x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Pragmatic Buddhism

Pragmatic Buddhism

Welcome to Pragmatic Buddhism, a podcast offering down-to-earth Dharma talks, mindful reflections, and unscripted conversations for curious minds. We explore the intersection of ancient insight and modern life, weaving together Buddhist teachings, psychology, neuroscience, and lived experience. Whether you"re new to meditation or a longtime practitioner, this podcast invites you into a path of authentic awareness, compassionate acceptance, and wise action without dogma, jargon, or

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

00:24:51

Buddha Nature in a Distracted World

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/04/10

We live in a world built for distraction — scrolling, streaming, multitasking, always doing something else. But what if awakening isn’t somewhere far away, but right here in this moment? In this talk, Glenn explores Buddha nature and the practice of presence with the Columbus sangha, asking a simple but powerful question: What are you doing with your time?

en

00:13:55

Change, Dissatisfaction, and the Self: The Three...

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/04/03

The Three Marks of Existence can sound stark: everything is impermanent, clinging leads to dissatisfaction, and there is no fixed self. But these teachings aren’t pessimistic; they’re liberating. In this episode, monks from the Order of Pragmatic Buddhism explore how recognizing change reduces fear, how understanding dissatisfaction shifts craving, and how seeing the fluid nature of identity softens defensiveness. Far from nihilism, the Three Marks offer a clear-eyed way of relating to life as it

en

00:37:34

What Does “No Self” Really Mean?

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/03/27

The Buddhist teaching of “no self” can sound confusing or even alarming. Does it mean we don’t exist? That our personality is an illusion? In this talk, Douglas and the St Louis sangha unpack what “no self” actually points to and why it’s considered one of the most liberating insights in Buddhist practice. Rather than denying our experience, this discussion invites us to look closely at how identity forms, solidifies, and creates suffering. By understanding the self as a dynamic process rather than

en

00:37:43

A Talk on Winter Solstice: Turning Toward the Light

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/03/20

The solstice marks a turning point—either the longest night or the longest day—and invites us to pause. In this episode recorded on the solstice, Glenn and the Columbus sangha reflect on what it means to stand at a threshold in our own lives. What are we carrying forward? What are we ready to release? Drawing from Buddhist practice, this talk explores the solstice not as superstition or ritual obligation, but as a moment of awareness: a reminder that change is constant, that darkness and light

en

00:46:53

What is Pragmatic about Pragmatic Buddhism?

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/03/13

What’s actually pragmatic about Pragmatic Buddhism?In this talk, Danielle and the St Louis sangha explore the ways that spiritual practice doesn’t have to be about adopting rigid beliefs or signing on to metaphysics. It can be about learning skills. Testing what helps. And building a way of living that holds up in real life.

en

00:38:40

What Do We Mean by Karma?

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/03/06

The word “karma” gets used everywhere from social media to pop culture but what does it actually mean in Buddhist practice? In this talk, Joe and the Columbus sangha unpack karma as a teaching about intentional action and the patterns that follow from it. Rather than framing life as predetermined, this perspective highlights how each moment contains the seeds of future experience. When we understand karma clearly, we see both the weight of our habits and the possibility of change. This episode

en

00:54:00

Sitting with Discomfort

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/02/27

Dharma practice isn’t always calm or pleasant. In this episode, Danielle and the St Louis sangha look at how learning to sit with discomfort can deepen awareness, patience, and care for ourselves.

en

00:16:45

What is Zazen, Really?

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/02/20

What if meditation wasn’t about clearing your mind, but opening to your life just as it is? In this episode, Glenn from the Columbus sangha introduces zazen as a gentle practice of open awareness, free from pressure to fix or achieve anything.

en

00:49:22

Using Difficulty as Practice

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/02/06

What do we do when life feels hard or overwhelming? In this episode, Danielle and the St Louis sangha explore how Buddhist practice helps us pause, notice, and choose how we respond.

en

00:13:35

Meaning with a Capital M

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/01/30

In this talk, Joe from the Columbus sangha explores what we mean when we talk about “meaning” — and how Buddhism invites us to relate to meaning without turning it into something fixed or absolute.

