In this episode of Dialogues Across Cultures, writer and I Ching scholar Annie Wang sits down with scholar, author, and long-time meditator Prof. Robert K.C. Forman for a deep, cross-cultural conversation on consciousness, spirituality, and inner peace.

Prof. Forman has practiced Transcendental Meditation (TM) twice daily for 57 years without missing a single day. Drawing from his background as a scholar of comparative religion (PhD from Columbia University, author of 13 books) and his experience as a hospital chaplain working with the terminally ill, he offers profound and practical wisdom on what it truly means to quiet the mind.

In this episode, we explore:

• 57 Years of Daily Practice: How meditation shifts from an effortful technique into an effortless daily rhythm—much like eating lunch.

• Effortless "Joining With": Why true meditation is about slipping naturally into pure consciousness rather than forcefully monitoring your "monkey mind."

• Overcoming Ego Death & "I-Hold": Why chasing "无我" (ego death) backfires, and how to gently allow self-preoccupations to dissolve into open awareness.

• Lessons from the Dying: Fresh perspectives on life, radical honesty, and lack of regret gathered from sitting at the bedsides of terminally ill patients.

• Energy Fields & Chakras: Physical perceptions of subtle energy, the power of collective meditation, and the tangible vibes of spiritual places like Sedona.

• East Meets West: How Buddhist Śūnyatā (emptiness) and Hindu Brahman (fullness) describe the exact same underlying reality.

About the Host:

Annie Wang (王蕤) is a published author and I Ching scholar exploring the intersection of Eastern philosophy, Western thought, and human consciousness.

Connect & Read More:

Check out Annie Wang's books on Amazon.com

Audiobooks:Early Bloomers https://a.co/d/03o3SCRCSeduction https://a.co/d/03XSw2qlMay in America https://a.co/d/0gh0PrpJObsession https://a.co/d/0gQRwgDV中文电子书：《哈佛情人》 https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JRUDQO/allbooks《美式生孩子，中式坐月子》 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S994T5Z《小佛脚》 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C64DFRZ7《纽约旧事》 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C754JF77

How can a country that produces some of the world's greatest universities, scientists, and innovators also have such a strong tradition of anti-intellectualism? Tyler and Annie explore the contrasting social status of educated people in the United States and China, examining the historical, cultural, and political forces that have shaped public attitudes toward knowledge, expertise, and intellectuals.

Who is actually more materialistic or realistic — Americans or Chinese people?

When I came to America, I was told that Chinese people are obsessed with money. But when I was in China, we were told that Americans live in an extremely capitalist and commercial society where everything revolves around money.

So which society really has a richer spiritual world?

On one hand, America is a Christian country that is proud of its beliefs. On the other hand, China has a rich history of art, poetry, philosophy, and spiritual practices.