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 started, rules to organize the monastics, talk with everyone from kings to farmers, and do this all in a way that everyone could understand.

If you want to develop your leadership skills, looking to the Buddha can be a great source of inspiration.  Or, if you're just interested in this often-unseen aspect of the Buddha, you'll get an overview in this episode.  

Read the Article:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddha-leadership-lessons/

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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 place?  What "fuels" those three fires?  It's Upadana.  Literally "fuel", but often translated as "attachment".  This is where we cling and attach to sense objects with our sense organs (we see something we like through our eyes for instance, and that gives rise to our mind/consciousness).  When we guard our senses and tame our mind, we cut off the fuel to the three fires which is nirvana...our true mental state of freedom.    

Also, in this episode I'll read the Fire Sermon (13 minutes into the episode) which gives context to Upadana and the Three Fires.

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Get Alan's free eBook "Buddhism in 10 Steps": alanpeto.com/books/buddhism-10-steps

Get Alan's new book:  "Daily Buddhist Practice Guide":  https://alanpeto.com/books/daily-buddhist-practice-guide/

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 an enlightened being like a Buddha or Bodhisattva.  Learn what they are and how to apply them to your practice!

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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, and how the Five Hindrances are like obstacles on the road and some common Buddhist ways to overcome them.

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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 Sangha), and not on blind faith.  This foundational way to practice Buddhism provides a balanced approach on the path towards enlightenment that can be traced all the way back to the time of the Buddha 2,600 years ago!  In this episode, you'll learn why we have Buddha statues, why there is bowing and prostrating, and why you should give devotional Buddhism a chance.

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 of thought and guiding practice?  Come explore in this episode!

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 number of Buddhists.  But what does this mean for a Westerner?  Often, Pure Land Buddhism can look very devotional or faith-based, and there is that aspect. It is one of many "Dharma doors" that leads to enlightenment by providing an expedient "training ground" to help anyone who wants to go there.  Learn about this fascinating and powerful Buddhist practice. 

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Get Alan's free eBook "Buddhism in 10 Steps": https://alanpeto.com/books/buddhism-10-steps