Podcasts about Mahayana

While a Mahayana text, The Way of the Bodhisattva encodes tantric teachings about harnessing the creative sexual energy. Literally the seminal force in Tibetan Buddhist tantric texts, bodhichitta is the power of awakening enlightened compassion through selfless love, especially within a perfect matrimony. In other words, bodhichitta is the power of ennobled or chaste sexuality, whereby dense desires are transformed into unlikely and impactful virtues: generosity, altruism, ethics, patience, diligence, concentration, meditative serenity, and wisdom, otherwise known as the paramitas or perfections of a genuine spiritual master. It is also the fuel by which real faith is generated—the direct spiritual experience of divine, ultimate reality—which inspires any initiate to serve and sacrifice for humanity. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/bodhichitta-alchemical-medicine-for-the-soul

Trechos do texto “The Buddha's Four Foundations of Mindfulness “, de Bhikkhu Bodhi.Jeffrey Block ou Bhikkhu Bodhi, é escritor, tradutor e monge budista da tradição Theravada.Nascido em Nova York no ano de 1944 e criado em uma família judaica, Jeffrey desenvolveu um interesse pelo conhecimento oriental durante os seus anos de faculdade de Filosofia.Em 1967, enquanto ainda era um estudante, foi ordenado monge sramanera na ordem do budismo Mahayana vietnamita. Em 1972 concluiu sua pós-graduação em filosofia pela Claremont Graduate School, e logo após viajou ao Sri Lanka onde, através do mestre Ananda Maitreya, recebeu ordenação monástica do budismo Theravada.Ao longo dos anos, Bodhi mergulhou no estudo das escrituras Pali e Budistas e contribuiu incansavelmente para a disseminação dos ensinamentos budistas no Ocidente, desempenhando um papel fundamental na tradução de textos importantes para o inglês.Os ensinamentos de Bhikkhu Bodhi concentram-se nos princípios fundamentais do Budismo Theravada, como as Quatro Nobres Verdades e o Nobre Caminho Óctuplo.Conhecido por sua clareza de expressão e sua capacidade de tornar conceitos budistas profundos acessíveis a um público amplo, Bhikkhu Bodhi transmite em seus ensinamentos um compromisso com a ação compassiva, encorajando os praticantes a integrar o Dharma em suas vidas diárias e a se envolverem em esforços para aliviar o sofrimento, tanto a nível individual como social.

In which we begin reading Cullavagga, The Lesser Division.

The thieves, the gates, and the different kinds of dust.

In which Edward finishes reading Mahavagga, The Great Division.

In which a princess in ancient Bihar, India, weeps for her father, the king.

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna continues to discuss how we can develop the foundation and motivation of the Mahayana path: Great Compassion. He speaks about how Bodhicitta begins with equanimity and then moves to seeing all beings as having been our kind mothers. John gives a variety of entry points to this challenging task and offers practical guidance suited for our Western minds. This episode was recorded on October 29th, 2025.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's primary objective is to provide programs of Buddhist studies and practices that are practical, accessible, and meet the needs of the communities we serve.  As a traditional Buddhist center, all of our teachings are offered freely. If you would like to make a donation to support the center, please visit www.wocdc.org.  May you flourish in your practice and may all beings swiftly be free of suffering.

Poemas selecionados de Nagarjuna.Nāgārjuna foi um influente filósofo e mestre budista indiano.Nagarjuna viveu por volta do século II d.C. Embora os detalhes exatos de sua vida sejam envoltos em lenda, acredita-se que tenha nascido no sul da Índia e recebido uma educação profunda em diversas tradições. Inicialmente envolvido com estudos védicos e científicos, Nagarjuna mais tarde se voltou ao budismo, ingressando em um mosteiro e aprofundando-se nos ensinamentos do Buda, especialmente da escola Mahayana.Seus ensinamentos centram-se na doutrina da vacuidade (śūnyatā), a ideia de que todos os fenômenos são vazios de existência inerente. Por meio de sua principal obra, o Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (Versos Fundamentais do Caminho do Meio), Nagarjuna demonstrou que todos os conceitos são dependentes de causas e condições, rejeitando extremos de existência ou não existência. Ensinou que a sabedoria surge ao reconhecer essa vacuidade, levando à libertação do sofrimento.Nagarjuna é considerado o fundador da escola Madhyamaka (Caminho do Meio) do budismo Mahayana e uma das figuras mais importantes da filosofia budista. Seu pensamento influenciou profundamente as tradições budistas tibetanas, chinesas e japonesas, sendo reverenciado como um segundo Buda por muitos, devido à profundidade e precisão de seus ensinamentos.

