Sam Harris speaks with Jitindriyā. They discuss how art inspired her spiritual journey, her first encounters with Buddhism, her decision to become a nun, her ordination in the Thai Forest Tradition, her 12-year hiatus from monasticism, her life at Viveka Hermitage in Australia, patriarchal hierarchies in certain Buddhist traditions, the Four Noble Truths, Theravada vs. Dzogchen, pain vs. suffering, physical vs. mental phenomena, dualistic vs. nondual mindfulness, the benefits of structured practice, the work of Carlos Castaneda, and other topics.

Jitindriyā first trained as a monastic in the Theravada Forest Tradition lineage of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho for over 16 years, from 1988–2004. After leaving the monastic order she gained a Master’s degree in Buddhist psychotherapy practice. She re-entered monastic life in 2018, and currently lives at Viveka Hermitage in southern New South Wales.