One of the fundamental teachings of the Buddha is that we do not have a permanent, unchanging, and independent "self". However, we believe we do have such a "self", and as a result, we engage in karmic actions that trap us in the cycle of rebirth, which means continual rebecoming in new existences, which is suffering because they are impermanent. Buddhist practice is focused on breaking down this illusionary belief in a self so we can encounter our true self and existence which is impermanent, e...
Mar 14, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Karma can be a misunderstood term in our world since it has crept into our everyday conversations with "good karma" and "bad karma". But for Buddhists, it is an important part of the religion because it is something one wants to both transform, and ultimately end creating karma that keeps them bound to the cycle of rebirth. Enlightened beings, such as the Buddha, created Karma 'without outflows' meaning it is the karma of an enlightened being who is no longer creating karmic actions that are uns...
Mar 07, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 21
The "Threefold Training" is based upon the Buddha's Eightfold Path to practice Buddhism that leads to enlightenment and Nirvana. It is the way to end the Three Fires of greed, anger, and ignorance/delusion which would then lead to your true state of Nirvana (which is devoid of the Three Fires). The Threefold Training is practiced by the different Buddhist traditions in different ways but can ultimately be found in all the different practices, rituals, ceremonies, and other things found within th...
Feb 28, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 20
The world-famous Buddhist monk Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh passed away in January 2022 at the age of 95. He left behind a legacy of monasteries, local groups, books, and millions of followers. In this episode, I'd like to reflect on what I feel is some of his key teachings and some things that are often overlooked by Westerners about him. If you are new to him and would like a book recommendation, "The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings" (https://amzn.to/3rDtSGJ) is one of his most popular introducto...
Feb 05, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 19
The Buddha taught that our existence is marked by impermanence, dukkha, and the illusion of self. He wasn't telling us this to make us sad, but to spur us into action. The only permanent thing is "impermanence", but we fail to utterly understand that, and along with the belief we have a permanent, unchanging, and independent "self", we create the actions (Karma) that trap us in the cycle of rebirth which is - you guessed it - dukkha ("suffering"). Through his teachings, he helps us break down th...
Jan 25, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 18
The most widely practiced form of Buddhism is the cultivation of merit. Merit creates the wholesome conditions that are conducive to the Buddha's path towards enlightenment. Because enlightenment is often not possible in our lifetime and is difficult for laypersons, the Buddha created the practice of merit to help create these future conditions. It is practiced both by laypersons and monastics as a mutually beneficial and symbiotic practice. While this practice is often not known or practiced by...
Jan 15, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 17
With a new year upon us, it can be a perfect time to reflect upon why we are Buddhists and re-invigorating our determination and effort to practice. The Eightfold Path, and the Threefold Training that derives from it, provide us the foundation to practice Buddhism so that we can liberate ourselves from the unsatisfactoriness (Dukkha) of the cycle of rebirth (Samsara) by realizing our true mental state of Nirvana. Read the article here: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddha-mind/ And learn about B...
Dec 31, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Merry Christmas! Can a Buddhist celebrate Christmas? Yes, with a Buddhist mindset. Learn how Buddhists can demonstrate the shared values of peace, love, kindness, compassion, and charity, and allow it to fill your heart and mind. Alan's Buddhism and Christmas articles and videos: https://alanpeto.com/tag/christmas/
Dec 25, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Enlightenment captures the imagination of Westerners and beginners that are new to Buddhism. But what exactly is "enlightenment" or "awakening" in Buddhism, and what does it mean to you as a practitioner? Learn about "Bodhi" in Buddhism, why it's important, and why becoming enlightened in this life won't happen (but that doesn't mean you aren't making progress!). Learn more in my article and video: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-enlightenment/
Dec 14, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 14
The Mahayana Buddhist holiday of "Bodhi Day" celebrates the Buddha's enlightenment. Bodhi, meaning awakened or enlightened, is the goal of all Buddhists so they can emulate what the Buddha achieved: cutting through delusion and ignorance, realizing the truth, becoming enlightened (Bodhi), blowing out the three fires of greed, anger, and delusion, which then allows us to reside in our true, peaceful, calm, natural state of Nirvana. Learn how we celebrate this holiday from a Western perspective to...
Dec 08, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 13
What is "Gratitude" in Buddhism and what does it have to do with Thanksgiving? Learn more about how gratitude is a tool and antidote to greed (one of the Three Fires in Buddhism), and how a Buddhist can participate in the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. For this week only (11/20/21 through 11/26/21) you can get my Buddhist Thanksgiving Prayer poster for free here: https://alanpeto.gumroad.com/l/BuddhistThanksgiving/9p3c2q2 Learn more about Buddhist Gratitude and Thanksgiving in my art...
