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The World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 22 - Buddhism's Bad Rap: Debunking the "Suffering Only" MythFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestion"All Buddhism does is talk about suffering. What a drag." This common misconception reveals a profound misunderstanding of the Buddha's teachings and prevents many from discovering the transformative wisdom at the heart of Buddhist practice.The Buddha wasn't a pessimist fixated on suffering—he was more like a physician diagnosing an illness to provide a cure. Just as doctors don't focus on disease because they're negative people but because understanding the ailment is essential for healing, the Buddha's examination of suffering was the first st...2025-07-1857 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 21 - The Raft Gets You There, But Don't Carry It On Your BackFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWords fail us at the mountain's peak. That deafening silence—somehow both empty and filled with something profound—defies language yet demands our attention. This paradox sits at the heart of our exploration into Zen's complex relationship with language.Many seekers stumble when they encounter Buddhism's warnings about the limitations of words. They mistake this caution for a wholesale rejection of language rather than understanding its specific context. The problem isn't ordinary conversation—it's what happens when words attempt to capture transcendent experiences or when w...2025-07-1150 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 20 - Freedom's ParadoxFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat does true freedom really mean? In our milestone 20th episode, we unpack this deceptively complex question, revealing how our understanding of freedom often remains superficial until we achieve liberation from our own mental habits and patterns.Freedom isn't simply doing whatever we want. From a Zen perspective, genuine freedom only emerges when we break free from the prison of our own thoughts—the rigid mental frameworks that filter every experience through our preexisting beliefs. As we demonstrate through candid conversation, most of us li...2025-07-041h 01The World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 19 - The Art of Feeling: Zen Perspectives on Numbness and AwarenessFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat happens when we numb ourselves to life's subtle symphony, constantly seeking louder experiences? This question forms the heart of our exploration into numbness—a concept that emerged from a casual conversation after Sunday service but quickly revealed itself as fundamental to understanding human suffering and awakening.Numbness takes many forms in our lives. Sometimes we use substances to escape pain, moving from suffering toward a perceived "normal" state. Other times, we seek stimulation to elevate ourselves from boredom, chasing dopamine hits through increasingly in...2025-06-2752 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastBonus Track #6: Pornographic Birds of the MindFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionThe statement "everything is created by the mind" might seem deceptively simple, but as explored in this thought-provoking bonus track, it contains profound implications about how we perceive and interact with reality. Drawing from a personal experience teaching a meditation workshop, we witness the stark contrast between someone who immediately grasps this concept and another who actively resists it—highlighting how differently the same wisdom lands depending on who receives it.Through vivid examples and unexpected humor, we challenge our romantic notions about nature, li...2025-06-2324 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 18 - Beyond Rage: Finding Clarity in a World of EmotionFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat happens when anger fuels our actions? Can something traditionally viewed as poison ever become medicine? These questions form the heart of a profound meditation on emotion, motivation, and clarity.Starting with a thoughtful listener question about anger's place in both spiritual practice and social movements, this episode takes us on a nuanced journey through the Zen perspective on emotional states. We carefully distinguish between inwardly-directed frustration that motivates spiritual growth and outwardly-projected anger that inevitably clouds judgment.The metaphor of fire...2025-06-2049 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 17 - Deafening Murmur Amidst SilenceFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat happens when we truly embrace silence? Not just the absence of speech, but a deliberate practice of observing the noise within?In this revealing conversation between Myong-An Sunim and Dr. Ruben Lambert, we journey into the Korean Zen practice of Mugon Suhaeng (observing silence) and discover that not speaking is merely the surface of a much deeper experience. As Myung-An Sunim shares from his recent practice of silence, we learn that the real discovery comes when we notice the "murmuring"—that constant internal di...2025-06-1353 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastBonus Track #5: Eye Opening Ceremony AddressFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionSupport the showDr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org2025-06-1010 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 