With apologies to The Venerable Kaccāna The Great for the oversight

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna talks about how bodhicitta is the foundation of the Mahayana path of Buddhism. He spends time during this teaching speaking about the benefits of great compassion that engages in actions to free all sentient beings from samsara. This episode was recorded on October 1st, 2025.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's primary objective is to provide programs of Buddhist studies and practices that are practical, accessible, and meet the needs of the communities we serve.  As a traditional Buddhist center, all of our teachings are offered freely. If you would like to make a donation to support the center, please visit www.wocdc.org.  May you flourish in your practice and may all beings swiftly be free of suffering.

How to hear the Sutras in the sounds of a passing river.

In which Lord Buddha shares an inspiring story that doesn't help.

In this episode, we explore the Six Paramitas, the “perfections” that form the gradual training path of a Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. From generosity and ethical discipline to patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom, each Paramita is both a practice and an antidote to the obstacles that keep us bound to suffering.We look at how the Paramitas align with the Eightfold Path, why Mahayana emphasizes them as the Bodhisattva's toolkit, and how they embody the vow to liberate all beings before oneself. Along the way, we uncover what these perfections mean in daily life and how anyone can begin applying them, not as distant ideals but as practical steps toward compassion, clarity, and transformation.By the end, you will see how the Six Paramitas offer a gradual, cumulative path, a way to cultivate enlightened qualities step by step while carrying others with you across the shore of liberation.Contact Alan: alanpeto.com/contactPodcast Homepage: alanpeto.com/podcastPodcast Disclaimer: alanpeto.com/legal/podcast-disclaimer

In which you might be schismatic (and not know it)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche reads some verses from Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo's Calling the Guru from Afar and discusses the meaning. He talks about the rarity of finding a precious human body and meeting the Dharma. In every second, you have the unmistaken choice to either create the cause to be born in hell or to achieve enlightenment. Having this incredible opportunity is only due to the kindness of the guru.Rinpoche says that all happiness comes from bodhicitta. Whatever way we can benefit others, we must do it. To illustrate, he gives the example of a van that Roger bought, and they covered with mantras, images of deities, and Dharma messages. In this way, whoever sees, touches, remembers, or dreams of this van purifies all their sufferings and achieves enlightenment.Rinpoche says that there's nobody to work for except other sentient beings. To free them from all suffering and bring them to enlightenment, you first need to achieve the omniscient mind and then full enlightenment. To do that, you need to actualize the steps of the path to enlightenment. Rinpoche explains that this means not just meditating on what you like and leaving aside what you don't like, such as the lower realm sufferings or impermanence and death. Without renunciation of samsara, you cannot realize compassion and bodhicitta. Thus, you cannot enter the Mahayana path.Having the realization of bodhicitta is not enough, one must also realize emptiness through dependent arising. Rinpoche says that the borderline of existing and not existing is extremely subtle. Phenomena exist in mere name, merely imputed by mind. He says that the analysis of emptiness is completed when one realizes the unification of emptiness and dependent arising. If it comes to this point of realizing the subtle dependent arising, then your realization of emptiness is correct. If it doesn't lead to this point—if it leads to either nihilism or externalism—that is not realizing the Middle Way view.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

How to use Vajra spikes to establish the boundaries of your Dojo (optional)

In which they do it right! (Floundering Pascal Frang-doodle Abraham Lincoln Ladder)

The cycle should be worked out.

Poema “Mahayabavimsaka” de Nagarjuna.Nāgārjuna foi um influente filósofo e mestre budista indiano.Nagarjuna viveu por volta do século II d.C. Embora os detalhes exatos de sua vida sejam envoltos em lenda, acredita-se que tenha nascido no sul da Índia e recebido uma educação profunda em diversas tradições. Inicialmente envolvido com estudos védicos e científicos, Nagarjuna mais tarde se voltou ao budismo, ingressando em um mosteiro e aprofundando-se nos ensinamentos do Buda, especialmente da escola Mahayana.Seus ensinamentos centram-se na doutrina da vacuidade (śūnyatā), a ideia de que todos os fenômenos são vazios de existência inerente. Por meio de sua principal obra, o Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (Versos Fundamentais do Caminho do Meio), Nagarjuna demonstrou que todos os conceitos são dependentes de causas e condições, rejeitando extremos de existência ou não existência. Ensinou que a sabedoria surge ao reconhecer essa vacuidade, levando à libertação do sofrimento.Nagarjuna é considerado o fundador da escola Madhyamaka (Caminho do Meio) do budismo Mahayana e uma das figuras mais importantes da filosofia budista. Seu pensamento influenciou profundamente as tradições budistas tibetanas, chinesas e japonesas, sendo reverenciado como um segundo Buda por muitos, devido à profundidade e precisão de seus ensinamentos.

