Phillip Moffitt, a Dharma teacher and former Esquire editor, delves into how the Buddha's teachings can guide us through life's changes. He discusses the significance of the Four Noble Truths as tools for navigating suffering and fostering empathy. Moffitt emphasizes mindfulness as a way to respond to challenges wisely. He also shares personal anecdotes about finding joy amid difficulties, illustrating the importance of cherishing moments in challenging times. His insights reveal how intentional living can transform our approach to life's unpredictability.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Buddha's First Dharma Talk
After enlightenment, Buddha wondered who could grasp his teachings.
He shared the Four Noble Truths with five former companions, his "first turning of the wheel."
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Three Insights for Handling Suffering
Recognize what causes suffering (dukkha) in your life.
Ask yourself if you have a choice in how you respond, then choose wisely.
insights INSIGHT
Dukkha and Sukha
Buddha didn't say all life is suffering, but that suffering is intertwined with joy (sukha).
Three types of dukkha exist: physical/emotional pain, pain from change, and existential angst.
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Way before Buzzfeed, the Buddha was creating listicles: The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, The Three Jewels, The Eight Worldly Winds... I could go on. He wasn’t using these lists as clickbait, obviously; they were teaching tools -- ways to understand how the mind works, and how we can work with the mind. The first and, many believe, most important list promulgated by the Buddha was the Four Noble Truths. And today, we're going to take a stroll through this list with Phillip Moffitt. He’s got an interesting resume. He’s a deep dharma teacher who studied in the Thai Forest tradition for years, and was a Co-Guiding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center for most of the last decade. But he’s also a former editor of Esquire Magazine who has run workshops and done one-on-one counseling on the subject of personal life changes and transitions. As I mentioned in the last episode, we’re dedicating this whole week to the subject of managing change in a chaotic world. Monday, we spoke to Bruce Feiler, who takes a more journalistic approach to the subject. Today, it’s a Buddhist approach. Not only does Phillip walk us through the ways in which the Four Noble Truths can help us manage transitions, but he also layers in another list -- a listicle within a listicle. Don’t worry, it’s not confusing or complicated; it’s incredibly interesting. So interesting that Phillip actually wrote a whole book about the combination of these lists, called Dancing With Life. Where to find Phillip Moffitt online: Website: http://dharmawisdom.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dharmawisdom Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealphillipmoffitt/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Phillipmoffitt1?feature=watch Book Mentioned: Dancing With Life by Phillip Moffitt: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781594863530 Other Resources Mentioned: After the Ecstasy, the Laundry by Jack Kornfield: https://www.amazon.com/After-Ecstasy-Laundry-Heart-Spiritual/dp/0553378295 Ajahn Sumedho: https://dharmaseed.org/teacher/10/ Additional Resources: Ten Percent Happier Live: https://tenpercent.com/live Coronavirus Sanity Guide: https://www.tenpercent.com/coronavirussanityguide Free App access for Frontline Workers: https://tenpercent.com/care Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/phillip-moffitt-283
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