Secular Buddhism

In this episode, I explore what death has to teach us about being fully alive, prompted by the recent death of mountaineer Nirmal "Nims" Purja in an avalanche in Pakistan. Starting with Richard Dawkins' reminder that "we are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones," I reflect on why there is nothing ordinary about an ordinary life — and why so many of us still leave the winning lottery ticket of being alive sitting in a drawer. I share the Buddha's teaching on mindfulness of death, where only the monks practicing at the timescale of a single mouthful or a single breath are called truly awake, along with the five remembrances, the Pali words samvega (the jolt when mortality gets real) and pasada (the settled confidence that the jolt can become a path), and the bardo teaching from The Tibetan Book of the Dead that we are dying and being born in every moment. Ultimately, I suggest the audacity to live isn't about risk but about honesty — living a life true to yourself, the thing Bronnie Ware's dying patients regretted missing most — and about a legacy measured not in accomplishments but in leaving people better than we found them. The invitation this week: once a day, pause and remember, "I will die, and I don't know when," and notice what that does to the next ten minutes of your life.

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In this episode, I explore the timeless wisdom found in Homer's The Odyssey through a secular Buddhist lens, drawing parallels between Odysseus's arduous journey home and our own human experiences. I highlight key lessons such as the danger of numbing ourselves with comfort, akin to the Lotus Eaters, and the peril of clinging to a fixed sense of self, as seen when Odysseus identifies himself after blinding the Cyclops. I also discuss the importance of facing cravings, like the crew opening the bag of winds, the power of awareness in overcoming unexamined appetites, and the wisdom gained from confronting difficult realities, such as navigating the land of the dead or choosing between two bad options. Furthermore, I touch upon the practice of skillful patience, exemplified by Penelope, the realization that true homecoming means embracing the present rather than returning to the past, and the profound lesson of carrying our burdens, like Odysseus's oar, until they can be transformed into something useful.

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In this episode, I explore the concept of being "already whole" by examining two seemingly contradictory Buddhist stories: the Golden Buddha and peeling an onion. The Golden Buddha story suggests we are inherently valuable, covered by layers of conditioning, while the onion story, referencing non-self, indicates we are simply layers all the way down with no fixed core. I explain that both perspectives are true and offer different "medicines" for our suffering: the gold story heals the belief that we are broken, and the onion story frees us from the endless search for a core self. The key takeaway is that because there is no fixed core, there can be no broken core, which is the ultimate good news of emptiness, allowing for growth and possibility. This understanding shifts practice from "mining" for a core to gently noticing and ceasing to add new layers of conditioning, recognizing these layers as protective armor rather than inherent flaws.

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In this episode, I explore the concept of holding two things at once, a practice that has become central to my own experience, especially during a recent personal transition. I discuss how we're often conditioned to assign a single emotional label to any given moment, leading us to suppress or feel guilty about other valid feelings that arise simultaneously. The core teaching is that life, in its most meaningful moments, is rarely simple and often involves a complex interplay of emotions and experiences, such as joy and grief, or love and resentment. Key takeaways include recognizing that our "story" layer often simplifies experience, while the raw experience itself is multifaceted, and that every moment is both a first and a last, making it precious. This practice is relevant to navigating life's complexities, from personal relationships and major life events to our own self-perception, by allowing us to be fully present to complicated moments without needing them to be anything else.

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In this episode, I explore the cosmic metaphor of stars, planets, and black holes as three distinct ways humans experience the world. Drawing parallels from the Artemis II moon mission and the film Project Hail Mary, I discuss how these celestial bodies represent generating light (star mode), reflecting light (planet mode), and consuming light (black hole mode). Key insights include understanding that these are temporary states, not fixed identities, and that our interconnectedness, as described by the Buddhist concept of Indra's Net, means we are all part of a larger system. This understanding offers practical applications for navigating our relationships and inner experiences with greater compassion and skill, recognizing that even in difficult "black hole" states, change is inevitable and our awareness of these states is the first step toward skillful engagement.

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In this episode, I talk to Devon and Nico Hase about their book, This Messy, Gorgeous Love. We explore how the Buddhist concept of dukkha, or inherent unsatisfactoriness, applies to relationships, reframing difficulty not as a sign of failure but as a natural and even beautiful aspect of partnership. Key takeaways include understanding that relationships are inherently challenging, the importance of "deep listening" to ourselves, our partners, and the space between us, and redefining patience not as passive resignation but as active, courageous engagement with difficulty, or "patience with teeth." This approach offers practical tools for navigating conflict, such as understanding different conflict styles (volcanoes, diplomats, and dodgers) and practicing regular "check-ins" to foster deeper connection and understanding in our messy, gorgeous lives.

