The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern

Ep. 148 - No More Billionaires - Wealth, Livelihood and Generosity in the Hinayana and Mahayana


Listen Later

What is generosity (“dana” in the Buddhist languages), and how does it relate to our experience of wealth, our consumption, our labor, and our shared values as a society? How can we work with our craving for always have more like one of those a metal claw machines in a video game arcade, leaving us unable to live in the practice of Dana, or "fluid exchange" with our experience? Similarly, how do we create a society that acknowledges the sacredness of labor and the social benefits of collective generosity? How can we as a society generate wealth without the fixation to hoard billions of dollars? In the first part of a two episode discussion, Ethan looks at an understanding of wealth and generosity in the "Hinayana" and "Mahayana" systems of Buddhist practice, and next week in Episode 149 he will look at a Vajrayana understanding of wealth and generosity through the "Ratna Jewel of Enriching Presence."

Please support the podcast via Substack and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more! The Thursday Meditation Group starts up again on July 10th, and a special guided meditation on Open Awarenesswas released this month. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the Revolutionary Astrology of Summer 2025 with Juliana McCarthy and Ethan Nichtern. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (Apple, Spotify,Ethan’s Website, etc).

Ethan’s most recent book, Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can visit Ethan’s website to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive.

Don’t forget to sign up for the August 23 “Windhorse Meditation” Online Retreatat this link!

Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor Dharma Moon, including the Body of Meditation Teacher Training program beginning July 10th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as The Three Marks of Existence, are also available for download.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Road Home with Ethan NichternBy Ethan Nichtern

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

125 ratings


More shows like The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern

View all
Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast by Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

269 Listeners

On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

On Being with Krista Tippett

10,401 Listeners

Tara Brach by Tara Brach

Tara Brach

10,442 Listeners

Sounds True: Insights at the Edge by Tami Simon

Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

1,840 Listeners

Ram Dass Here And Now by Ram Dass / Love Serve Remember

Ram Dass Here And Now

2,555 Listeners

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus by Be Here Now Network

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

502 Listeners

Buddha at the Gas Pump by Rick Archer

Buddha at the Gas Pump

623 Listeners

Tricycle Talks by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

Tricycle Talks

358 Listeners

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield by Be Here Now Network

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

1,442 Listeners

Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg by Be Here Now Network

Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

686 Listeners

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein by Be Here Now Network

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

915 Listeners

The Wisdom Podcast by The Wisdom Podcast

The Wisdom Podcast

326 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,513 Listeners

Mind & Life by Mind & Life Institute

Mind & Life

267 Listeners

The Way Out Is In by Plum Village

The Way Out Is In

1,240 Listeners