Shows
Diggin' the DharmaThe Dharma of Independence (Day)With the US holiday of July 4th upon us, Jon and Doug discuss dependence, independence, what freedom really means, and how to practice towards it.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-07-0626 minDiggin' the DharmaGladdening the MindThe actual instruction to "gladden" the mind is sdd in the Anapanasati (Mindfulness of In and Out Breathing) Sutta, in the third tetrad about the Mind.What is the Buddha asking us to do here? Jon and Doug discuss what it means to gladden the mind in Buddhist practice, why it's important and how we can practice with this instruction.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-06-2923 minDiggin' the DharmaLetting Go Is Hard to DoThe second noble truth addresses the cause of Dukkha (suffering) as our nature to cling to our desires (or push away that which we don't want). The opposite of this is letting go. Ajahn Chah, the venerable Thai forest monk and teacher to many of today's wonderful teachers-- would say often:Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.And yet, letting go, is not always easy! Jon and Doug discuss this.Support the showGo...2025-06-2226 minDiggin' the DharmaPractice as Refuge and RechargeThese are difficult times, and our practice can be a true refuge and an opportunity to recharge. However, it’s also possible for meditation to become a means of escaping or bypassing what’s happening in the world or our personal experiences. Ideally, true refuge recharges us and increases our capacity to face the world and with what Bhikkhu Bodhi calls “conscientious compassion.” Jon and Doug have a lively discussion about how our practice supports us in these times.Link to Bhikkhu Bodhi's Commentary on Protecting Human Dignity and the Threat of Moral Nihilism: https://www...2025-06-1526 minDiggin' the DharmaPracticing AcceptanceJon and Doug discuss the Buddhist practice of acceptance. How would the Buddha have framed it? How can we work with acceptance today, and how might an attitude of acceptance make our lives better?Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-06-0827 minDiggin' the DharmaGuarding the Sense Doors and Practicing with Social MediaThe Buddha taught that guarding the sense doors is an essential part of practice. Of course, social media didn’t exist 2500 years ago. These days it’s so easy to get caught in the vortex of social media. Jon and Doug discuss how they guard (or not) the sense doors in the current media reality.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-06-0129 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Role of Faith or Confidence in Our PracticeJon and Doug discuss the role of faith or confidence in Buddhist practice, how it can be useful and also how it can be misused.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-04-2728 minDiggin' the DharmaSilence and SolitudeSilence and solitude are two forms of Buddhist practice of great depth, but also some difficulty for many. Jon and Doug discuss how they appear in the early texts, and how we can practice with them today.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-03-0927 minDiggin' the DharmaFinding Joy Through PracticeJoy is an essential aspect of Buddhist practice. And boy do we need joy right now! Jon and Doug discuss how joy can arise for us, and what attitudes and practices can help joy to arise.Jon's Talk on Joy for TricycleSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-02-2325 minDiggin' the DharmaPilgrimage and Spiritual SeekersJon has been on pilgrimage in India over the last few weeks. He reports in about all he's been experiencing at various Buddhist and other sites. Links:Jon's blog posts: JonAaron.net/musingsWhere Are You Going: Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott https://whereareyougoing.podbean.com/Doug's video: King Asoka: Buddhism's Great Political Modernist -- https://youtu.be/V4894Ug8Y3c Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-02-1629 minDiggin' the DharmaIt's About Time in BuddhismHow do we perceive time, and what can we learn from Buddhist teachings about it? How do we frame the past and the future, not to mention the present? Jon and Doug discuss this topic, inspired by the fact that Jon is currently in India, which is 9.5 hours ahead of the East Coast of the U.S., where Doug is.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2025-01-1227 minDiggin' the DharmaDharma Chat with Stephen Fulder-- Practicing in Challenging TimesJon and Doug have a wide-ranging chat with the dharma teacher and peace activitist, Stephen Fulder, founder of Tovana, the Israel Insight Society. We discuss his work in Israel and his new book, How to Thrive in Hard Times.You can find his book here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/How-Thrive-Hard-Times-Buddhist/dp/1915672740/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-12-2233 minDiggin' the DharmaRefuge in Practice: Self or Sangha?What is the role of community in our practice? The sangha is one of the traditional three refuges or jewels of Buddhism. The Buddha also advised at the end of his life to hold the self as our island and refuge, with the dharma as our island and refuge. Jon and Doug discuss how we reconcile these ideals.