Do Buddhists "repent"? Yes! And it's not what you think. Repentance in Buddhism is a fundamental part of Buddhist practice because it helps us "get out" the misdeed/transgression of the five precepts we created so that we can understand why, ask for help, and set an aspiration of action and cultivation of good deeds. This is important because morality/conduct is part of the Buddha's teachings and essential for enlightenment. As human beings, we sometimes go "off the path" in Buddhism and as we repent, we make ourselves aware of that so we can prevent it in the future. It's a wholesome practice that is firmly rooted in Buddhism.

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Check out episode three (3) of this podcast for the first part! In this new episode, I talk about more misconceptions you may have heard about Buddhism in the West. Here are the misconceptions covered in this episode: "The Buddha was just a regular guy", "There are no gods in Buddhism", "The Pali Canon in Theravada is the oldest", "Zen is not part of Mahayana", and "There is only one Buddha".

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One of the most important teachings in Buddhism is that of the "Three Fires" or "Three Poisons" of greed, anger, and ignorance. Why? Because it is the cause of our unwholesome karma keeps us trapped in the cycle of rebirth, which the Buddha said is Dukkha ("suffering"). The absence of the Three Fires is Nirvana...our true natural state and the goal of all Buddhists. Learn more in this episode!

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Buddhist practice isn't confined to a daily practice or going to the temple. There are "Observance Days" in numerous traditions where lay-Buddhists engage in practices that align themselves more with the monastic lifestyle and advance their development. This includes taking the Eight Precepts, vegetarian meals, or even fasting. Learn why Buddhists engage in Observance Days and what it means!

Alan's Daily Buddhist Practice Guide on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LTxbE8

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I've known meditation teacher Bodhipaksa for several years.  He was one of the first to use the internet when it was "new" to teach others about meditation when there wasn't a group or temple nearby.  He has also spread knowledge about what the Buddha really said (by dispelling fake Buddha quotes online).  With his latest book release, I interviewed him in this episode to help you learn more about mantras, recitations/chanting, visualization, meditation, and some interesting insights about the Buddha and meditation!

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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 beliefs.  So, do you need to believe in everything "Buddhism" believes in?  This is one of the most asked questions and concerns for Westerners coming into Buddhism.  As I'll talk about in this episode, it's OK to not believe in everything right away, but please be respectful.  We don't always understand everything (and often how they help you understand Buddhist concepts and develop!), and that's OK!  Being OK with not knowing and understanding everything right away can be challenging, but an important part of engaging with the religion.

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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 Buddhist monk in the Theravada tradition who has over a million followers on TikTok, and tens of thousands on Instagram and other social media.  Since Venerable Tri Dao is actively using technology to spread the Buddhist teachings in a way that is understandable, we can explore how "Virtual Buddhism" can be an option, and what is needed to practice that way.

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 us create the unwholesome karma that keeps us trapped in rebirth/samsara.  Mara is also an analogy for our obstacles in Buddhism and for the Three Fires/Poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance.  When we "defeat" Mara, we also end the Three Fires/Poisons and realize Nirvana!

In this episode, learn more about Mara, his encounters with the Buddha, and what he means for our Buddhist practice.  

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