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.