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-12-1527 minDiggin' the DharmaConscious of ConsciousnessThe final aggregate in the set of five is consciousness. What is meant by consciousness/ As an aggregate of clinging, when does it get in the way?Jon and Doug discuss.Doug's Video:The Problem(s) of Consciousness -- https://youtu.be/W1Pn65QZiZsSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-11-2434 minDiggin' the DharmaSankharas, What Are They? Volitional Formations/Constructions/etc.?In Buddhism the root of karmic action is in sankharas, a word with many uses in the dharma. As we practice, we can see the sankharas taking shape and then realize we have choices. But even the choices are related to other sankharas and the "wow' of this mind. Jon and Doug discuss them and how we can view their role in our lives.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-11-1727 minDiggin' the DharmaBringing Our Practice to an Unwanted OutcomeTwo days after the US Election, Doug and Jon discuss how they are handling the results. They also discuss how our practice can support us as we look to the future political landscape in the US and the world.Jon offered this poem by Rilke as a support:Let This Darkness be a Belltower Rainer Maria RilkeQuiet friend who has come so far,feel how your breathing makes more space around you.Let this darkness be a bell towerand you the bell. As you ring,what b...2024-11-1028 minDiggin' the DharmaTalkin' 'bout feeling (Vedana)Feeling tone, the pleasure or pain we take in experience, is a central part of dharma. As an aggregate, a foundation of mindfulness, a link in the chain of dependent origination, appreciating, understanding, and directly experiencing Vedana is a key to experiencing freedom.Jon and Doug have a lively discussion on this topic.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-11-0329 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Aggregate of Form: Body and WorldDoug and Jon continue to explore the Five Aggregates of Clinging (to self) and this week explore Form. How do we cling to form and at what point, does this clinging become suffering? Are doesn't it?Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-10-2729 minDiggin' the Dharma"Things Aren't as the Seem , Nor are they Otherwise*"-- Perception and Mis-PerceptionJon and Doug discuss perception and how it's mediated by past experience and the stories we tell. How does it become misperception? How can we work with our perception to live more skillfully and fully?*this quote is attributed to the Roman poet Phaedrus but it is often used by various Zen teachersSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-10-2028 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Fetter of ConceitHow does our concept of ourselves and others create suffering? What would it be like to soften this "conceit of self". Understanding and seeing through this conceit, is the last of the higher fetters, which needs to the released before awakening. Jon and Doug discuss how this comes up in practice.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-10-0630 minDiggin' the DharmaDisenchantment: It's not really what it sounds like, or is it?The Buddhist attitude of "nibbidā" or "disenchantment"/"disgust" is central to the early teaching. What is it and how can it help us navigate our lives? Jon and Doug discuss.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-09-2924 minDiggin' the DharmaA Buddhist View on ForgivenessDoug and Jon discuss what forgiveness means in the contact of Buddhism. Is it Buddhist? It's a powerful and important practice but it doesn't seem to appear anywhere in the teachings.Information on the Class offered by Jon:Watering the Seeds of ForgivenessSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-09-2228 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Buddha in the Voting Booth 2024Doug has Covid, Jon has a bad microphone, but they're chatting about the Buddha and voting anyway, as well as Buddhist practice and voting. What does 2024 bring for us in the voting booth, and how should we frame our political choices?To register to vote, and check voter registration in the US:https://vote.gov/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-09-1528 minDiggin' the DharmaIs Meditation Dangerous?A recent podcast series at the Financial Times discussed serious problems several meditators have had at one popular ten-day Vipassana retreat system. Jon and Doug discuss this and some important work by Brown psychology professor Dr. Willoughby Britton.Links:The Retreat — an investigative podcast into the perils of meditation [Financial Times] -- https://www.ft.com/content/b3ec8e57-5cf9-4f96-9267-56c3bcd9c102The Hidden Risks of Meditation — Dr. Willoughby Britton | The Tim Ferriss Show — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdmvoX1RZWA Cheetah House: Help for Medita...2024-09-0826 minDiggin' the DharmaRenunciationWith Jon's impending move to Chicago Jon and Doug discuss the beneficial practice of renunciation. What do we really need?Video: George Carlin talks about "stuff" -- https://youtu.be/MvgN5gCuLacSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-08-1823 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Value of SilenceSilence is so important to Buddhist practice. Jon and Doug discuss how silence impacts practice as well as some of the early tradition around silence.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-08-0930 minDiggin' the DharmaExperiencing Art and Entertainment in the Context of the DharmaHow do we bring our Buddhist practice into our relationship with the arts and entertainment? The early Buddhist teachings, in particular, seem to look askance at this area of life. Doug and Jon discuss this interesting topic and how they integrate practice into their own interests in the arts.