- The Buddha on Movies, Music, and Media
What did the Buddha have to say about entertainment? Is it ever skillful for us? We'll consider the difference between monastic and lay lifestyles, and how the Buddha saw entertainment as part of an ordinary life. Then we'll consider ways…
- Why the Buddha Might Tell You to Log Off - Practice in a World of Sensory Overload
Modern media are tailored to grab and hold our attention in ways that are not entirely healthy. The early Buddhist technique of guarding the sense doors can be a useful antidote. We'll discuss the syndrome of doomscrolling and the…
- The Buddha's Lessons on Skillful Communication
Communication is a critical life skill, particularly in the contemporary world of 24/7 social media. We'll look at what the Buddha had to say about skillful speech and apply it to communication more broadly. We will also look at examples…
- Should You Use Meditation Aids?
Many of us practice with aids to our meditation such as music, incense, or even verbal guidance. Are these things we should be pursuing? Or are there potential pitfalls with them?
- What is Right Effort?
Right effort is one of the more overlooked aspects of the Eightfold Path but may also be one of the most important. We'll discuss the four parts of right effort and how to distinguish effort from "efforting". Images in this video from the…
- What is Right Livelihood?
When looking at right livelihood within Buddhism, traditionally there are five prohibited livelihoods. However there is also a great deal of interesting additional material about inappropriate livelihoods for monastics, as well as a…
- Q&A: Video Music and Nonself Vlogging
So I'll be asking you folks a question to start with, and then we'll consider the issue of doing a vlog while taking the Buddha's notion of non-self seriously. Are the two compatible or not?
- What is Right Action?
The Buddha gave three key examples of actions we should avoid, but nuances remain depending on our status as layperson or monastic, as well as our understanding of some of the more in-depth teachings about the self. Music in this video:…
- Q & A: Secular Monasticism and Choppy Videos
Mixing things up here, today we'll get into questions from a couple of viewers. One involves whether there is room for a kind of deep secular Buddhist practice akin to monasticism, and another deals with the way I've been editing these…
- What are the Three Refuges?
Traditional Buddhists often take the "three refuges". What are they and can they be understood in secular terms? Music in this video:
- What Did the Buddha Teach About Beliefs?
The Buddha's early teachings on non-clinging to beliefs, views, and opinions are some of his deepest and most profound, as well as being a little tricky to understand. For those interested in a very detailed look at the Buddha on views,…