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In this episode, I talk to Lodro Rinzler about his book, You Are Good, You Are Enough, which explores the Buddhist concept of basic goodness. We discuss how life's experiences can cover our inherent wholeness with "clay"—conditioning and societal messages—leading us to believe we are lacking. The core teaching is that we don't need to add anything to become whole; we need to peel away the layers to reveal the "gold" that's already there. Key takeaways include understanding that the nagging voice of self-doubt doesn't have to drive our actions, and that meditation, or gom, is about becoming familiar with our true nature, not just stress relief. This message is particularly relevant today, offering a powerful counterpoint to a culture that often profits from our sense of inadequacy, and encouraging us to see this inherent goodness not only in ourselves but in others as well.

https://amzn.to/4s9kC92

https://www.lodrorinzler.com/youaregood

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In this episode, I explore skillful concentration, the final aspect of the Eightfold Path, using a road trip analogy where concentration is like having steady hands on the wheel. I clarify that concentration is distinct from mindfulness, doesn't require hours of meditation, and is characterized by joy, not seriousness. I discuss the five hindrances—sensory desire, aversion, dullness, restlessness, and doubt—as obstacles to concentration, likening them to road hazards, and explain how to work with them by recognizing them as information. I also touch upon the jhanas as progressive states of concentration, from joy to equanimity, and offer practical advice on developing concentration by gradually increasing focus time, choosing an object of attention, and gently redirecting the mind when it wanders, emphasizing that concentration is a skill cultivated through consistent, gentle effort rather than force.

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In this episode, I explore skillful mindfulness, the seventh aspect of the Eightfold Path, using analogies like a permanently attached camera and a train station to illustrate its core principles. I emphasize that mindfulness isn't about stopping thoughts but about developing the capacity to observe them without being swept away, akin to sitting on a bench and watching trains come and go. Key takeaways include understanding mindfulness as awareness, acceptance, and discernment, and recognizing its practical application in everyday transitions and tasks. This practice matters because it counters the constant demand for our attention, offering clarity and choice, ultimately allowing us to be more awake and responsive to our lives rather than living on autopilot.

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In this episode, I explore the concept of skillful effort, also known as right effort, which is the sixth aspect of the Eightfold Path. I explain that skillful effort isn't about "trying harder" but rather about applying energy wisely, much like a gardener tends to their plants. This involves four key tasks: preventing unskillful states from arising, abandoning those that have already arisen, cultivating skillful states that haven't yet appeared, and maintaining the skillful states that are present. I offer practical examples, such as building a "fence" by avoiding triggers like social media first thing in the morning, "weeding" by noticing and withdrawing attention from unskillful thoughts like anger after being cut off in traffic, "planting seeds" by intentionally practicing gratitude or kindness, and "tending the garden" through consistent, balanced effort. The core takeaway is that by understanding and applying these principles, we can foster genuine organic growth in our minds and lives, leading to greater clarity and well-being.

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In this episode, I talk to Andy Chaleff about his book Dying to Live, which explores our societal discomfort with death and how confronting mortality can lead to a more meaningful life. We discuss the "3 AM panic" of existential dread, the concept of "little deaths" as moments of letting go of identity and attachment, and the importance of "sitting with the question" rather than seeking definitive answers. Andy shares practical insights on how embracing uncertainty and practicing presence, even in difficult moments, can help us live more fully and authentically, transforming our relationship with life by accepting the inevitability of death.

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In this episode, I celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Secular Buddhism podcast by announcing a new AI-powered website, EightfoldPath.com, which serves as a modern application of the Buddhist concept of skillful means. Skillful means, or upaya, is the idea that teachings should adapt to meet individuals where they are, using whatever tools or methods are most effective for reducing suffering and cultivating wisdom. Throughout history, technologies like writing, the printing press, and the internet have served as skillful means for transmitting Buddhist teachings, and now artificial intelligence is the latest iteration. The new website features "Noah AI," a tool trained on all my past content, acting as a conversational thinking partner to make these ancient insights more accessible and interactive for modern learners, emphasizing that the technology is simply a vehicle for the teachings, not the teachings themselves. Learn more at eightfoldpath.com

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Why are we so uncomfortable with not knowing? We often race toward any answer, even a bad one, just to escape the anxiety of uncertainty. This episode explores the strange and profound world of Zen koans.

Using the powerful story of the nun Chiyono and her breaking water pail ("No water, no moon"), Noah explains that koans are not intellectual puzzles to be "solved." Instead, they are a practice for developing a "don't-know mind" and building our tolerance for ambiguity.

Learn how sitting with confusion can be the most valuable preparation for the inevitable moments of groundlessness in real life. This episode is an invitation to stop trying to "get it" and instead embrace the wisdom that emerges from uncertainty.

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In this episode, Noah reflects on the heaviness of living in a world filled with violence, hatred, and suffering. From school shootings to war and personal experiences of pain, he explores the Buddhist teaching of the three poisons:ignorance, greed, and hatred, and how they manifest both globally and within our own hearts.

Through stories, analogies, and practical practices, Noah reminds us that peace is not created from the top down but from the inside out. By transforming our own inner war with wisdom, gratitude, and loving-kindness, we ripple peace outward into our families, communities, and ultimately the world.

If you’ve ever wondered what it means to “end the war within” and how small choices can make a big difference, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and concrete tools to begin cultivating peace, one moment, one choice, one heart at a time.

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In this episode, Noah explores Right Livelihood, the next step on the Eightfold Path. More than just avoiding harmful professions, Right Livelihood invites us to reflect on how our work shapes who we are and how we show up in the world. Noah shares personal stories, analogies, and practical questions to consider, such as: Does my work align with my values? Does it cultivate compassion and presence, or leave me depleted and divided? Whether you love your job, dislike it, or are somewhere in between, this talk reframes livelihood as not about finding the “perfect” career, but about engaging skillfully with the conditions of life and bringing mindfulness into how we work every day.

