🧡 If you find benefit in my videos, consider supporting the channel by joining us on Patreon and get fun extras like exclusive videos, ad-free audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂 📙 You can find my new book here: books2read.com/buddhisthandbook
Thank you so much, the idea of having touchstones to evaluate situations and decisions is so wonderfully practical! This video is a real gift and a gem of insight.
This message by the Buddha was truly a revelation and a gem. Thanks a lot Doug. No one could've explained it better than you. I was smiling throughout the video, reflecting on myself as to how much I have to make the transition to the way Buddha suggested. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Doug, thank you for putting it so succinctly! Especially the points about materialism, friendship, and being burdensome. I’ve been pretty busy with work this past week and a half, but this video definitely gave me the saddha I needed to keep going.
On interpreting what the Buddha taught, we need to warn about loosing the specific in modern generality. This exposition is good advice, for everyone. But it is our interpretation of a teaching now milenary... How diluted the teachings are finally rendered? Of course, generality often invite exception.. and is not clear when and how that is... We tend to look for peace in our surrounding as we practice, but if not possible, as often happen, we should strive in this environment too... Meditation is made stronger by not fighting the environment, but modern living is not our personal choice, to continue the practice even in less than favorable conditions is our choice... So we continue... Favorable conditions and good food, may bring a practioner to iddle... good practice is taking upon ourselves to practice even in constant interruptions... paradoxically the fruits of practice may come faster if not easier... Keep the good work!
Hi Doug, A Patreon here to thank you for this great video (love these ones that really boil things down) and to suggest an idea for another. As someone new to all of this, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of content - not on your channel (which I'm working through as podcasts) but in Secular Buddhism in general. I'm probably never going to be as far into it as the likes of your good self, but nonetheless feel like the core ideas are great for just trying to be a better person and I'm trying to absorb as much of it as my brain will allow! What I liked about my earliest days (only a couple of months ago!) learning about secular Buddhism was the simplicity - that the four noble truths and the eightfold path might even be 'enough' to base a better life around. But since then, the lists just keep coming: the five precepts, the five aggregates, the four foundations of mindfulness, the seven factors of awakening, the five spiritual faculties, the four great virtues, the three fetters, the seven underlying tendencies of the mind, and on it goes. I'm running out of flashcards to make notes on! But more crucially, I'm not sure what the most logical order of considering all these things is, and what I could probably just ignore in favour of spending more time with the essentials. Again, I'm not trying to become a Buddha, just a better person - so I'm not sure, for instance, that I need to think about my self as comprised of 'aggregates'. I know that much of this is interconnected and that my idea might not be without its problems, but nevertheless I wondered if you might be able to present them in a sort of pyramid according to the order that you would recommend people to think about all these aspects - with the most fundamental ones (eightfold path etc) at the top, through to the dare-I-say less essential 'get to them if/when you can' (five aggregates?) 'deep dive' ones at the bottom. If nothing else it would really help someone who is new to these ideas to progress through the material in a logical way and consume as much of it as they want to without missing something of particular importance. Thanks for considering and putting these videos out!
That's an interesting question, Vlowman, I'll have to give it a thought. My first suggestion would be to start with the practices of mindfulness. Those can be done for a lifetime if that's what you want. The aggregates are important insofar as we want to undermine the delusion of a permanent, unchanging self. That may be a later practice, or it may not. The problem here is that each of us comes to practice with different tendencies, preferences, and mindsets. So it depends on the individual. Or the teacher. As you get to know the dharma more, you see that all these concepts interrelate, and so pulling the thread out from any one point ends up unravelling everything. So to that extent it doesn't really matter where you begin, all that's important is that you do begin and keep practicing. Don't worry about "getting it" all at once. Hope that's helpful! 😊
I am experiencing exactly what you have mentioned above. Where to start? I am also enjoying ALL the videos very much. It can be overwhelming if I want to understand it all fully! Just start (especially mindfulness practice) and I suppose it'll all come together later. Eureka!
Thank you Doug, your videos are so helpful. I have been wanting to join your Patreon group for a while and should be able to soon! Your channel has really helped me stay motivated (energized, not passionate!) with my practice.