For as long as space endures And for as long as living beings remain Until then may I too abide To dispel the misery of the world. ―Shantideva Compassion and generosity are the hallmarks of the most elevated souls, fully manifested within beings like Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, and all the prophets. The amazing fact is that such beings were once like us: filled with greed, envy, resentment, and all of the psychological contaminations and defects that make us suffer. What is also empowering is that we have the potential to become like these enlightened masters, whom in the east are known as bodhisattvas: "the essence or incarnation of wisdom," the latter word indicating Prajna in Sanskrit, or "vis-dom: the power of vision / perception." The equivalent Hebrew term is Chokmah חָכמָה, signifying Christ in the mystical Kabbalah. The essence of genuine spirituality is kindness, selfless service, and comprehension of the root nature of all existence: the unsurpassed wisdom of emptiness, Prajna, Śūnyatā, or uncreated light of the Kabbalists, denominated in Gnostic terms as Khristos, Christ. Christ is not a human person, but the intense, primordial root energy of boundless compassion for suffering beings trapped within cyclic or manifested existence. This divine force, the emptiness of enlightened cognizance, sustains all of the universe and sacrifices itself by entering within those practitioners who are properly cultivated and prepared through the great perfections or paramitas, the trainings, principles, or qualities of awakened consciousness within Tibetan Buddhism. Learn about the path of enlightenment through a gnostic exegesis of Shantideva's seminal Mahayana text, The Way of the Bodhisattva, and how the enlightened mind / heart of wisdom, bodhichitta, can be developed within the practitioner of any denomination, religion, or tradition. This lecture introduces Shantideva's text, the purpose and contexts of its composition, and its practical application within the art and science of meditation. The lecturer also explains how the mystical kabbalah and the gnostic tradition of Samael Aun Weor can elucidate the esoteric nature of this scripture. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/introduction-to-the-way-of-the-bodhisattva

Taranita explores the historic and mythic origins of the Heart Sutra, the emergence of the Mahayana in the context of a Buddhist orthodoxy, emptiness, and our relationship to Buddhist concepts. Excerpted from the talk entitled An Introduction to the Heart Sutra given at Bristol Buddhist Centre 2019. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreeBuddhistAudio1967

Here Vajratara encourages her audience to enter a Mahayana text like one would reflect on a dream. Excerpted from the talk The Sutra of Golden Light given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2008. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreeBuddhistAudio1967

This is part 13 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we'll begin reading "The Platform Sutra" of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen (Chan) Buddhism, thought to have been composed around 780 CE.

This is Part 190 of my recital of the "Tipiṭaka," the "Three Baskets" of pre-sectarian Buddhism, as translated into English from the original Pali Language. In this episode, we'll continue reading "Mahāvagga IX," from the "Vinaya Piṭaka," the first of the three "Piṭaka," or "Baskets." "Mahāvagga" literally means "Great Division."

Chandana talks about the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, a category of Sutras in the Mahayana tradition. Exerted from the talk A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Buddhist Scriptures: Perfection of Wisdom Sutras given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2010. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreeBuddhistAudio1967  

In this talk, Kisei shares Case 58 from The Hidden Lamp, drawn from the Vimalakīrti Sūtra, where the goddess playfully transforms Shariputra to reveal the truth of nonduality beyond male and female. She explores the Mahayana roots of the story, its revolutionary challenge to purity doctrines, and its affirmation that awakening is not bound by gender, role, or condition. Through Rinzai's “four positions” and a guided koan exercise, Kisei invites us to embody both Shariputra and the goddess, to see where our own identities and resistances arise, and to discover the freedom of dropping all positions. The talk closes with Chōzen Roshi's reflections on zazen as both microscope and telescope, returning us to spaciousness as the ground of all forms. ★ Support this podcast ★