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In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Action—the fourth step on the path to mindful living. Rather than a rigid set of moral rules, Right Action is about learning to engage with life skillfully, making choices that reduce unnecessary suffering for ourselves and others.

Through the story of a paragliding mishap, we'll examine how our actions, whether big or small, shape our daily experiences. We'll discuss how unskillful actions often arise from craving, aversion, or delusion, and how cultivating awareness allows us to respond more wisely to life’s challenges.

We’ll also reflect on traditional Buddhist guidelines—abstaining from taking life, taking what is not given, and sexual misconduct—and reframe them as practical tools for fostering respect, reducing harm, and nurturing relationships.

This episode invites you to pause, reflect, and ask: “Is this action skillful? Am I using the right tool for this moment?” Every decision becomes an opportunity to practice Right Action and to live with greater clarity, presence, and compassion.

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In this special interview episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow traveler on the path, Heather Schenck. Many of you may recognize Heather from our online community—she’s been part of our Sangha since 2020. What began as a personal journey through suffering and self-inquiry has now culminated in the release of her first book, Unbecoming Ourselves.

Heather shares the deeply personal story behind her book—how her identity as a nurse, mother, and “good person” created a cycle of striving and self-judgment, and how Buddhist teachings like groundlessness, impermanence, and the nature of suffering helped her begin to loosen her grip on those labels. Together, we explore the difference between who we are and who we think we should be, and how compassion, curiosity, and mindfulness can guide us back to a more authentic way of being.

We also talk about the sneaky nature of all-pervasive suffering, how perfectionism often disguises itself as growth, and how to skillfully work with the inner narrator many of us carry. Whether you’ve struggled with self-worth, identity, or perfectionism, this conversation offers powerful insights and gentle encouragement to soften around the stories we tell ourselves.

Heather’s book Unbecoming Ourselves is available now on Amazon. Learn more about her work and upcoming courses at aheartawakened.com.

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In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Speech. More than just speaking truthfully or avoiding gossip, Right Speech is a mindfulness practice—an invitation to reflect on how, why, and when we communicate. We look at the four types of unskillful speech—false, harsh, divisive, and idle chatter—and how becoming aware of them can transform our relationships, both with others and with ourselves. From conversations with loved ones to the inner dialogue in our minds, speech shapes our experience. Tune in as we reflect on how a single moment of awareness before speaking can reduce harm and create connection.

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In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I explore what it means to “be a lamp unto yourself.” Drawing from personal stories, including my time teaching paragliding, and Buddhist teachings on wisdom, I reflect on the journey from seeking external guidance to cultivating trust in your own inner knowing. What does it mean to become your own teacher? How can we balance learning from others while honoring our unique path? Join me as we look beyond the teacher and into the deeper work of awakening your own wisdom.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Eightfold Path by diving into the second aspect of wisdom—Right Intention. We explore how intention functions like a compass, helping us navigate life with purpose and clarity. Rather than reacting habitually, Right Intention invites us to respond skillfully to whatever arises. We discuss the three core intentions highlighted in Buddhist teachings: letting go (renunciation), wishing well (goodwill), and doing no harm (harmlessness). With everyday examples and practical insights, this episode is a reminder that intention shapes the seeds we plant with every word and action—and that we always have the power to begin again in any moment.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, I share the audio recording of a Dharma talk I gave during one of our Sunday Zoom calls. The topic is Right View, the first step on the Buddhist Eightfold Path. Inspired by the book Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari, I explore the nature of truth and how we relate to it in our everyday lives.

I talk about three distinct types of truth—objective, subjective, and intersubjective—and how understanding these can help us develop a more skillful and compassionate view of reality. Using analogies like traffic lights, tinted glasses, and even Tetris blocks, I examine how Right View isn’t about having the “correct” opinion, but about recognizing our perspectives and holding them with humility and curiosity.

This episode is an invitation to look more closely at how we see the world—and how a clearer view can help reduce suffering for ourselves and others.

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What is the difference between happiness and joy, and how can we experience greater contentment, even when life doesn’t go as planned? In this episode, I explore the Buddhist perspectives and modern insights that reveal happiness as a fleeting emotional state, while joy represents a deeper, more enduring form of well-being. Drawing inspiration from “The Book of Joy” by the Dalai Lama, “Happiness” by Matthieu Ricard, and “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins, I discuss practical exercises and teachings that help us cultivate a more resilient, compassionate, and flexible approach to life’s inevitable ups and downs. Join me as we learn to hold space for joy in every moment, beyond mere happiness.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, I explore the Buddhist teaching of aimlessness, one of the Three Doors of Liberation, through personal reflection and the lens of my son’s journey into adulthood. What if life doesn’t need a fixed purpose to be meaningful? Drawing on insights from Buddhism, Alan Watts, and everyday life—including paragliding, parenting, and playing music—I consider what it means to live fully when we stop racing toward a destination. Aimlessness isn’t about giving up; it’s about letting go of the pressure to always be somewhere else, and discovering the joy of being right here, right now. Life, like dancing or listening to music, might not be about getting to the end—it might just be about the experience itself.

