Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto

By Alan Peto

Alan Peto hosts an informative and helpful podcast for anyone who is interested in Buddhism and beginning a Buddhist practice. Alan is a Buddhist layperson who explains Buddhism and Buddhist teachings... more

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How many episodes does Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto have?

The podcast currently has 99 episodes available.

Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto episodes:

January 04, 2021Buddhist Practice: Day 6 - Right Effort (Special Episode & Series)
Day 6: Right Effort
"Though one should live a hundred years lazy of little effort. Yet better is life for a single day strongly making effort." ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 112)
Next in the Noble Eightfold Path is discipline. All the other steps will wither away if you do not have the discipline to continue practicing and practicing correctly! During the pandemic, we will face many obstacles to discipline such as fear, uncertainty, confusion, and anxiety. However, some other ones can easily creep in such as boredom, distractions (binge watching TV shows, for instance), and the difficulties of social distancing which make Mara more powerful in your mind.
Today, you will begin to practice Right Effort, which means you care about the Dharma/Dhamma, and want to practice it with all your might. Today it is a pandemic, months from now it can be a new TV show. Some are extreme, some are not. What you can focus on is your own diligence!
Focus
The four right efforts are: 1) prevent unwholesome states that have not yet arisen, 2) end unwholesome states that have arisen, 3) develop wholesome states that have not yet arisen, and 4) strengthen wholesome states that have arisen.

Based on the four right efforts, you can see it is a battle with Mara you are conducting who is fueling the three fires. By preventing and ending unwholesome states, and developing and strengthening wholesome states, you are suffocating the fuel that feeds the three fires.

What have you done to practice right effort today? Have you been meditating? Have you practiced right thinking and speech? Are you turning off the TV and instead reading the Buddha’s teachings and applying them? Are you practicing good hygiene, so you do not infect other people or yourself? Only you oversee your effort!
Practice
Continue to recite the Five Remembrances.

Continue to Meditate,   at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath. For today, start focusing on a teaching of   the Buddha or a Buddhist concept. Impermanence is a good Buddhist concept you can focus on and will also appear at the end of our 14 days.

New Practice: Begin reading Buddhist teachings. This does not necessarily have to be   Sutras/Suttas, as you can begin with teachings from authors such as Ven.   Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Bhikkhu Bodhi, and Ven. Master Hsing   Yun.

Additionally, practice good hygiene: Cough into your elbow, wash your hands,   etc. Lessen the changes of you, and   others, of getting sick. This takes   effort as our habits are hard to break!

Learn more about the Eightfold Path: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-eightfold-path/
Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID
View all 14 days on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BxlqwF6P6GE
More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/

#Buddhism #BuddhistTeachings #Dharma #Buddhist #COVID #COVID19 #buddhistwisdom #Buddhists #buddhismteachings
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25min
January 03, 2021Buddhist Practice: Day 5 - Right Livelihood (Special Episode & Series)
Day 5: Right Livelihood
"You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way. Those meditative ones who tread the path are released from the bonds of Mara." ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 276)
The final step in wholesome conduct is that of right livelihood. Traditionally, this means not killing, stealing, lying, engaging in sexual misconduct, and selling intoxicants. During the pandemic, many will have lost their jobs. This is due to quarantines, ‘stay at home’ orders, and generally economic effects of people buying less of certain products. This may be one of the most difficult of the Noble Eightfold Path, especially when you lose your job, reduced income, or other uncertainty. While it may seem ‘OK’ to just ‘temporarily’ having a job which allows you to ‘get by’, it can have unwholesome karmic influences.
Today, focus on the profession you have (such as being thankful for a wholesome job where you are not laid off), or if you are not as fortunate you should focus on the profession you want to have that is in line with the Buddhist life.
Focus
Does my job cause more harm than good? Is it wholesome or unwholesome? Now is a time to reflect on your job, and what you want to do in life for a profession.

If your job is not wholesome, what can you do to change it? Can the quarantine/stay at home period you may be in allow you to learn a new trade, skill, or job search?

