In this episode, I celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Secular Buddhism podcast by announcing a new AI-powered website, EightfoldPath.com, which serves as a modern application of the Buddhist concept of skillful means. Skillful means, or upaya , is the idea that teachings should adapt to meet individuals where they are, using whatever tools or methods are most effective for reducing suffering and cultivating wisdom. Throughout history, technologies like writing, the printing press, and the ...
Dec 18, 2025•25 min
Why are we so uncomfortable with not knowing ? We often race toward any answer, even a bad one, just to escape the anxiety of uncertainty. This episode explores the strange and profound world of Zen koans. Using the powerful story of the nun Chiyono and her breaking water pail ( "No water, no moon" ), Noah explains that koans are not intellectual puzzles to be "solved." Instead, they are a practice for developing a "don't-know mind" and building our tolerance for ambiguity. Learn how sitting wit...
Oct 22, 2025•30 min
In this episode, Noah reflects on the heaviness of living in a world filled with violence, hatred, and suffering. From school shootings to war and personal experiences of pain, he explores the Buddhist teaching of the three poisons: ignorance, greed, and hatred, and how they manifest both globally and within our own hearts. Through stories, analogies, and practical practices, Noah reminds us that peace is not created from the top down but from the inside out. By transforming our own inner war wi...
Sep 01, 2025•29 min
In this episode, Noah explores Right Livelihood , the next step on the Eightfold Path. More than just avoiding harmful professions, Right Livelihood invites us to reflect on how our work shapes who we are and how we show up in the world. Noah shares personal stories, analogies, and practical questions to consider, such as: Does my work align with my values? Does it cultivate compassion and presence, or leave me depleted and divided? Whether you love your job, dislike it, or are somewhere in betw...
Aug 19, 2025•20 min
In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Action —the fourth step on the path to mindful living. Rather than a rigid set of moral rules, Right Action is about learning to engage with life skillfully, making choices that reduce unnecessary suffering for ourselves and others. Through the story of a paragliding mishap, we'll examine how our actions, whether big or small, shape our daily experiences. We'll discuss how unskillful actions often arise from c...
Aug 04, 2025•29 min
In this special interview episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow traveler on the path, Heather Schenck. Many of you may recognize Heather from our online community—she’s been part of our Sangha since 2020. What began as a personal journey through suffering and self-inquiry has now culminated in the release of her first book, Unbecoming Ourselves . Heather shares the deeply personal story behind her book—how her identity as a nurse, mother, and “good person” created a cycle of striving and...
Jul 29, 2025•50 min
In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Speech. More than just speaking truthfully or avoiding gossip, Right Speech is a mindfulness practice—an invitation to reflect on how, why, and when we communicate. We look at the four types of unskillful speech—false, harsh, divisive, and idle chatter—and how becoming aware of them can transform our relationships, both with others and with ourselves. From conversations with loved ones to the inner dialogue in...
Jul 28, 2025•23 min
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I explore what it means to “be a lamp unto yourself.” 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 awak...
Jun 24, 2025•33 min
In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Eightfold Path by diving into the second aspect of wisdom —Right 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 every...
Jun 17, 2025•26 min
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 truth—objective, subjective, and intersubjective—and how understanding these can help us develop a more skillful and compassionate view of reality. Using anal...
Jun 10, 2025•30 min
What is the difference between happiness and joy, and how can we experience greater contentment, even when life doesn’t 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 “The Book of Joy” by the Dalai Lama, “Happiness” by Matthieu Ricard, and “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins, I discuss practical exercises and teac...
May 12, 2025•37 min
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 son’s journey into adulthood. What if life doesn’t need a fixed purpose to be meaningful? Drawing on insights from Buddhism, Alan Watts, and everyday life—including paragliding, parenting, and playing music—I consider what it means to live fully when we stop racing toward a destination. Aimlessness isn’t about giving up; it’s about letting go of t...
