Explore every episode of the podcast Wisdom from the Buddha

What if the greatest suffering in your life is not the pain you experience, but your refusal to feel it?

In this episode, we explore a radically different interpretation of the first two Noble Truths, following the teachings of Goon Maeng Seo Jin, as presented in his book I Am Here Now.

This teaching draws a sharp distinction between inevitable pain—birth, aging, sickness, death—and pathological suffering, which arises from clinging to the illusion of a pain-free existence.

We examine how suffering is not caused by life’s conditions themselves, but by the mind’s refusal to accept them, and how this refusal becomes the true origin of duḥkha.

This is Lesson 5 in an ongoing series on the Four Noble Truths, leading toward cessation (nirodha) and the path (mārga).

What if the very way your mind recognizes reality is also what distorts it?

In this episode of The Deep Dive, we explore the teachings of Venerable Goon Maeng Seo Jin from I Am Here Now, uncovering why our perception of a “present moment” might be one of the mind’s greatest illusions.

Through Buddhist psychology — the twelve bases, eighteen realms, and five aggregates — we break down how consciousness freezes a constantly changing reality just to make sense of it, and how that subtle act of “freezing” becomes the root of confusion and suffering.

Learn why ignorance (Avidyā) isn’t just not-knowing but an active mental function — and how recognizing this can open the way to peace, awareness, and a clearer sense of the real “now.”

In this chapter of I Am Here Now, we stress-test three “common sense” beliefs and watch them crumble—until a single axiom remains: “I am here now.”

From this bedrock we derive the first two marks of existence—impermanence (anitya/anityatā) and non-self (anātman)—and see how they synthesize into dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda). We also examine why modern knowledge often chases results while forgetting foundations, and how re-anchoring inquiry in the here and now can make science, ethics, and everyday life more humane.

What you’ll hear

Why “the world before/after me” fails as a foundational truth

Why the sun’s daily cycle isn’t a sufficient axiom

Dream vs. waking: the universality problem

The triad of I / here / now as inseparable conditions

From analysis to Dharma: anitya, anātman, pratītyasamutpāda

If this exploration helped, consider following the show and leaving a rating.

With gratitude to the Venerable Monk Goon Maeng Seo Jin for the teachings in I Am Here Now.

PS: If you’d like to say thanks, drop a simple “thank you” in your heart—and share this episode with someone who’s asking deeper questions.

🌍 What is the truth behind life, death, and religion?

In this episode, we explore how ancient civilizations — Semitic, Han, and Aryan — sought to explain the mystery of the sun, the cycle of life and death, and the origin of suffering. From monotheism and yin-yang philosophy to the doctrine of saṃsāra and karma, we uncover the hidden roots that shaped today’s major religions.

✨ A thought-provoking journey into time, rebirth, and the search for ultimate liberation.

🎧 Perfect for seekers of wisdom, philosophy lovers, and anyone curious about the foundations of faith.

In this episode, we explore the true origin, meaning, and purpose of religion through the lens of the Buddha Śākyamuni’s teachings. From humanity’s earliest struggle for survival to the pursuit of happiness (haengbok, 幸福), we uncover how religion emerged, evolved, and came to be known as “the supreme teaching.”

You’ll discover:

Why early humans created religion as a tool for safety and abundance

The deeper meaning of happiness in Sino-Korean culture

How the word “religion” differs in Eastern and Western traditions

Why truth is the foundation of any reliable religion

How religion connects to all academic disciplines — and what happens when it loses its truth

This thought-provoking talk challenges common assumptions about religion and invites you to rethink its role in our modern world.