Bodhisattvas can be found in both Theravada and Mahayana branches of Buddhism. In Mahayana they take on a larger role where practitioners take on the path of the Bodhisattva towards helping all sentient beings and make up a core reason that Mahayana exists. Learn more about Bodhisattvas (and learn about two big VIP Bodhisattvas) in this episode!Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/bodhisattva-path/Get my Bodhisattva graphic: https://alanpeto.com/graphicsContact Alan: alanpeto.com/contactPodcast Homepage: alanpeto.com/podcastPodcast Disclaimer: alanpeto.com/legal/podcast-disclaimer

Elizabeth explores absolute bodhicitta through the story of the 11th century spiritual quest of Naropa. His training, under Mahasiddha Tilopa, illustrates the necessity of disrupting delusion in the context of spiritual awakening. At the heart of it all lies a deep examination of the meaning and experience of what is real.

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked how to apply the Buddha's teaching of Four Noble Truths in our daily life. The 4 Noble Truths are a core teaching of the Buddha, that is acknowledged as fundmental in all Buddhist traditions, including Therevada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. These thruths do not constitute a philosophical thought excercise, but are directly applicable to our experience of pain, disappointment and suffering. They show us a practical method in the Noble Eightfold Path to completely extricate ourselves from pain, frustration, depression, old age sickness, death and repeated birth. Ajahn points out that we usually blame external causes for any pain and disappointment we experience: "It's because of this person that I'm so miserable!" However, we can never get out of suffering by trying to eliminate all external causes. There's just too many of them, and often they are beyond our control. Instead, the Buddha points us to the internal causes of suffering: Craving; Attachment; Desire; Anger; and the Delusion of I, Me, Mine and Self. If we can abandon the internal causes of our suffering, we can overcome it once and forever. We can experience the state beyond all suffering: Freedom, Release, the Deathleath Element, Nibbāna.Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Spotify Playlists⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dhammagiri Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#buddhism #meditation #dhammatalk #fournobletruths #buddhistmeditation #buddhistwisdom #buddhistteachings

(East Bay Meditation Center) Sometimes it is thought that Buddhist practice is exclusively about "inner" transformation. However, the Buddha himself spoke of going out for the benefit of others and understood basic ethical guidelines socially. Later approaches and tradition, such as embodied in the rule of King Ashoka and the Mahayana vision of the bodhisattva, also manifest the connection of inner and outer transformation. In this talk, a contemporary "Eightfold Path" is offered to support connecting inner and outer transformation--bringing our practice into engagement with our contemporary society and world in great need. There are three wisdom guidelines, two meditation guidelines, and three ethical guidelines. The talk is followed by discussion.

(East Bay Meditation Center) Sometimes it is thought that Buddhist practice is exclusively about "inner" transformation. However, the Buddha himself spoke of going out for the benefit of others and understood basic ethical guidelines socially. Later approaches and tradition, such as embodied in the rule of King Ashoka and the Mahayana vision of the bodhisattva, also manifest the connection of inner and outer transformation. In this talk, a contemporary "Eightfold Path" is offered to support connecting inner and outer transformation--bringing our practice into engagement with our contemporary society and world in great need. There are three wisdom guidelines, two meditation guidelines, and three ethical guidelines. The talk is followed by discussion.

In this podcast, we will discuss 6 Easy Zen Morning Rituals To Boost Focus & Energy All Day according to the philosophy of Zen Buddhism. Zen is a way of seeing life clearly.  At its core, it's about being fully present — whether you're watching the sunrise, eating a bowl of rice, or listening to the wind.  Philosophy Of Zen comes from the Mahayana branch of Buddhism, a path that values both wisdom and compassion — not just for ourselves, but for all living beings. But Zen is more than a religion or philosophy.  It's a way of living. It teaches that truth is right here, in this moment — in the simple act of being awake to life as it is. Zen asks us: Can you sit still and simply be? Can you sweep the floor without needing it to mean more than sweeping? Can you drink your tea without your mind wandering in a thousand directions? Rather than chasing something better, Zen gently points us back to what's already here.  That's why everyday actions matter so much in Zen. In a Zen monastery, nothing is too ordinary to be sacred. From how you walk to how you eat to how you clean your bowl — every movement is a mirror. It reflects your attention, your care, your state of mind. Take the morning routine of a Zen monk.  It's not just a to-do list. It's a quiet way to reconnect — with the body, the breath, and the world. Not by force, but by being fully here. From the moment the monks rise, each action is performed with intention.  And in this video, we'll look at  simple Zen morning rituals — small practices that may seem ordinary, but can quietly change the way you move through your day. So here are 6 simple Zen morning rituals -  01. Wake Up Before sunlight 02. Perform basic hygiene 03. Practice Zazen 04. Chant  05. Practice Samu 06. Practice Oryoki We hope you enjoyed watching the video and hope this video, from the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, helps you with your morning routine..  ‘Zen' is a term derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word, chán, which means ‘meditation.' It is also a form of Buddhism that distinguishes itself with its almost exclusive focus on personhood and the present. Rather than meditations on life, death, religion, or the world, ‘Zen' urges you to focus inwards and on the ordinary only. Like all other forms and practices of Buddhism, Zen is not an ideology or belief, but rather a way of life. Buddhism was created in India but gradually travelled through Asia throughout the centuries - and in every country, it spawned multiple sub-sections of Buddhism. The Zen subsection of Buddhism was created in China, leading to the Chinese School of Zen Buddhism becoming the most successful school of Buddhism in the entirety of China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

