5 Minute Dharma Podcast

Loving-kindness meditation is the topic of this episode. Metta is the Pali word that is here translated as Loving-kindness. There is no one word that catches the fullness of the Pali word. Metta has two root meanings, one means “gentle” and the other means “friend”. Becoming the gentle friend of all living beings catches the general idea. I want to spend a few minute teaching you loving-kindness meditation. Text: “As a mother watches over her child, willing to risk her own life to protect her only child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings, suffusing the whole world with unobstructed loving-kindness.” - Sn 1.8 Outline: Introduction I. Loving-kindness is not the same thing as love. II. Start your loving-kindness meditation with yourself. III. Next move on to the rest of the five categories of beings to direct loving-kindness to. IV. We finish off our loving-kindness meditation with general loving-kindness towards all living beings. Conclusion

Why I chose Buddhism is the topic of this episode. As you probably know, I used to be a Christian minister. After being a Christian for over two decades, I came to the conclusion that Jesus was just a man and just a teacher. The Buddha was also just a man and just a teacher. But, for me, there really was no comparison. The Buddha was the better teacher. Text: “Now, if you can’t place your complete trust in tradition, lineage, what others say, scripture, logic, reasoning, deep thinking or long thinking, smooth talking or the authority of the teacher, then how do you know what way to take? Well, if you know for yourself, ‘this way is wholesome, this way is praiseworthy, this way is recommended by those who are wise, this way, if it’s followed and practiced, will lead to well-being and happiness,’ then, Kalamas, you know that this is the way to go." - AN 3.65 (Richard Blumberg) Outline: Introduction I. First, I chose Buddhism because it is Agnostic towards metaphysical questions. II. Second, I chose Buddhism because it is Practical. III. Third, I chose Buddhism because it is Scientific. IV. Fourth, I chose Buddhism because it is Reasonable. V. Fifth, I chose Buddhism because it is Open Minded. Conclusion

The Mindful Revolution is the cover title of the latest issue of Time Magazine, and it is the topic of this episode. Time reports that “we’re in the midst of a popular obsession with mindfulness as the secret to health and happiness.” We can see signs of this all around, from Google “Search Inside Yourself” program to the new magazine entitled Mindful. I want to take a few minute to talk about the reasons for the popularity of mindfulness meditation and deal with some questions about separating mindfulness from Buddhism. Text: “When those discourses spoken by the Tathagata are being recited that are deep, deep in meaning, world-transcending, connected with emptiness, they will not want to listen to them, will not lend an ear to them, or apply their minds to understand them; they will not think those teachings should be studied and learned.” - AN 5.79. Outline: Introduction I. First, Time Magazine reports that there are two reasons for the wide acceptance of mindfulness. II. Second, what are the benefits of teaching mindfulness without any religious trappings? III. Third, what are the cons of separating mindfulness from Buddhism? Conclusion

Original goodness is the topic of this episode. The first principle of Buddhist psychology is seeing the inner nobility and beauty of all human beings. Christianity begins with original sin, while Buddhism begins with original goodness. The very possibility of enlightenment is based on the fact that craving, aversion, and delusion are not inherently a part of the fundamental nature of mind. I want to spend a few minute discussing this original goodness or inner nobility. Text: “O Nobly Born, O you of glorious origins, remember your radiant true nature, the essence of mind. Trust it. Return to it. It is home.” - The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Outline: Introduction I. First, original goodness affects the way we see ourselves and others. II. Second, if we are essentially good, why so much evil in the world. III. Third, where is the original goodness in us? Conclusion

Viewing food as medicine is the topic of this episode. To regard food as medicine has deep roots in Buddhism. Not only is it mentioned in the Mahayana Sutra I just quoted, but it has a long history in monasticism. It is the fourth contemplation of the Five Contemplations recited before meals. To quote it directly, the monk is to, “consider the food as medicine and as nourishment for the body.” A version of this is still a part of the Five Contemplations used by the Soto Zen Sect of Buddhism. I want to take a few minute to examine what it means to view food as medicine. Text: “When we eat, we should regard our food as medicine, for consuming too much or too little is not healthy.” - Chin I-chiao-ching Sutra. Outline: Introduction I. First, viewing food as medicine is an application of right view. II. Second, viewing food as medicine can help us discover our attachments. III. Third, what is the right practice of viewing food as medicine. Conclusion

Eating mindfully is the topic of this episode. Here we have the Buddha’s weight loss plan, eat mindfully and in moderation. He explains that mindful eating has the benefits of better health and longer life. But mindful eating also has the advantage of awakening us. An awakened life is a mindful life, and mindful eating is a part of this. I want to explain how to eat mindfully in the next few minutes. Text: "When a man is always mindful, knowing moderation in the food he eats, his ailments then diminish: he ages slowly, guarding his life.” - SN 3:13 Outline: Introduction I. First, we have to remember and plan to eat mindfully. II. Second, eating mindfully means slowing down when we eat. III. Third, eating mindfully means engaging all our senses. IV. Fourth, eating mindfully means reconnecting your mind to your body. V. Fifth, eating mindfully means eating healthy food in moderation. Conclusion Mindful Eating Prayer: “We (I) give thanks to all beings who helped bring this food to our (my) table, and vow to respond in turn to those in need with wisdom and compassion. Let us (me) eat mindfully.”