May 04, 2025•27 min
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah explores the Buddhist teaching of no-self through the powerful metaphor of a car ride. Who—or what—is really in control as we navigate our lives? Drawing from the five aggregates and the Internal Family Systems model, Noah illustrates how our emotions and mental patterns often take the wheel, shaping our actions and experiences. But through mindful awareness, we can begin to notice these “drivers,” understand their intentions, and gently shif...
Apr 24, 2025•24 min
In this episode, I explore the parable of The Empty Boat and how it serves as a powerful metaphor for understanding the way we react to life’s inevitable bumps (especially those caused by others). Drawing from Taoist and Zen traditions, this story reminds us that much of our suffering arises not from what happens, but from the meaning we attach to it. We’ll look at what it means to take things personally, why we often assume intent where there may be none, and how mindfulness helps us shift from...
Apr 14, 2025•26 min
In this episode of The Secular Buddhism Podcast , I reflect on an experience at a dance competition that led me to deeply consider connection, perception, and the way we assign meaning to our experiences. As I watched dancers perform to carefully chosen songs, I found myself drawn into the emotions conveyed in the lyrics—emotions that felt strikingly familiar, even though they were someone else’s words, someone else’s story. This realization sparked a deeper exploration of Buddhist teachings on ...
Mar 15, 2025•17 min
In times of uncertainty and suffering, many of us find ourselves asking: What can I do? The weight of the world’s challenges—humanitarian crises, injustice, personal struggles—can feel overwhelming, leaving us wondering whether our efforts even make a difference. In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I’m sharing the audio from a recent Dharma talk on the Bodhisattva path —a way of engaging with suffering that is rooted in compassion, wisdom, and the recognition of our deep interconnec...
Mar 06, 2025•31 min
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast , Noah Rasheta explores the Tibetan Buddhist concept of bardos , traditionally understood as transitional states between life, death, and rebirth. Taking a secular approach, Noah reinterprets bardos as a framework for understanding all of life’s transitions , both big and small. Life is constantly shifting—between moments, relationships, jobs, emotions, and even identities. Each transition, whether minor or major, offers an opportunity to pause, re...
Mar 01, 2025•27 min
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, I sit down with Cortland Dahl, author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism, to explore how Buddhist teachings and meditation can help us navigate life’s challenges with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Cortland shares insights from his book, which serves as an accessible guide for both beginners and seasoned meditators, and discusses themes such as the practical application of Buddhist principles in daily life, the transformative power of curiosit...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr
In honor of Bodhi Day—commemorating the Buddha’s awakening—this episode challenges the conventional notion of enlightenment as a distant finish line. Instead, I explore how awakening emerges naturally in the everyday moments of our lives. Drawing on the Buddha’s story and reflecting on personal experiences, I'll discuss how to recognize the sacredness of ordinary life, embrace change with grace, and deepen our responsibility for our own happiness. Join me as we discover that enlightenment isn’t ...
Dec 08, 2024•24 min•Ep. 196
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah Rasheta explores the concept of letting go as a path to freedom and liberation. Using analogies like hanging onto a rope, carrying a backpack, and navigating monkey bars, Noah illustrates how our attachments to beliefs, roles, and identities can create unnecessary suffering. He offers practical advice for identifying and releasing the things that weigh us down, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and adaptability in the process. Noah also...
Dec 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 195
In this episode, I explore gratitude as a natural byproduct of awareness, interdependence, and impermanence. Through the lens of Buddhist teachings, including the metaphor of Indra’s net and the Zen story of “The Cup Is Already Broken,” I share how mindfulness reveals the interconnectedness of all things and inspires genuine gratitude. I discuss how gratitude isn’t something we’re commanded to feel but something that arises effortlessly when we embrace the fleeting nature of life and recognize t...