16 - The Tapestry of Karma Extends Beyond What You Can See (karma part 2)FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionHave you ever wondered why bad things sometimes happen to good people? Or why some experiences seem to repeat across generations? Our exploration of karma goes far deeper than the oversimplified idea of cosmic punishment you might be familiar with.Karma, simply meaning "action," represents a sophisticated framework for understanding the complex web of cause and effect that shapes our lives. In this second part of our series, we unveil the multidimensional nature of karmic consequences—some visible, some hidden beneath the surface, some im...2025-06-061h 06The World Through Zen Eyes PodcastBonus Track #4: From the Mouth of a Thousand Buddhas: "You're Not For You"FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionHave you ever stumbled upon wisdom in the most unexpected place? That moment when profound truth arrives from a source you'd never anticipate?A simple gift exchange led to one of the most meaningful spiritual insights I've received. After attempting to thank a friend in my limited Spanish, I turned to a translation app to decipher her response. What appeared on my screen wasn't what she intended to say, but something far more profound: "You're not for you." Those four simple words stopped me...2025-06-0311 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 15 - Beyond Eye for an Eye: The Misunderstood Nature of Karma (Karma part 1)FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat if karma isn't what you think it is? In this mind-expanding conversation, we unravel the true nature of karma beyond the simplistic "eye for an eye" understanding that leaves so many people confused and doubtful.Karma, at its core, simply means action – specifically the actions of body, speech, and mind. But where most of us get lost is in understanding how these actions connect to their results. We often expect a direct, linear relationship: if I push someone, I should get pushed back in...2025-05-301h 04The World Through Zen Eyes PodcastBonus Track #3: Buckets of Gold or Manure: It's Your LiftFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionHave you ever wondered about the incredible strength you unknowingly possess? The strength that allows you to carry heavy worries day after day without collapsing under their weight?Life presents itself as messy and unnerving—not the neat, nicely packaged experience we might wish for. As we navigate this muddy terrain, we often feel a sense of helplessness and paralysis when facing harsh realities. But this bonus track challenges that very notion. What if the paralysis is false? What if we're already demonstrating superhuman st...2025-05-2707 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 14 - Reincarnation of reincarnation. We reincarnate with every emotion, not just between lifetimes.FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionSupport the showDr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org2025-05-231h 05The World Through Zen Eyes PodcastBonus Track #2: Depraved HappinessFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionHave you ever wondered if spiritual teachings about avoiding greed mean you're supposed to live an unfulfilling life? Our latest exploration of "Depraved Happiness" tackles this common misconception head-on.When Zen philosophy identifies greed as one of the three poisons (alongside anger and ignorance), many practitioners mistakenly conclude they must embrace material lack or deprivation. This episode unravels this misunderstanding, revealing that Zen doesn't aim to deprive you of joy or fulfillment—rather, it seeks to free you from the gullibility that makes us ch...2025-05-2008 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 13 - Sméagol's Ring, Dinosaur Pee, Soda Cans and Other Tales from the Six Realms of ReincarnationFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionHave you ever considered that the water you drink might contain molecules that once passed through a dinosaur? Or that the aluminum can in your recycling bin could become part of a building's siding? These everyday examples reveal a profound truth that lies at the heart of Buddhist philosophy: nothing truly dies—everything simply changes form.The World Through Zen Eyes Podcast takes a deep dive into the concept of reincarnation, exploring it not as a mystical belief system but as an observable principle th...2025-05-1654 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastBonus Track # 1: Hungry SpiritualityFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionRemember finding that hidden track on a cassette after you thought the album was over? That unexpected delight inspired our new "Bonus Track" segment - unpredictable, unplanned content that might appear when you least expect it.In this first Bonus Track, we explore the concept of "hungry spirituality" - a fascinating paradox of modern life where abundance, rather than deficit, has become our primary source of suffering. While our ancestors struggled for basic survival needs, they still prioritized spiritual practices, suggesting something profound about...2025-05-1311 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 12 - Aging with Grace: Start NowFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat does it mean to age with grace? This question leads us deep into Zen Buddhist wisdom, where aging isn't something that begins at 60, but