CURSO Las 6 Perfecciones

[This episode originally aired on Nov. 13, 2023]  One function of meditation practice is the quality of exposing and uncovering what's going on inside our thoughts and feelings  •  when we practice, the basic fundamental pattern that becomes obvious is how much our thinking revolves around our own needs and wants and desires  •  we look at what is there without judgment, without being embarrassed, without trying to prove anything  •  all of this provides ground for what Trungpa Rinpoche referred to as cultivating a Mahayana mentality — a mentality of openness, love, wisdom, and compassion  •  in cultivating a Mahayana mentality, four factors come into play  •  the first is affection for the world  •  this affection is not based on picking and choosing, but is simple affection and respect for the world, as messy as it is, as difficult as it is  •  the second factor is called faith in the right situations  •  faith here refers to faith in what we cannot grasp, faith in the unconditional nature out of which everything arises  •  the third factor is compassion for sentient beings: working with sentient beings, very simply and directly  •  we may find that working with others is the best, most effective way of working with ourselves  •  the fourth factor is bravery; simply put, it's being willing to put up with loneliness, pain, and discomfort  •  by cultivating these four, we learn to step over our hesitation and put our affection, faith, and compassion into action.

All sentient beings are caught in the trap of suffering in the realms of existence. Bodhicitta is a mind that wishes to free beings from suffering and bring them to the state of enlightenment. A bodhisattva is a person who has that bodhicitta mind, is a practitioner of the enlightenment thought which is the aspiration to achieve complete enlightenment as a perfect Buddha for the benefit of oneself and all other sentient beings. Love and compassion are the forces that motivated all activities of Bodhisattvas. Love is a strong wish that aspires to attain happiness for all sentient beings and compassion is the state of mind that wishes each being to be freed from all sufferings or sorrows, great compassion is the root wisdom. We're talking about the compassion wing, how to cultivate Bodhichitta. This outrageous attitude really, that's based upon incredible compassion and love, that is the thought never to give up, being of benefit to sentient beings, whoever is in front of you, it's your job to help them. Never to give up long term, on working life after life perfecting all these qualities, and the final piece, the six perfections, the final stages of the Bodhisattva path. To never give up on sentient beings. What I keep emphasising is the necessity to have done some work on yourself first. Before you can really establish and develop this outrageous levels of compassion that the Mahayana teachings of the Buddha tell us that we're capable of. It's not possible if you still are caught up in your own misery, it's literally impossible to have compassion for anybody because you can't see past your own nose. It's fairly logical. Forget yourself, think of people you know who are really suffering mentally, they're absolutely absorbed in themself. Suffering could be in front of them, they can't even see it. This is the whole point about the wisdom wing work. All the fundamental teachings of the Buddha, about karma and the mind, he's addressing that to us, that's the work we have to do to see our own suffering, to work on our own self, to see our own amazing potential. Then the consequence of that is two things, one - you become more content, fulfilled, and self respectful; but two - inevitably because you're removing your own neuroses, you're removing the barriers that ego has constructed between self and other. So the more you work on your own mind, the more content you become and the more connected to others. It's just a logical process psychologically but we need to understand it, we need to see it.  So the starting point in these outrageous levels of love and compassion that culminate in Bodhichitta, is the cultivation of equanimity. This heartfelt recognition that the friend, enemy, and stranger are equal to each other from one point of view; they each want to be happy and each don't want to suffer. Why do we want that? Well because love is an expression of - may you be happy. That's the definition, the thought may you be happy. Compassion - may you not suffer. Right now we only have love and compassion for our beloveds. But if we step aside, get ourselves out of the equation, and we see these three people separately from us, we're going to see that friend, enemy, and stranger are just projections of our own delusions. We see the universe in terms of how they fulfil our needs. We should be embarrassed how self centred it is! We're trying to step out of that and get to see people from their own point of view. Like your mother would say - put yourself in their shoes. It's a very powerful statement. The brave attitude of the Bodhisattva is the sense of responsibility, what can I do to help? It's like a mother, the mother's sitting on the beach and her child is drowning, of course she's going to have compassion, instantaneously there's going to be compassion. Oh my god look at that suffering, but she's not looking around behind her to see who's going to save her baby, even if she can't swim, this is the point - she knows it's her job. That's a Bodhisattva, they know it's their job. That's what we're trying to cultivate. So it's a very brave attitude, a very courageous attitude, a very big attitude, to think that you want to feel this sense of responsibility as if everybody in the universe is your child. That's pretty profound! Centrul Budist White Mahakala, Romania, 15th September 2021. YouTube

