Posts by Doug Smith
Video Extra: Vlog Experiment
Oy, OK this is another experiment. Mixing things up a bit, this is a bit of a “behind the scenes” vlog, talking about some history I’ve had finding my way with Buddhism and creative writing. OK don’t hate on me too much if vlogging isn’t your thing, I’m not big on talking about myself either!…
Read MoreSome of Secular Buddhism's Roots are in South Asia
Secular Buddhism has roots that go well back into 19th c. South Asia. We will look at some of that history here. For more on this general topic see: Secular Buddhism’s Roots in South Asia. Erik Braun’s book “The Birth of Insight” is a wonderful resource for the history of Insight or Vipassana Buddhism.
Read MoreThought and Practice
How important is thought, reasoning, and cognition to our practice? Or is it just a kind of impediment? We’ll look at some material from early Buddhism for answers to this question.
Read MoreEnlightenment, European and Buddhist
The word “enlightenment” is used to describe a period of history in Europe, and a state of mind in Buddhism. What do these really mean, and do they share any important similarities?
Read MoreIs Buddhism Atheist?
Was the Buddha an atheist? Does one need to believe in God or gods to follow his system? This is a question with an interesting answer I think we can all learn from.
Read MoreOn Mettā
Where do the instructions for mettā practice come from? The suttas give relatively little instruction on what actually to do, beyond generating universal good will that we find in the Mettā Sutta (Sn. 143-152), and the practice of focusing on each direction, in an oft-cited pericope: [W]ith his heart filled with lovingkindness, he dwells suffusing…
Read MoreLoving Kindness Meditation: History and Practice
What is Loving Kindness (mettā) meditation and how did it develop? Many people today practice a form that probably originated centuries after the Buddha’s day.
Read MoreEarly Buddhism and Secular Buddhism
Folks interested in a secular approach to Buddhism will find many forms of Buddhism congenial. Why is early Buddhism particularly so? We will look at the Kevaddha Sutta (DN 11) and some material from Richard Gombrich, eminent scholar of early Buddhism, to help illuminate the discussion.
Read MoreAntidotes to the "Three Poisons"
The three poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion lie at the root of many of our problems. What can we do about them? In this video I outline some techniques from early Buddhist teachings.
Read MoreWhat is the Eightfold Path?
Many of us have heard of the Eightfold Path as perhaps the definitive description of Buddhist practice. What is it? Descriptions of the elements of the Eightfold Path can be found throughout the suttas, but a good quick rundown of the entire path can be found at Saṃyutta Nikāya 45.8.
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