If you are unemployed now, the anxiety and fear can be understandable. Transform your mind to see this as an opportunity to find the job (or steppingstone jobs) towards a wholesome profession. Not all jobs need to be “perfect”, but they should not cause you or others harm as that can cause unwholesome karmic affects and derail your path in Buddhism.
Practice
Continue to recite the Five Remembrances.

Continue to Meditate, at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath. For today, focus on professions that you would find to be moral and wholesome in the Buddhist life and teachings. A drug dealer would be an example of an unwholesome profession which causes a variety of negative outcomes, whereas a pharmacist would be wholesome as they are medical professionals helping others in concert with doctors.

New Practice: Find what makes your current job right livelihood for you, and others, every time you go to work. If you do not have a job, or your current job is not wholesome, find what livelihood you will strive for. The path may be long, but your determination can aid you. Additionally, are you in a job, profession, or even have skills that can be used to help others in this situation?

Learn more about the Eightfold Path: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-eightfold-path/
Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID
View all 14 days on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BxlqwF6P6GE
More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/
#Buddhism #BuddhistTeachings #Dharma #Buddhist #COVID #COVID19 #buddhistwisdom #Buddhists #buddhismteachings
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24min
January 02, 2021Buddhist Practice: Day 4 - Right Speech (Special Episode & Series)
Day 4: Right Speech
"Use no harsh words, it is painful. More harsh words
will follow with retaliatory action." ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 133)
While we think of right action as being central, right speech is also important as it is wholesome verbal karma. We have all heard the adage of “words that cut like a knife”, and the affects one hurtful/bad, or genuinely good, word can have on someone.
Everyone is facing a variety of feelings, emotions, and reactions to the pandemic, including yourself. Right speech is important to start practicing on this day as it will help impact your right actions in a wholesome way. But do not stop just with other people you do not know, extend this to those you work with, family and friends, and even yourself!
Focus
Be mindful of what you say to others. You may want to pause before you speak, to consider if your words are right speech. Most people will not even notice you are pausing!

The four kinds of right speech are: 1) Words of Truth – true, honest, and not duplicitous, 2) Words of Compassion – kind and give others confidence, 3) Words of Praise – encourages others and brings them joy, and 4) Words of Altruism- words that show caring and benefit for others.
Practice
Continue to recite the Five Remembrances.

Continue to Meditate, at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath. For today think of what you have said throughout the day. Did you practice right speech, or wrong speech? Did they fall within any of the four kinds of right speech, or were they harmful? This is not something to beat yourself up over, but instead to recognize and be determined not to repeat again.

New Practice: Pause before speaking, and consider what would the Buddha say? Of course, you will be in different environments and situations that require a specific response (such as at work), but can you phrase what you say in a way that practices the four kinds of right speech? You likely can. When you are encountering grocery store clerks, doctors and nurses, repair persons, etc., you can easily share words of truth, compassion, praise, and altruism! For example, “Thank you for being so kind and helpful today! I recognize it is exceedingly difficult right now, and I appreciate you helping me and others. Have a great day!”
Learn more about the Eightfold Path: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-eightfold-path/
Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID
View all 14 days on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BxlqwF6P6GE
More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/
#Buddhism #BuddhistTeachings #HsingYun #Dharma #Buddhist #COVID #COVID19 #buddhistwisdom #Buddhists #buddhismteachings

