{"id":770262,"date":"2026-08-12T15:29:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/podcast\/musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:29:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:29:19","slug":"musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/es\/podcast\/musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation","title":{"rendered":"Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In today\u2019s episode, Gen Kelsang Sherab shares the remarkable journey that took him from being a professional musician in Israel and the Netherlands to becoming a Buddhist monk and meditation teacher. Looking back on his early search for meaning, he describes the quiet sense that something was missing from his life, even when everything appeared successful from the outside.<\/p>\n<p>His encounter with Kadampa Buddhism introduced him to teachings that helped him understand the nature of samsara, the importance of moral discipline, and the possibility of transforming the mind through meditation. He recalls the books that first captured his attention, including <em>Clear Light of Bliss<\/em>, <em>Tantric Grounds and Paths<\/em>, <em>Introduction to Buddhism<\/em>, and <em>Joyful Path of Good Fortune<\/em>, and explains how these teachings gradually changed the direction of his life. <\/p>\n<p>Sherab also reflects on his mother\u2019s death, difficult experiences with his family, his decision to give up music, and the painful process of realizing that the Buddhist path he had built for himself needed to be completely rebuilt. Throughout the conversation, he explores the role of the Dharma Protector, the importance of learning from our mistakes, and why meditation is not about fighting the mind but learning to understand and work with it. <\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, this is a story about discovering what truly brings happiness, having the courage to change direction, and finding a deeper purpose through Dharma practice.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU\">00:00<\/a> From Musician to Buddhist Monk<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU&amp;t=301s\">05:01<\/a> Searching for a Spiritual Guide<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU&amp;t=605s\">10:05<\/a> Discovering Kadampa Buddhism and Books<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU&amp;t=900s\">15:00<\/a> Samsara, Sorrow, and Losing His Mother<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU&amp;t=1200s\">20:00<\/a> Choosing Ordination Over Music<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU&amp;t=1502s\">25:02<\/a> Family Conflict and Spiritual Growth<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU&amp;t=1800s\">30:00<\/a> Understanding the Dharma Protector<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hS_swacFLNU&amp;t=2100s\">35:00<\/a> Virtue, Truth, and Samsara<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Book References<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso\ud83d\udcd6 Introduction to Buddhism: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rVEFsajBvSHkzbTM5YVA1TG5vTTM2U3xBR3JiS2FsY1d2U0JHRFVaT0UtMzJNS1FwT1lYRHVWTUpGY1B0eUFhZEQyOFdJXzdzZjNWb1g5SXY2UlM2Z29PbUlJTThBMmRqOTdfTVdnWEFmNUhJZUtsQ2k0SVh4di1yWWhj&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fkadampa.org%2Fbook%2Fintroduction-to-buddhism-2&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/kadampa.org\/book\/introduction&#8230;<\/a>\ud83d\udcd6 Clear Light of Bliss: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rU3FDN0x1LXJtMkFJeHNpNEVGMEJvdXxBR3JiS2FsX3hRdUxINGpFVlBXZkZueUpLNU9SeXBwWUNjMEFDRG85ZUp6Tjg5QkhSQ2JGcEZDcUdpdzFmQ2JqWkZERFV0Z0tSNjltdGdiazJPRndhOHBTSnFUdThZVXpTOHhu&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fkadampa.org%2Fbook%2Fclear-light-of-bliss&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/kadampa.org\/book\/clear-light-&#8230;<\/a>\ud83d\udcd6 Tantric Grounds and Paths: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUlg3RlhDc1YyMUJUVG90cF9DMmtsSXxBR3JiS2FtQUFWd0FyU2VSYnE1NWVXeHpUSWhYLWZOLXg1WTJGajVFZFJEYWVzSEI2enZEUkE0OVhUVzhqRXVvTHFFRjRyLUJGVmxORndNY05LSXdzdGM3NlJFcEM2dmVOSmw1&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fkadampa.org%2Fbook%2Ftantric-grounds-and-paths&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/kadampa.org\/book\/tantric-grou&#8230;<\/a>\ud83d\udcd6  Joyful Path of Good Fortune: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rVHc1WTIwU2xReGd0VUJETGtZRkVqX3xBR3JiS2FrQ0k2eGJXdmF2YTllcWdJQ2lnTVVfTXVET0ZWRm95aXI3YVZwZTVLQUV4aFRRMGtMZU5BRHZLZ01HNWFGX2RtUEQtbnNDeW5pbTlrVDhVUENrNXE0RGVaUnhnMjVq&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fkadampa.org%2Fbook%2Fjoyful-path-of-good-fortune&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/kadampa.org\/book\/joyful-path-&#8230;<\/a><strong>Want More?