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-08-0427 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Bodhisattva IdealThe Bodhisattva ideal really blossomed in the Mahayana traditions but the idea of the Bodhisattva was certainly present in the earlier traditions. Perhaps not in name but certainly in expression. When the Buddha spoke about himself before his Enlightenment, he referred to himself as a Bodhisattva. And, of course, the fact that he taught for 40 years after his Awakening points to his desire to awaken all beings. But how is the ideal expressed in us? Two papers:Bhikkhu Anālayo, Genesis of the Bodhisattva Ideal — https://www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hamburg.de/pdf/5-personen/analayo/genesis-bodhisattva.pdf Bhikkhu...2024-07-2827 minDiggin' the DharmaSteps Along the Path: The Four Stages of ProgressStream-entry, once returning, non-returning, and arahantship are the traditional four stages of progress along the Buddhist path. What do they mean? Are they historical? Are they necessary for us to know about? Jon and Doug dive into this topic, which always raises questions about the value and the pitfalls.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-07-2129 minDiggin' the DharmaHow We Become a SelfThe Buddha described humanity as tangled like string, knotted like a ball of thread. This tangle is a result of not seeing clearly the dependent co-arising— paticca-samupadda-- of phenomena. This is one of the most important of the early teachings. It can be seen through the lens of individual dissatisfaction and of course, through social, political and cultural dissatisfaction. Doug and Jon explore the teaching and how we bring it into our practice. Dhivan Thomas Jones's book: This Being, That BecomesVideos:Playlist on dependent origination at Doug's Dharma: https://www.youtube.com/pla...2024-07-1424 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Heart Quality EquanimityEquanimity- Upekkha has an important place in many of the key Buddhist teachings. It's the fourth of the Divine Abodes, the seventh Factor of Awakening, the last step of the 16 Step teaching in the Mindfulness of Breathing and in the 10th of the Parami- the Perfections of the Heart. Doug and Jon discuss the various facets of this important quality.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-07-0729 minDiggin' the DharmaInsights into Insight , and a New PlatformWhat is Insight (Vipassana) practice? Doug and Jon discuss its origins and how it orients our approach to the dharma. They also discuss some exciting potential developments with livestreaming the podcast.Book:Erik Braun, The Birth of InsightOur new YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HnYof8CejuOkLsr86EjRQSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-05-2628 minDiggin' the DharmaIs Your Livelihood Right Livelihood?Right Livelihood is one of the factors of the Buddha's Eightfold Noble Path. Of course, times have changed in the last 2500 years, so what does this mean today? Doug and Jon look at the teaching and do some head-scratching over certain parts of it.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-05-1926 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Question of Internal, External and Both.The refrain in the teaching on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness refers to contemplating internally, externally, and internally and externally. Jon and Doug talk about how they receive that part of the teaching, which doesn't appear in any obvious way in other suttas but is actually a very important part of mindfulness. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-05-1227 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Nature of Buddha NatureBuddha Nature: what is it and how is it a controversial concept in some understandings? Jon and Doug discuss this as well as concepts and words generally.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-04-0729 minDiggin' the DharmaMoving Beyond Craving and ClingingThe second noble points to the cause of dukkha—craving and clinging. It's also related to the uncertainty of life and the desire for it to be otherwise. Sometimes, the wisdom we gain, even after years of practice, seems to vanish when confronted with the inevitable change. Our discussion was sparked by Jon's pending move to Chicago and the dukkha this has manifested.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-03-3125 minDiggin' the DharmaBuddhism and the Golden RuleDoug and Jon discuss the "Golden Rule" (do unto others as we would have them do unto us) and its role in Buddhist practice and the precepts. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-03-1728 minDiggin' the DharmaPapañca! Exactly What it Sounds LikeIf one were to describe a word that illustrates the meaning of onomatopoetic, papañca fits the bill. There are a number of words in Pali that do this, but papañca which means mental proliferation, is one of the best. In this episode, Doug and Jon look at this familiar pattern of the mind and how to work with it. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-03-0327 minDiggin' the DharmaComing Back to the Core: Strategies of Right EffortRight Effort --one of the factors of the Noble Eightfold Path is an important aspect of the practice of meditation, and the teachings related to this are worth looking into. Jon and Doug discuss strategies and practices that may be useful for us to consider along the path.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2024-02-1829 minDiggin' the DharmaImpermanence and the Closing of the Rubin MuseumThe Rubin is an important institution in New York with a very significant collection and many special exhibitions of Tibetan and Himalayan art, specifically related to Buddhism and Buddhist culture in that part of the world. We received the sad news recently that they are closing the New York space and basically becoming a virtual and traveling museum. Jon and Doug discuss the closing and the nature of anicca-- impermanence.https://rubinmuseum.org/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further not...2024-02-1125 minDiggin' the DharmaAgain and Again. . . Rebirth ... and DeathWhat is meant by re-birth?? Who is reborn and when? There are a number of interpretations and Doug and Jon explore some of them. More important is how our understanding of rebirth and death impacts the way we live now. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-12-1728 minDiggin' the DharmaPracticing the PreceptsJon and Doug discuss how living ethically in the context of the five precepts is a considerable mindfulness practice. At first glance, the precepts seem rather obvious, but the more we look and the more we bring them into our moment-to-moment experience, the more we realize how much deeper we can go.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-12-0327 minDiggin' the DharmaTaking SidesInspired by taking the side of peace, Jon and Doug look at taking sides and the Buddha's teachings on clinging to views and opinions. How does taking a side often exacerbate the problem of division and conflict? Is there another route? Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-11-2627 minDiggin' the DharmaDeveloping a Daily Meditation Practice with Guest BodhipaksaWhat are some techniques we can use to develop a regular meditation practice? Doug and Jon's guest Bodhipaksa has taught a course on this and is in the process of writing a book about it. Lots of good advice in this episode!Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-11-0538 minDiggin' the Dharma"Did the Buddha Really Say That?" with Guest BodhipaksaDoug and Jon have a spirited discussion with our guest, writer and Buddhist meditation teacher, Bodhipaksa, on Fake Buddha Quotes. How important is it to get the Buddha right? What is a "Fake Buddha Quote" anyway?Bodhipaksa's Websites:https://www.wildmind.org/https://fakebuddhaquotes.com/Book:https://fakebuddhaquotes.com/buy-i-cant-believe-its-not-buddha/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-10-2946 minDiggin' the DharmaIs Karma Collective or Individual?Is there such a thing as collective karma? Doug and Jon will consider the picture of karma given in early Buddhism, and compare it to the idea of collective karma, or alternately to a notion of 'aggregate' karma. How does karma work among groups of people?Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-10-2226 minDiggin' the DharmaHow Do We Know What Response is Appropriate?The world events of the past week, added, perhaps to our own personal challenges, may bring up the question of how to respond. Meditation is not meant as an escape from these challenges. Rather, when integrated with the teachings of the Dharma, it can set the groundwork for an appropriate response to arise within any circumstance.This week, Doug and Jon explore how this works for them in practical and and spiritual ways.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further note...2023-10-1530 minDiggin' the DharmaBalancing our Effort in MeditationAmong the factors of the Eightfold Noble Path is Right Effort. This is part of the meditation path, and for many, finding the right energy in our meditation practice is a big challenge.Doug and Jon discuss how they approach this and hopefully give some useful tips.Right EffortSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-10-0826 minDiggin' the DharmaBuddhist Rupas and Other Images: is this idol worship?Many folks with western religious upbringings find discomfort when faced, at least in a practice context, with a Buddha Rupa (statue) or other images and of course even more so when bowing or offerings are encouraged. In this episode we'll talk about Buddha images: their history, practices we might use with them, as well as discuss the show on display at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC on early Buddhist artwork.Two of Doug's Videos:Buddhism and Icons: Prohibition to "Idolatry" -- https://youtu.be/qRqxuxS1qUgTree & Serpent: New Exhibition at the Metropolitan Mu...2023-10-0128 minDiggin' the DharmaLet's Talk About the Two TruthsWe decided this week to speak about the Two Truths-- the Relative and the Absolute, or the Mundane and the Ultimate. Are they real or just another construct? How did they find their way into the Buddhist teachings? How can we practice with them today? Is there even something to practice?Doug's Videos on the Two Truths:The Buddhist Doctrine of Two Truths: Origins -- https://youtu.be/qL_sspJzQx8The Buddhist Doctrine of Two Truths: Abhidharma and Nagarjuna -- https://youtu.be/yBKK1HvieqUIs the Two Truths Doctrine a Problem for Early Bud...2023-09-2428 minDiggin' the DharmaElemental PracticeThere are many ways of investigating experience, including the six elements of earth, water, fire, air (wind), space, and consciousness. In this episode, we discuss how these practices can lead to a direct insight into the nature of self. Playlist of Doug's Dharma videos on the elements:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0akoU_OszRhAhUt9nXmf4wfgkBdHRAfxBook Recommendation: Living as a River, by Bodhipaksa Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-09-0326 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Fire SermonDealing with wildfires associated with global warming turns our mind to one of the Buddha's most famous and trenchant suttas, his third discourse, the Fire Sermon.Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato:https://suttacentral.net/sn35.28/en/sujatoTranslation by Bhikkhu Bodhi:https://suttacentral.net/sn35.28/en/bodhiDoug's video:https://youtu.be/dhTULnK8BWoSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-08-1328 minDiggin' the DharmaListener Questions and Responses: Non-Judgment, Ethics, and Working with Unwanted CriticismDoug and Jon respond to three member questions on how to reconcile non-judgment in our practice with the role of ethics, as well as how we can best deal with personal criticism and even aggression from co-workers.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-08-0631 minDiggin' the DharmaListener Questions and Responses: The Roles of Teachers and Trauma in the PathIn this listener Q&A, Doug and Jon answer two questions: teachers' roles in guiding their students in the dharma, and how our past trauma might influence our journey. We don't pretend to have specific answers, but these wonderful questions elicited a wonderful discussion.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-07-3029 minDiggin' the DharmaDealing with the "Polycrisis"The time we are living through just now has been termed a poly-crisis. A combination of existential crises happening all at once. Whether it's climate change, the war in Ukraine, pandemics, worldwide hunger, refugees, civil strive. . . we are experiencing it all directly or indirectly. How can our practice help? Does it help? Doug and Jon reflect on their own experience of this.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-07-0223 minDiggin' the DharmaLet's Talk about Buddha NatureBuddha Nature is a concept that arises primarily in the Mahayana Buddhist teachings, though without using that language, specifically, could certainly be interpreted within the early teachings as well. The most famous Koan on this is "Does a Dog of Buddha Nature?"Doug and Jon have a spirited and at times confusing discussion on this. Join in with us!Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-06-1831 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat Is "Now"? What Was "Now"? What will be "Now"?The present moment seems to come and go, but is that the case? What is the present moment anyway? This is a deep philosophical question and certainly a central point of Buddhist practice. Doug and Jon look at the topic from a number of different points of view . It's always a fun discussion!Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-06-1124 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Guardians of the WorldDoug and Jon discuss two natural abilities we have to skillfully maneuver through the world. The Buddha discussed them as "guardians of the world" (Iti. 42).Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-05-2125 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat Do You Mean It's Not Mine???"Not mine, not I, not myself" is a phrase that appears in various suttas. It can be a useful reminder to let go. We cling to material things, people, and of course ourselves. When we lose something or someone, or when that idea of who I am suddenly shifts, it can manifest in significant suffering. In this episode, Doug and Jon discuss how they relate to this sutta and how it can be a helpful reminder when we find ourselves in the jaws of dukkha.Support the showGo to our website to leave a co...2023-04-2324 minDiggin' the DharmaDualism or Non-Dualism, That is the QuestionWhat is non-dualism all about? Is it a practice? Is it a way of looking at the world? Or is it just words? Yes and. . . We'll discuss the dharma and practice of non-dualism. Was it found in the early texts? How do we understand and use it?Doug's YouTube video on the topic:Non-Dualism and Early Buddhism -- https://youtu.be/43v6lLweukgSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-04-1627 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat's the Story with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the idea of Secular MindfulnessThe training called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the late '70s and could be credited with the concept of "secular mindfulness." It is taught worldwide by hundreds of teachers and has been the topic of well over 1000 scientific research papers. Is it Buddhist? Is it effective? Jon Aaron is one of the prominent teachers of this curriculum and a trainer of new teachers. He and Doug talk about the Buddhist underpinnings of this curriculum as well as it's impact on the secular mindfulness movement. Link to Jon's upcoming MBSR ClassesReceive a 10...2023-04-0927 minDiggin' the DharmaPatience and the PatientAs Jon returns from his heart surgery and recovery, we discuss the practice of patience, which is considered one of the Perfections of the Heart (Parami). While heart surgery itself is miraculous, perfecting the heart by cultivating this quality of patience (among others) is no less so. We look at ways to develop patience throughout our day.