Nov 20, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 12
With Halloween approaching, let's talk about our version of "ghosts" in Buddhism called "hungry ghosts". These are beings in one of the realms of rebirth where they are constantly craving, and can't be satisfied. Instead of fearing these ghosts, Buddhists practice compassion towards them through many festivals and ceremonies hoping they can hear and find the Buddha's teachings towards liberation.
Oct 28, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Precepts in Buddhism are the foundation for the rest of your Buddhist practice of meditative concentration and wisdom. Learn about why and how the precepts are very important to your Buddhist practice, what the Five Precepts consist of and how they relate to the Eightfold Path, additional precepts you can take, and more. View an Infographic regarding the precepts on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVS4aqyFNta/
Oct 22, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Becoming a Buddhist monastic (monk or nun) is often a desire by Westerners new to the religion instead of staying a layperson. But should you? What does it entail? And, can you have a complete Buddhist experience as a layperson? This episode's guest is Bhante Sanathavihari who is a Mexican American Theravada Buddhist monk from the Sarathchandra Buddhist Center in North Hollywood, California, and shares his experiences and insights. This was a Zoom video session which you can watch on YouTube: ht...
Oct 08, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 9
What is Buddhist meditation? How do you start meditating? In this episode, we will discuss how Buddhist meditation is different than the meditation you'll find in everyday life, and how to start practicing. Learn more in Alan's article here and see an infographic: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/learn-meditation-home/
Sep 06, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 8
As the COVID-19 pandemic changes, lockdowns, and other restrictions ending, how does a Buddhist reintegrate back into a changing world? A world that has changed due to the causes and conditions of the pandemic is different from the one we left. Just like a Buddhist monk returning to a village after meditating in the forest for a long time, we must also be mindful of the changes that occurred to society - and us - while we were away. Our new book, "Returning Home", is a follow-up and companion to...
Aug 23, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The foundation of the Buddhist religion and Buddhist practice revolves around the Buddha's very first sermon where he told of the Four Truths and the Eightfold Path towards liberation (Nirvana). But what is this all about? What does it mean to you? And is there a map? Find out in this episode! Learn more on my website: Four Noble Truths (https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/four-noble-truths/) & Noble Eightfold Path (https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-eightfold-path/) View my Podcast main ...
Jul 19, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Who was the Buddha? And why is he important to your Buddhist practice? In this episode, I will talk about the life of Shakyamuni Buddha (the Buddha of our era), some misconceptions about him and his life, and why his story is so crucial to our practice. Want to learn more? Read: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhism-quick-intro/ View my Podcast main page: https://alanpeto.com/podcast
Jul 10, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 5
What is a "Buddhist"? In this episode, we will take a deeper dive into the two types of Buddhists, how to become a Buddhist, what Buddhist laypersons do, some misconceptions laypersons have about being a Buddhist, and ways to have a fulfilling Buddhist life as a layperson. Ready to become a Buddhist? Learn more in my article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/become-a-buddhist/ View my Podcast main page: https://alanpeto.com/podcast
Jun 30, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 4
There are many mistaken beliefs and views about Buddhism by beginners and Westerners. Let's take a look at five of the most common ones and a brief explanation of them! Learn more in my article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhism-misconceptions/ or just head to my website at alanpeto.com and you'll see the article linked there. You can also watch a video for this topic on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVaMum5f398...
May 26, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 3
How do you start a daily Buddhist practice? For beginners, this can be challenging especially if you have not picked a Buddhist tradition to follow (and their practice). In this episode, I will explain how to start a daily practice that is rooted in the different Buddhist traditions but simple enough for beginners to follow. You can read more about a daily practice in my article here: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/daily-buddhist-practice/ and watch my video on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.c...
May 09, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Buddhism is a worldwide religion based on the insight and teachings of the Buddha of our current era, known as Shakyamuni Buddha (commonly called “The Buddha”). But what exactly is "Buddhism"? In this episode, I start off my podcast series by giving you a high-level overview of Buddhism and why it is so empowering to us as humans. We will cover Dependent Origination, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma, and Rebirth. You can also read my companion article "Introduction to Buddh...
May 02, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1
If you are interested in Buddhism and live in a Western country, but confused by all the confusing words and concepts, this podcast is for you. I have been explaining Buddhism for years in my articles, videos, and infographics, and now taking to podcasts. What sets this apart is that I am not a Buddhist monastic or having some fancy title in front of my name. Instead, I am a Buddhist layperson - just like you. This allows me to help explain Buddhism in a way that "makes sense" and is relatable, ...
Dec 26, 2020•46 sec
