Secular Buddhism

In the practice of self-kindness, we often overlook a profound truth: our relationship with ourselves sets the tone for our relationship with others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I delve deeper into how meditation acts as a massive pause button for the cycle of habitual reactivity. I'll explore beliefs, thoughts, emotions, feelings, actions, and consequences, discussing how they influence our lives and the lives of others. We'll look at how we can cultivate skillful habits through meditation or mindfulness. By taking a pause from our habitual ways of living, we can achieve powerful self-reflection and lasting change.We also examine the two primary types of meditation - fixed attention and open awareness - and why it's essential to practice both to create the Middle Way.So, take a break from your busy life and give this episode a listen! Let me explain how hitting the pause button in the cycle of reactivity can lead to a more balanced life. Make sure to stay tuned for my upcoming online course, where I'll share specific techniques for both types of meditation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"All experience is preceded by mind"; that is to say, our mind determines whether or not we suffer. Knowing that we can't escape the consequences of our actions and that actions originate with thoughts, this episode will explore how and why we should practice noticing our thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is episode #178. The topic I have in mind for today is the teaching of "The Four Investigations." This is a teaching that comes from the Yogachara school of Buddhism. According to Yogachara teachings, the key to understanding reality is to understand the mind. There are four investigations we can explore that are intended to help us to have a correct view or understanding of reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast discusses an upcoming mindfulness retreat and trekking adventure in Nepal. The guest, Noah Rachetta, shares insights on secular Buddhism and finding joy in the process. They explore cultural conditioning, self-reflection, and the transformative power of mindfulness and paragliding. They also delve into understanding and befriending anger to gain wisdom.

In this first episode of 2023, I will talk about propensities and our relationship to our propensities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the two truths?There is the Truth of how things really are, and the truth of how things seem to be. These are sometimes referred to as Absolute truth and Relative truth. Relative truths are always dependent on HOW we perceive them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A deep sense of unsatisfactoriness arises anytime we want to be other than how we are. It takes skillful effort to BE WHATEVER WE ALREADY ARE. In this episode, I will share my thoughts on the process of befriending our thoughts, emotions, feelings, and ultimately ourselves. "No one to be""Nothing to do""Nowhere to go"Some of the Buddhist concepts/topics shared in this episode:EmptinessSignlessnessFormlessnessSuffering/UnsatisfactorinessInterdependent co-arisingImpermanenceTo join our online community, visit secularbuddhism.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unsatisfactoriness exists and it has a cause. What is the cause of unsatisfactoriness? In this episode, I will talk about craving and the role it plays in how we feel about life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychological acceptance is "the active embracing of subjective experience, particularly distressing experiences." In this episode, I will discuss practicing acceptance and using the OODA loop as decision-making tools to help us act more skillfully during difficult or stressful times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.