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues the oral transmission of How to Meditate on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (from Pabongkapa Dechen Nyingpo's Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand). He starts with “Part Six: How to develop the spiritual realizations that relate to the suffering of the lower states.” Rinpoche explains that meditating on the lower realms gives us courage to renounce meaningless activities. He shares an anecdote about Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, who actually experienced hell. Afterwards, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche was inspired to continuously chant prayers.Rinpoche continues by reading “Part Seven: Training yourself in the practice of taking refuge.” Rinpoche says that we collect enormous merit each time we take refuge. He then invites a discussion by asking whether a person who abstains from negative actions but hasn't taken refuge is a Buddhist or not? After some discussion, Rinpoche clarifies that for your action to become Buddhist, it has to be done by relying on Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.Rinpoche elaborates that refuge may not necessarily mean reciting the prayer. Rather, it is the mental factor of having refuge in your heart by understanding that samsara is in the nature of suffering and that the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha have the qualities to liberate you from this suffering. Additionally, for Mahayana refuge, there's the extra cause of compassion for other sentient beings. Rinpoche emphasizes that these three aspects are the main components; however, reciting the refuge prayer also helps by making your refuge stronger.Rinpoche concludes by stating that refuge is the basis of all the vows. It is the door of the Buddhadharma. Without refuge, you haven't entered Buddhadharma; you are an outsider. By having refuge in your mind, in your heart, then you're an insider.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

CURSO Las 6 Perfecciones

Attitude. Intent. Shakyamuni's words resonate through Nichiren. Our practice is our guide, “...follow the Law, not the Person”, allowing no others in thought word or deed to impede our sharing and practice of the Mahayana and our praise for all those who seek the path of the Lotus. “Buddhism Reference” – Now Available in the TLK Bookstore; www.lulu.com/spotlight/kwoon

Resolve. Steadfastness. Shakyamuni's words resonate through Nichiren. Our practice is our guide, “...follow the Law, not the Person”, allowing no others in thought word or deed to impede our sharing and practice of the Mahayana. “Buddhism Reference” – Now Available in the TLK Bookstore; www.lulu.com/spotlight/kwoon

What is generosity (“dana” in the Buddhist languages), and how does it relate to our experience of wealth, our consumption, our labor, and our shared values as a society? How can we work with our craving for always have more like one of those a metal claw machines in a video game arcade, leaving us unable to live in the practice of Dana, or "fluid exchange" with our experience? Similarly, how do we create a society that acknowledges the sacredness of labor and the social benefits of collective generosity? How can we as a society generate wealth without the fixation to hoard billions of dollars? In the first part of a two episode discussion, Ethan looks at an understanding of wealth and generosity in the "Hinayana" and "Mahayana" systems of Buddhist practice, and next week in Episode 149 he will look at a Vajrayana understanding of wealth and generosity through the "Ratna Jewel of Enriching Presence." Please support the podcast via Substack and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more! The Thursday Meditation Group starts up again on July 10th, and a special guided meditation on Open Awarenesswas released this month. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the Revolutionary Astrology of Summer 2025 with Juliana McCarthy and Ethan Nichtern. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (Apple, Spotify,Ethan's Website, etc). Ethan's most recent book, Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can visit Ethan's website to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive. Don't forget to sign up for the August 23 “Windhorse Meditation” Online Retreatat this link! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor Dharma Moon, including the Body of Meditation Teacher Training program beginning July 10th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as The Three Marks of Existence, are also available for download.

