom traditions such as karma yoga, dharmic astrology and tantra. By first understanding the forces of ego and trauma that hold each of us back, we learn how to get beyond small views of the self, into expansive, ever-transforming selfhood and awakening.

Finding Peace in a F*#@ed Up World Presentation

Conscious Life Expo, Los Angeles, USA

Qapel and Catherine Sensei spoke at the Conscious Life Expo in Los Angeles on how we can find peace in chaotic times. They describe how information overload spreads anxiety and how we need better options and to co-create them ourselves. In order to find more inner and outer peace, it’s vital to properly align our worldly engagements, transforming our daily activities into a spiritual practice. Sounds simple? Doing it can be tricky. How do we integrate our spiritual practice with the demands of life?

‘The Secret to Happiness is Service’ with Shortcut to Happiness

Conscious Life Expo, Los Angeles, USA

Doug Sensei (Qapel) chats with Christine Barclay of Shortcut to Happiness at the Conscious Life Expo in LA. She asks him ‘what is the secret to happiness?’. He explains that ‘service’ is the secret to happiness, and ways one can serve.

What is the Hero’s Journey Interview

with Dharma Germany

Jutta Hammann-Zudeick interviews Qapel and Catherine Sensei about the hero’s journey – a metaphor for spiritual transformation from the western mystical tradition.

Featured in these Publications:

Mind Body Spirit, PRINT EDITION

How do we turn a seeming wasteland of climate change, corporate greed and pandemic into a pureland of spiritual, environmental and social generativity?  In Qapel and Sensei’s article, Wasteland to Pureland (based on their book), they describe how to co-create the world we want to live in.

Kindred Spirit Magazine, PRINT EDITION

Kindred Spirit Magazine, PRINT EDITION
Doug and Catherine Sensei share about conscious relationships in the Kindred Spirit Magazine. They show how moving from loneliness and isolation to better connection is an important part of our spiritual development.

The Mindful Word, ONLINE EDITION
Devon Streich, Planet Dharma Karma Yogi, shares his experience of growing up as a mixed-race American. Not fitting into either the ‘white’ or BIPOC category, Devon shares his insights on breaking down racial barriers.

• Conscious Awakening Community, Ubiquity University’s Humanity Rising Conference.

• What Japan’s Oldest Festival Teaches Us on Pandemics, JET Alumni Association UK presents, in association with Japan Society NW.
• Buddhist Women in the 2020’s, Menla Online, Tibet House.
• Vajrayana Buddhism and the Life, Death, and Rebirth Bardos, Emmanuel College in Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
• Contemplating 400 Years of Inequality, Online Course.
• Money, Sex and Power: Making them Conscious, LA Conscious Life Expo.
• Finding Peace in a F*#@ed up World, LA Conscious Life Expo.
• Riding the Dragon, Teachings at Watkins Bookstore, London.

• All Courses: See Planet Dharma’s course schedule for full list of present, past and future courses.