October 15, 2025
This Very Moment
Episode 1: Part One—From Skeptic to Seeker & Part Two—Doctor, Retreatant, Translator
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Show Notes
In this inaugural episode, Ivan Bercholz (co-owner of Shambhala Publications) queries John Canti, a founding member of the Padmakara Translation Group, about the path that has led him to This Very Moment.
We learn about John’s family lineage and childhood, his spiritual roots and early skepticism toward religion, as well as the pivotal moments that led him to embrace Buddhist teachings. He reflects on the impact of early teachers, pop culture, and significant encounters with key lamas, ultimately emphasizing the importance in his life of having multiple teachers. The discussion highlights the ongoing quest for understanding the nature of mind and the winding path of the journey toward that end.
About the Interviewee
John Canti is a founding member of the Padmakara Translation Group, editorial chair of 84000, and longtime doctor for many of the greatest Lamas of the 20th century, including Dudjom Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He is a Cambridge graduate, completed two three-year retreats, and has translated some of the most revered editions of seminal Tibetan texts available in the English language.
Books
- The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones by Dilgo Khyentse and Patrul Rinpoche
- The Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche
- The Monk and the Philosopher by Jean-François Revel and Matthieu Ricard
- The Hundred Verses of Advice by Dilgo Khyentse & Padampa Sangye
- Also available as an audiobook read by John Canti
- A Guide to The Words of My Perfect Teacher by Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang
- The Heart of Compassion by Dilgo Khyentse & Ngulchu Thogme
Articles
- “Facing Your Mind” (translations of texts by Jamgon Kongtrul and Dudjom Lingpa), in Holly Gayley and Joshua Schapiro's, A Gathering of Brilliant Moons: Practice Advice from the Rimé Masters of Tibet
- "The Lost Buddhist Kingdom of Khotan" Tricycle : The Buddhist Review
- "What’s That on Top of the Buddha’s Head?" Tricycle : The Buddhist Review
- "Eighty-Four Thousand Reasons to Translate the Canon" Journal of Tibetan Literature
