What is free will? Do we have free will? What does it mean to be free, and what does this have to do with our ethical and karmic responsibility?

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Truthfulness is one of the Paramis or perfections of the heart.  In this episode we  dig into what it means to not only be factually true but how the truth finds expression in appropriate ways-- both…

Buddha Nature: what is it and how is it a controversial concept in some understandings? Jon and Doug discuss this as well as concepts and words generally.

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The second noble points to the cause of dukkha—craving and clinging. It's also related to the uncertainty of life and the desire for it to be otherwise. Sometimes, the wisdom we gain, even after year…

Doug and Jon discuss the   "Golden Rule" (do unto others as we would have them do unto us) and its role in Buddhist practice and the precepts. 

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The recent death of Alexei Navalny sparked this discussion on courage.   Navalny is one example-- similar to people like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Nelson Mandela.    We see acts of courage …

If one were to describe a word that illustrates the meaning of onomatopoetic,  papañca fits the bill.   There are a number of words in Pali that do this, but papañca which means mental proliferation,…

In our last few episodes, we've been discussing the Buddha's Noble Eight-Fold Path.  The last three factors of the path are about meditation.  It's always good to remind ourselves why we meditate and…

Right Effort --one of the factors of the Noble Eightfold Path is an important aspect of the practice of meditation, and the teachings related to this are worth looking into. 
Jon and Doug discuss stra…

The Rubin is an important institution in New York with a very significant collection and many special exhibitions of Tibetan and Himalayan art, specifically related to Buddhism and Buddhist culture i…

The Eightfold Path, the fourth of the Four Noble Truths, lays out a map to become free from suffering.    In our last episode, we explore the second fact  on the Right Intention. In this episode, we …

As we continue our wondering through the Noble Truths we discuss aspects of the Fourth Truth the 8-Fold Noble Path with a particular interesting Right Intention. This is the second factor, but who sa…

The New Year is a good time to return to the core teachings.  And it's good to start with the Four Enobling Truths, from which much becomes clear.  In this episode, we spend most of the time talking …

In this episode for the last day of 2023, we look at concepts of time from a Buddhist perspective in the relative and absolute sense.    It's a fun topic and seemed appropriate as we move into 2024--…

Perhaps this is a perennial question, but it's always worth asking.   What's so special about Buddhism and why have we chosen it as a guide for how we live?  We speak about our personal experience as…

What is meant by re-birth?? Who is reborn and when? There are a number of interpretations and Doug and Jon explore some of them.   More important is how our understanding of rebirth and death impacts…

Depending on your interpretation of what a miracle is, there are certainly times when miracles seem to happen due to our practice.  In fact, one of the most-read books on Buddhism and mindfulness is …

Jon and Doug discuss how living ethically in the context of the five precepts is a considerable mindfulness practice.  At first glance, the precepts seem rather obvious, but the more we look and the …

Inspired by taking the side of peace,  Jon and Doug look at taking sides and the Buddha's teachings on clinging to views and opinions.  How does taking a side often exacerbate the problem of division…

What do you have to be thankful for? How can a practice of gratitude impact your life for the better? Thanksgiving week is a good time to reflect upon such questions.

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