In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I explore what it means to ābe a lamp unto yourself.ā Drawing from personal stories, including my time teaching paragliding, and Buddhist teachings on wisdom, I reflect on the journey from seeking external guidance to cultivating trust in your own inner knowing. What does it mean to become your own teacher? How can we balance learning from others while honoring our unique path? Join me as we look beyond the teacher and into the deeper work of awakening your own wisdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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206 - Right Intention
In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Eightfold Path by diving into the second aspect of wisdomāRight Intention. We explore how intention functions like a compass, helping us navigate life with purpose and clarity. Rather than reacting habitually, Right Intention invites us to respond skillfully to whatever arises. We discuss the three core intentions highlighted in Buddhist teachings: letting go (renunciation), wishing well (goodwill), and doing no harm (harmlessness). With everyday examples and practical insights, this episode is a reminder that intention shapes the seeds we plant with every word and actionāand that we always have the power to begin again in any moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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205 - Right View
In this episode, I share the audio recording of a Dharma talk I gave during one of our Sunday Zoom calls. The topic is Right View, the first step on the Buddhist Eightfold Path. Inspired by the book Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari, I explore the nature of truth and how we relate to it in our everyday lives.I talk about three distinct types of truthāobjective, subjective, and intersubjectiveāand how understanding these can help us develop a more skillful and compassionate view of reality. Using analogies like traffic lights, tinted glasses, and even Tetris blocks, I examine how Right View isnāt about having the ācorrectā opinion, but about recognizing our perspectives and holding them with humility and curiosity.This episode is an invitation to look more closely at how we see the worldāand how a clearer view can help reduce suffering for ourselves and others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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204 - Beyond Happiness
What is the difference between happiness and joy, and how can we experience greater contentment, even when life doesnāt go as planned? In this episode, I explore the Buddhist perspectives and modern insights that reveal happiness as a fleeting emotional state, while joy represents a deeper, more enduring form of well-being. Drawing inspiration from āThe Book of Joyā by the Dalai Lama, āHappinessā by Matthieu Ricard, and āThe Let Them Theoryā by Mel Robbins, I discuss practical exercises and teachings that help us cultivate a more resilient, compassionate, and flexible approach to lifeās inevitable ups and downs. Join me as we learn to hold space for joy in every moment, beyond mere happiness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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203 - The Art of Purposelessness
In this episode, I explore the Buddhist teaching of aimlessness, one of the Three Doors of Liberation, through personal reflection and the lens of my sonās journey into adulthood. What if life doesnāt need a fixed purpose to be meaningful? Drawing on insights from Buddhism, Alan Watts, and everyday lifeāincluding paragliding, parenting, and playing musicāI consider what it means to live fully when we stop racing toward a destination. Aimlessness isnāt about giving up; itās about letting go of the pressure to always be somewhere else, and discovering the joy of being right here, right now. Life, like dancing or listening to music, might not be about getting to the endāit might just be about the experience itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Don't use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist. Use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.