rather with our very first breath. The Buddha's spiritual journey began with profound questions about aging, sickness, and death – questions many of us push aside until we're forced to confront them.Throughout this episode, we explore how different wisdom traditions understand life's stages – from the Korean concept of Hwangap marking the 60th birthday, to Hindu philosophy's progression from student to h...2025-05-0955 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 11 - The Happiness Trap: Your pursuit of happiness might be causing your sufferingFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat if our relentless pursuit of happiness is the very thing making us miserable? This thought-provoking conversation between MyongAhn Sunim and Dr. Ruben Lambert dives deep into our complicated relationship with happiness, challenging the notion that it should be our default emotional state.Starting with a listener question about happiness as an "inalienable right," the hosts unravel how our definitions and expectations shape our experience. They draw clear distinctions between fleeting pleasure and deeper contentment, explaining how happiness and suffering exist in an inseparable...2025-05-0259 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 10 - Worry - One of our most normalized yet destructive mental habits.FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionHave you ever wondered why worry feels so natural, so necessary when you care about someone or something? In this thought-provoking exploration, we peel back the layers of what might be one of our most normalized yet destructive mental habits.Worry, as we discover, is an imposter. It has cleverly positioned itself as the necessary companion to care and concern, making us believe the dangerous equation: if I love someone, I must worry about them. This false equivalence creates what we call "the worried...2025-04-2553 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 9 - Forgive! But not from your high horseFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat happens when we strip away our ego from the act of forgiveness? Can we truly forgive without feeling superior to those we forgive? The journey through forgiveness begins with examining our own hearts. When forgiveness comes from a place of superiority—the benevolent bestower granting mercy to those beneath them—it remains superficial and ultimately ineffective. True forgiveness requires nothing less than a transformation at the core of our being, a fundamental shift in how we perceive both others and ourselves.We of...2025-04-1826 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 8 - Beyond Religion: How Belief Shapes EVERYTHING We DoFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionEvery morning when you wake up, cross the street, or sip your coffee, you're exercising a power that shapes your entire reality—belief. But this isn't about religion. It's about the fundamental way humans navigate an uncertain world.In this enlightening conversation, we rescue the concept of belief from its narrow religious connotations and reveal how it operates as the invisible engine driving our everyday lives. When you close your eyes to sleep, you believe your ceiling won't collapse. When you make plans for to...2025-04-1154 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 7 - Fan Mail Episode: The Conscious vs Subconscious Mind: A Zen ExplorationFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionWhat if your unconscious mind is secretly running the show while your conscious self merely justifies decisions already made in the shadows? This fascinating tension lies at the heart of our exploration of consciousness and the hidden programming that drives our behaviors.Drawing from both Western psychological traditions and Eastern Zen philosophy, we dive deep into understanding the fundamental differences between conscious and unconscious mind processes. Jung's famous quote provides our starting point: "Until you make your unconscious conscious, it will direct your life...2025-04-0457 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 6 - Fan Mail Episode - "What is self love?..."FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionIn our second Fan Mail Episode, a listener asks: "What is self love? Can you love yourself? How to love yourself? Can you love a thing or another? Is loving yourself is just becoming love? If there is no self what's love? "Support the showDr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org2025-03-2851 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp. 5 - Fan Mail Episode - Practice & the WorldFAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionThis is the FIRST Fan Mail Episode for our podcast. A listener requested the topic of "bringing the practice into the world". We hope you enjoy it.To send us Fan Mail or to support the podcast go to: https://theworldthroughzeneyespodcast.buzzsprout.com/ Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.comVen. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.orgSupport the showDr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com Ven. M...2025-03-2156 minThe World Through Zen Eyes PodcastEp 4. - Let go my ego! Just what is it, why should you let it go, and if you should?FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionLet go of my ego! Just what is it, why should you let it go, and if you should?Support the showDr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org2025-03-1455 min