A guy from one of the forums I frequent, named Scix,  made a really cool monologue video called 'On Love' that he put on youtube.com.  When I watched it, I thought what he had to say hit on a lot of Buddhist thought, whether he intended it that way or not, so I decided to use some of what he said as the basis for this weeks podcast.

This week we are talking about being in the moment, what that means, what it doesn't mean and how it becomes very intertwined with the concept of attachment.

This weeks talks takes quite a few twists and turns.  I start out talking about whether one can be on Bodhisattva path, striving to gain enlightenment for the benefit of others, without attachment.  We meander into skepticism in Buddhism and end up in the translation process of Buddhist texts.

And the answer to the question?  You'll just have to listen to find out!

This week, we are talking about the Eight Verses of Mind Training.  This is a teaching that was written by Geshe Langri Tangpa (1054-1123) He was the student of Geshe Potowa, who was one of the principal disciples of Atisha.   If you would like to know more about Geshe Langri Tangpa you can read more here.

By thinking of all sentient beings

As even better than the wish-granting gem,

For accomplishing the highest aim,

May I always consider them precious.

Wherever I go, with whomever I go,

May I see myself as less than all others,

And from the depth of my heart

May I consider them supremely precious.

May I examine my mind in all actions

And as soon as a negative state occurs,

Since it endangers myself and others,

May I firmly face and avert it.

When I see beings of a negative disposition

Or those opposed by negativity or pain,

May I, as if finding a treasure, consider them precious,

For they are rarely met.

When others, due to their jealousy,

Revile and treat me in unjust ways,

May I accept this defeat myself,

And offer the victory to others.

When someone whom I have helped,

Or in whom I have placed great hope

Harms me with great injustice,

May I see that one as a sacred friend.

In short, may I offer, both directly and indirectly,

All joy and benefit to all beings, my mothers,

And may I myself secretly

Take on all their hurt and suffering

.

May they not be defiled

By the concepts of the eight mundane concerns,

And aware that all things are illusory,

May they, ungrasping, be free from bondage.

For a more detailed explanation of emptiness (here, illusion) we have covered it some previous podcasts 10, 11 and 12. 

I have had a hell of a time getting this podcast out.  I recorded it and somehow the file was corrupt so I had to redo it.

What we are talking about this week is the balance between study and practice on the Buddhist path.  We reference the Refuge Vows from Episode 33 as well as Tonglen practice.  We talked about Tonglen here, here and here.  It's also discussed in a couple of other places too.  Just search for Tonglen using the search tool for more info.

This week, I take the podcast tagline (Classic Buddhist Themes for the 21st Century) quite literally as we examine the meaning behind an ancient Buddhist chant, 'The Four Dharmas of Gampopa'.  The chant goes like this:

Grant your blessings so that my mind may be one with the Dharma.

Grant your blessings so that Dharma may progress along the path.

Grant your blessings so that the path may clairfy confusion.

Grant your blessings so that confusion may dawn as wisdom.

First, we have a little history lesson.  We talk about who Gampopa was and his relationship to Milarepa and the Kagyu teachings.

This little chant leads us all the way from the start of the path to the fruition of the journey.

In our discussions, we mention the previous podcasts on The Four Reminders.

This week on the podcast we actually talk about how to meditate.  While I still say that going to a meditation center for formal instruction is the best thing, I have come to realize that this isn't always possible, so we go through exactly what you need, how to do it and how to deal with some common problems.

In the podcast, we talk about cushions so here is a picture of my cushion and zafu.  The technical term for the large cushion is a zabutan, although I just got this out of a pillow bin at Garden Ridge and it works better than any true zabutan I have used.

I got the black zafu from The Monastery Store and it is somewhat unique.  Most Zafus are filled with either kapok or buckwheat hulls.  This one is half filled with the buckwheat hulls and the other half is viscoelastic memory foam, like those temperpedic mattresses.  Unless you have a really bad back, or just like the extra cushion, either kapok or buckwheat should be fine.

Another good source for zafus, zabutans and gomdens is Samadhi Cushions.  My other zafu that isn't pictured is from there.

We talk about sitting posture which is easier to understand if you see it, so here is a picture of it.

In addition, we talk about what to do when discomfort sets in.  Simply raise one or both legs so the feet are on the floor and adjust while continuing to watch the breath.

If you have any questions or problems, please email me at lans@enlighten-up.org or leave a comment on the web site, enlighten-up.org.

What a week it's been.  I spent about 3 days trying to a repair the rss feed so that all the listeners using podcatchers would get the feed.  In addition, if you check out the blog site, you'll see that there has been a little bit of redesign.  Check it out and tell me what you thing.

This week, we are talking about something that is unique to Buddhism, the fact that no faith is required.  We talk about in what ways this is relevant to our path.