I recently had to move a great distance and let me tell you what a surprising relief it was to give away all my furniture, electronics, books, clothes etc. Basically all I own now fits in a backpack or is stored in my bank account. I feel so free and unburdened. And I no longer buy many new items because of that anymore. Instead I spend money on neglected health and help out relatives. Can't recommend this lifestyle enough. You will fill the difference when you can just pack and go wherever you want any time.
Especially enjoyed learning the distinction between detachment and non attachment. I will be watching the near enemies video next, thank you. P.S. I use the word trust and the body language of open arms to remind myself to practice non attachment. Those tools remind me of the skilled and helpful nature of non attachment.
The video reminds me of the Four Seals of Buddhism in the book, What Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche: 1. All compounded things are impermanent 2. All emotions are pain since there is no purely pleasurable emotion 3. All things have no inherent existence 4. Nirvana is beyond concepts; it's not a heavenly realm of bliss, instead it is a release from delusion A person who accepts these four seals is a Buddhist
Yes, this is another way to formulate it. I have some quibbles with the fourth since there are definite descriptions of nirvana in the texts, and "inherent existence" is a very fiddly, technical concept from the abhidharma (and surely the people who formulated the concept were Buddhist), but in general these are good.
Those are big topics! I've done a couple of videos that might be helpful. For fear and anxiety: ua-cam.com/video/8eQwk4OEeGU/v-deo.html , and for anger: ua-cam.com/video/RaLXzB3a-KE/v-deo.html
Nice vid Doug, i'm interested, have you read/studied any of the texts of hinduism like the bhagavad gita, upanishads, yoga sutra, brahma sutra and can you make a video about your opinion on them, or like a comparison between hinduism and buddhism :)
Yes, I've read many of them. I do mention some of them from time to time in the videos, particularly the early Upaniṣads that the Buddha was most likely commenting on.
@@DougsDharma I think this metaphor is used because just like a doctor gives the right medicine depending upon the nature of illness, in the same way Buddha gives right teaching depending on the requirement.
Hello Doug Thank you so much about your time and effort making those videos they are super helpful, I have almost watched all your videos I am big fun of yours.May I ask something does Daoism in terms of origins influenced by Buddhism or is standalone religion developed by itself?I am trying to search on internet about this subject,but it seams there different answers on each site and I am kinda confused,I just wanted your opinion about it thank you in advance for reading this.
Honestly, I think they have completely separate roots from my understanding. Both very very wonderful and certainly with similarities. Dharma = Tao. The law of the universe.
Yes to my knowledge Daoism developed independently but similarities with certain aspects of Buddhism probably did influence it once Buddhism arrived to China from India.
@@DougsDharma Both philosophies established in the same period or it was a gap between them?because in Buddhism they re is more material to read than Daoism. I don’t know if this indicates that maybe the Daoism is newer religion or just luck of material to read.
A good video idea can be about energy , in carlos castaneda teaching they talk about energy as one thing and on storing it ... and i wonder if there is some buddhist clear view on this .... my buddhist practice always fails and collapses at some point and i wonder if some clear theory on energy can help me gain the strength to push through ... but im not sure cause it seems what in castaenda can be seen as one term in buddhism doesnt exist you have viriya but also chanda and Adhimokṣa and others so a video about this subject can be great
Yes, another huge topic! I did a video awhile back about Vajrayāna that might be some of what you're looking for: ua-cam.com/video/YVZGzgFbnGg/v-deo.html
10 30 may be the part where I disagree. I blew out my candle in the streets hanging out with my peoples. The candle blew out one day when i relaxed and then dropped into the source on my way home. Started my practice in a juvenile detention center. The outside world became my challenge. Carlos calls it tolerating the petty tyrants. When something happens and the self reacts to an event is itself a great opportunity to learn about how the self reacts to different stimuli. So let's say someone steps on my shoes. Right there is the opportunity for me to learn how to deal with the pain by accepting it and observing it. But also is the opportunity for me to distance my reaction from the pain. I can choose to walk away confront fight. In some neighborhoods like mine it won't even feel like a choice to them. They automatically take offense and start a fight. But I can teach them the pain is one thing. The self reacting to pain is another thing. By observing both and accepting both