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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Buddhism has a rich and vast cosmology that can sometimes be overlooked or disregarded by Westerners.  However, this cosmology is central to the half-billion Buddhists around the world and shapes the desire and effort they have in practicing Buddhism.  Learn about the six realms of rebirth, units of time (kalpas), and pure lands in this new episode.

Learn more about Buddhist cosmology in my article here:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhist-cosmology/

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Did you know that the Buddha actually had two mothers?  His mother, Maya, passed away just a few days after he was born.  His aunt became his stepmother and raised him as her own.  At a basic level, this doesn't speak much about Buddhism until you realize how important these two women were.  One gave birth to the Buddha of our era (in a very supernatural way), and the other helped create the conditions for young Siddhartha to eventually become the Buddha.  And his stepmother would be the one that pushed for female monastics (and became the first nun).  Learn more in this Mother's Day episode to two amazing mothers of the Buddha.

Read the Article:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddha-mothers-day/

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Easter is celebrated by Christians around the world.  But does Buddhism have a similar resurrection story?  Yes and no.  While Jesus and the Buddha were two different people, religions, and paths, we can find some similarities between their stories and "resurrection".

Read the article here:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhist-easter/

In order for Siddhartha Gautama to become the Buddha, his belief in “self” needed to die.  When this occurred, his true natural state of Nirvana was resurrected.

Nirvana is within all of us, but we fail to see it. Siddhartha's enlightenment is celebrated by Buddhists as an inspiration for us to continue our efforts towards that same goal.

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If you live in a country where Buddhism is not the major religion, it can be overwhelming to begin with for many.  However, if you just follow three straightforward steps you can correctly begin your journey in the religion!

Episode Time Bookmarks:

1:25 - Understanding Buddhism

8:05 - Practicing Buddhism

18:00 - Triple Gem Refuge (Becoming a Buddhist)

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When challenging times happen to us, we can easily become overwhelmed with the situation.  While we are following the advice of professionals during these times, we can sometimes lose our Buddhist practice.  We may feel that there isn't a way to practice Buddhism, or perhaps it is the furthest thing from your mind.

As Buddhists, we can and should practice Buddhism even during these challenging times.  In this episode, I'll explain three parts to continue practicing:  Faith, Effort, and an adaptive Practice to meet the needs of the situation.

Read the article:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhism-hard-times/

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