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-02-1925 minDiggin' the DharmaCan Our Mindfulness Practice Help Alleviate Fear?This episode will be aired the week Jon faces significant surgery. It seems like an appropriate time to look into fear and how to work with it. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2023-01-2226 minDiggin' the DharmaEmbodied Meditation and a Guided MeditationIn our final podcast of 2022 we'll take another look at embodied meditation, following a retreat that Jon was just on. As a special gift, Jon will lead us on a wonderful guided meditation illustrating how seeing this embodiment can work in our practice.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-12-2528 minDiggin' the DharmaHoliday Book Recommendations and a RetreatJon has just got back from a long retreat, so we discuss his experiences, as well as offering a few book recommendations for the holidays and New Year. Go to our website for titles and some links!Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-12-1828 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat's Up With Our Logo?Is our "Diggin' the Dharma" logo a problem? Doug and Jon react to some recent comments on a thread at Doug's YouTube channel that expressed the concern that the logo was offensive in depicting the Buddha with a shovel. It's an opportunity to look at the teachings of "rites and rituals" as well as the concept of spiritual materialism.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-12-1123 minDiggin' the DharmaThis Fathom Long Body"Yet it is just within this fathom-long body, endowed with perception and cognition, that I declare that there is the world, the origination of the world, the cessation of the world, and the path of practice leading to the cessation of the world.” In this quote from the Rohitassa sutta the Buddha addresses the knowing body. All that we know and experience is in this body. So embodied practice is not the practice of cognitive understanding (though this is important) but rather a result of our direct experience. Embodied practice is when our actions are a result of heartfelt...2022-12-0425 minDiggin' the DharmaPost-Thanksgiving Edition- Buddhist Practice and FoodAs we head out of the week of Thanksgiving we consider eating and food in the context of early Buddhist practices. For those of who are used to eating three meals a day--a very western European way-- the notion of eating on the early Buddhist monastic schedule of one basic meal a day before noon would seem rather strange if not impossible to hold to. Of course, we don't go out for alms rounds to obtain our food and our daily schedules are quite different. There is also the question of our attitude toward food and eating. In this episod...2022-11-2729 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Buddha Walks into a Voting Booth. . .With the upcoming election in the US we will look at politics and Buddhism. Should we allow our Buddhist ideals to influence our voting? What would the Buddha himself have said in the midst of so much partisanship and how do the teachings on "holding to fixed views" fit into our own political dialogues? Jon and Doug have an animated discussion on this important topic without implying how you should vote. But you should vote!Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see fu...2022-11-0630 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Usual Suspects-- the Five HindrancesDoug and Jon discuss the five hindrances that the Buddha had to overcome on the night of his enlightenment. We find them not only cropping up in our formal meditation practice, but in our everyday lives as well. How should we deal with them? We have lots of tips.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-10-1627 minDiggin' the DharmaDying Before You DieTurning toward death through various meditation practices can be transformative and liberative. In this episode Doug and Jon discuss how they practice with this and the impact it has had on their lives.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-10-0229 minDiggin' the DharmaBuddhism in the Natural WorldBuddhism was originally practiced in the forests and it was evolving at a time when much of society was seeing itself as a separate from nature by trying to control it. The Buddha, it is written, always went into the forest when he took leave from his sangha for retreat. In this episode, Doug and Jon explore the importance of reconnecting with the natural world as part of our practice. What do we learn about ourselves and how the core teachings, particularly around 'non-self' are illuminated through re-connecting with the natural world. Support the showGo to o...2022-09-1825 minDiggin' the DharmaQ&A with a Listener and Member: Children, Non-attachment, and the MilitaryThis special episode Jon and Doug take questions from Sorrell, one of their generous member-donors over at Buy Me a Coffee. They discuss having children in a Buddhist context, how thorough non-attachment can be in lay life, as well as Sorrell's experiences on deployment in the navy.