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24min
January 01, 2021 Buddhist Practice: Day 3 - Right Action (Special Episode & Series)
Today's Buddhist Practice: Right Action
"Seeing the purity of one’s own actions the doer of good
continues to rejoice in both worlds." ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 16)
So far, you have started on the path in gaining wisdom (right view and thought) towards what is causing panic, fear, anxiety, etc. Now, it is time to transform that into right conduct. First, it is right action.
Your behavior matters and needs to be aligned with the truth of the Buddha’s teachings. Essentially, you should strive towards protecting life, being compassionate, and giving charity. When uncertainty reigns, Mara thrives by making you not want to do any wholesome things! To truly transform your actions (karma) to that of being wholesome, conduct is necessary and right action is part of that.
As you practice right action, and thus wholesome conduct, you will also be transforming yourself and others. While Mara may still be strong in some people’s minds, you are planting seeds of kindness that may bloom later when ‘watered’ correctly. Imagine if we all practiced right action?!
Today's Focus:
* Have I given charity today? This is not just monetary! Have you helped an elderly neighbor by dropping off supplies? Have you donated to your Buddhist temple, a church, mosque, synagogue, homeless shelter, food bank, etc.?
* Have you protected live today? Have you ensured you practiced good hygiene by not coughing into the open or your hands? If able, have you donated blood?
* Have you been compassionate? Have you given a kind thank you to a grocery store worker, or to the technician who fixed your internet?
* Do not worry if the answer is “no” right now…you can always change your actions (karma)!
Today's Practice
* Continue to recite the Five Remembrances.
* Continue to Meditate, at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath. For today, add focusing on the suffering of others (and other things), and how you can help through right action. Develop insight into how we are all interconnected, and not truly separate.
* New Practice: In what ways, in every moment of your day, can you protect life, be compassionate, and give charity? When you are mindful of your circumstances, and that of others, you will find the opportunities to practice right action. Remember, perform action with right thought. Do not act on impulse or emotion, but instead with loving-kindness.
Learn more about the Eightfold Path:
https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-eightfold-path/
Video daily practice:
https://youtu.be/RaRJ-SRehag
Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID
View all 14 days on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/BxlqwF6P6GE
More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/
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25min
December 31, 2020 Buddhist Practice: Day 2 - Right Thought (Special Episode & Series)
Daily Buddhist Practice: Right Thought
"The Bhikkhu in kindness abiding, bright in the buddha’s teaching can come to the place of peace, the bliss of the constructed cease." ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 368)
Now that you recognize that Mara is what causes the three fires of greed, anger, and ignorance (especially during this time), you must have right determination, awareness, and intention to eliminate it.
When you allow these negative views to control you and your actions, you create unwholesome karma for yourself and others.
However, when your thoughts are in line with the teachings of the Buddha (Dharma/Dhamma) in every moment, you are on the right path to putting those fires.
Resolve to keep your thoughts in accord with the Dharma.
Today's Focus:
* When events occur around you, such as wanting to hoard supplies, getting angry at someone, passing judgement on other people’s actions, etc., realize this is the three fires burning.
* Realize each time that this is what Mara wants this to occur, so you create unwholesome karma.
* Be mindful of what is occurring, your thoughts, and align your thoughts to the Buddha, his teachings, and actions. You are a Buddha anytime you are mindful and act in wholesome accord with his teachings.
* Remember, all things are impermanent, including the current pandemic, lack of supplies, anxiety, etc.
Today's Practice:
* Continue to recite the Five Remembrances.
* Continue to Meditate, at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath. For today, add focusing on the Buddha and his actions/teachings. Develop insight that the teachings are the lamp that guide us in the dark path towards enlightenment, and through the fear and uncertainty the crisis we are currently in produces.
* New Practice: When you encounter a situation or a thought that is unwholesome, focus on the Buddha and his teachings. Even though you may not always know how to respond, knowing that the Buddha, his teachings, and the actions he displayed, are wholesome and can help you with reducing the flames of the three fires you are currently experiencing.
Learn more about the Eightfold Path:
https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-eightfold-path/
Video daily practice:
https://youtu.be/rmu7qRBMGAI
View the entire 14 day playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxlqwF6P6GE...
Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID
View all of the 14 days on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/BxlqwF6P6GE
More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/
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21min
December 30, 2020 Buddhist Practice: Day 1 - Right View (Special Episode & Series)
Daily Buddhist Practice: Right View
"Those who view the unreal as real and the real as unreal reach not up to the real, mislead as they are." ~ The Buddha (Dhammapada 11)
Mara is the embodiment of fear, confusion, and delusion in our lives.