without being driven by either one can learn to control one's subsequent actions. Pain is temporary and so in anger but first they must learn to distance themselves from identification with the events themselves. So as these things occur there is a me experiencing it there and an observer accepting there. I go to different channels looking for what others have learned thus far. I leave an entry if I feel it will help me to learn to describe what I know. And if it can be of use to others. No teacher no lineage autodidactic. One must be able to see when one is being influenced by such things like greed first before they can adapt to it. It's why most monks actually lack compassion in my opinion. They repress. They don't deal with it. Meditation is no cure all. Running from one's past does not illuminate one's past. Where did this need for fame come from. What is it that really bothers you about not getting credit. If you did the Job well does it even matter. These questions must be tackled head on. When something arises in sound sight or touch or it's mental correlates that is the time to learn from it. But if I limit the stimuli I am presented with i limit the learning. When ants build ant hills we do not distinguish between city living and country living. But when we humans do it all of a sudden it matters. Has anyone bothered to question why. Or if the distinction itself is not getting in the way of seeing things as they are in the present moment. If I place more value on the countryside I limit the value of city living. If I place value on city living I limit the value of country living. I will not close either gate. Wide open. And nothing holy about this. I call this one no place to stand. The burdens are also challenges. That is what it means to evolve. Otherwise we would still be living in huts. And I for one value progress. The dinosaurs did not change fast enough and they paid the price. ua-cam.com/video/EyZPoIVOBS4/v-deo.html So we meditate in order to untangle sensory experience and be mindful of each moment as it arises and passes. We do self inquiry to learn about how self arises and passes by looking directly inward. But we can also do both. So we gain clear insight into who we are and can observe it as just arising and passing. But also we can do all this while in the midst of our daily lives. As we go about our day we can be mindful of what is occuring and look back into any reactions that arise and doing so while in a highly mindful state allows us to look deeper and deeper until we gain clear insight into self and others. So learning about learning is treating everyone you meet in daily life like a teacher. It's a shortcut for learning about learning and learning about learning leads into insight into others. 2 videos 30 m each but highly worth it. The third video gives context. ua-cam.com/video/7Pxagzhf_bY/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/zEAWweizGCc/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/whnGgq4O3jM/v-deo.html
This video is a fetter in that if a person were to go alone in solitude to practice the Buddha's teachings, and these factors would be the sign posts, one would be so involved in constant self evaluation that one could never give up the rational, objectifying, discriminatory mind. These are the effects of following the Eightfold Path, not a complimentary Eight factors as a practice.
I'm sorry to say that the state of Buddhism in the modern world suffers from being a religious belief.. The prevelance of "save me" philosophy in Buddhism is about as far from Buddhas original teachings as they could be.
🧡 If you find benefit in my videos, consider supporting the channel by joining us on Patreon and get fun extras like exclusive videos, ad-free audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂
📙 You can find my new book here: books2read.com/buddhisthandbook
ua-cam.com/video/CBGeKbdq_oI/v-deo.html
Thank you so much, the idea of having touchstones to evaluate situations and decisions is so wonderfully practical! This video is a real gift and a gem of insight.
My pleasure, John. Glad you found it useful! 🙏
This message by the Buddha was truly a revelation and a gem. Thanks a lot Doug. No one could've explained it better than you. I was smiling throughout the video, reflecting on myself as to how much I have to make the transition to the way Buddha suggested. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Wonderful, glad it was helpful to you! 🙏
Doug, thank you for putting it so succinctly! Especially the points about materialism, friendship, and being burdensome. I’ve been pretty busy with work this past week and a half, but this video definitely gave me the saddha I needed to keep going.
I'm so glad, Charlie. Thanks for letting me know. 🙏😊
How succinctly yet brilliantly explained! Pranaam, Doug Smith, from India.
🙏😊
The Buddha's teaching can easily be recognized by the three Dharma Seals; suffering (dukkha), impermanence (aniccā) and non-self (anattā).
🙏
Thanks for this video Doug, it puts the Dhamma into a short and sweet format ☸️ 🙏
My pleasure, Ady! 🙏
Sadhu Sadhu. I never heard of these 8, maybe I did but you made things clearer.
