Wisdom and Compassion – Details, episodes & analysis

Challenging times can be the best times to practice. Suffering is compelling, so you might find that resting awareness on your experience is easier than when things are going well. This episode has a longish riff on how to find a teacher and how you know when you've met a true teacher. 

This is a brief guided meditation on the stages of dying or 'bardos.' In Buddhism, the term 'bardo' typically refers to the intermediate state between death and rebirth; though it can refer to any transition. The most well-known and elaborated upon teachings on the bardo come from texts like the Tibetan Book of the Dead (also known as the Bardo Thodol), which is a key text in the Nyingma tradition.

The Bardo teachings often outline various stages or phases that the consciousness of a deceased person passes through, providing guidance on how to navigate these states and ultimately attain a favorable rebirth or liberation from the cycle of existence (samsara). The meditations on the Bardo are designed to help practitioners prepare for death, navigate the intermediate state, and possibly attain enlightenment. This particular meditation is quite short and has just a few such details on each stage. 

The choice between practicing Mahayana or Vajrayana Buddhism is deeply personal and depends on individual inclinations, aspirations, and circumstances. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the cultivation of compassion and the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, while Vajrayana Buddhism offers advanced teachings and practices for those seeking rapid spiritual transformation through methods such as deity yoga, tantra, and guru devotion. Ultimately, the decision should be guided by introspection, consultation with qualified teachers, and consideration of one's spiritual aims, capabilities, and readiness for the commitments and responsibilities inherent in each path. Both paths offer profound opportunities for growth and realization, and whichever path one chooses, diligence, sincerity, and ethical conduct are essential foundations for progress.

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here. 

In Buddhism, "tendrel" (Tibetan: རྟེན་འབྲེལ་) refers to the concept of interdependence or interconnectedness. It is closely related to the Buddhist principle of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), which teaches that all phenomena arise in dependence upon causes and conditions.

The term "tendrel" is commonly used in Tibetan Buddhism, where it signifies the intricate web of connections between all phenomena. It emphasizes the idea that everything in the universe is interconnected and interdependent, without inherent existence or independent self-nature.

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.

Compassion is the wish that the suffering of others be relieved. It's also the wish that the causes of that suffering be dispelled. When learning compassion practices, people sometimes express fear. What are we afraid of? Vulnerability, fear of boundaries dissolving, fear of overwhelm, inadequacy; there are so many places we could find resistance to experiencing direct and intimate contact with our own suffering and the suffering of the world. Is is possible that experiencing compassion will not be what we think? Is it possible it's a step towards freedom?

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here. 

In Buddhism, one of the greatest generosities is to remove fear and the causes of fear for other beings. How can we practice generosity by offering fearlessness to others? What does fearlessness look like? To alleviate suffering brought about by fear, to promote safety and security, to empower and liberate others—or at least not to oppress them, is a start. Generosity, including the removal of fear, is an expression of compassion and wisdom in Buddhist practice. It requires understanding the causes and conditions of fear and responding with skillful means to address them. Through the practice of generosity—including helping themselves and others cultivate fearlessness—individuals cultivate qualities such as compassion, empathy, and insight, which are essential for spiritual growth and awakening.

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here. 

In this episode I am remembering and sharing memories of my own American dharma teacher's teachings and teaching style. Even thinking about it now inspires my practice and my own teaching. He was humble and remarkably simple in his delivery—but years later I realize how much truth was in every sentence. 

You can listen to some of the teachings he gave in this last years here, too. The collection has transcripts as well as audio recordings.

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here. 

A meditation in the Five Elements.  Jogen Sensei is a Zen Priest, as well as a facilitator.  You can further explore his facilitation and teachings at solisluna.org

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here. 

The body scan is an effective way to begin or nurture a meditation practice. It helps establish mindfulness. The purpose is to tune in to your body—to connect to the direct experience of the physical body—and to notice all sensations without judgement or commentary. Many people find the body scan relaxing. This makes it pleasant to do, so it's one of the ways beginners can be motivated to increase time spent in formal mediation. It can easily be done lying down, which means it's a good choice for any time you are sick or in pain. Learning to practice in such situations provides a foundation for continuous practice—something we emphasize at Dekeling. This practice is useful to train the mind to be aware of sensory experiences—and ultimately, more accepting. With time and practice, the body scan will be a meditation that will cultivate your ability to be more fully present in your life in general—especially when added to mindfulness of activity or speech and so on.

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.  

Doubt is one of the five hindrances. Doubt is also an essential element of practice. In this episode we look at the different kinds of doubt and how to navigate each. We also learn from the Buddha's teachings on the Kalama Sutra about how to know which teachings are true.

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.