While portrayed as an actual entity that the Buddha challenged before his enlightenment, Mara is also referred to as the actions of our own mind.
Our mind constantly deceives us and leads us to paths of wrong action.
You may think of the unskillful actions created by yourself, and others, during this time as Mara.
Mara is feeding off the anxiety, fear, and suffering like fuel to the flame. Understanding this is occurring is the first step in dousing the three fires of delusion/confusion/ignorance, greed/sensual attachment, and aversion/anger.
The first step of the Buddha’s Eightfold Path is a good place to start with the current COVID-19 pandemic. We must understand the nature of things is impermanent, that we are a temporary grouping (non-self/the five aggregates), and that fear is an illusion.
Today's Focus:
* Realize fear as being an illusion. It is a manufactured response to uncertainty, love of the concept of ‘self’, and attachment to the idea ‘self’.
* Impermanence affects everything in life, and this is not always bad. While we may see impermanence as “we will die one day”, it also means “things will end”. While many things about COVID-19 are not yet known, it is likely to ‘end’ (even if that means there may be recurrences, like the seasonal flu). Focus on not only are we impermanent, but our suffering, fear, and uncertainty is also impermanent.
* Realizing the truths of Buddhism are “Right View” and can lead you away from the causes and effects that create the three fires (poisons).
Today's Practice:
* Begin each day reciting the Five Remembrances (see page 22) to help with humbling ourselves, and understanding that our ego is fabricated. This will be part of your daily “exercises” to fortify your mind against Mara. Through knowledge and realization, you can build your defense.
* Meditate at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath (refer to page 8). If you are an advanced practitioner, you can add insight meditation to your daily practice by focusing on the suffering, fear, and confusion people are facing, and it is causes as it relates to Buddhist understanding.
* Realize the collective suffering. The pandemic is the latest in a series of suffering that sentient beings face. Your view of it in this way will let you understand we are all in this together, and that we need to support one another through loving kindness/compassion.
Learn more about the Eightfold Path:
https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-eightfold-path/
Video daily practice:
https://youtu.be/AveK4mAP5NQ
View the entire 14-day playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxlqwF6P6GE...
Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID
Join us for a daily Buddhist practice via Zoom. Details here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/126631375746490
Your hosts:
*** More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
*** More on Bhikkhu Sanathavihari Los-Angeles: https://www.casadebhavana.com/
Teaching in graphic comes from Venerable Master Hsing Yun
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26min
December 29, 2020 Buddhist Practice: Introduction (Special Episode & Series)
This episode will give you an overview of what the next 14 episodes (days) will cover for our Buddhist practice, and what you will learn.
Be sure to get the FREE planner that compliments the practice: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID
More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/
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19min
December 29, 2020 Buddhist Practice: What to Expect (Special Episode & Series)
The first episodes in this podcast will be not only timely and interesting, but a great way to start a daily practice! I will be posting the audio from a live daily Zoom session that myself (a Mahayana layperson) and Sanathavihari Bhikkhu (a Theravada monk) hosted for fourteen days. While it is structured around the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is perfect for anyone just starting out in Buddhism. Each day is structured around the Noble Eightfold Path and other Buddhist teachings, and all of it is done in a non-sectarian way so it is perfect for everyone. We have a FREE planner that compliments these fourteen days here: https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID. The next episode will be an overview of the next 14 days (and episodes), so there will be 15 episodes in total.
More on Alan Peto: https://alanpeto.com/about
More on Sanathavihari Bhikkhu: https://www.casadebhavana.com/
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4min
December 26, 2020 Welcome to the Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto Podcast
If you are interested in Buddhism and live in a Western country, but confused by all the confusing words and concepts, this podcast is for you. I have been explaining Buddhism for years in my articles, videos, and infographics, and now taking to podcasts. What sets this apart is that I am not a Buddhist monastic or having some fancy title in front of my name. Instead, I am a Buddhist layperson - just like you. This allows me to help explain Buddhism in a way that "makes sense" and is relatable, while still holding true to the Buddhist teachings. This intro episode will tell you what to expect in the next few episodes, and what is coming up later. I want to hear from you: tell me what you are wanting to learn about Buddhism, what you are confused about, and what you want to get out of this podcast! Also, check out my articles and videos on my website and subscribe to me on your favorite social media platform: alanpeto.com. To learn more about me, visit: alanpeto.com/about
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1min

FAQs about Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto:

How many episodes does Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto have?

The podcast currently has 99 episodes available.

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