🙏😊
Thank you so much. This was very useful.
You're very welcome!
Thank you for the effort you are putting into all these videos doug. The quality is super, and your knowledge on the subject matter deep as always!
My pleasure! Glad you are enjoying them, Tao. 🙏
On interpreting what the Buddha taught, we need to warn about loosing the specific in modern generality. This exposition is good advice, for everyone. But it is our interpretation of a teaching now milenary... How diluted the teachings are finally rendered? Of course, generality often invite exception.. and is not clear when and how that is... We tend to look for peace in our surrounding as we practice, but if not possible, as often happen, we should strive in this environment too... Meditation is made stronger by not fighting the environment, but modern living is not our personal choice, to continue the practice even in less than favorable conditions is our choice... So we continue... Favorable conditions and good food, may bring a practioner to iddle... good practice is taking upon ourselves to practice even in constant interruptions... paradoxically the fruits of practice may come faster if not easier... Keep the good work!
Thanks Emil. Yes, we make do with where we are, and practice there.
Extremely important video. Has helped to deepen my understanding of Buddhism, and makes me feel better.
🙏😊
So much wisdom contained in these questions Doug, thank you
Glad it was helpful, Geoff. 🙏
Hi Doug,
A Patreon here to thank you for this great video (love these ones that really boil things down) and to suggest an idea for another.
As someone new to all of this, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of content - not on your channel (which I'm working through as podcasts) but in Secular Buddhism in general. I'm probably never going to be as far into it as the likes of your good self, but nonetheless feel like the core ideas are great for just trying to be a better person and I'm trying to absorb as much of it as my brain will allow!
What I liked about my earliest days (only a couple of months ago!) learning about secular Buddhism was the simplicity - that the four noble truths and the eightfold path might even be 'enough' to base a better life around. But since then, the lists just keep coming: the five precepts, the five aggregates, the four foundations of mindfulness, the seven factors of awakening, the five spiritual faculties, the four great virtues, the three fetters, the seven underlying tendencies of the mind, and on it goes. I'm running out of flashcards to make notes on!
But more crucially, I'm not sure what the most logical order of considering all these things is, and what I could probably just ignore in favour of spending more time with the essentials. Again, I'm not trying to become a Buddha, just a better person - so I'm not sure, for instance, that I need to think about my self as comprised of 'aggregates'. I know that much of this is interconnected and that my idea might not be without its problems, but nevertheless I wondered if you might be able to present them in a sort of pyramid according to the order that you would recommend people to think about all these aspects - with the most fundamental ones (eightfold path etc) at the top, through to the dare-I-say less essential 'get to them if/when you can' (five aggregates?) 'deep dive' ones at the bottom. If nothing else it would really help someone who is new to these ideas to progress through the material in a logical way and consume as much of it as they want to without missing something of particular importance.
Thanks for considering and putting these videos out!
That's an interesting question, Vlowman, I'll have to give it a thought. My first suggestion would be to start with the practices of mindfulness. Those can be done for a lifetime if that's what you want. The aggregates are important insofar as we want to undermine the delusion of a permanent, unchanging self. That may be a later practice, or it may not. The problem here is that each of us comes to practice with different tendencies, preferences, and mindsets. So it depends on the individual. Or the teacher. As you get to know the dharma more, you see that all these concepts interrelate, and so pulling the thread out from any one point ends up unravelling everything. So to that extent it doesn't really matter where you begin, all that's important is that you do begin and keep practicing. Don't worry about "getting it" all at once. Hope that's helpful! 😊
I am experiencing exactly what you have mentioned above. Where to start? I am also enjoying ALL the videos very much. It can be overwhelming if I want to understand it all fully! Just start (especially mindfulness practice) and I suppose it'll all come together later. Eureka!
Thank you Doug, your videos are so helpful. I have been wanting to join your Patreon group for a while and should be able to soon! Your channel has really helped me stay motivated (energized, not passionate!) with my practice.
Wonderful to hear, Sarah. Keep it up! 🙏😊
Loved the video, excellent insight. Have a nice day Doug.
