232 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 2: Resistance to Questions and Karma Work Versus Awakening
In this episode, my second in a short series on spiritual questions, I talk about various reasons for resistance to coming up with or asking spiritual questions. Then I discuss the relationship betwee...
6 Mars 202319min
231 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 1: What Spiritual Questions Are and Why They Matter
There are many aspects of Buddhism which suggest you ought to have deep spiritual questions – questions which are not merely intellectual, but which matter to you, personally, very much. Questions whi...
27 Feb 202329min
230 – The Importance of Bodhi-Mind, or Way-Seeking Mind
Buddhism is based on seeking – seeking freedom from suffering, greater wisdom and compassion, greater skillfulness in benefiting beings, and a more authentic, connected way of being. Our spiritual gro...
15 Feb 202335min
229 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 1: Emptiness
Teachings like Emptiness, Buddha-Nature, Suchness, Absolute and Relative, and Mind-with-a-capital-M are challenging, and sometimes people wonder if they're all just terms for the same thing, more or l...
31 Jan 202346min
228 – Skillful Self-Discipline Part 2: Clarity of Purpose and Patient Determination
If we live without self-discipline – without clarifying aspirations, forming intentions, or training ourselves – our lives are unlikely to go in the direction we would like them to. Unfortunately, sel...
19 Jan 202331min
227 – Skillful Self-Discipline Part 1: Balancing Discipline and Gentleness
If we live without self-discipline – without clarifying aspirations, forming intentions, or training ourselves – our lives are unlikely to go in the direction we would like them to. Unfortunately, sel...
9 Jan 202325min
226 – How to Relate to Worldly Pleasure as a Buddhist – Part 2
In Part 1 I defined what I mean by "worldly pleasure," and then discussed five drawbacks of such pleasure as described in Buddhist teachings, and in our own experience. In this episode I talk about ho...
25 Dec 202220min
225 – How to Relate to Worldly Pleasure as a Buddhist – Part 1
Traditionally, the ideal of Buddhism is the renunciate monastic who forgoes worldly pleasures because they are fleeting and distract us from practice. How should a serious practitioner relate to world...
25 Dec 202222min