en

00:44:00

Mind Training for a Reactive World

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/01/24

What if life’s difficulties weren’t obstacles to practice, but the practice itself? With the St Louis sangha, Danielle explores Lojong slogans as cognitive and embodied tools for transforming reactivity, cultivating awareness, and engaging the world with greater clarity and care.

en

00:05:47

Sympathetic Joy: Joy Without Comparison

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/01/16

In this Dharma talk from Curtis from the Columbus sangha explores sympathetic joy, the practice of rejoicing in the happiness and success of others. Rather than denying envy or comparison, Curtis looks at how awareness and practice can help us loosen those habits and rediscover joy as something shared, not scarce.

en

00:46:53

Why Sangha Matters: The Forgotten Jewel

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2026/01/09

Buddhist practice isn’t meant to happen in isolation. In this conversation, Danielle invites the St. Louis Sangha to reflect on what it means to find refuge in one another — to learn, practice, and grow in community. Through personal stories and shared insight, the talk reveals how Sangha helps us see beyond our delusions, sustain our practice, and remember that none of us awakens alone.

en

00:45:12

Before the New Year, Pause

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2025/12/31

What if happiness isn’t found in getting what we want, but in loosening our grip on craving, aversion, and delusion? In this year-end discussion, the Danielle and the St Louis sangha reflect on the past year’s choices, identifying which actions led to genuine joy and which deepened suffering. Together, they explore how awareness and boundaries can help shape a wiser year ahead.

en

00:09:54

The Wisdom of Not Knowing

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2025/12/26

We often move through life thinking we know what we’re seeing—our surroundings, other people, even ourselves. Joe from the Columbus sangha explores how this habit limits perception, connection, and compassion. Drawing from the Heart Sutra and Zen practice, he shows how “not knowing” can become a doorway to presence and wonder.

en

00:48:12

Maybe It’s Just a Thought (Or Something Else)

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2025/12/19

Who are you, really? In this Dharma talk, Danielle unpacks the Buddha’s teaching of the Five Aggregates, showing how our sense of “self” is built from changing parts: body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. With warmth and humor, she reminds us that sometimes the thoughts we take so seriously are just… thoughts.

en

00:07:23

Kindness as a Way of Seeing

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2025/12/12

In this episode of Pragmatic Buddhism, Curtis from the Columbus sangha gives his first dharma talk exploring Loving-Kindness (Metta). Not as a feeling we wait for, but as a practice we cultivate. Through reflection and meditation, we learn how to extend compassion to ourselves, to those we love, and even to those we find difficult, creating ripples of peace that reach far beyond our own hearts.

en

00:42:41

The Buddha Said, Don’t Take My Word for It

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2025/12/05

When the Buddha told the Kalamas not to believe something just because it’s written, taught, or widely accepted, he was teaching more than skepticism — he was teaching discernment. In this episode, Danielle from the St Louis sangha unpacks how the Kalama Sutta invites us to question wisely, test truth through experience, and embody a mindful confidence rooted in understanding, not belief.

en

00:07:37

Right Here, Right Now

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2025/11/28

Every moment is a gate to awakening but most of us rush past it. In this talk, Glenn from the Columbus sangha considers how a single moment of presence can reveal the nature of awareness itself. Through simplicity and attention, we rediscover what it means to truly be here.

en

00:46:07

Pragmatism: Philosophy You Can Use

Pragmatic Buddhism ·

2025/11/21

How do you know if a teaching is true? Try it and see if it works. In this episode, Danielle introduces pragmatism, the philosophy that shapes Pragmatic Buddhism. With the St Louis sangha, we explore how to test Buddhist ideas through lived experience, why daily rituals matter, and how even brushing your teeth can become a practice in presence.

en

35 results

Similar Podcasts

Jeff Haygood, Pastor

PodPoint

PASTOR ALVARO VALENCIA

Pastor Alvaro Valencia

Grace Life Church CT.

Joseph Levesque

Pleasant View Church

Ted Nance

Christian Heritage Church"s Podcast

PodPoint