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What if the path to collective healing begins with facing our inner wounds... not bypassing them?

In this episode, Sean Lee-Davies speaks with Buddhist psychotherapist, author, and teacher Dr. Miles Neale, who blends Tibetan Buddhism, depth psychology, and trauma healing to offer a radically grounded path toward inner transformation. From the crisis of meaning in the West to the commercialization of mindfulness, this is a sobering yet empowering exploration of what it means to truly wake up.

Miles is the author of Gradual Awakening and Return with Elixir, founder of the Contemplative Studies Program, and a long-time student of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With over two decades of clinical and contemplative training, he is a sought-after voice at the intersection of Eastern wisdom and modern psychology.

In this conversation, Miles shares:

• Why spiritual growth requires staying present with your pain, not bypassing it
• The psychological costs of Western culture’s obsession with speed and avoidance
• How trauma fragments our sense of self and why storytelling is essential for repair
• The dangers of stripping Buddhist wisdom from its ethical and philosophical roots
• Why patience, practice, and inner narrative are the real keys to lasting healing
• How ancient myths offer a roadmap for the modern spiritual journey

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Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/milesneale/?hl=en

Website – https://linktr.ee/milesneale

00:00 Episode Trailer

01:16 Why trauma, not pleasure, is the root of suffering

04:42 The “spiritual bypassing” trap in the West

09:31 The real purpose of mindfulness—and how it’s been distorted

13:54 Miles’ path from psychology to Tibetan Buddhism

17:45 The inner split: healing the fragmented self

22:09 Why our culture avoids the hero’s journey

25:34 Initiation, suffering, and transformation

29:12 What Tibetan Buddhism offers modern psychology

32:08 Facing discomfort vs. chasing enlightenment

35:17 Creating safe containers for emotional work

39:50 Reclaiming the wisdom in sacred myths

44:06 From therapy to dharma: integrating ancient maps

47:51 Why commercial mindfulness isn’t enough

51:10 The long arc of gradual awakening

55:44 Final thoughts: courage, compassion, and coming home