Archive for August 2017
Q&A: Video Music and Nonself Vlogging
So I’ll be asking you folks a question to start with, and then we’ll consider the issue of doing a vlog while taking the Buddha’s notion of non-self seriously. Are the two compatible or not?
Read MoreThree Paths for Secular Buddhists
Introduction As secular Buddhism has become an increasingly prominent trend in the U.S., it’s a good time to reflect on the diverse paths being taken by those of us who identify as secular Buddhists. While these paths are not mutually exclusive and thus practitioners may be involved, to some extent, in all of them, they…
Read MoreWhat Might the Buddha Say About Secular Buddhism?
What might the Buddha have thought about secular approaches to Buddhism? We will take a look at arguments found in a couple of early texts, the Apaṇṇaka and Sandaka Suttas, as jumping-off points. Our trip will take us through perhaps the earliest known materialist philosopher, as well as Blaise Pascal’s wager for the existence of…
Read MorePractice Circle Live: Lake Meditation
This guided meditation was recorded live at Practice Circle on August 27, 2017. If you’d like to learn how to join our online dharma practice group, check out the Practice Circle Page.
Read MoreEpisode 279 :: Spring Washam :: A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Wisdom, and Courage in Any Moment
Spring Washam Spring Washam returns to speak about her upcoming book, A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Wisdom, and Courage in Any Moment. One of the many ways in which contemporary culture may be a bit different from that of the Buddha’s time, is the breadth of different cultures available to those interested in the dhamma.…
Read MorePractice Circle: Lake Meditation
Continuing in our exploration of visualizations in contemplative practice, this Sunday at 8 pm CDST, Practice Circle will focus on the Lake Meditation. To join our video conference group, simply follow this link: https://zoom.us/j/968569855. Ted Meissner, MBSR teacher with Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Center for Mindfulness at UMass, will be leading this session’s half hour guidance and…
Read MoreWhat is Right Action?
The Buddha gave three key examples of actions we should avoid, but nuances remain depending on our status as layperson or monastic, as well as our understanding of some of the more in-depth teachings about the self.
Read MoreWhat is Right Speech?
What did the Buddha have to say about right speech? It was more than just “Don’t lie.” Some of his conclusions may be helpful to us today in a world of instant communication, both one-to-one and one-to-many.
Read MoreEpisode 278 :: Reva Patwardhan :: Cultural Appropriation
Reva Patwardhan Reva Patwardhan joins us to speak about her article, The Freedom Trap: Where Conversations About Cultural Appropriation Go To Die. There’s a lot of talk about cultural appropriation lately, and much of it has been just that — talk, not conversation, not engagement, and very rarely dialogue. The topic is very difficult to…
Read MorePractice Circle: Mountain Meditation
Visualization can be a powerful tool in meditation, and one of the visualizations used by both traditional Buddhists and MBSR practitioners is “becoming the mountain.” This Sunday at 8 pm CDST, Practice Circle will share a mountain meditation based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn. I hope you’ll join us! To join our video conference…
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