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In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah explores the Buddhist teaching of no-self through the powerful metaphor of a car ride. Who—or what—is really in control as we navigate our lives? Drawing from the five aggregates and the Internal Family Systems model, Noah illustrates how our emotions and mental patterns often take the wheel, shaping our actions and experiences. But through mindful awareness, we can begin to notice these “drivers,” understand their intentions, and gently shift how we respond. This episode invites listeners to reflect on their inner world with curiosity, compassion, and clarity, offering practical tools for cultivating emotional awareness and inner freedom.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, I explore the parable of The Empty Boat and how it serves as a powerful metaphor for understanding the way we react to life’s inevitable bumps (especially those caused by others). Drawing from Taoist and Zen traditions, this story reminds us that much of our suffering arises not from what happens, but from the meaning we attach to it.

We’ll look at what it means to take things personally, why we often assume intent where there may be none, and how mindfulness helps us shift from reactivity to response. I also share personal reflections, real-life examples, and variations on the parable to help bring this teaching into everyday life.

Whether you’ve been bumped recently or you’ve unknowingly bumped into others, this episode offers a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and respond with more awareness and compassion.

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In this episode of The Secular Buddhism Podcast, I reflect on an experience at a dance competition that led me to deeply consider connection, perception, and the way we assign meaning to our experiences. As I watched dancers perform to carefully chosen songs, I found myself drawn into the emotions conveyed in the lyrics—emotions that felt strikingly familiar, even though they were someone else’s words, someone else’s story.

This realization sparked a deeper exploration of Buddhist teachings on interdependence (pratītyasamutpāda), impermanence (anicca), and feeling tones (vedanā)—all of which play a role in how we connect to art, music, and each other. How is it that a song written by a stranger can make us feel understood in our most personal moments of joy or sorrow? What does this teach us about the shared human experience?

Join me as we explore the ways in which our lives, like music, are constantly unfolding—sometimes melancholic, sometimes joyful, always moving. And just as we don’t cling to a single note in a song, we can learn to embrace the impermanence of life with greater ease.

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In times of uncertainty and suffering, many of us find ourselves asking: What can I do? The weight of the world’s challenges—humanitarian crises, injustice, personal struggles—can feel overwhelming, leaving us wondering whether our efforts even make a difference.

In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I’m sharing the audio from a recent Dharma talk on the Bodhisattva path—a way of engaging with suffering that is rooted in compassion, wisdom, and the recognition of our deep interconnection. The Bodhisattva path invites us to act, not because we are certain we can fix everything, but because compassionate action is itself a meaningful response to the suffering around us.

Through personal stories, Buddhist teachings, and reflections on our shared humanity, this talk explores how we can light even the smallest candle in the darkness without burning out or losing hope.

I hope this episode offers you some clarity, encouragement, and a renewed sense of purpose in these challenging times.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, Noah Rasheta explores the Tibetan Buddhist concept of bardos, traditionally understood as transitional states between life, death, and rebirth. Taking a secular approach, Noah reinterprets bardos as a framework for understanding all of life’s transitions, both big and small.

Life is constantly shifting—between moments, relationships, jobs, emotions, and even identities. Each transition, whether minor or major, offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and make intentional choices about what we bring forward and what we leave behind. Noah discusses the six bardos in Tibetan Buddhism and reimagines them in an everyday context, showing how they can help us navigate change with mindfulness and presence.

Through personal stories and practical reflections, this episode encourages listeners to embrace the space between what was and what will be—not as something to fear, but as a fertile ground for growth, renewal, and greater self-awareness.

Tune in to explore how recognizing bardos in daily life can help you move through transitions with clarity, resilience, and wisdom.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, I sit down with Cortland Dahl, author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism, to explore how Buddhist teachings and meditation can help us navigate life’s challenges with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.

Cortland shares insights from his book, which serves as an accessible guide for both beginners and seasoned meditators, and discusses themes such as the practical application of Buddhist principles in daily life, the transformative power of curiosity, and the innate qualities of awareness, compassion, and wisdom that reside within all of us.

We also discuss the concept of the “householder yogi,” how everyday moments can become opportunities for mindfulness, and the role of compassion in fostering a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Whether you’re new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation offers relatable and transformative perspectives.

Tune in to discover how Buddhist practices can help you suffer less, flourish more, and embrace the present moment with a fresh perspective.

Find Cortland’s book, A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism, here https://amzn.to/3Pqx7w7 or wherever books are sold, and learn more about his work at cortlanddahl.com.

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In honor of Bodhi Day—commemorating the Buddha’s awakening—this episode challenges the conventional notion of enlightenment as a distant finish line. Instead, I explore how awakening emerges naturally in the everyday moments of our lives. Drawing on the Buddha’s story and reflecting on personal experiences, I'll discuss how to recognize the sacredness of ordinary life, embrace change with grace, and deepen our responsibility for our own happiness. Join me as we discover that enlightenment isn’t something to chase, but something to live—right here, right now.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah Rasheta explores the concept of letting go as a path to freedom and liberation.

Using analogies like hanging onto a rope, carrying a backpack, and navigating monkey bars, Noah illustrates how our attachments to beliefs, roles, and identities can create unnecessary suffering. He offers practical advice for identifying and releasing the things that weigh us down, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and adaptability in the process. Noah also reframes the question of "Who am I?" to "What am I doing?" to help listeners focus on the present moment and respond skillfully to life's challenges. By embracing the dynamic nature of letting go, we can lighten our load and find peace on our journey through life.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, I explore gratitude as a natural byproduct of awareness, interdependence, and impermanence. Through the lens of Buddhist teachings, including the metaphor of Indra’s net and the Zen story of “The Cup Is Already Broken,” I share how mindfulness reveals the interconnectedness of all things and inspires genuine gratitude.

