Explore the concept of nothingness and the beauty of nothing in this podcast. Discover the idea of every day being a good day and the concept of hope in Buddhism. Question the ambiguity of good and bad days and the value of perception. Embrace the power of acceptance and hopelessness in Buddhism to take more skillful actions. Stay tuned for the discussion of the Zen koan Joe Shoe's Mu in the next episode.
Embracing the present moment with awareness and mindfulness can make every moment a good moment, regardless of external circumstances.
Recognizing the impermanence and interdependence of the sense of self leads to a deeper understanding of the self and a more skillful way of engaging with the present moment.
Deep dives
The Beauty of Nothing: Embracing Perspective and the Present Moment
The podcast episode delves into the concept of the beauty of nothing, emphasizing the power of perspective and the present moment. The speaker shares the everyday is a good day co-on and explores how it relates to hopelessness and the Buddhist view of the present moment. The idea is that every moment can be a good moment if we bring awareness and mindfulness to it, regardless of external circumstances. The discussion continues by examining the concept of nothingness and its connection to the sense of self. It highlights that nothingness, much like the perception of a rainbow, is not devoid of something but is an interdependent and ever-changing aspect of life. The importance of accepting and observing this concept is emphasized, leading to a deeper understanding of skillful actions and the beauty of living in the present moment.
Practicing Nothingness: Recognizing Somethingness and the Illusion of Self
The podcast explores the practice of doing nothing and the challenges that arise when one tries to achieve nothingness. It explains that attempting to do nothing is, in fact, doing something and highlights that even in moments of supposed nothingness, there is always something happening. The conversation then transitions to the concept of non-self or no self in Buddhism, comparing it to perceiving a rainbow. The perception of self, much like the perception of a rainbow, is not fixed or permanent, but an ever-changing concept. The importance of recognizing the impermanence and interdependence of the sense of self is emphasized, as it leads to a deeper understanding of the self and a more skillful way of engaging with the present moment.
Hopelessness and Skillful Action: Embracing the Present Moment
The podcast episode discusses the Buddhist perspective on hopelessness and its relationship to skillful action in the present moment. The speaker presents the analogy of being caught in a storm at sea, highlighting that hopelessness does not mean resignation, but rather an acceptance of the present circumstances. By acknowledging the reality of a challenging situation, one can then focus on taking skillful actions to navigate through it. The concept of wishlessness is introduced, encouraging individuals to let go of the desire for things to be different and instead direct their energy towards responding effectively to the present moment. The episode concludes by reiterating the beauty of embracing the present moment in all its aspects, including the challenges and uncertainties it may bring.
Is nothing something? What happens when we do nothing? In this podcast episode, I will share my thoughts on the concept of nothingness and the beauty of nothing. I will also discuss the koan "every day is a good day".