[This episode originally aired on Oct. 9, 2023]  The Mahayana path, the path of the Bodhisattva warrior of wisdom and compassion, has a great deal to do with how we relate to ourselves and to one another  •  what kind of others do we include in our world?  •  what kind of underlying feelings do we honestly have about the people in our lives and the people we encounter?  •  everybody is worthy of our attention, but usually we engage in a lot of picking and choosing: who is worthy of our attention and who is not  •  the practice I want to briefly introduce is the practice of exchanging oneself for others, which is the basis of tonglen practice — the practice of taking and sending  •  this practice is very simple: it's putting yourself in the shoes of another  •  you can do this for all sorts of possible scenarios, but a very common one is looking at how we relate to people we consider to be our superiors; how we relate to people we consider to be our inferior to us; and how we relate to those we view more or less as equal  •  when we can see situations from different perspectives, we can cultivate the ability to treat others respectfully and with the same regard, whether they're more powerful than us, whether they're less powerful than us, whether they're intimate friends, or whether they're strangers.

Text me your feedback.In this variation of loving-kindness, or metta, meditation, tap into the energetic resonance of the heart to awaken loving feelings within before sending them outward. Inspired by Taoist visualizations, Mahayana buddhist practice, and Hearth Math's quick coherence technique, generate love and good will toward yourself and others. Many studies have shown that practices like this not only feel good, but also reduce stress, increase a sense of calm, and help us avoid despair by reminding us of our shared humanity. The practice starts at 3:52 after a brief introduction. If your player supports chapter markers, you can skip ahead.Mentioned in the introduction:Love 2.0 by Dr. Barbara Frederickson Heart Math Quick Coherence Technique~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

The interstitial space of thought, the mind, and life is once again the conundrum of early Buddhist teaching seemingly contradicting the clarity of the Mahayana teachings. Life as “verb”; as action, momentum and ephemeral; rather than “Life” as static condition, thing, or permanent in the realm of forms. “Buddhism Reference” – Now Available in the TLK Bookstore; www.lulu.com/spotlight/kwoon

[This episode originally aired on Oct. 2, 2023]  The Mahayana, or open path, is the path of the Bodhisattva — the enlightened warrior of wisdom and compassion  •  at the core of the Mahayana path is an outrageous vow, called the Bodhisattva vow, where we vow to emulate the great Bodhisattvas of wisdom and compassionate action  •  the Bodhisattva vow, conventionally speaking, makes no sense at all  •  you vow to save all sentient beings as vast as they are throughout space and time  •  you might think, that's pretty darn presumptuous to make a vow like that; you might even call it absurd, impossible  •  nonetheless, you do it  •  it's crazy to think that you could save all sentient beings, or even hold that thought at all  •  but you keep going, and if you're fortunate, you might be able to save at least someone, or some being, from some level of suffering  •  the vow of the Bodhisattva is not dreamy or romantic; it is grounded in very gritty reality of life for sentient beings of all kinds who suffer greatly  •  but because you see this pattern so clearly, you also see the flip side  •  instead of saying, “Wherever there are sentient beings, there are conflicting emotions,” you could say, “And wherever there are sentient beings, there's wisdom, there's intelligence; there's love and kindness and compassion. There are efforts to help. There is a lessening of pain, sorrow, and suffering.” In approaching the Bodhisattva path, you recognize that both of these patterns are true.

There are 59 verses in the root text of Lojong that function as pithy mind training slogans. Each verse is dialed into a specific way that we struggle with our self importance. Through the years on this podcast, we've contemplated the verses one-by-one because each verse is worth considering. Sometimes we take a step back to view the bigger picture of how the spiritual path and the practice of Lojong expands relationships. During a trip to New Zealand, Jampal Norbu reflected on that deep appreciation.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that if you are only seeking the happiness of this life, then you haven't reached any of the three capacities of the lamrim. The attitude of just seeking the power, reputation, and wealth of this life is an ordinary capable being, not a special capable being. This is not different from the animals and insects. Rinpoche emphasizes that the meditations for the graduate path of the lower capable being (the eight freedoms and ten richnesses, the great meaning and difficulty to find again, impermanence and death, the lower realm sufferings, karma) are very important for the success of actualizing the whole path. Without these foundations, you can't have the next realizations, renunciation and bodhicitta. Without bodhicitta, you have no door to enter the Mahayana path to enlightenment, so you can't complete the tantric path. Therefore, these meditations are the foundation for all those other paths.Rinpoche describes the eight freedoms and ten richnesses. He urges us to reflect on these points. By doing so, we will realize that we must practice Dharma immediately. Rinpoche says that these meditations will give us hope and courage to defeat the eight worldly dharmas.Rinpoche bestows the lung of the mahamudra root text and ends the session with an extensive dedication prayer and multiplying mantras.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

