As Buddhists it’s easy to think that we’re not ‘allowed’ to have depression or anxiety - after all, we’re meant to know the way out of all suffering, right? This week, Khema (@khema.1) & Nalanda (@jakjan.nalanda) chat mental health, stigma and the extra layer of difficulty surrounding these issues as Buddhists, and finding the middle way in practice. 

References:

AN3.65 Kalama Sutta 

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast  

DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about in a future episode!  

This episode was recorded in 2021. 

For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener's forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Music: 'Storybook' by Lukrembo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV2TzLUxZ3k
License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

We are fans of Japanese 🇯🇵 and Korean 🇰🇷 dramas - and we’re sure many of you are too. In our very first guest episode (!!!), our friend Minhyeok joins us all the way from Seoul to dive into the world of dramas. 

How have these romantic stories affected our real-life relationships? How have they shaped our view of romance? We investigate the many cultural perspectives within these Japanese and Korean dramas, note how each society is reflected in these stories, and also how life is portrayed unrealistically within them.     

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast   

Follow Minhyeok’s poetry page on instagram: @hwamok._.happy   

Khema’s IG: @khema.1
Nalanda’s IG: @jakjan.nalanda   

DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about in a future episode!  

This episode was recorded in 2021.  
For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener's forgiveness and take full responsibility.

"Music: 'Storybook' by Lukrembo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV2TzLUxZ3k
License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0")

Is social media making us more disconnected? 💔

Is social media addiction now just ‘the way it is’? 💊

When was the last time you were bored? 🥱

In this special guest episode, Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nal.jakjan) chat with our friend Asanga about the vortex that is social media and our technological devices. We talk about conscious consumption and output of content, to add to the important and developing conversation on social media in this day and age 💻📱

Our guest

Asanga is a Sri-Lankan Australian who grew up in the south east suburbs of Naarm. He currently is based on Ngunawal Country and works in public policy. He has a deep passion for advocating for multicultural young people having worked and volunteered for a number of youth advocacy and service delivery organisations. You can frequently find him tinkering with his camera or trying to improve a wayward jump shot.

Timestamps

(00:56) Introduction to Asanga

(03:01) What is your relationship with social media?

(03:46) Asanga’s relationship with social media

(07:06) Different uses for social media

(08:31) Nalanda’s relationship with social media

(11:40) How do you handle triggering content?

(14:06) Khema’s relationship with social media

(15:58) Sutrayana vs Vajrayana

(16:38) Not censoring content and observing how your mind reacts

(17:20) Different avenues for content consumption

(19:04) The algorithm can hijack you (and your senses)

(20:08) Conscious consumption

(20:39) Not looking at Instagram stories

(22:36) We are settling for mediocre connections

(23:50) But we are also conNECTED AF

(26:27) Superficiality of content

(27:40) An outlet for DNMs

(29:34) Micro-rejections, praise and blame

(32:32) Posting for yourself > for others

(35:33) Not quantifying memories

(36:23) You have to be prepared for feedback

(37:56) A powerful tool for social impact

(40:01) Delivering the positive impacts of social media (e.g. BeReal)

(42:48) Our relationships with our devices

(50:30) When was the last time you were bored?

(51:42) Being glued to your device is socially acceptable

(52:33) Restraint from consuming content

(53:05) Society catering to our phone addictions

(54:07) How loneliness shows up under anesthesia

(55:00) Not being on your device is unusual

(55:55) Aimless scrolling

(56:36) Strategies to limit use of device

(58:31) Downtimes and holidays

(01:02:20) No phones at the temple

References

The Rejected Generation: how we’re being shut out, and what it’s doing to us (Microrejections)

Gen Z is lonely – here’s how it shows under anesthesia – Dr. Kaveh

Sabbath and the Art of Rest

Substack

The Eight Worldly Conditions

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast

DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about in a future episode!

This episode was recorded in 2023.

For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask for the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

🚨 Trigger warning: suicide, loneliness, depression 🚨

Jaded (adj.)

If you have reached this stage in your life, congratulations! You are well and truly a full-fledged adult! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Jokes aside, as we grow older, it’s hard not to feel jaded as the Disney-induced rose-tinted glasses start coming off and the harsh realities of life set in🌹👓💔

Tune in to Nalanda (@nal.jakjan) and Khema (@khema.1) chat about the hard-to-swallow pills in life, from losing relationships to existential loneliness, with advice from our Ajahn.