Nov 24, 2024•24 min•Ep. 194
In this episode, I distill 30 life lessons that have shaped my personal journey and that I’ve found most impactful after nearly a decade of hosting the Secular Buddhism Podcast. Drawing from the timeless wisdom of Buddhist teachings, these lessons serve as practical guides to living with more awareness, compassion, and resilience in everyday life. Join me as I share not only the core teachings but also my personal reflections on each one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 193
In this episode, I explore the topic of uncertainty and how embracing life’s unpredictability can lead to greater peace and freedom. From everyday frustrations to life’s biggest challenges, groundlessness is a shared human experience. Drawing on stories, metaphors, and Buddhist teachings, I discuss how letting go of the need for control opens us to new possibilities and deeper wisdom. Tune in to learn how you can transform fear of the unknown into a source of growth and connection. Hosted on Aca...
Oct 07, 2024•40 min•Ep. 192
In this episode, I interview the co-founders of Uplift Kids—Jon, Amanda, and Michelle—to explore how their curriculum helps parents teach emotional awareness and wisdom traditions to kids. We dive into practical tips for guiding kids through big emotions, the importance of mindfulness in parenting, and how ancient wisdom can be applied to modern family life. Whether you’re a parent looking for tools to raise emotionally intelligent kids or curious about integrating values-based lessons at home, ...
Sep 11, 2024•56 min•Ep. 191
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, we explore the Buddhist perspective on suffering and how we can transform our relationship with it. We'll explore how changing our relationship with suffering can lead to personal growth, wisdom, and even unexpected joy. This episode offers listeners practical tools to apply Buddhist concepts in their daily lives, encouraging a curious and compassionate approach to life's challenges. Whether you're new to Buddhist ideas or a long-time practitioner...
Aug 26, 2024•25 min•Ep. 190
Welcome to a unique episode where I'm excited to share the audio of a thought-provoking conversation I recently had with Eric Zimmer, the esteemed host of "The One You Feed" podcast. In this compelling discussion, we delve into the ancient parable of the two wolves that reside within each of us, exploring the profound wisdom behind the teaching that the wolf you choose to nourish ultimately prevails. Our dialogue centres on the complex topic of suffering, but we also traverse a range of intercon...
Jul 28, 2024•58 min•Ep. 189
In this introspective episode, Noah Rasheta shares personal updates about significant changes in his life over the past few months, including a career transition and a move to a new home. He explores the parallels between his new role in data infrastructure and the inner workings of the human mind, drawing insightful connections between hardware, software, and the beliefs that shape our experiences. Noah dives deep into the concept of the cognitive cycle, explaining how our beliefs influence our...
Apr 28, 2024•24 min•Ep. 188
In this episode, I reflect on my transformative journey from intense frustration to effortless flying, drawing parallels between the challenges of paragliding and the introspective path of personal growth. Sharing insights from my experience with learning to ridge soar, I connect these adventures to the Buddha's spiritual quest, underscoring the essence of self-reliance and the lessons adversity teaches us. This episode is a reflection on the powerful, often unseen teachers we encounter in life,...
Jan 26, 2024•33 min•Ep. 187
This episode discusses how renunciation is not merely about giving up material or physical pleasures but about a deeper understanding and release of attachments that cause suffering . The episode invites listeners to consider the ways in which they might be clinging too tightly to certain aspects of their lives and how letting go can lead to greater liberation and joy. Through personal anecdotes, practical tips, and thoughtful exploration of the middle way of attachment, the episode encourages c...
Dec 31, 2023•15 min•Ep. 186
In this episode, I delve into the landscape of our emotions, drawing parallels between the ever-changing sky and our internal world. Journey with me as we explore the transient nature of emotions, taking cues from the wisdom of ancient Buddhist teachings and insights from modern psychology. Learn how emotional agility can serve as a beacon, guiding us through life's inevitable storms with grace, resilience, and understanding. Featuring parables, contemporary analogies, and practical tips, this e...
Oct 02, 2023•26 min•Ep. 185
