In this episode, I distill 30 life lessons that have shaped my personal journey and that I’ve found most impactful after nearly a decade of hosting the Secular Buddhism Podcast. Drawing from the timeless wisdom of Buddhist teachings, these lessons serve as practical guides to living with more awareness, compassion, and resilience in everyday life. Join me as I share not only the core teachings but also my personal reflections on each one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

In this episode, I explore the topic of uncertainty and how embracing life’s unpredictability can lead to greater peace and freedom. From everyday frustrations to life’s biggest challenges, groundlessness is a shared human experience. Drawing on stories, metaphors, and Buddhist teachings, I discuss how letting go of the need for control opens us to new possibilities and deeper wisdom. Tune in to learn how you can transform fear of the unknown into a source of growth and connection. Hosted on...

In this episode, I interview the co-founders of Uplift Kids—Jon, Amanda, and Michelle—to explore how their curriculum helps parents teach emotional awareness and wisdom traditions to kids. We dive into practical tips for guiding kids through big emotions, the importance of mindfulness in parenting, and how ancient wisdom can be applied to modern family life. Whether you’re a parent looking for tools to raise emotionally intelligent kids or curious about integrating values-based lessons at...

In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, we explore the Buddhist perspective on suffering and how we can transform our relationship with it. We'll explore how changing our relationship with suffering can lead to personal growth, wisdom, and even unexpected joy. This episode offers listeners practical tools to apply Buddhist concepts in their daily lives, encouraging a curious and compassionate approach to life's challenges. Whether you're new to Buddhist ideas or a long-time...

Welcome to a unique episode where I'm excited to share the audio of a thought-provoking conversation I recently had with Eric Zimmer, the esteemed host of "The One You Feed" podcast. In this compelling discussion, we delve into the ancient parable of the two wolves that reside within each of us, exploring the profound wisdom behind the teaching that the wolf you choose to nourish ultimately prevails. Our dialogue centres on the complex topic of suffering, but we also traverse a range of...

In this introspective episode, Noah Rasheta shares personal updates about significant changes in his life over the past few months, including a career transition and a move to a new home. He explores the parallels between his new role in data infrastructure and the inner workings of the human mind, drawing insightful connections between hardware, software, and the beliefs that shape our experiences. Noah dives deep into the concept of the cognitive cycle, explaining how our beliefs influence...

In this episode, I reflect on my transformative journey from intense frustration to effortless flying, drawing parallels between the challenges of paragliding and the introspective path of personal growth. Sharing insights from my experience with learning to ridge soar, I connect these adventures to the Buddha's spiritual quest, underscoring the essence of self-reliance and the lessons adversity teaches us. This episode is a reflection on the powerful, often unseen teachers we encounter in...

This episode discusses how renunciation is not merely about giving up material or physical pleasures but about a deeper understanding and release of attachments that cause suffering. The episode invites listeners to consider the ways in which they might be clinging too tightly to certain aspects of their lives and how letting go can lead to greater liberation and joy. Through personal anecdotes, practical tips, and thoughtful exploration of the middle way of attachment, the episode encourages...

In this episode, I delve into the landscape of our emotions, drawing parallels between the ever-changing sky and our internal world. Journey with me as we explore the transient nature of emotions, taking cues from the wisdom of ancient Buddhist teachings and insights from modern psychology. Learn how emotional agility can serve as a beacon, guiding us through life's inevitable storms with grace, resilience, and understanding. Featuring parables, contemporary analogies, and practical tips,...

In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, Noah delves into the concept of emotional equanimity, likening it to the tale of monk Sona who learned to maintain a balanced approach to life's challenges, akin to finely tuning a musical instrument. Drawing from the Mangala Sutta and Nassim Nicholas Taleb's "Anti-Fragile," the episode emphasizes the value of antifragility, where challenges can enhance our emotional resilience, much like an astronaut needing physical stress to prevent muscle...

Welcome back to the Secular Buddhism Podcast, a globally top-ranked Buddhist show. Today, best-selling author and host Noah Rasheta delves into the topic of Tilopa's Six Words of Advice. Tilopa's 'Six Words of Advice' provide meditation guidance for people of all levels, including both beginners and experienced meditators. Despite their apparent simplicity, these six instructions hold deep meanings. One can spend a lifetime studying these simple instructions and still uncover new insights. ...

Prepare to step onto a path of transformation and liberation as we unravel the most fundamental teachings of Buddhism - the Four Noble Truths. I'll break down each of these foundational truths, venturing into the realm of life's inherent suffering, understanding its root cause, and most significantly, the very possibility of liberation from this suffering by letting go of craving and attachment. The first Noble Truth states that life is characterized by suffering or dissatisfaction, the...

In the practice of self-kindness, we often overlook a profound truth: our relationship with ourselves sets the tone for our relationship with others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I delve deeper into how meditation acts as a massive pause button for the cycle of habitual reactivity. I'll explore beliefs, thoughts, emotions, feelings, actions, and consequences, discussing how they influence our lives and the lives of others. We'll look at how we can cultivate skillful habits through meditation or mindfulness. By taking a pause from our habitual ways of living, we can achieve powerful self-reflection and lasting change. We also examine the two primary...

"All experience is preceded by mind"; that is to say, our mind determines whether or not we suffer. Knowing that we can't escape the consequences of our actions and that actions originate with thoughts, this episode will explore how and why we should practice noticing our thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is episode #178. The topic I have in mind for today is the teaching of "The Four Investigations." This is a teaching that comes from the Yogachara school of Buddhism. According to Yogachara teachings, the key to understanding reality is to understand the mind. There are four investigations we can explore that are intended to help us to have a correct view or understanding of reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'll share the audio from an interview I did on the 10,000 heroes podcast. You can find the episode here: https://pod.link/1565667158/episode/f438b75d2dfc86e40c526270a4cd4975 Are you interested in trekking with me to Everest Base Camp? Learn more at mindfultrekking.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of 2023, I will talk about propensities and our relationship to our propensities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the two truths? There is the Truth of how things really are, and the truth of how things seem to be. These are sometimes referred to as Absolute truth and Relative truth. Relative truths are always dependent on HOW we perceive them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A deep sense of unsatisfactoriness arises anytime we want to be other than how we are. It takes skillful effort to BE WHATEVER WE ALREADY ARE. In this episode, I will share my thoughts on the process of befriending our thoughts, emotions, feelings, and ultimately ourselves. "No one to be" "Nothing to do" "Nowhere to go" Some of the Buddhist concepts/topics shared in this episode: EmptinessSignlessnessFormlessnessSuffering/UnsatisfactorinessInterdependent co-arisingImpermanence To join our...

Unsatisfactoriness exists and it has a cause. What is the cause of unsatisfactoriness? In this episode, I will talk about craving and the role it plays in how we feel about life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychological acceptance is "the active embracing of subjective experience, particularly distressing experiences." In this episode, I will discuss practicing acceptance and using the OODA loop as decision-making tools to help us act more skillfully during difficult or stressful times.

Something whole is comprised of ALL its undiminished parts or elements. We are a combination of our body and mind (hardware and software). The key to feeling whole is to understand and embrace all of the parts that make us who we are.

The 5 remembrances are wake-up calls that help us to see more clearly, the nature of reality. They are wake-up calls that help us to live more intentionally and skillfully.