Timestamps

Vaṭṭaka Paritta: The Baby Quail's Protection

The Buddha’s Relationship Advice by Ajahn Thanissaro

For When the World Can’t Help You by Ajahn Thanissaro

Why I stopped drinking by Anna AkanaHow to validate yourself by Anna Akana

Ahhh, the Five Precepts… the bread and butter of Buddhism 🍞🧈

Are they cut-and-dried rules or are there ‘loopholes’? What do you do if you break a precept? What’s the point of keeping sīla (morality) anyway? Is it EVER okay to lie? And will a tiny sip of alcohol really harm anybody?

In this episode Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nal.jakjan) share their practice of the precepts, stories of when their sīla practice was tested, and reflections on this simple but incredibly profound teaching. 😌

Timestamps

(00:49) Wim Hof Breathing

(04:16) Motivation for the episode

(04:48) Khema’s relationship with sīla

(07:39) Nalanda’s relationship with sīla

(09:37) Ajahn Dtun on sīla

(12:03) ‘Loopholes’ in sīla practice?

(14:00) It’s a training, not a performance

(15:40) Sīla as a lifestyle

(16:46) Gentleness when you make mistakes

(17:12) It ain’t a sin

(17:57) ‘I undertake this training…’

(19:01) Rising up to occasions that test your sīla

(20:13) ‘This is what normal people do’

(21:30) Sila = Brahmaviharas

(23:18) Story #1: Skilful speech (Valentine’s Day drama!!)

(30:50) Story #2: Copyrights

(33:37) Story #3: Alcohol in food

(41:14) Trusting the Buddha & wise shame

(42:25) Finding the middle

(43:06) What about swearing??

(45:18) Integrity uplifts the mind

(46:13) Sīla makes you a safe person

(47:11) The Five Precepts ARE the higher Dhamma

(48:43) Sīla is letting go of ego

(51:50) Going against the stream

(53:11) Thought experiment: Imagine if everyone kept the Five Precepts…

References

Damian’s breath group: Yarra Valley Breath & Cold

Wim Hof Method

Vinaya (Buddhist Monastic Code)

The Five Precepts (Access to Insight)

DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about in a future episode!

This episode was recorded in 2023.

For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener's forgiveness and take full responsibility.

When you hear the term ‘self-love’, you think bubble baths, manicures, ice cream. 🛀💅🍨We’ve discovered after some years of experimenting that, no, it is not, in fact, about bubble baths, manicures and ice cream - it’s about being a friend to yourself 🥰

References:

- Dhammapada verse 160

- Upaddha Sutta

Resources:

- Virtual Metta Retreat (series) by Ajahn Sona

Today’s episode is a long-awaited catch up episode recorded at the end of last year in 2022 with Khema (@khema.1) in Malaysia and Nalanda (@nalanda.jakjan) in Thailand. We finally have the opportunity to share this episode with you all and this time in video format! The episode features stories from Nalanda’s trip to Chiangmai in November 2022, visiting Thai forest monks in the North, learning about the history of the places that she visited with the Vimokkharam committee and our Ajahn, Ajahn Hāsapañño.

Timestamps:

(1:28) - Food poisoning

(8:51) - Reflections on Thailand vs. Melbourne

(10:04) - Chiangmai Trip

(10:13) - Wat Dhammasanti (Luang Pu Insom)

(12:25) - Wat Tham Dok Kham (Ajahn Mun)

(12:40) - Wat Pah Achan Man Phurithatto (Luang Por Moo)

(13:21) - Wat Pah Kantitham (Luang Por Lai)

(14:01) - Wat Pah Panyawuttharam (Prah Ajahn Khemanando)

(17:21) - Places where Ajahn Hāsapañño tudonged.

(17:40) - Phrao market

(18:02) - Hill tribe people

(20:01) - Wat Doi Mae Pang

(20:36) - Wat Pah Nanachat

(21:02) - Ajahn Sumedho

(22:45) - The Hard Drive

(25:14) - Nalanda's string of bad luck

(25:25) - Birds

(27:24) - Luang Pu Waen Suciṇṇo (Wat Doi Mae Pang)

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about!

