Cal Hoffman and Dougie Robertson share how to live a happier life by understanding the basics of modern Buddhism through a secular lens. No superstition, no airy-fairy nonsense, just the facts and a lot of fun!
Secular Buddhism for Skeptical Atheists
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Podcast Overview
Cal Hoffman and Dougie Robertson share how to live a happier life by understanding the basics of modern Buddhism through a secular lens. No superstition, no airy-fairy nonsense, just the facts and a lot of fun!
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3/3/2020
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Recent Episodes
October 24, 2021
"Good is a point of view, Anakin..."
<p>Socials! @intralocal @d0ug7a5 <a href="mailto:podpondpods@gmail.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podpondpods@gmail.com</a> </p><p><br /></p><p>In Buddhism, the main duality considered is generally "suffering" and "enlightenment". Quite different to "good" and "evil" or the "good" and "bad" lens through which we often experience life. Or is it? Evil is a pretty loaded term. Can we ever know whether something is wholly "good" or "bad"? A lot of this is about the stories we choose to tell ourselves. "Good is a point of view Anakin" - is thinking "beyond" good and bad just a trap that leads to us being evil? </p><p><br /></p><p>Concept: Good and Evil </p><p>- Buddhism suggests we have an innate sense of 'good' and 'evil'. If we are looking to be kind, then it just follows naturally right? </p><p>- There's no sense of "absolute evil" in Buddhism really. </p><p>- In Buddhist reincarnation, a demon can use karma to attain rebirth as something less unpleasant. "The suffering of demons in the hell realms is invoked negatively to warn practitioners to be more diligent in their spiritual efforts—in part to avoid rebirth among these unfortunate beings." </p><p>- This is not at all an idea unique to Buddhism </p><p> - Beyond Good and Evil - Nietzsche </p><p><br /></p><p>Parable: The Horse </p><p>A farmer and his son had a beloved horse who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbours exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.” </p><p>A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild horses back to the farm as well. The neighbours shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.” </p><p>Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the horses and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The neighbours cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.” </p><p>A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, because he had a broken leg. The neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” </p><p><br /></p><p>Listener question: </p><p>- What are some of your favourite resources for further reading on Buddhism? (Alice, Canberra) </p><p>- <a href="https://tinybuddha.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tinybuddha.com/</a> </p><p>- <a href="https://tricycle.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tricycle.org/</a> </p><p>- <a href="https://vice.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vice.com/</a> </p><p>- Full Catastrophe Living - Jon Kabat-Zinn </p><p>- The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck - Mark Manson </p><p><br /></p><p>Links: </p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3EVIgPd" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3EVIgPd</a> Jay Mavani: Parable of the horse - Maybe so, maybe not. We'll see. </p><p>The full parable of the horse along with an analysis of the parable by Jay </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195393521/obo-9780195393521-0171.xml" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195393521/obo-9780195393521-0171.xml</a> Oxford Bibliographies: Demons and the demonic in Buddhism </p><p>The summary of a long-read analysis on Buddhist concepts of the demonic</p>
October 10, 2021
#bekind - A guide to metta loving kindness meditation
<p>Socials, you say!? @intralocal @d0ug7a5 <a href='mailto:podpondpods@gmail.com'>podpondpods@gmail.com</a> </p><p><br></p><p>Issue: </p><p>- The traditional Buddhist notion of "metta" is often translated as 'loving kindness' or 'compassion'. If you do Headspace meditations and do visualisations involving being flooded with golden light, that is actually a visualisation of "metta". </p><p>- "Be kind" - it's a hashtag; it sounds simple and easy. Let's see if it is. </p><p>- Metta development/cultivation ("metta bhavana") - 'loving kindness meditation'. </p><p><br></p><p>Concept: The 5 stages of metta meditation </p><p>1. Make friends with yourself (flood yourself with metta) </p><p>2. Wish a loved one happiness (offering metta, useful for e.g. envy, greed, malice - lots of practical examples of this) </p><p>3. Wish a stranger