I discuss how gratitude isn’t something we’re commanded to feel but something that arises effortlessly when we embrace the fleeting nature of life and recognize the countless causes and conditions that support our existence. I also introduce practical ways to cultivate gratitude, such as Naikan practice and gratitude meditations, and show how awareness can transform even the simplest moments into opportunities for profound appreciation.

Whether you’re preparing for Thanksgiving or simply looking to deepen your understanding of mindfulness, this episode offers wisdom for cherishing life as it unfolds.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, I distill 30 life lessons that have shaped my personal journey and that I’ve found most impactful after nearly a decade of hosting the Secular Buddhism Podcast. Drawing from the timeless wisdom of Buddhist teachings, these lessons serve as practical guides to living with more awareness, compassion, and resilience in everyday life. Join me as I share not only the core teachings but also my personal reflections on each one.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, I explore the topic of uncertainty and how embracing life’s unpredictability can lead to greater peace and freedom. From everyday frustrations to life’s biggest challenges, groundlessness is a shared human experience. Drawing on stories, metaphors, and Buddhist teachings, I discuss how letting go of the need for control opens us to new possibilities and deeper wisdom. Tune in to learn how you can transform fear of the unknown into a source of growth and connection.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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In this episode, I interview the co-founders of Uplift Kids—Jon, Amanda, and Michelle—to explore how their curriculum helps parents teach emotional awareness and wisdom traditions to kids. We dive into practical tips for guiding kids through big emotions, the importance of mindfulness in parenting, and how ancient wisdom can be applied to modern family life. Whether you’re a parent looking for tools to raise emotionally intelligent kids or curious about integrating values-based lessons at home, this conversation offers valuable insights. Learn more about Uplift kids at upliftkids.org

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In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, we explore the Buddhist perspective on suffering and how we can transform our relationship with it.

We'll explore how changing our relationship with suffering can lead to personal growth, wisdom, and even unexpected joy. This episode offers listeners practical tools to apply Buddhist concepts in their daily lives, encouraging a curious and compassionate approach to life's challenges. Whether you're new to Buddhist ideas or a long-time practitioner, this episode provides valuable insights for navigating the inevitable difficulties of human existence.

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Welcome to a unique episode where I'm excited to share the audio of a thought-provoking conversation I recently had with Eric Zimmer, the esteemed host of "The One You Feed" podcast. In this compelling discussion, we delve into the ancient parable of the two wolves that reside within each of us, exploring the profound wisdom behind the teaching that the wolf you choose to nourish ultimately prevails.

Our dialogue centres on the complex topic of suffering, but we also traverse a range of interconnected concepts that shed light on the human experience. This special episode offers a rare opportunity to eavesdrop on an unscripted, in-depth exchange of ideas that I believe you'll find both enlightening and engaging.

So, settle in and prepare for an intellectual journey as we unpack age-old wisdom and apply it to modern life. I'm confident that this unique episode will provide you with fresh perspectives and valuable insights. Enjoy the discussion!

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In this introspective episode, Noah Rasheta shares personal updates about significant changes in his life over the past few months, including a career transition and a move to a new home. He explores the parallels between his new role in data infrastructure and the inner workings of the human mind, drawing insightful connections between hardware, software, and the beliefs that shape our experiences.

Noah dives deep into the concept of the cognitive cycle, explaining how our beliefs influence our perceptions, thoughts, emotions, actions, and ultimately, our reality. He emphasizes the importance of examining and updating our beliefs, likening them to the software that runs on the hardware of our brains.

Through relatable examples and personal anecdotes, Noah illustrates how our beliefs can impact our day-to-day lives, from fear of public speaking to the way we react to challenges. He encourages listeners to be introspective and mindful of the beliefs that drive their actions and to consider updating their "mental software" to better navigate life's complexities.

Join Noah on this thought-provoking journey as he shares valuable insights from his own life experiences and invites listeners to reflect on the interconnectedness of their thoughts, emotions, and actions in the pursuit of inner peace and personal growth.

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In this episode, I reflect on my transformative journey from intense frustration to effortless flying, drawing parallels between the challenges of paragliding and the introspective path of personal growth. Sharing insights from my experience with learning to ridge soar, I connect these adventures to the Buddha's spiritual quest, underscoring the essence of self-reliance and the lessons adversity teaches us. This episode is a reflection on the powerful, often unseen teachers we encounter in life, and how they shape our journey towards mastering not just skills, but the very art of living itself.

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This episode discusses how renunciation is not merely about giving up material or physical pleasures but about a deeper understanding and release of attachments that cause suffering. The episode invites listeners to consider the ways in which they might be clinging too tightly to certain aspects of their lives and how letting go can lead to greater liberation and joy. Through personal anecdotes, practical tips, and thoughtful exploration of the middle way of attachment, the episode encourages contemplation of what we hold onto and what we might gain by learning to let go, emphasizing that renunciation is an ongoing, transformative process in the pursuit of a more meaningful life.

