Toward Light: Practical Buddhism for the Modern World

Toward Light: Practical Buddhism for the Modern World

By Kate SpinaHealth & FitnessMental HealthReligion & SpiritualityEducationSelf-ImprovementBuddhism
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Toward Light: Practical Buddhism for the Modern World episodes

  • Dharma Practice is Revolutionary
    This week I explore the rebellious origins of Buddhism and how we can connect with this radical practice to dismantle white supremacy and cultivate anti-racism. I look at how these teachings were revolutionary when they were founded and how they still are today. I unpack how each factor of the noble eightfold path is revolutionary and ways to use these practices in everyday life.
    26 min
  • A Buddhist Reflection on Racism and White Guilt
    This week, after the death of George Floyd due to racist police brutality, I feel it’s important to talk about racism and anti-racism and share one Buddhist teaching that can help as we work to be anti-racist. For more resources Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist has a recommended reading list.  A few Dharma specific resources: Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation by Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Lama Rod Owens with Jasmine Syedullah, PhD, Mindful of Race by Ruth King, and Awakening Together, The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community by Larry Yang. I read from an essay about the Guardians of the World by Bhikkhu Bodhi. The episode has a period of silence for reflection and meditation and honoring the dead.
    16 min
  • The Buddhist Personality Types

    During this pandemic we may find ourselves caught in certain patterns of behavior. When we learn our Buddhist personality type we can learn why we me have certain tendencies and ways to work with them. As with any Buddhist teaching, the hope is, with wisdom we can move our heart and minds toward peace. For more on these personality types, including how to find your type, here is an article from Tricycle Magazine

    20 min
  • Bringing Mindfulness into our Day

    This episode I explore ways to bring mindfulness into our daily life. My working definition of mindfulness is: embodied, non-judgemental  awareness of the present moment experience. How can we bring this quality into different activities? Using the satipatthana sutta I share ways I practice mindfulness throughout the day. Included in the episode is a piece by Dave Eggers.

    22 min
  • 5 Tools to help with Difficult Thoughts

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, so many of us are experiencing worry, fear and grief. How can we manage these mind states? How can we stop them from taking over? The Vitakkasanthana Sutta (MN 20) has 5 steps to help remove distracting thoughts, and Kate uses practical examples to describe how these tools can be used. 

    17 min
  • Finding Refuge in Community

    Sangha, community, is a place of refuge that can help us cultivate the Buddhist path. How do we do that when we can no longer meet in person? And how do we benefit from wise community and good friendship? I share part of the Upaddha Sutta and a quote from Bhikkhu Bodhi as I explore these questions and more. I also offer some suggestions of online sanghas. Here is a broad list from Tricycle Magazine and online meditation offerings from Spirit Rock, The Insight Meditation Society, and the Insight Meditation Center

    21 min
  • Learning to Let Go

    This week I explore the importance of letting go. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are dealing with changes in multiple aspects of our lives which can lead to grasping and resistance. How can we let go and accept our reality? I offer some of my experiences and share some teachings  from Martine Batchelor’s book Let Go and Rick Hanson’s book Just One Thing

    17 min
  • Feeling Groundless: Living The Buddha's Teaching on Impermanence

    Impermanence, anicca, is one of the three characteristics of existence. While it can be easy to ignore in our daily lives, in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, the truth of impermanence  cannot be avoided. Using teachings from Joseph Goldstein, Stephen Batchelor, and a poem by Em Claire, Kate explores ways to live with this truth.

    20 min
  • Buddhist Coping Tools for Times of Crisis

    3 practices to help with managing stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic or any crisis. A meditation on the Four Elements with reference to a book by  Bhikkhu Analayo A meditation on Equanimity with a quote from this talk by Jesse Maceo Vega-Frey And a reflection practice to cultivate the awakening factor of joy (piti). There is a blog post on these practices here 

    20 min

About Toward Light: Practical Buddhism for the Modern World

From the publisher's feed

A weekly podcast exploring early Buddhist teachings and how they apply to 21st century life. Kate Spina is trained to share Buddhist teachings in the Theravada lineage. IG:…