happiness (offering metta to people where it is not as obviously having a direct impact on us) </p><p>4. Wish an enemy happiness (offering metta to someone we dislike; hard) </p><p>5. Wish the cosmos happiness (offering metta to as wide a circle as possible) </p><p><br></p><p>Parable: Sariputta and the Brahmin</p><p>- Sariputta was out on his alms round and a Brahmin decided to test his patience by sneaking up behind him and giving him an almighty smack</p><p>- Sariputta didn't react so the Brahmin felt bad and apologised</p><p>- Sariputta accepted but this wasn't enough so the Brahmin brought him round for dinner</p><p>- An angry mob also came to dinner so Sariputta gave the Brahmin his alms bowl so they, not wanting to break it, would leave and go home</p><p>- Later, the Buddha reflected on the situation:</p><p>"The mob should not strike the brahmin, and the brahmin should not set anger loose. Shame on the one who hits a brahmin and greater shame on the one who sets anger loose. Whenever one turns away from the intent to harm,</p><p>Suffering is allayed."</p><p><br></p><p>Listener question:</p><p>Do you believe in reincarnation? What would you like to come back as? - Jay (they/them), Manchester</p><p><br></p><p>Links:</p><p><a href='https://bit.ly/3i1vPaC'>https://bit.ly/3i1vPaC</a> Yoga Anytime: The 5 stages of loving-kindness </p><p>A webseries by Yoga Anytime that breaks down the stages of Loving Kindness into an episode per stage, guiding you in depth through the meditation </p><p><br></p><p><a href='https://bbc.in/3AwEMQp'>https://bbc.in/3AwEMQp</a> BBC Bitesize: Good, evil and suffering </p><p>A bitesize analysis of the Buddhist approach to suffering, presented as part of the BBC's revision guide to GCSE Religious Studies </p><p><br></p><p><a href='https://bit.ly/2XDBU5I'>https://bit.ly/2XDBU5I</a> Tricycle: Overcoming ill will </p><p>A long-read reflection on how to change the way we react to those who anger us</p>
September 26, 2021
Dougie's Twitter beef! THEY SAID WHAT!?
<p>Socials: </p><p>@d0ug7a5 </p><p>@intralocal</p><p><br></p><p>News and social media are more divisive than ever. Covid has exposed a lot of mis- and disinformation and conspiracy theorists. It's a natural response to be reactive and combative. This is leading to the breakdown of relationships. What can we do about it? </p><p><br></p><p>Parable: The Wild Elephant</p><p>One of the many lives of the Bodhisattva was spent as an ascetic. This one time, he came back as the most superior ascetic in the whole order and everyone used to follow him. There was another ascetic in the same order who was jealous of the Bodhisattva. So, to remove the Bodhisattva from his path, he asked some elephant keepers to intoxicate a ferocious elephant by giving it liquor and then letting it loose on the Bodhisattva’s path. The ferocious and drunk elephant was let loose on the street and people ran in every direction to save their lives. The Bodhisattva continued walking down the path and looked calm. Suddenly, a woman, who was very frightened, accidentally dropped her child at the feet of the Bodhisattva. The wild elephant walked up to them and as it was about to trample them, the Bodhisattva placed his hand on its forehead and gently stroked it. Suddenly, the wild elephant became calm and bowed in front of him. Everyone was amazed to see this miracle. </p><p><br></p><p>Questions: </p><p>- From Max in Newton Aicliffe - “Where do you think psychedelics fit into the picture of Buddhism & spirituality? Some people cite them as catalysts for spiritual growth & great tools for personal development whereas others would argue they’re a lazy attempt to by-pass the work required to gain spiritual enlightenment & peace. Please share your thoughts.” </p><p>- Joao from Pará - “You talk a lot about meditation practice. Are there things you do in your day to day lives - other than literally sitting down to meditate - where you think some of the same benefits of meditation might apply?” </p><p>- Luke in London - what kind of microphones are you using? </p><p><br></p><p>Links: </p><p><a href='https://bit.ly/3izpZNb'>https://bit.ly/3izpZNb</a> Kidsgen: Stories from Buddha Teachings (The Wild Elephant) </p><p>The location of the short version of the wild elephant story, along with many others </p><p> </p><p><a href='https://wapo.st/3BtkiJh'>https://wapo.st/3BtkiJh</a> The Washington Post: Elephant Walk tests the Buddhist principles of a trained mind and inner peace </p><p>A medium length examination of the relevance of the wild elephant to the concept of mindfulness and the importance of meditation </p><p> </p><p><a href='https://bit.ly/3wMsTmy'>https://bit.ly/3wMsTmy</a> Wikipedia: The Noble Eightfold Path </p><p>A basic summary of the Eightfold Path</p>
12 total episodes available
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