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-09-0438 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Triple Gem and the Refuge it ProvidesIn this episode Doug and Jon exploring the practice of taking refuge. The Triple Gem refers to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This is considered a True Refuge. A refuge that doesn't fade that is always there. It is both a practice and a commitment and a very important part of Buddhism. We explore the different ways to interpret these gems as well as understanding the difference between this True Refuge and the false refuges we often seek.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes a...2022-08-2128 minDiggin' the Dharma"Digital Dharma" one of the topic from The Future Of American Buddhism with Special Guest UpayadhiIn this episode we continue our discussion with Upayadhi on a recent conference she attended, where one topic involved the influence of the digital world on Buddhist dharma. We discuss its current pluses and minuses and what the future holds.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-07-1729 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Future of American Buddhism? With Special Guest UpayadhiOur guest Upayadhi recently spent time at a fascinating conference on the topic of "the future of American Buddhism". We discuss the conference and some of her reactions to it. What's the future look like? Who's involved?Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-07-1031 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat is Enlightenment Anyway?The Third Noble Truth says there is freedom from Dukkha. We have experiences of this freedom often but don’t often recognize them for what they are. It’s been said that “enlightenment is an accident and meditation makes us more accident prone”. There is certainly some truth in this. In this episode we look at Enlightenment from some different perspectives. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-07-0329 minDiggin' the DharmaFinding Joy in the Joy of Others!While it can be hard to believe, there is no limit to the amount of joy in the world. Yet, at times it certainly feels that way. Sympathetic Joy, or Resonant Joy is the third of the Divine Abodes and like the quality of compassion it has the capacity to weaken the boundary between self and other. Doug and Jon discuss the role of the quality in their own lives.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://dig...2022-06-2627 minDiggin' the DharmaCompassion-- Is it a quality we are born with?Compassion is one of the Divine Abodes. Doug and Jon discuss whether this is an innate quality or one that needs to be learned. How do we cultivate that quality and perhaps uncover what is already here.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-06-1926 minDiggin' the DharmaWorking with Desires -- the wholesome and the unwholesomeDesire can be the source of great Dukkha whether fulfilled or not. Some desires, however are wholesome and these should be pursued, but even these can be a source of Dukkha. Working with desires is an important part of practice. Doug and Jon discuss their different approaches.Books mentioned:Anālayo, Compassion and EmptinessSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-06-1229 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Non-Commandments-- the Buddha's teachings on EthicsUnlike the 10 Commandments in the Judeo-Christian traditions which tell you what not to do, The Buddhist Precepts are actually practices and while they can be read like commandments, that is really not the point. Doug and Jon speak to how they work with Five Practice Precepts in the early Buddhist teachings. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-06-0527 minDiggin' the DharmaThe Meditation Industrial Complex- Part 1-- Making a living teaching meditation and dharmaWe both manage to make a living teaching dharma and meditation. How do we balance the ideal of "dana" - the practice of generosity -- with the reality of a western capitalist economic system. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-05-2926 minDiggin' the DharmaUnconditional Friendliness?- It's a big AskThe first of the Four Divine Abodes (Brahmaviharas) is Unconditional Friendliness (Metta) and for many this is a very challenging practice. In this episode Doug and Jon explore how this has impacted their own practice, various ways the practice can be done and how it becomes integrated into everything we do.One translation of the sutta on lovingkindness by Bhante Sujato: https://suttacentral.net/snp1.8/en/sujatoSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-05-2227 minDiggin' the DharmaLearning How to Respond Appropriately to Tough SituationsWe'll discuss a recent example of self-immolation, as well as difficulties some of the Buddha's senior disciples had with serious illness. How do we face challenging situations in our personal lives and in society. It's going to be a pretty deep episode, but worth spending time with.Doug's YouTube episode Buddhism on Suicide and Euthanasia: https://youtu.be/a62ZgVWANz4Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-05-1530 minDiggin' the DharmaBeing an Investigative Reporter of Our Own Experience!In the Seven Factors of Awakening- one of the maps in the early teachings- Investigation is the second factor after Mindfulness. Doug and Jon speak discuss what it is we are investigating. What are the questions we can plant that bring insights into a new light. