Toward Light: Practical Buddhism for the Modern World

In this episode I look at the difference between blind faith and verified faith. I share quotes from Vinny Ferraro, Malidoma Patrice Some and more, as well as some guidelines when checking out a new spiritual community or tradition. 

Seeing as my life has been super full recently, I thought it important to talk about the sensation of overwhelm, what it is, and how we can see it through a Buddhist lens. I mention Tricia Hersey's project The Nap Ministry which you can learn more about here.

Inspired by a Tamar Adler quote in this Vox article, I explore the ways that greed and capitalism lead us to abandon our felt experiences and 4 Buddhist tools we can use as antidotes to greed. I also share quotes from Sharon Salzberg and Ruth King. 

In this episode I explore how to apply non-theistic Buddhism to some of the seemingly theistic principles of 12 step recovery. I explore how to change habits using the truth of karma, anicca, and dukkha. Some Buddhist recovery resources include:
Recovery Dharma is a Buddhist recovery community
Kevin Griffin has books and courses on Buddhism and the 12 steps
Valerie Mason John has created 8 Step Recovery

In this episode I share 3 Dharma tools for working with the arising of grief; the prescription for dukkha, compassion, and equanimity. I quote from Kate Inglis's book Notes for The Everlost. Here is guided compassion meditation by Andrea Fella and a guided equanimity meditation from Jesse Maceo Vega-Frey

In this minisode I wrap up the springtime theme of beginnings and share some words from rev. angel Kyodo williams.

I conclude my series on the Buddha's first teaching by discussing the fourth noble truth, the noble eightfold path. I emphasize the interconnectiedness of the path factors. This is a dense topic and this is purely an introduction. For further reading I recommend this book by Bhante G, this book by Bhikkhu Bodhi, and this talk series by Gil Fronsdal. 

This episode continues with the Buddha's first teaching and a look at what nibanna, or the cessation of craving and difficulty actually look like in our lives. I guide 3 practices to help us connect with that feeling of freedom. The final practice is a reflection practice, which can also be done as writing prompts. Here are the prompts:
-What is something you really wanted as a child that you don’t want anymore?
-What is a time where you got what you wanted and it made your life more complicated, created dukkha?
-What is something you really wanted and when you got it, you realized it wasn’t what you wanted?
-When is a time you did not act on a craving, and afterwards knew that was the right decision?
-Can you think of a time, or a place, where you felt contentment, no craving for anything, even if just for a second?

In this episode I explore the second noble truth, the truth of craving and how it is this tanha, that creates dukkha. I read sections from Setting the Wheel of Truth in Motion and share quotes from Sylvia Boorstein, Norman Fischer, and Resmaa Menakem.

Continuing from last episode I begin the process of exploring the four noble truths beginning with the first truth, the truth of dukkha. I share aspects of the sutta and a complementary sutta as well as quotes from Vinny Ferraro and  Rev. angel Kyodo williams.