S6 E6: Embracing the Journey w/ Meditation Teacher Fez AswatIn the turbulent moments of life when deep questions or difficult experiences can shape our reality, meditation can serve as a vehicle to ground us to explore and feel presence, return to our breath, and is also an opportunity to grapple with the internal conflicts or curiosities that arise. For Alexis, she has been privileged to work with Fez Aswat as a teacher, guide, and friend for about 8 years. Fez Aswat is a meditation teacher and coach for individuals, teams, and organizations. He co-founded the Boston Dharma Collective, bostondharma.org, with his teaching partner Ryan Cunningham, where he teaches online meditation classes and retreats. His Buddhist study and practice are based on the Theravadin and Mahayana traditions, guiding his teaching to help students integrate practice into our modern world. He has been through quite a bit in his own life, but continues to navigate through challenge and change with grace, curiosity, and patience, as he returns to his practice and cushion for insight and support. He leads with kindness and walks his talk by deepening his knowledge and practice with each passing day to show up for himself and those he cares most about, which he extends to his students and those he works with. We are incredibly grateful to have had this discussion to share more about meditation with the ReidConnect-ED Podcast listeners. Be curious. Be Open. Be well.The ReidConnect-Ed Podcast is hosted by Siblings Alexis Reid and Dr. Gerald Reid, produced by Cyber Sound Studios, and original music is written and recorded by Gerald Reid.*Please note that different practitioners may have different opinions- this is our perspective and is intended to educate you on what may be possible.Show notes & Transcripts: https://reidconnect.com/reid-connect-ed-podcastFollow us on Instagram @ReidConnectEdPodcast and Twitter @ReidConnectEd

Join Sarah Taylor and Kristin as they discuss the journey that neurodivergent women embark on in life! Sarah is an intuitive energy healer and awakening trail guide, helping folks find their way back home. But years ago, she was an anxious, atheistic insomniac. Plus, she was an undiagnosed neurodivergent woman, having a hard time finding my place in the world.So the idea of finding the “peace that passeth all understanding” was unthinkable! Simply wanting to get a better night's sleep, and to be a little less angsty, I began seriously practicing Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, Dzogchen and Mahmudra). I took to the teachings immediately, and much to my surprise, began to undergo a series of profound inner shifts known as nondual awakening. Around 2011 there was the first of several radical — and now, abiding — shifts in consciousness. At that time, I began spontaneously channeling a transmission that has been a catalyst for many people deepening on their spiritual path. This transmission has changed through the years. Especially as unity consciousness/oneness/nonduality — and what is beyond — eventually began unfolding.www.LightOfYourBeing.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mental-health-news-radio--3082057/support.

For episode 257 we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Christina Feldman.This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the seventh episode in this series. Christina is of the generation of dharma teachers that began teaching in the west in 1975 after spending some years in Asia studying and practice in both the Mahayana and Theravadan traditions. She is a co-founder of Gaia House and served as a guiding teacher of IMS beginning in its early days. She teaches Buddhist psychology in several university settings in Europe, and she teaches both traditional retreats and study programs. Christina is the author of Boundless Heart: The Buddha's Path of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity and co-author of Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology, among other books. The conversation begins with a guided practice led by Christina.In this conversation, Christina and Sharon discuss:How Christina accidentally ended up in India First encountering Tibetan refugeesChristina first learning meditationDharma as an immersive experienceSharon's first attempts to meditateDifferent techniques in Christina's early practiceGoenka's impact on SharonSecular MindfulnessPractice versus PathDefinitions of DukkhaWhat Christina is teaching latelyBodhi CollegeSharon's work with caregiversEquanimity as embodied understandingHow Christina has developed as a teacherThe conversation segues to questions from the audience with a guided meditation from Christina. Sharon and Christina then take questions on specificity of intention, working with physical pain, emptiness as a practice, moving from knowing a truth to living a truth, and Christina's yearly intentions.You can learn more about Christina's work right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.