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes<\/p>\n<p>Find a meditation center near you:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUVVDaU9renNuU0llT1hkMVNXX2xTVHxBR3JiS2FtTmNZVjNYM2JKMjIwWGNvQW8ta001YXBUajZ2TnJDMlU4Y1laUDlPWlRZWlJGSnI3ajE1akpndnBJeG9VTG1Vb1dXaDAtNlhKRFFvcUxPbmxyaG1qZTZuWGdCeXF5&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fkadampa.org%2Fnkt-center-search%2F%3Flang%3Den&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/kadampa.org\/nkt-center-search&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Listen to teaching clips:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUVVDaU9renNuU0llT1hkMVNXX2xTVHxBR3JiS2FtTmNZVjNYM2JKMjIwWGNvQW8ta001YXBUajZ2TnJDMlU4Y1laUDlPWlRZWlJGSnI3ajE1akpndnBJeG9VTG1Vb1dXaDAtNlhKRFFvcUxPbmxyaG1qZTZuWGdCeXF5&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fkadampa.org%2Fnkt-center-search%2F%3Flang%3Den&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\">\u2060<\/a>YouTube: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCRvpT2dbLasFvBNOUSdhOAg\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\/\u00a0@nktikbu\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>Spotify: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rU2REOG5MaGtDeEI1ZFdHUm5QelFZbnxBR3JiS2FtSmJLYWVsMjJqU2xYUkFWZ09jdVg3Q1ZYaXVYUTlOYXFuYUZ0elhvbWxneHFJSGFCU2Q2bnhvMnhXeEF6a3VCQy1kMWhDcGU2T3lZQzJXRlBHRW9DLVB3ZGlGN3RZ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/5QPCFEy&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Follow the Modern Buddhism Podcast<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Facebook: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rVE1OQmNHM0RhSi16dnZ0S2RsT2lfb3xBR3JiS2FtS2RjSlJkQmF1enFtWDhqR2xYUXNmMG9oTTFWRkpiaGpmS0ZRb3NGeWY2d3RRclBFS3JoRzhhN0hxa1FqWkxzZVA2bjhrR3R1dTJfTHF3cGtDdWNUekt0OTJfMEVm&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmodernbuddhismpodcast&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u00a0\u00a0\/\u00a0modernbuddhismpodcast\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>Instagram: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUM4Zm9rU25DT3hJODhNYTlzdEtpZGh1TlBOVnxBR3JiS2FsWWVkSHQ2TGg4dnFlRXFBM253emxhN0JsaEhLMGJLUTJVVkxaZ1dSdnhiUFNJekxBMEZIeDNqUHZfaGpaTGU4Z05TYlZSWTBSZFhlU3AzaHhuQ0NJRVc1TV9JNGQ5&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmodernbuddhismpodcast%2F&amp;v=hS_swacFLNU\" target=\"_blank\" 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href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/modernbuddhism\">#ModernBuddhism<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/dharma\">#Dharma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/spiritualjourney\">#SpiritualJourney<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/buddhistmonk\">#BuddhistMonk<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/innerpeace\">#InnerPeace<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/samsara\">#Samsara<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/dharmaprotector\">#DharmaProtector<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/joyfulpathofgoodfortune\">#JoyfulPathOfGoodFortune<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/mindtraining\">#MindTraining<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hashtag\/happiness\">#Happiness<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In today\u2019s episode, Gen Kelsang Sherab shares the remarkable journey that took him from being a professional musician in Israel and the Netherlands to becoming a Buddhist monk and meditation teacher. Looking back on his early search for meaning, he describes the quiet sense that something was missing from his life, even when everything appeared ... <a title=\"Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/es\/podcast\/musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation\" aria-label=\"Leer m\u00e1s sobre Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation\">Leer m\u00e1s<\/a>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":770263,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sync_status":"none","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/fbd61f2c\/podcast\/play\/124127523\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-7-12%2Fc196ea34-8350-96e5-d14b-c3e903f923d7.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","castos_file_data":"","cover_image":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/42151139-1786544873230-26443988afe7b.jpg","cover_image_id":"770263","duration":"00:43:05","filesize":"51.7 mb","filesize_raw":"54212877","date_recorded":"2026-08-12 14:29:19","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"41","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"full"},"tags":[],"subject":[],"series":[2952],"class_list":["post-770262","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","series-the-modern-buddhism-podcast-audio","resize-featured-image"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/42151139-1786544873230-26443988afe7b.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/42151139-1786544873230-26443988afe7b.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/es\/podcast-download\/770262\/musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation","player_link":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/es\/podcast-player\/770262\/musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/es\/feed\/podcast\/the-modern-buddhism-podcast-audio","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"pZYIVW120F\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/es\/podcast\/musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation\">Musician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/kadampa.org\/es\/podcast\/musician-to-monk-why-i-chose-meditation\/embed#?secret=pZYIVW120F\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"\u00abMusician to Monk: Why I Chose Meditation\u00bb \u2014 Budismo kadampa\" data-secret=\"pZYIVW120F\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! 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