A talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu entitled "Skillful Papañca"

Most of us have witnessed, in person or by video, how some monks work for days or weeks to create detailed mandalas from colored sand and then sweep them away. They’re demonstrating, for their own practice and for ours, the concept of impermanence. If you’ve seen the sand-mandala practice on YouTube, you’ve benefited from the impermanence of technology. More than 200 years ago, even still photography didn’t exist, let alone the ability to stream videos to our smartwatches.Artificial intelligence is

WSP - Respect Clarity - Nanda Nina Lynch - August 9th, 2025Nanda gives a Dharma Reflection on the fifth precept, Respect Clarity - I vow to refrain from intoxicants. I act at all times with mindfulness and clarity. I do not abuse my body or cloud my mind with the misuse of intoxicants. Our mission is to foster a diverse, inclusive community, dedicated to awakening through Buddhist teachings promoting personal and interpersonal healing with ethical compassionate

Vince Fakhoury Horn: I was thinking about where to start with the 9th Jhāna, and I think the first thing to say is that the 9th Jhāna is not a state. So why in the world are we within a community of practice called The Jhāna Community, which is explicitly aimed at developing and cultivating certain states of mind, or states of consciousness, why would we be focusing on something which is not a state?Let me let me share a little bit where this term came from. So I'm borrowing this term from a

Many seekers fall into the trap of becoming spiritual performers — acting in ways they think look spiritual, imitating monks, gurus, or even their teachers. But true spirituality is not performance. It’s authenticity.When you perform, you hide your shadows and mask your emotions. But when you’re authentic, everything comes to light. Awareness grows, distortions balance, and your unique divine expression flows through.In this talk, I share: Why performing spirituality blocks real growth. How to stop

In this episode, we talk about what it means to really appreciate today and why, we should never forget, that life is truly unpredictable.Have thoughts you would like to share? Email me at dailydharmapodcast@gmail.com - I would love to hear your feedback, your stories and your recommendations on books for the podcast.

"Omniscience" -- defined by Merriam-Webster as "having infinite awareness, understanding and insight; possessed of universal or complete knowledge."Otherwise known in our Mahayana perspectives as perfectly evolved wisdom, compassion and a  complete understanding of everything that could ever be understood in order to fully awaken; to become a brilliantly pure 'helper' of other beings . . . aka Buddhahood. Fact or fiction?  Fairy tale, wishful thinking or Buddhist contemplative mind-science?  Is

So often we avoid what’s truly present within us. We distract, we scroll, we suppress — and that’s what keeps us stuck in confusion and suffering.In this talk, I share how simple awareness is enough to bring clarity, peace, and even healing. Avoidance creates resistance, and resistance creates loops of suffering. Awareness dissolves the loop and brings relief, aliveness, and freedom.When you practice being transparent and honest with yourself, you step into your true power — awareness. It’s always

Today's podcast is a newsletter about developments in books and Buddhism, particularly where the two meet.19 Killed in Nepal ProtestsAnger over economic inequality, corruption, and a ban on more than two dozen social media sites has erupted into a wave of protests against Nepal’s Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli. Officials report that at least 19 people have been killed. 2 New Buddhist BooksI’m a slow book reader, especially when engaged in maintaining this blog and podcast, providing content for my

Since childhood, we’ve been programmed to identify only with our body, our name, and the idea of being separate from others. This creates a bubble of “me versus the world,” leading to unconscious choices, fear, and unaligned desires.In this talk, we explore how to break free from that conditioning and remember your true nature — unity with all that is. By seeing yourself everywhere, you shift from living in a personal bubble to aligning with the collective, with God’s will, with life itself.When you

I have painfully stumbled into a paradox of sorts.What if “follow what feels alive” is quietly killing the art of devotion?Yeah, it has its wisdom—beautiful even. But what happens when your practice feels dry, hollow, or dead? Do you quit? Go find something sexier—an ecstatic dance, a kink fest, a new shiny path?This episode of Bardo Blues plays in that paradox: the wisdom of following resonance and the shadow it can cast, turning the spiritual path into a comfort-first lifestyle.I riff on this

In this talk, we explore what it really means to stay connected to your true self — not just during meditation, but in the messy, charged moments of life. Whether you’re on a high, celebrating a win, or feeling low and overwhelmed, both extremes can make you forget the stillness within. True spiritual mastery is learning to return to your essence in any state, without losing yourself in the emotion or the story. Discover how to use your feelings as opportunities to learn, heal, and create from your

[This episode originally aired on December 11, 2023] I've been thinking a lot recently about peace, especially the Buddhist view of peace • it's one of those ironic things: throughout history people have longed for peace and prayed for peace, yet we seem unable to free ourselves from conflict, war and struggle • what’s more, our desire for peace can actually manifest as aggression: “if I can defeat my enemy, then I'll be able to finally have some peace” •&n...

How important is Right View? What does Right View even mean?Read along in the suttas and find out:https://suttacentral.net/an1.306-315/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=none&highlight=false&script=latinhttps://suttacentral.net/mn9/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=none&highlight=false&script=latinFind other resources and connect with our Buddhist Discord server at https://virtualsangha.org

Conflict arises from the “mind of distinction”—our tendency to judge based on personal likes and dislikes. While preferences are natural, clinging to being “right” disrupts peace. Buddhist teachings invite us to a compassionate mind that embraces all beings without separation, guided by Buddha-nature and Amida’s unconditional acceptance. Peace begins when we let go of judgment and care for others just as they are.

What does it really mean to purify your desires? It’s not about becoming “more holy” or living by someone else’s moral code. It’s about peeling back the layers of ego, fear, and shadow so you can touch the pure essence of what your soul truly wants.In this talk, I share the three biggest distortions that cloud our true desires:1. Belief in lack – chasing something to fill a hole inside.2. Unintegrated shadow – letting greed, lust, or laziness take over your pure impulses.3. Fear – allowing the fear

On the path of awakening, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to “do it right” — to perfect yourself, to heal faster, to reach some imagined finish line. But what if the entire spiritual journey is more like a cosmic joke… a playful dance where the Universe keeps winking at you?In this session, I share why lightness, laughter, and trust are as essential to spiritual growth as meditation and self-inquiry. Learn how to navigate challenges with a sense of humor, release the pressure to “arrive,” and

A talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu entitled "Equanimity with Wisdom"

A talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu entitled "Start with Goodwill"

I've been caught up in creating content about Buddhist practice while neglecting the practice itself. This episode explores the difference between using teachings as a refuge (where you actually dwell) versus a shield (something to hide behind), and why returning to the basics—breath, body, presence—might be the most honest path forward. Connect with Be Your Own Zen Master: Web: byozm.blog IG : @beyourownzenmaster YT: @byozm If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and ...