
Diggin' the Dharma
Diggin' the Dharma with Jon Aaron and Doug Smith is a relaxed discussion of the Buddhist dharma between friends. Jon's interest centers around practice, while Doug's centers around scholarship of the early material, so their approaches balance practice with study. Their discussions will be approachable to a broad audience of Buddhists and those curious about Buddhism, and they welcome questions and comments. Jon is a teacher at Space2Meditate and NY Insight Meditation Center and a well known teacher and trainer of teachers of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Doug has a PhD in Philosophy and runs Doug's Dharma on YouTube and the Online Dharma Institute, where he gives courses on early Buddhism. Find them at: https://digginthedharma.com/
Latest episodes

Jun 29, 2025 • 23min
Gladdening the Mind
The actual instruction to "gladden" the mind is sdd in the Anapanasati (Mindfulness of In and Out Breathing) Sutta, in the third tetrad about the Mind.What is the Buddha asking us to do here? Jon and Doug discuss what it means to gladden the mind in Buddhist practice, why it's important and how we can practice with this instruction.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Jun 22, 2025 • 26min
Letting Go Is Hard to Do
The second noble truth addresses the cause of Dukkha (suffering) as our nature to cling to our desires (or push away that which we don't want). The opposite of this is letting go. Ajahn Chah, the venerable Thai forest monk and teacher to many of today's wonderful teachers-- would say often:Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.And yet, letting go, is not always easy! Jon and Doug discuss this.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Jun 15, 2025 • 27min
Practice as Refuge and Recharge
These are difficult times, and our practice can be a true refuge and an opportunity to recharge. However, it’s also possible for meditation to become a means of escaping or bypassing what’s happening in the world or our personal experiences. Ideally, true refuge recharges us and increases our capacity to face the world and with what Bhikkhu Bodhi calls “conscientious compassion.” Jon and Doug have a lively discussion about how our practice supports us in these times.Link to Bhikkhu Bodhi's Commentary on Protecting Human Dignity and the Threat of Moral Nihilism: https://www.lionsroar.com/commentary-protecting-human-dignity-from-the-threat-of-moral-nihilism/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Jun 8, 2025 • 28min
Practicing Acceptance
Jon and Doug discuss the Buddhist practice of acceptance. How would the Buddha have framed it? How can we work with acceptance today, and how might an attitude of acceptance make our lives better?Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Jun 1, 2025 • 29min
Guarding the Sense Doors and Practicing with Social Media
The Buddha taught that guarding the sense doors is an essential part of practice. Of course, social media didn’t exist 2500 years ago. These days it’s so easy to get caught in the vortex of social media. Jon and Doug discuss how they guard (or not) the sense doors in the current media reality.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Apr 27, 2025 • 28min
The Role of Faith or Confidence in Our Practice
Jon and Doug discuss the role of faith or confidence in Buddhist practice, how it can be useful and also how it can be misused.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Mar 9, 2025 • 28min
Silence and Solitude
Dive into the realms of silence and solitude as two practitioners share their experiences from retreats. Discover how external quiet can amplify internal peace while grappling with mental distractions. They discuss the transformational power of collective silence and the vital role community plays in navigating solitude. Their travel tales and reflections on the value of mindful moments enrich the conversation, making it a heartfelt exploration of spiritual practice in today's chaotic world.

Feb 23, 2025 • 26min
Finding Joy Through Practice
Joy is an essential aspect of Buddhist practice. And boy do we need joy right now! Jon and Doug discuss how joy can arise for us, and what attitudes and practices can help joy to arise.Jon's Talk on Joy for TricycleSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Feb 16, 2025 • 30min
Pilgrimage and Spiritual Seekers
Jon has been on pilgrimage in India over the last few weeks. He reports in about all he's been experiencing at various Buddhist and other sites. Links:Jon's blog posts: JonAaron.net/musingsWhere Are You Going: Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott https://whereareyougoing.podbean.com/Doug's video: King Asoka: Buddhism's Great Political Modernist -- https://youtu.be/V4894Ug8Y3c Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Jan 12, 2025 • 28min
It's About Time in Buddhism
How do we perceive time, and what can we learn from Buddhist teachings about it? How do we frame the past and the future, not to mention the present? Jon and Doug discuss this topic, inspired by the fact that Jon is currently in India, which is 9.5 hours ahead of the East Coast of the U.S., where Doug is.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/