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In this episode, I delve into the landscape of our emotions, drawing parallels between the ever-changing sky and our internal world. Journey with me as we explore the transient nature of emotions, taking cues from the wisdom of ancient Buddhist teachings and insights from modern psychology. Learn how emotional agility can serve as a beacon, guiding us through life's inevitable storms with grace, resilience, and understanding. Featuring parables, contemporary analogies, and practical tips, this episode seeks to empower listeners to navigate their emotional world with greater awareness and intentionality. Whether you're seeking solace in turbulent times or simply aiming to deepen your emotional understanding, this episode offers a transformative perspective on embracing and mastering the dance of our emotions.

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In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, Noah delves into the concept of emotional equanimity, likening it to the tale of monk Sona who learned to maintain a balanced approach to life's challenges, akin to finely tuning a musical instrument. Drawing from the Mangala Sutta and Nassim Nicholas Taleb's "Anti-Fragile," the episode emphasizes the value of antifragility, where challenges can enhance our emotional resilience, much like an astronaut needing physical stress to prevent muscle atrophy in space. Noah offers five tips for practicing emotional equanimity and underscores that true growth arises from facing, not avoiding, life's storms.

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Welcome back to the Secular Buddhism Podcast, a globally top-ranked Buddhist show. Today, best-selling author and host Noah Rasheta delves into the topic of Tilopa's Six Words of Advice. Tilopa's 'Six Words of Advice' provide meditation guidance for people of all levels, including both beginners and experienced meditators. Despite their apparent simplicity, these six instructions hold deep meanings. One can spend a lifetime studying these simple instructions and still uncover new insights.

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Prepare to step onto a path of transformation and liberation as we unravel the most fundamental teachings of Buddhism - the Four Noble Truths. I'll break down each of these foundational truths, venturing into the realm of life's inherent suffering, understanding its root cause, and most significantly, the very possibility of liberation from this suffering by letting go of craving and attachment.

The first Noble Truth states that life is characterized by suffering or dissatisfaction, the second Noble Truth states that the cause of suffering is clinging or craving, driven by ignorance of the true nature of reality, the third Noble Truth is that it is possible to be free from suffering by letting go of craving and attachment, and the fourth Noble Truth is that there is a path that leads to the complete liberation from suffering, known as the Eightfold Path or the Middle Way Path. Understanding the Four Noble Truths is the first step to awakening and liberation in Buddhism.

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In the practice of self-kindness, we often overlook a profound truth: our relationship with ourselves sets the tone for our relationship with others.

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In this episode, I delve deeper into how meditation acts as a massive pause button for the cycle of habitual reactivity. I'll explore beliefs, thoughts, emotions, feelings, actions, and consequences, discussing how they influence our lives and the lives of others. We'll look at how we can cultivate skillful habits through meditation or mindfulness. By taking a pause from our habitual ways of living, we can achieve powerful self-reflection and lasting change.

We also examine the two primary types of meditation - fixed attention and open awareness - and why it's essential to practice both to create the Middle Way.

So, take a break from your busy life and give this episode a listen! Let me explain how hitting the pause button in the cycle of reactivity can lead to a more balanced life. Make sure to stay tuned for my upcoming online course, where I'll share specific techniques for both types of meditation.

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"All experience is preceded by mind"; that is to say, our mind determines whether or not we suffer. Knowing that we can't escape the consequences of our actions and that actions originate with thoughts, this episode will explore how and why we should practice noticing our thoughts.

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This is episode #178. The topic I have in mind for today is the teaching of "The Four Investigations." This is a teaching that comes from the Yogachara school of Buddhism. According to Yogachara teachings, the key to understanding reality is to understand the mind. There are four investigations we can explore that are intended to help us to have a correct view or understanding of reality.

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In this episode, I'll share the audio from an interview I did on the 10,000 heroes podcast. You can find the episode here: https://pod.link/1565667158/episode/f438b75d2dfc86e40c526270a4cd4975

Are you interested in trekking with me to Everest Base Camp? Learn more at mindfultrekking.com

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In this first episode of 2023, I will talk about propensities and our relationship to our propensities.

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What are the two truths?

There is the Truth of how things really are, and the truth of how things seem to be. These are sometimes referred to as Absolute truth and Relative truth. Relative truths are always dependent on HOW we perceive them.

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A deep sense of unsatisfactoriness arises anytime we want to be other than how we are. It takes skillful effort to BE WHATEVER WE ALREADY ARE. In this episode, I will share my thoughts on the process of befriending our thoughts, emotions, feelings, and ultimately ourselves.

"No one to be"

"Nothing to do"

"Nowhere to go"

Some of the Buddhist concepts/topics shared in this episode:

To join our online community, visit secularbuddhism.com

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Unsatisfactoriness exists and it has a cause. What is the cause of unsatisfactoriness? In this episode, I will talk about craving and the role it plays in how we feel about life.

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Psychological acceptance is "the active embracing of subjective experience, particularly distressing experiences." In this episode, I will discuss practicing acceptance and using the OODA loop as decision-making tools to help us act more skillfully during difficult or stressful times.

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Something whole is comprised of ALL its undiminished parts or elements. We are a combination of our body and mind (hardware and software). The key to feeling whole is to understand and embrace all of the parts that make us who we are.

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The 5 remembrances are wake-up calls that help us to see more clearly, the nature of reality. They are wake-up calls that help us to live more intentionally and skillfully.

