The Curious Mind

In this episode of the Curious Mind Podcast, psychotherapist and Buddhism scholar Gabriel Ellis delves into the historical aspects of Buddhism, focusing on what likely traces back to the historical Buddha. The discussion revolves around the Four Noble Truths, a core Buddhist concept, and their implications. Gabriel explains that suffering, the first truth, is rooted in the five dimensions of identification: form, feelings, perceptions, intentions, and consciousness. The second truth identifies the cause of suffering as craving, specifically for pleasure, self-continuity, and self-discontinuity. The third truth states that the end of suffering comes from the cessation of craving. The fourth truth outlines the path to end suffering, featuring eight factors like Right View and Right Meditation. Gabriel highlights how the Buddha's teachings challenge common perceptions of existence, emphasizing conditioned emergence and the concept of not-self, which leads to disillusionment and detachment as steps toward liberation. This episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the Eightfold Path in subsequent episodes.My paper on ayatana: https://www.academia.edu/45655783/Āyatana_the_Buddhas_forgotten_teachingMy dissertation: https://www.academia.edu/63732680/Early_Buddhism_and_its_Relation_to_Brahmanism_A_Comparative_and_Doctrinal_InvestigationFree 30-minute preliminary consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/nGccmZvZXJcHomepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com

Discover the practices of the historical Buddha. I delve into ancient texts to explore the distinct groups present during the Buddha's time: Buddhist monastics, ascetics from other sects, and laypeople. Get a glimpse of the unique teachings, practices, and paths to liberation that defined early Buddhism. Join me as I separate fact from myth and reveal the true essence of the Buddha's teachings.Dissertation: https://www.academia.edu/63732680/Early_Buddhism_and_its_Relation_to_Brahmanism_A_Comparative_and_Doctrinal_InvestigationSuttacentral (here you can find all the teaching texts, in the original and in translation): https://suttacentral.net/ Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/6Rz6PO9CGI0Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.comPhoto by Ryan Plomp on Unsplash

Buddhism is fascinating. But it is surprisingly difficult to work out what the original teachings of the Buddha were. The oldest texts of Buddhism were not written until 200-400 years after the Buddha, and by then they had undergone many changes. In this episode I will give you an understanding of the historical context before I present the content of original Buddhism in the next episodes.Dissertation (English): https://www.academia.edu/63732680/Early_Buddhism_and_its_Relation_to_Brahmanism_A_Comparative_and_Doctrinal_InvestigationSuttacentral (here you can find all the teaching texts, in the original and in translation): https://suttacentral.net/Atthakavaga: suttacentral.net/snp4.1/en/sujatoFree discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/aBIz80oRd3wHomepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.comPhoto by Lahiru Supunchandra on Unsplash

It seems to me that we have too high expectations of authenticity today. People want the "true self" to have priority, both in our private lives and at work. Psychologically, this is an unrealistic and unhealthy attitude. The task of the ego is not to be authentic, but to navigate life. And the "false self" and our self-ideals help us in this process. It only becomes dangerous when we split off and suppress authentic parts and needs. Then we lose important information that we depend on to navigate life in a sustainable and pleasant way.Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/QaI_q0qLliMHomepage: ⁠https://www.gabriel-ellis.comPhoto by Christophe Hautier on Unsplash

As a philosopher of consciousness, Hegel was little interested in people's egocentric navel-gazing. But isn't this necessary for psychotherapy? After all, in therapy we want to overcome individual suffering. In this episode, I demonstrate how Hegel's perspective is not only compatible with therapy but even essential. Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/WiRWV29pfIAHomepage: ⁠https://www.gabriel-ellis.com

Healing is a much more individual challenge than many people think. And therapeutic methods have a little value if applied without discernment. Yet, there are some general principles that are valid in any real healing process: Truthfulness, benevolence, and responsibility.Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/rjBLesYB32sHomepage: ⁠https://www.gabriel-ellis.comPhoto by Nik on Unsplash

The doctrine of the not-self is central to Buddhism. Aspects of such a teaching can also be found in Hegel. He even helps us to better understand how healing aspects of the not-self teaching unfold in everyday life and in psychotherapy.Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/YG1M6MLjXFoHomepage: ⁠https://www.gabriel-ellis.comIn my dissertation you will find a detailed discussion of the Buddhist non-ego in chapter 10:https://www.academia.edu/63732680/Early_Buddhism_and_its_Relation_to_Brahmanism_A_Comparative_and_Doctrinal_InvestigationPhoto by Ambrose Chua on Unsplash

Mindfulness can be useful and enriching - if rightly understood. But the practice can also become dull, boring, or even harmful in the long run. In this video I describe the conditions that makes the practice fruitful, and how a simplistic understanding is pointless or can cause harm.Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/IwmHHFfZAZQHomepage: ⁠https://www.gabriel-ellis.comPhoto by Marcelo Novais on Unsplash

We all struggle with feelings: Should we feel them and identify with them, or should we sometimes use and sometimes repress them? We cannot answer this question if we cannot understand the role and importance of feelings. G.W.F. Hegel can give us valuable clues with his classification of feelings in his large-scale system of philosophy of spirit. I refer to several passages in Hegel, but mostly to paragraphs §387 and §401 in Part Three of Hegel's “Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences” from 1830.Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minYoutube: https://youtu.be/_wUnT8YjmtMHomepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.comPhoto by Alexander Jawfox on Unsplash

In my clinical practice, clients often think that they are alone with their problem. Most of the time however, the challenges are very comparable, be it regarding relationships, work, burnout, fears or a lack of prospects. There are often systemic, i.e. societal, connections and causes that are unfortunately unclear to individuals. To solve these problems on a purely individual level is unrealistic.Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minhttps://youtu.be/wfroWrXy_qoHomepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.comPhoto by Jackson Simmer on Unsplash