Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto

If you are new to Buddhism, there are plenty of things in Buddhism that make you question if it is real or not.  But they are clearly part of the religion.  And, different traditions may have various…

How do you practice Buddhism when there is no Buddhist temple or monastics where you live?  Can technology and "virtual" Buddhism be an option?  In this episode, I talked with Venerable Tri Dao, a Bu…

Before Siddhartha was enlightened and became the Buddha, he had to face the demon Mara and his army.  While Mara doesn't get talked about all the time in Buddhism, he is all around us trying to make …

When challenging and difficult times happen in your life, are you able to continue your Buddhist practice?  What does it mean to practice Buddhism during these times, and what practices may be helpfu…

Do you need to have blind faith in Buddhism?  Faith in things you can't prove such as karma, rebirth, samsara, etc.?  This is one of the most often-asked questions (and concerns) about Westerners exp…

There are many Buddhist holidays, but what are they and what do they mean to you?  

Buddhist holidays serve a few purposes, which include getting Buddhists together (Dharma Friends), engaging with mo…

When you are ready to become a Buddhist, you "officially" become one by taking the Triple Gem Refuge.  But what does this mean and why is it important?  Can you take the Triple Gem Refuge from home? …

We often think of the Buddha as the founder of the Buddhist religion in our era.  But he was also a leader.  The Buddha had to manage, supervise, organize, inspire, and delegate to get a community st…

What are we trying to end in Buddhism?  The Three Fires of greed, anger, and ignorance result in karmic actions that trap us in rebirth and dukkha (suffering).   But how did we get here in the first …

What is the practice of Mahayana Buddhists?  From Zen to Pure Land, Mahayana Buddhists strive to perfect the Six Perfections or "Paramitas".  These are the qualities and virtues of the true nature of…

Buddhism has something called the "Five Hindrances" which are mental obstructions on our path towards enlightenment and Nirvana.  In this episode, we will talk about Buddhist meditation, our mind, an…

Regardless of tradition or branch, the half-billion Buddhists around the world practice something called devotional Buddhism.  This is based on faith and refuge in the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma, and…

The first in a series of episodes on the branches and traditions of Buddhism, we will explore Theravāda Buddhism.  How did this school emerge?  Did it ever read Mahayana sutras?  What is the school o…

One of the most popular and widely practiced forms of Buddhism is "Pure Land".  This practice is found throughout East-Asia and Central-Asia (Mahayana) and is part of the daily practice of a large nu…

Buddhism has a rich and vast cosmology that can sometimes be overlooked or disregarded by Westerners.  However, this cosmology is central to the half-billion Buddhists around the world and shapes the…

Did you know that the Buddha actually had two mothers?  His mother, Maya, passed away just a few days after he was born.  His aunt became his stepmother and raised him as her own.  At a basic level, …