It turns out when you strip away the religious and institutional covers from the ancient masters like Lao Tzu, Buddha and Jesus, you can see that they figured out how to feel happy, healthy and fulfilled and told us how to do it. The practices they espoused like meditation and prayer are only now being demonstrated by neurologists and neuropsychologists to transform mood and outlook. But just learning to meditate, practicing mindfulness, or learning how to sense and move your energy isn't enough. You need a framework in which to practice these ancient techniques. Unfortunately, if you don't want the layers of institutional confusion and control that come with religion, there is almost nowhere to go. In the tradition of "Dharma talks," this podcast addresses that gap. It breaks these mysterious teachings down into contemporary language so that we can all benefit from the profound insights into the human condition provided to us by the likes of Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tzu and so many others. And rather than dwelling too much on esoteric texts, we anchor many of the teachings on great quotes from Star Wars, The Last Airbender, Kung Fu Panda, Harry Potter and other classics from our modern mythical toolbox. You can also find Serena Guided Meditations and the Serena Happy Body Podcast as separate shows. Like the all the Serena Podcasts, it's free.