Secular Buddhism

Explore the connection between gratitude and happiness through Buddhist teachings, emphasizing the importance of practicing gratitude for true happiness. Learn how to cultivate gratitude as a skill, transcend circumstances, and embrace daily practices like keeping a gratitude journal. Challenge yourself to enhance happiness by eliminating complaining, criticizing, and gossiping for 10 days.

One of the most common questions I hear when I'm teaching is "Is Buddhism a Religion?" People are typically expecting a simple "yes" or "no" but I've found that the answer is a bit more complex than that. In this episode, I will share my view of why I see Buddhism as an applied psychology or a philosophical way of life more than a religion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life is a journey and the journey is the goal. What would life be like if we did things for the sake of doing them? In this episode, I will explore the idea of learning to enjoy the journey instead of always focusing on destinations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring the interconnected nature of life and death in Buddhism, embracing authenticity and non-duality, discussing the illusion of free will, and living mindfully in the present moment are some of the thought-provoking topics covered in this episode.

In life, difficulties arise. This is a universal aspect of the human experience. Knowing this, how do we deal with difficult emotions? We don't like feeling angry, sad, or afraid, but these are normal and natural emotions just like happiness or joy. Emotions, like everything else, are impermanent and interdependent. In this episode, I will discuss the topic of dealing with difficult emotions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the concept of perfection and the harm of comparisons. It emphasizes embracing uniqueness, non-comparison, and non-duality. The story of a monk learning these lessons is highlighted, promoting mindfulness and self-acceptance.

Exploring the interconnected nature of good and evil, challenging traditional dichotomies. Delving into the complexity of human emotions and responses. Emphasizing the role of values over goals in driving purposeful actions. Linking individual mindfulness to societal change and humanitarian adventures in Uganda.

Exploring living life artfully by valuing joy in creation and relationships over utilitarian purposes. Discussing purposeless purpose, Eastern existential philosophy, and finding value in actions for intrinsic joy. Highlighting a mindful humanitarian expedition in Uganda and opportunities for engagement in mindfulness programs and humanitarian efforts.

Why do we chase after happiness? What if we could be free from the pursuit of happiness? In this episode, I will explore the nature of human emotions. When we understand that all emotions, including happiness, sadness, etc...are impermanent, we can learn to stop chasing after these emotions. Pursuing happiness can be a lot like pursuing our shadow. It's not something we can "catch". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring the concept of 'no self' in Buddhism, the podcast discusses the fluid nature of personal identity, using analogies like fire and a river. It compares identity to a Snickers commercial, emphasizing how it adapts and transforms with emotions and situations. The episode explores the ever-changing 'self' using the Mississippi River analogy, highlighting how experiences shape our identities. Personal experiences as an identical twin and a family discovery are shared to advocate for self-compassion and empathy towards ourselves and others.