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In this episode, I will share my thoughts about the 84,000 gates and the notion of Emptiness. In the last 2 episodes, I shared my thoughts around Signlessness and Aimlessness and now I will share my thoughts around Emptiness.

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The three doors of liberation refer to Formlessless, Signlessness, and Aimlessness. In this episode, I will talk about signlessness and what this teaching means to me and how we can practice signlessness in our day-to-day lives.

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The three doors of liberation refer to Formlessless, Signlessness, and Aimlessness. In this episode, I will talk about Aimlessness and what this teaching means to me.

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Craving for and attachment to feelings is what leads to suffering; on the flip side of that, awareness and understanding of our feelings can lead to Enlightenment. In this episode, I will share my thoughts around the Buddhist concept of feelings tones / Vedana.

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"A student of Buddhism tries to unlearn something every day." What does it mean to "unlearn"? In this episode, I will share my thoughts around the notion of learning and unlearning in the context of practicing Buddhism.

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One of the final teachings the Buddha gave, had to do with becoming an island unto yourself. In a way, he was telling his followers that it was time to leave the nest and to take refuge in themselves. In this episode, I will share my thoughts on this teaching.

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In this episode, I will talk about the story of Sundari, an ascetic who was killed in an attempt to frame Sidhartha and bring dishonor to him and his followers. How the Buddha handled this ordeal sheds light on the Buddhist approach to words and accusations.

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The games we play...some thoughts about Right View. Thich Nhat Hanh says: "Our happiness and the happiness of those around us depend on our degree of Right View. Touching reality deeply -- knowing what is going on inside and outside of ourselves -- is the way to liberate ourselves from the suffering that is caused by wrong perceptions. Right View is not an ideology, a system, or even a path. It is the insight we have into the reality of life, a living insight that fills us with understanding, peace, and love."

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The backwards law proposes that the more we chase after something, the more difficult it becomes to catch it and the more disappointed we feel. In other words, the harder we try, the less likely we are to succeed.

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In a culture that tends to feel gratitude for only the pleasant things in our life, the Buddhist approach is to feel gratitude for all things, even the unpleasant ones. Gratitude develops patience and patience is an antidote to the poison of greed.

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The nature of reality is that things come together and things fall apart and then things come together and things fall apart and that cycle goes on and on. Instead of running from the difficulties and the pain, the Buddhist approach is to move toward the painful situations and become intimate with them.

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Mara is "the personification of the forces antagonistic to enlightenment." Mara wants to be feared. We tend to run from the things that we fear, but what happens when we stop running and we look at Mara and say "I see you, Mara!"In this episode, I will share my thoughts about the interaction between the Buddha and Mara.

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Dependent Origination is a Buddhist notion that is common among all schools of Buddhism. It's the doctrine that states that all phenomena arise in dependence upon other phenomena. In other words, "this is because that is and this is not because that is not". In this episode, I will share my thoughts about how this concept can be beneficial in our day-to-day lives.

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Within any given discipline, we all have a circle of skills. In order to grow the circle of skills, we need to do things that are just outside the circle and once we master a new skill, that circle grows. The key to safely growing the circle is to go slowly and not attempt skills that are too far outside the current circle we have. I believe this is also the case with how we can approach Mindfulness practice.

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In this episode, I will talk about "The First Meditation" a story about an experience that Siddhartha (the Buddha) had when he was 9 years old. I believe this experience shaped his understanding of the importance of experiential vs intellectual understanding and I believe there are some good lessons to be learned by us as we hear this story.

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It can be easy to get caught up "in the thick of thin things" when our perspective is too narrow or zoomed in. When we take the long view, we learn to zoom out and see things from a different perspective. In this podcast episode, I will talk about taking the long view and also discuss the parable of the lute and the analogy of tuning the strings of an instrument.

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Zen Master Seung Sahn said "I do not teach Buddhism. I only teach don't know." The beauty of not knowing arises when we understand that reality is unknowable as a complete picture. First, because it's always changing, and second, we are limited in our perspective in terms of space and time.

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Liberation is not a destination we strive to reach, it's a state of mind that is available to us right here and right now. When we fully understand the reality of emptiness, signlessness, and aimlessness, we become liberated from the type of thinking that has us trapped in the prison of our own mind.

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Observation in Buddhist practice is an active thing, it's not passive and it's not a form of resignation. The skilled observer, observes precisely in order to be able to act more skillfully.

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In this podcast episode, I share my thoughts about "Buddha nature" and what it means to me. I also share the story of the little rock in my backyard that had a Buddha painted on the rock. When the paint started to fade, I was able to see the buddha nature of that rock.

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Every moment that arises is simultaneously the first time and last time that moment exists. I used to value moments based on their pleasantness or unpleasantness but now I see the beauty of the uniqueness of each moment. In this episode, I will be vulnerable and share my thoughts as I process the recent loss of a loved one.

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I love thinking about life as a great song, with high notes and low notes and quiet pauses in between each note. I like to think of my relationship to this song as the dance of life. In this episode, I will share my thoughts about going through life as if it were a dance instead of a fight.

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Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons even amidst circumstances or events that we don't particularly find to be pleasant. In this episode, I will share the story of how we ended up with a 3-legged cat as a pet.

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In this episode, I will talk about the idea of "branding". The story we have about ourselves is our personal brand and we do a lot to influence the way others perceive us. Practicing non-attachment to our brand may allow us to experience greater freedom to be ourselves.

