Simple|Suttas Podcast

I am so pleased to welcome David Trelles to the podcast. I had a blast talking dhamma, and I hope you find it helpful as well. Please let me know in the comments if you have any future topics you’d like us to discuss.

Probably the most influential yet misunderstood sutta in the canon, at least over the last century, has been the Satipatthana Sutta. It is considered the founding document of the mindfulness meditation movement, the sine qua non of the Buddhist path. I am dubious. The Satipatthana Sutta in my reading is a collection of meditation subjects … Continue reading The Satipatthana Sutta

Dependent Origination (Q&A)

Simple Suttas is supposedly “a podcast on original Buddhism.” But does such a thing even exist? At one level it’s just a notion. We can never know exactly what the Buddha said and taught. We are stuck with 1.) the ancient texts, 2.) the living traditions, and 3.) archeological evidence. Consider: My son was born … Continue reading Original Buddhism

Stick to these few simple tips, and soon you too can be a khaki-clad dharma teacher of note. It’s never “my body,” “my mind,” or “my thoughts. It’s “the body,” “the mind,” and “the thoughts.” It is, however, “my dana.” Never use the words “open,” “spacious,” or “awareness” by themselves. It must always be “open, … Continue reading How to Speak American Buddhish

Good Meditation Bad Meditation (Podcast)

Free From Weeds (Podcast)

Try These Important Tweaks to Breath Meditation (Podcast)

Free From Fear (Podcast)

The theme at our dhamma center for the last few months has been engaged Buddhism. We’ve had a string of well-intentioned teachers coming in to talk about Thich Nhat Hanh, climate change, Eric Garner, and the like. The appeal of engaged Buddhism for most Buddhists is obvious: climate change, racism, economic inequality and the like … Continue reading Engaged Buddhists, Not Engaged Buddhism

On Consciousness

This little excerpt from the Bahukara Sutta teaches the relationship of self-reliance the Buddha taught in the suttas. The laypeople support the monks and nuns in their practice and the monks and nuns support the laity. Monks, laypeople are very important to your practice. They give you clothes, food, a place to live, and medicine. … Continue reading Mutual Support

There is no part of the Buddhist path more beautiful, relevant, and underappreciated than loving-kindness. It is not a sidelight but is instead right at the heart of practice. Of all the things that one can do to benefit themselves in the future, nothing is more helpful than the practice of loving kindness. It is … Continue reading Boundless Love

Zizek on Buddhism

Most of us moderns sleep monophasically. That is to say, we sleep in one big chunk at night. This is not what the Buddha did and not what the vinaya (the rules for monks and nuns) suggests. The Buddha slept in one approximately four-hour chunk in the middle of the night. He went to be … Continue reading The Buddha and Biphasic Sleep