So if we aren't required to believe in anything, what exactly makes a Buddhist?  For a classic answer, we hear from Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse's wonderful book "What makes you NOT a Buddhist".

We also mention Gwen Bell from the Zen Is Stupid podcast as an example of someone who follows the Buddhist path without identifying herself as a Buddhist.

We are back after a few months off! 

This time we're talking about remembering.  What do a statue of the Buddha, bowing, pictures and paintings and meditation practice have in common?  They all help us remember.

We also mention the Four Reminders, which I talked about in a previous podcast as well as Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche's wonderful commentary on it 'Turning Towards Liberation'. 

Special thanks to my wife Chris for adding the extra vocal talent to this episode.

On this episode of the podcast, we are all over the place. Jimmy from SA wrote a couple of great questions which I attempt to tackle.

The first is dealing with differences in who we are and what we perceive the dharma says we should be. Is humor with questionable themes against the teachings? How about combat sports? Poop?

Then we talk about chanting. What it is, why we do it and how prevelant it is in a modern sangha. We also look at a few situations where spontaneous chanting is useful.

Some of the chants discussed:

• The Heart Sutra (The Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge)
• 'Om Mani Padme Hung' (Compassion Mantra)
• Supplication to the Takpo Kagyus

We also discuss the practice of tonglen.

In addition, it's that time of year again: Podcamp San Antonio Numero Dos. I play the San Antonio City Cynic's promotional rap song for the event. It's a hoot! For more information about Podcamp San Antonio II, just click here or here.

On this episode of the podcast, we talk about anger and how to deal with it.

Today, I'm reading and responding to some viewer mail.  

If there is no local Meditation Center in your area, what are your options?

Books on Meditation

• 'Turning The Mind Into An Ally'- The Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche
• 'The Path Is The Goal' - Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche

Meditation Instruction On Line

• Meditation Instruction - The Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche
  

Online Buddhist Discussion

• E-Sangha
  

Other Buddhist Podcasts

• The Interdependence Project
• Buddhist Geeks 

I'm finally back after a bit of an unintentional hiatus, which we review in the podcast. The highlight of which is that I was recording podcasts for the Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio.

Today's podcast was inspired by something that Shawno from the HyperNonsense podcast when he said, "I denounce your reality and replace it with my own."

We take a look at your reality, my reality, and everyone elses reality. And yes, we spend some time denouncing them. It really quite fun!

As I'm sure most of you are aware, it's been awhile since the last Enlighten Up Podcast and I should tell everyone that I have not died or fallen off the face of the earth or anything like that.  I was on a business trip for a week and didn't get a chance to record.  On top of that, the last half of the trip I developed the flu, which I am still dealing with.  At any rate, I now have no voice, so podcasting is on hold for a few days. 

If you haven't already done so, you could take a listen to to the Podcast from the Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio.  Acharya Moh Hardin and Sangyum Cynde Grieve came in from Halifax, NS and gave some wonderful talks that are getting posted over there slowly.

We've talked quite a bit about the spiritual path, what the path is and how we get on the path, but can we ever take a trip and not ask "Are we there yet?" or "How much farther?" or even "Did I make a wrong turn?"  That's what we talk about on this EUP episode, or at least we talk about  what happened in my experience.  And you even get a little personal history of the old Meditator Man.

Happy New Year!  Welcome to the 33rd episode of the Enlighten Up Podcast and our first podcast of 2008.  On today's episode, we talk about how you become a Buddhist.  Again, we do a little compare and contrast with other religions then we talk about the Refuge Vow ceremony, what happens and what it means.

In the new voice mail segment (actually I think we have had a voice mail segment for awhile, just no voicemails) we hear from our very first voicemail caller, Brad P. from NJ from the Whole Lot Of Nonsense podcast, who gives me some much appreciated positive feed back and then gives me something to think about:  "There is truth in all spiritual paths but no single spiritual truth."  This seems to make a lot of sense.

A question I'm often asked is 'Is Buddhism a religion?'  That's our subject this time.  Is Buddhism a religion?  A philosophy?  Or something else?  Does it even matter?  I tell you what I think in the latest episode of The Enlighten Up Podcast.

We're back!  After a full schedule of National Podcast Post Month I took a couple of weeks off to relax a little but it is definitely time for another podcast!

This time talk about Finding Happiness, and how this relates to ego.  Do we find happiness, create it, or is there some third option?

We also have added a comment line at 206-350-4860 so feel free to call with comments, questions or thoughts.

We have finally arrived.  It's the last entry from National Podcast Post Month.  

Congratulations to everyone who got through it and to those who gave it a shot.  I want to send a special shout out to Jennifer Navarette, whose brainchild National Podcast Post Month was.  It was a great idea and has been a real blast!

For the final podcast,  I just had to go back to Pooh!