Resistance to meditating is the topic of this episode. Meditation and ethical behavior is so valuable, that a single day so lived, outweighs a hundred years without it. Meditation is the central practice of Buddhism, and it one of its greatest gifts to humanity. But, believe it or not, not all Buddhists meditate. Meditating is simple, but its not easy. If you are like me, you have felt the mind’s resistance to meditating. I want to talk about this inner resistance and how to overcome it. Text: "Better it is to live one day virtuous and meditative than to live a hundred years immoral and uncontrolled.” - Dhp 8.110 Outline: Introduction A. First, what is this inner resistance to meditating? B. Second, let’s look at a few of the sources of this inner resistance to meditating. C. Third, what can we do to overcome this resistance to meditating? Conclusion

Dealing with difficult people is the topic of this episode. You can’t live in this world very long, before you run across difficult people. Difficult people tend to produce annoyance in others by their words or actions. But as Buddhists, we can entirely remove this annoyance. The Buddha gives us five ways of doing this. Text: "Bhikkhus, there are these five ways of removing annoyance, by which annoyance can be entirely removed by a bhikkhu when it arises in him. What are the five?.” - AN 5.161 Outline: Introduction A. The First Way to remove people related annoyance is through loving-kindness. B. The Second Way to remove people related annoyance is through compassion. C. The Third Way to remove people related annoyance is through equanimity. D. The Fourth Way to remove people related annoyance is through forgetting and ignoring. E. The Fifth Way to remove people related annoyance is through trusting karma. Conclusion

The benefits of being alone is the topic of this episode. Loneliness is not the same as being alone. For many, the holiday season can be a lonely time of the year. While everyone seems to be getting together with loved ones, many are alone. They just feel so empty inside, like there life has no meaning. They may feel like giving and sharing, but there's no one to share with. You ask yourself, "Why am I always alone? Is there something wrong with me?" Text: “One whose mind is enmeshed in sympathy for friends and companions, neglects the true goal. Seeing this danger in intimacy, wander alone like a rhinoceros.” - Sn 1:3 Outline: Introduction A. The First Benefit of Being Alone is that you have plenty of opportunity for solitude. B. The Second Benefit of Being Alone is the you won’t have married person suffering. C. The Third Benefit of Being Alone is that you can discover that Aloneness is an illusion. D. The Fourth Benefit of Being Alone is the freedom it gives you. Conclusion

Gift giving is the topic of this episode. Christmas time is usually seen as a time of giving. The reality is, that it is more about exchanging gifts, than it is about giving them. This is easily seen when someone doesn’t receive a gift, they are usually quite upset, hurt, and sad. They were not giving a gift, they were exchanging one gift for another. The Buddha actually taught us five ways to give. I want to look at them briefly today. Text: "Bhikkhus, there are these five gifts of a good person. What five? He gives a gift of faith; he gives a gift respectfully; he gives a timely gift; he gives a gift unreservedly; he gives a gift without injuring himself or others." - AN 5:148 Outline: Introduction A. The First way to give is to give out of faith. B. The Second way to give is to give respectfully. C. The Third way to give is to give at the right time. D. The Fourth way to give is to give unreservedly. E. The Fifth way to give is to give without injury to oneself or others. Conclusion

Living the Dharma is the topic of this episode. Living the Dharma simply means walking the Eightfold Noble Path, which can be summed up in the Three Trainings, Ethical Conduct, Mental Discipline, and Wisdom. But the practical application is where we need help and guidance, especially as lay people. Of course I can’t be exhaustive, but I would like to give you some practical ways to put the Dharma into practice in your everyday life. Podcast Outline: Introduction A. The First way we live the Dharma is through daily spiritual practice. B. The Second way we live the Dharma is through continual spiritual study. C. The Third way we live the Dharma is through building spiritual relationships. D. The Fourth way we live the Dharma is through some sort of spiritual service. Conclusion

An attitude of gratitude is the topic of this episode. It’s hard to imagine, two days that are next to each other, that are so different in spirit than Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Thanksgiving we gather with family and friends and give thanks for all that we have. And then, the very next day, Black Friday, we continue the mad pursuit of more, more, more. This consumeristic binge, culminates in Christmas, where we exchange gifts with those who have very few real needs. Podcast Outline: Introduction A. First, we need to realize how much we take for granted. B. Second, we need to develop an attitude of gratitude. C. Third, how can we develop an attitude of gratitude.. Conclusion

Learning to respond instead of reacting to stress is the topic of this episode. Some of the most stressful times of the year are Thanksgiving and Christmas. They combine the stresses of money, people, and deadlines. But researchers have actually pinpointed January 4 as the most stressful day of the year. It’s the perfect storm of cold weather, economic gloom, and the end of Christmas cheer. But stress is a year round reality for many. Podcast Outline: Introduction A. First, let’s better understand what stress is. B. Second, we can deal with stressors by changing our perspective. C. Third, we can change our coping strategy, moving from reaction to responds. Conclusion

The Freedom of Simplicity is the topic of this episode. A complicated life is like a prison, it makes us slaves to the unimportant and the trivial. More and more people are feeling overwhelmed by the consumerism of our modern society. The fact is that this possession obsession has fueled even greater suffering. We have been conditioned into believing that we need more. But all that we have left is more clutter and less space for what’s really important. Podcast Outline: Introduction A. First, we have to realize that simplicity begins with the inner life. B. Second, let’s look at the process of simplifying our outward life. C. Third, let’s look at a few areas of your life with the mindset to simplify them. Conclusion

The Way of Nonviolence is the topic of this episode. We live in a world that seems bent on war and violence. Violence is not only tolerated, but it is encouraged. The pain and misery that such violence causes is beyond description. There is violence among nations, among races, and within families. But there is another way, another path we can take. Podcast Outline: Introduction A. First, let’s look at the meaning of Nonviolence. B. Second, let’s look at the motivation of nonviolence. C. Third, let’s look at the methods of nonviolence. Conclusion