Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto – Details, episodes & analysis

Two seemingly unrelated festivals have a Buddhist connection: The Hungry Ghosts Festival and the Ullambana Festival (also called Sangha Day).

Both go back to the time of the Buddha where he gave instruction to one of his most revered disciples on how to help his mother who had passed away and was in the hungry ghosts realm.

We celebrate today using the same instruction as the Buddha: support the sangha (monastic community) as way to generate and dedicate merit to our loved ones who have passed away and may be in the hungry ghosts realm.

It also helps us built compassion, generosity/giving, and loving kindness - all key Buddhist qualities.

Read the article:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/ullambana-hungry-ghosts/ ‎

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Blessings are a beautiful and important part of Buddhism, but they can often be confused with merits. Learn about what blessings are, how they are invoked, and how to integrate into your Buddhist practice.

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Buddhist altars are an important part of Buddhist practice. Let's explore why they are important, what they do, how we build them, and where to place them.

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The most popular Bodhisattva is Avalokiteśvara (Guan Yin, Kannon, etc.). Because they are known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion and can be called upon, you see Avalokiteśvara as the one Bodhisattva that most Buddhists know and love. Get an introduction to this Bodhisattva in my latest episode!

• Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/bodhisattva-path/
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I'm answering YOUR questions about Buddhism in this episode! Recently I asked on my social media if anyone had questions about Buddhism and here are a few of those questions that I answered. Be on the lookout for me asking again or simply message me from my website.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Do Monastics Have a Better Chance at Nirvana Over Laypersons?

05:13 Buddhism and Vegetarian?

12:10 Westerners Focus on Vipassana [Meditation] Only?

16:55 Bodhisattvas Real?

24:34 Four Heavenly Kings Only in Chinese Buddhism?

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What did the Buddha "awaken" to 2,600 years ago? It was "Dependent Origination"! This teaching is so fundamental to Buddhism, that it is where all the other things we focus on, such as karma, rebirth, five aggregates/skandhas, not self, etc., come from.

Learn more about Dependent Origination in this episode!

• Get my FREE eBook on Buddhism (and check out the Dependent Origination chapter and chart in the book): https://alanpeto.com/books/buddhism-10-steps/
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Want to try something special for your Buddhist practice this year? Mix in a monthly focus that compliments your daily practice! Join me in incorporating the Threefold Training throughout the year and be exposed to different Buddhist practices.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:30 The Eightfold Path & Threefold Training

02:00 The 12 Month Plan

03:27 Wisdom

11:26 Conduct & Morality

19:00 Concentration

28:12 Conclusion

Get the 12 Month Practice Graphic: https://alanpeto.gumroad.com/l/BuddhismGraphics

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Can a Western Buddhist participate in Western holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving? What about Buddhist or country specific holidays? Let's explore in this episode!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:05 Western Buddhism and Western holidays

00:30 should I engage in Western holidays?

01:22 finding Buddhism in western holidays

01:55 the path as a Buddhist with western holidays

03:15 Buddhist qualities, beliefs, ethics

04:00 engaging in the world as it is

06:07 going to church

08:40 doing complimentary activities

08:59 what about Thanksgiving or 4th of July?

11:54 you don't have to be the outlier

12:44 Buddhist and country/culture specific holidays

16:25 Conclusion

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How can you, as a lay-Buddhist, "be like The Buddha" in your daily life? Here are my five observations about the Buddha and his life that we can incorporate into our life!

00:00 - Introduction

05:00 - Mindfulness

10:18 - Generosity

13:08 - Precepts

18:00 - Compassion

21:22 - Concentration

25:18 - Conclusion

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Did you know the Buddha was "super"? He had supernatural and supranormal abilities. But this was something he didn't see as central to Buddhism, but as a consequence of meditative concentration. Yet, it is a key part of skillful means in Buddhism where the Buddha (and also Buddhas and Bodhisattvas) used these abilities in many ways to aid others with the path in Buddhism and achieving liberation. Learn in this episode why these abilities are important and what they mean to Buddhism! Contact Alan: alanpeto.com/contact Podcast Homepage: alanpeto.com/podcast Podcast Disclaimer: alanpeto.com/legal/podcast-disclaimer