The most widely practiced form of Buddhism is the cultivation of merit.  Merit creates the wholesome conditions that are conducive to the Buddha's path towards enlightenment.  Because enlightenment is often not possible in our lifetime and is difficult for laypersons, the Buddha created the practice of merit to help create these future conditions.  It is practiced both by laypersons and monastics as a mutually beneficial and symbiotic practice.  While this practice is often not known or practiced by Westerners, it is one that is within the Buddhist teachings, scripture, and is a wonderful way to progress on the path.

With a new year upon us, it can be a perfect time to reflect upon why we are Buddhists and re-invigorating our determination and effort to practice.  The Eightfold Path, and the Threefold Training that derives from it, provide us the foundation to practice Buddhism so that we can liberate ourselves from the unsatisfactoriness (Dukkha) of the cycle of rebirth (Samsara) by realizing our true mental state of Nirvana.

Read the article here: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddha-mind/

And learn about Buddhist practice here:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/daily-buddhist-practice/

Merry Christmas!  Can a Buddhist celebrate Christmas?  Yes, with a Buddhist mindset.  Learn how Buddhists can demonstrate the shared values of peace, love, kindness, compassion, and charity, and allow it to fill your heart and mind.

Alan's Buddhism and Christmas articles and videos:  https://alanpeto.com/tag/christmas/

The Mahayana Buddhist holiday of "Bodhi Day" celebrates the Buddha's enlightenment.  Bodhi, meaning awakened or enlightened, is the goal of all Buddhists so they can emulate what the Buddha achieved:  cutting through delusion and ignorance, realizing the truth, becoming enlightened (Bodhi), blowing out the three fires of greed, anger, and delusion, which then allows us to reside in our true, peaceful, calm, natural state of Nirvana.  Learn how we celebrate this holiday from a Western perspective to including how to repurpose a Christmas tree and lights into a "Bodhi Tree"!

Learn more in my article and videos here:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/bodhi-day/

What is "Gratitude" in Buddhism and what does it have to do with Thanksgiving?  Learn more about how gratitude is a tool and antidote to greed (one of the Three Fires in Buddhism), and how a Buddhist can participate in the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.

For this week only (11/20/21 through 11/26/21) you can get my Buddhist Thanksgiving Prayer poster for free here:  https://alanpeto.gumroad.com/l/BuddhistThanksgiving/9p3c2q2

Learn more about Buddhist Gratitude and Thanksgiving in my article here:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhist-thanksgiving-gratitude/ and video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d2D6TO-gUI

With Halloween approaching, let's talk about our version of "ghosts" in Buddhism called "hungry ghosts".  These are beings in one of the realms of rebirth where they are constantly craving, and can't be satisfied.  Instead of fearing these ghosts, Buddhists practice compassion towards them through many festivals and ceremonies hoping they can hear and find the Buddha's teachings towards liberation.

Precepts in Buddhism are the foundation for the rest of your Buddhist practice of meditative concentration and wisdom.  Learn about why and how the precepts are very important to your Buddhist practice, what the Five Precepts consist of and how they relate to the Eightfold Path, additional precepts you can take, and more.

View an Infographic regarding the precepts on my Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CVS4aqyFNta/

Becoming a Buddhist monastic (monk or nun) is often a desire by Westerners new to the religion instead of staying a layperson. But should you? What does it entail? And, can you have a complete Buddhist experience as a layperson?

This episode's guest is Bhante Sanathavihari who is a Mexican American Theravada Buddhist monk from the Sarathchandra Buddhist Center in North Hollywood, California, and shares his experiences and insights.  This was a Zoom video session which you can watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr3HYG0GzIU

Join Alan and Sanathavihari Bhikkhu as we discuss this topic in the video!

Send in a comment if you have any questions about the layperson or monastic life in Buddhism!

What is Buddhist meditation?  How do you start meditating?  In this episode, we will discuss how Buddhist meditation is different than the meditation you'll find in everyday life, and how to start practicing.  Learn more in Alan's article here and see an infographic:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/learn-meditation-home/