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-05-0829 minDiggin' the DharmaSo Many Ways to See: The Buddhist Maps for Liberating the MindIn the early Buddhist teachings there are many, many lists! Quite a few of these provide different ways of exploring our experience. They are maps to liberate the mind. In this episode, we look at the some of these teachings and how they have helped our own practice. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-05-0129 minDiggin' the DharmaWhy do I Take Things so Personally? - More on Non-SelfWe'll discuss how the practice and realization of non-self in Buddhism helps us see through We don’t know about you, but seems like most of us can take everything so personally. This is an other form of suffering which the Buddha’s teachings attribute to clinging to self-view. It’s seems unavoidable until we start to hold to who we think we are a bit more lightly.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-04-2425 minDiggin' the DharmaWho Am I Really? The Buddha's teaching on Non-SelfDoug and Jon start a conversation on one of the most misunderstood and yet probably the most important of the Buddha’s teachings. The teaching of Anatta- usually defined as “non-self”. Join us as we as we try to clarify without adding more confusion.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-04-1728 minDiggin' the DharmaDukkha: I Can't Get No Satisfaction!Dukkha: unsatisfactoriness, suffering, or just untranslated it's the difficulty that we find in our lives. We'll discuss how it's understood and experienced. How do you see it in your life?Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-04-1025 minDiggin' the DharmaHow Our Lives ChangeIn this episode we'll discuss anicca or change and impermanence, how it effects our lives. Doug's recent experience with a house fire will provide a good example!Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-04-0324 minDiggin' the DharmaIgnorance---It's not what you think!The last of the three poisons and the root of all dukkha. What is ignorance in Buddhism and how does it harm us? Leave comments or questions at our website:https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-03-2727 minDiggin' the DharmaHow Does Anger Show Up in Our LivesAnger, ill-will, hatred. What does the Buddha teach us about this and how does it change the way we deal with these powerful emotions.The sutta on the three types of people with anger: https://suttacentral.net/an3.132/en/sujatoCheck out our new website!https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-03-2026 minDiggin' the DharmaWho Are You Calling Greedy?How does greed-- or desire-- arising in our lives? It's subtler than we think. What is greed, what are its effects, and how should we look skillfully at our intentions so as to defuse it?Check out our new website!https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-03-1328 minDiggin' the DharmaIntegrating Mindfulness Into Our LivesWhat have we discovered as mindfulness and meditation have been integrated into our lives? We share lots of tips! Check out our new website!https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-03-0626 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat is Mindfulness?These days with the overuse of the word "mindfulness" we look at what the early teachings tell us about this practice and how it relates to the “modern mindfulness movement”.Check out our new website!https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-02-2728 minDiggin' the DharmaWhy Meditate?It's a good question, why do we meditate anyway? In this episode we discuss the technicalities of meditation and what it really is in relationship to the practices in the early Buddhist teachings.Check out our new website!https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-02-2026 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat Are Our Practices?We discuss our own meditation practices. What do we do? For how long? What are our default practices? Check out our new website!https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-02-1326 minDiggin' the DharmaThich Nhat Hanh and "Engaged Buddhism"With the passing of Thich Nhat Hanh we reflect upon his importance in Buddhism as well as his focus on a practice that engages with social and political problems in the world.Check out our new website:https://digginthedharma.com/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2022-02-0621 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat Brought Us to BuddhismAs we initiate our podcast, in these first few episodes we introduce ourselves, how we came to Buddhist practice, what meditation brings to our lives and what it can bring to yours.How did Buddhism become part of your life? We will discuss how it became part of ours. You can find Jon at: https://www.jonaaron.net/https://www.space2meditate.com/You can find Doug at:https://www.youtube.com/c/dougsdharmahttps://onlinedharma.org/Support the showGo to our website to leav...2022-01-1325 minDiggin' the DharmaWhat We Like About BuddhismWhat is it about Buddhism that we like? How has it helped us and how has it changed us? The Buddha always said—check it out for yourself—having done this, what did we discover?You can find Jon at: https://www.jonaaron.net/https://www.space2meditate.com/You can find Doug at:https://www.youtube.com/c/dougsdharmahttps://onlinedharma.org/Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/2021-12-1617 min