This episode was recorded in 2022. For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Generosity can be a very confusing, complex concept in society.We could be guilted into giving - "You have so much, and they have so little - if you don't give, then you're just selfish and privileged."We could be giving to save face - "If I don't do this favour for them, what will they think of me?"We could be giving out of pity - "These poor people have such sad lives - the least I can do is give them something..."We could be giving out of other various negative intentions or emotions. It might not feel good because there can sometimes be a sense of reluctance or the feeling that we've been pressured into giving when we don't really want to.In this episode, Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nalanda.jakjan) discuss generosity and how they view and practice giving, following the guidelines given by the Buddha, which makes it a straightforward and uplifting act for the mind 🤲✨💖Timestamps  (0:51) - Motivation for the episode (01:38) - Generosity in mainstream culture (02:21) - Feeling pressured to give (04:32) - Pressuring people to give (12:11) - Suspecting that you’re giving to a scammer (15:32) - Giving can be complex (16:15) - Do your research before giving (17:51) - Giving to ‘save face’ (20:51) - It's not worth giving if you have break sila to do it (21:31) - Giving to preserve harmony (22:10) - Buddhism provides a clear guideline for giving (23:01) - Give where you feel inspired (23:49) - Giving out of pity vs compassion (25:20) - Give at your capacity and with equanimity(27:16) - Generosity as a practice, not an obligation (27:55) - Equality/ eradication of poverty is just a lofty ideal (30:01) - Status of giving in society is degraded (30:55) - Types of gifts (31:20) - Purity of the giver and receiver (32:20) - Giving encouragement (33:26) - There are many opportunities to give (34:07) - Hilarious stories of bogus monks, haha (38:26) - Knowing how to judge (39:07) - Generosity as a way to uplift your mind (40:31) - Giving with expectation of something in return (41:46) - Gift-giving - 'troublesome' cultural ritual?(42:57) - Intrinsically motivated to give (43:39) - Marie Kondo it - "does it spark joy?" ✨References:The Economy of Gifts by Ajahn Thanissaro MN 142 Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasutta: The analysis of religious donations Divine Abidings and their perfection (Brahma-vihara) [Info on near and far enemies] Three (not four - sorry!) types of giving - The Perfection of Giving by Acariya Dhammapala Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcastDM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about!This episode was recorded in 2022.For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Music: 'Storybook' by Lukrembo⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV2TzLUxZ3k⁠License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

When we think of Buddhists, we can imagine them being pretty zen and peaceful people, meditating on a cliff somewhere. In reality, while we're not inherently angry people, we do experience anger in day-to-day situations. In this episode, Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nalanda.jakjan) share epic stories of our internal and external struggles with people, from Nalanda battling it out with a guy at Chadstone car park, to Khema standing her ground with an airport Karen, we'll share tips of how we deal with our anger, while growing to become more assertive in our adult lives.     References:  Akkosa Sutta.  (https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn07/sn07.002.than.html)Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast      DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about!     This episode was recorded in 2022.    For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Music: 'Storybook' by Lukrembo⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV2TzLUxZ3k⁠License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Kids: to have or not to have? 🤔 That is the question. 

We're reaching that age (mid 20s, to 30s) where we're starting to think about things like marriage and maybe starting a family... 👪👶🍼  

As we look around us, our friends are getting engaged, married or already having children. 

Will I be a good parent? Do parents even have time to themselves, let alone find time to practice meditation? And what is it that makes us want to have children?    

Tune in for this discussion between Khema (@khema.1), Nalanda (@nalanda.jakjan) and our very special guest/ friend/ older 'sister', Narissa (@narissa.jd) 💖  

Timestamps:  

(02:05) - Do you want kids?  

(06:51) - Is it just a ‘biological clock’ ticking in?   

(08:05) - Can you still prioritise your practice if you have a kid?   

(11:04) - Developing unconditional love   

(13:21) - Reasons why people want kids   

(15:14) - How people react when you say “I don’t want kids”   

(18:28) - Having kids ‘as investment’   

(22:00) - Considering our partners in the decision   

(24:35) - Pressure from parents to have kids   

(27:26) - Having children to ‘improve the world’   

(29:32) - The Story of Dipa Ma   

(32:23) - Giving human birth as a gift   

(34:10) - “I would kill for my child” - is that unconditional love?   

(37:18) - Trauma, healing, attachment theory, responsibilities   

(40:57) - Just do your best <3  

References:  

Karaniya Metta Sutta  

Dependent Origination  

Indian couple sue only son for not giving them grandchildren  

Dipa Ma – Mother, grandmother, yogi | Priyavajra  

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast    

DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about!     

This episode was recorded in 2022.    

For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Music: 'Storybook' by Lukrembo⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV2TzLUxZ3k⁠License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0