Exercise is important for our bodies and minds. How do we approach exercise as a meditation ? Can we exercise mindfully, and what would that look like?  In fact, any activity we do can be a meditation practice if we remember.

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Being in the present moment also means acceptance of the present moment whether we like it or not.  This is a key to Buddhist practice and a key to freedom.  It's also a challenge, mainly when what is present is unacceptable.  In this episode, we discuss how we practice (or not) acceptance.

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Dealing with wildfires associated with global warming turns our mind to one of the Buddha's most famous and trenchant suttas, his third discourse, the Fire Sermon.

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato:
https://suttacentral.net/sn35.28/en/sujato
Translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi:
https://suttacentral.net/sn35.28/en/bodhi
Doug's video:
https://youtu.be/dhTULnK8BWo

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Doug and Jon respond to three member questions on how to reconcile non-judgment in our practice with the role of ethics, as well as how we can best deal with personal criticism and even aggression from co-workers.

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

In this listener Q&A, Doug and Jon answer two questions: teachers' roles in guiding their students in the dharma, and how our past trauma might influence our journey.   We don't pretend to have specific answers, but these wonderful questions elicited a wonderful discussion.

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

The time we are living through just now has been termed a poly-crisis.  A combination of existential crises happening all at once.  Whether it's climate change, the war in Ukraine, pandemics, worldwide hunger, refugees, civil strive. . . we are experiencing it all directly or indirectly.   How can our practice help?  Does it help? Doug and Jon reflect on their own experience of this.

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

How do we negotiate the Buddha's teachings on craving and clinging with our deep love of family and friends?   What is the difference between true love and "attached love," and when does attached love lead to dukkha?   This is an ongoing question.  The Buddha did expect monastics to be celibate and to leave their families but he did not expect this of householders.   Later traditions had other options.   Still, the teaching asks us to beware of love based on attachment and clinging.

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

Buddha Nature is a concept that arises primarily in the Mahayana Buddhist teachings, though without using that language, specifically,  could certainly be interpreted within the early teachings as well.   The most famous Koan on this is "Does a Dog of Buddha Nature?"

Doug and Jon have a spirited and at times confusing discussion on this.  Join in with us!

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

The present moment seems to come and go, but is that the case?  What is the present moment anyway?  This is a deep philosophical question and certainly a central point of Buddhist practice.   Doug and Jon look at the topic from a number of different points of view .  It's always a fun discussion!

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/

In these days of divisiveness, it's easy to get into political arguments or, at the very least, think ill thoughts about some of our leaders.    The Buddha's words on wise speech can be a useful guide.  

Support the show

Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/