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In our search for answers to life's big questions, what if the question is actually more important than the answer? In this episode, I will talk about the quest for answers and how it may be more beneficial to focus on the quest for understanding the question.

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In this podcast episode, I will share some thoughts around the idea that we can change our relationship to our emotions by pretending that we're playing a game where the goal is to experience the full range of possible emotions.

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In this episode, I will talk about perception and the role it plays in how we experience our reality. Reality is in the eye of the beholder. “Dependent on the eye and forms, eye-consciousness arises...The meeting of the three is contact.”With contact as a requisite condition, there is feeling. What one feels, one perceives. What one perceives, one thinks about.

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"Some see something to fear where there is nothing to fear, and some see nothing to fear where there is something to fear." In this episode, I will talk about fear from a Buddhist perspective. Fear is universal but there are perhaps some fears that are skillful and others that are unskilful.

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I'm sure you've heard the expression "work smarter, not harder". In this episode, I will share my throughs regarding Skillful Effort of the Eightfold Path and how it pertains to not only mindfulness practice but to everything we do in life.

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ANNOUNCEMENT...I’m excited to present a new online workshop called "Mindfulness for Everyday Life" available exclusively through Himalaya Learning.Himalaya Learning is a new educational audio platform specializing in audio courses that focus on lifelong learning, business, personal development, and more, featuring courses from some of the world’s greatest minds like Tim Ferriss, Malcolm Gladwell, Elon Musk. You can listen to my full workshop series by visiting www.himalaya.com/mindfulness and entering the code MINDFULNESS for a free 14-day trial.Whether you’re looking for more peace in the workplace or at home, or even just greater peace within the confines of your own mind, mindfulness practice is where it all starts. In this 20-part series, I will present several key concepts, ideas, guided meditations, and exercises centered around mindfulness that will help you to understand how and why this ancient practice can be so useful in our day to day lives.

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I recently had the opportunity of interviewing Dr Sarah Shaw about her new book "Mindfulness: Where it comes from and what it means". I hope you enjoy the conversation. To learn more about her book, visit: https://www.shambhala.com/buddhist-mindfulness.html

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In this podcast episode, I will talk about the Buddhist story of Sticky Hair Monster and the prince who tried to battle him. This story points to the battle that often takes place in our minds against our own thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

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Is nothing something? What happens when we do nothing? In this podcast episode, I will share my thoughts on the concept of nothingness and the beauty of nothing. I will also discuss the koan "every day is a good day".

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In this podcast episode, I will share some of my thoughts regarding the Mountains and Rivers Sutra by Zen master Dogen. This teaching reminds me of the simple yet complex nature of reality.

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One of my favorite Pema quotes is the one where she says, "You are the sky, everything else is the weather". In this podcast episode, I will discuss the concept of mental weather patterns and the way I correlate weather forecasting with understanding my own mental patterns and tendencies.

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In this podcast episode, I will discuss the idea of Emotional Enlightenment and what that means for me. We often find ourselves seeking certain emotions and avoiding other emotions. I've found that by giving all my emotions a sense of equanimity, I've found a tremendous sense of peace.

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In this podcast episode, I will share five daily life guidelines that have been beneficial for me in my personal practice. They are: consume mindfully, practice loving kindness, practice gratitude, discover wisdom, and accept constant change.

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In this podcast episode, I will discuss the koan about the great meaning of the Buddha's teaching. I will also discuss some thoughts about the Buddhist approach of theism vs non-theism and how leaves us with nowhere to hide and nothing to hold.

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The nature of reality is that difficulties will arise, and we’ll experience suffering. We can begin to embrace that fact by recognizing that suffering, in general, is not personal. It’s simply part of the experience of existence. And we will experience suffering, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. In this episode, I will discuss the pervasive suffering that sometimes affects how we see our relationships, jobs, and parenting.Koan Discussed: What is the Sound of One Hand Clapping?

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In Buddhism, doubt is beneficial because it is the first step in weakening our wrong views. The wonderful thing about doubt is that it can propel us in the direction of more skillful views. There is a strong emphasis in Buddhism to avoid “believing in” Buddhist teachings, instead, we are encouraged to evaluate them and to understand them and ultimately, to test them against our own experience.Koan Discussed: One day Chao-chou fell down in the snow, and called out, “Help me up! Help me up!” A monk came and lay down beside him. Chao-chou got up and went away.Koan Shared: What is the sound of one hand clapping?Book Mentioned: “Mind in Tibetan Buddhism” by Lati Rinbochay. Available at: https://amzn.to/3ezRfZa

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In this podcast episode, I will discuss the HALT Method and share my thoughts on the koan shared in the last episode: "What is your original face before you were born?". I will also leave you with this new koan to explore: "One day Chao-chou fell down in the snow, and called out, “Help me up! Help me up!” A monk came and lay down beside him. Chao-chou got up and went away."

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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A key Buddhist principle is a recognition that things are always changing. Life is transient. When we have the feeling of wanting things to return back to normal, we need to remember that normal was always relative, there is no going back.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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"Good concepts are like a gold chain, bad concepts are like an iron chain, they all equally bind you in the end." The concept we have about who we are is binding. What if instead of trying to become somebody, we practiced becoming nobody. In this podcast episode, I will discuss the idea of becoming nobody.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.

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