Thanks, you too! 🙏
I recently had to move a great distance and let me tell you what a surprising relief it was to give away all my furniture, electronics, books, clothes etc. Basically all I own now fits in a backpack or is stored in my bank account. I feel so free and unburdened. And I no longer buy many new items because of that anymore. Instead I spend money on neglected health and help out relatives. Can't recommend this lifestyle enough. You will fill the difference when you can just pack and go wherever you want any time.
Wonderful, glad you found an unburdened lifestyle that works for you.
Thank you for sharing this
Especially enjoyed learning the distinction between detachment and non attachment. I will be watching the near enemies video next, thank you. P.S. I use the word trust and the body language of open arms to remind myself to practice non attachment. Those tools remind me of the skilled and helpful nature of non attachment.
Yes, very good! Some teachers do suggest using body language as you say, to make the teaching more grounded. 🙏
Useful video. ❤
Glad it was useful to you, Acamapichtli. 🙏
The video reminds me of the Four Seals of Buddhism in the book, What Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche:
1. All compounded things are impermanent
2. All emotions are pain since there is no purely pleasurable emotion
3. All things have no inherent existence
4. Nirvana is beyond concepts; it's not a heavenly realm of bliss, instead it is a release from delusion
A person who accepts these four seals is a Buddhist
Yes, this is another way to formulate it. I have some quibbles with the fourth since there are definite descriptions of nirvana in the texts, and "inherent existence" is a very fiddly, technical concept from the abhidharma (and surely the people who formulated the concept were Buddhist), but in general these are good.
Great video what about our states of mind like anxiety and anger how do we deal with those
Those are big topics! I've done a couple of videos that might be helpful. For fear and anxiety: ua-cam.com/video/8eQwk4OEeGU/v-deo.html , and for anger: ua-cam.com/video/RaLXzB3a-KE/v-deo.html
You can make a video on the metaphors..
Yes, I've done some videos on Buddhist metaphors, there are a lot of them!
Wonderful! Thank you! 😊🙏
You're very welcome, xiao mao! 🙏😊
Nice vid Doug, i'm interested, have you read/studied any of the texts of hinduism like the bhagavad gita, upanishads, yoga sutra, brahma sutra and can you make a video about your opinion on them, or like a comparison between hinduism and buddhism :)
Yes, I've read many of them. I do mention some of them from time to time in the videos, particularly the early Upaniṣads that the Buddha was most likely commenting on.
awesome video!
Thanks for the visit!
🙏
🙏😊
Very helpful, Doug. I appreciate your explanation.
My pleasure, Susan. 🙏
Hopefully you make a video on how to understand Lord Buddha as a Surgeon/Doctor..
Yes that is one metaphor for the Buddha, as a doctor. Though I don't find it much in the early texts, perhaps I'm overlooking some.
@@DougsDharma I think this metaphor is used because just like a doctor gives the right medicine depending upon the nature of illness, in the same way Buddha gives right teaching depending on the requirement.
Hello Doug Thank you so much about your time and effort making those videos they are super helpful, I have almost watched all your videos I am big fun of yours.May I ask something does Daoism in terms of origins influenced by Buddhism or is standalone religion developed by itself?I am trying to search on internet about this subject,but it seams there different answers on each site and I am kinda confused,I just wanted your opinion about it thank you in advance for reading this.
Honestly, I think they have completely separate roots from my understanding. Both very very wonderful and certainly with similarities. Dharma = Tao. The law of the universe.
Yes to my knowledge Daoism developed independently but similarities with certain aspects of Buddhism probably did influence it once Buddhism arrived to China from India.
@@DougsDharma Both philosophies established in the same period or it was a gap between them?because in Buddhism they re is more material to read than Daoism. I don’t know if this indicates that maybe the Daoism is newer religion or just luck of material to read.
A good video idea can be about energy , in carlos castaneda teaching they talk about energy as one thing and on storing it ... and i wonder if there is some buddhist clear view on this .... my buddhist practice always fails and collapses at some point and i wonder if some clear theory on energy can help me gain the strength to push through ... but im not sure cause it seems what in castaenda can be seen as one term in buddhism doesnt exist you have viriya but also chanda and Adhimokṣa and others
so a video about this subject can be great
Yes balanced energy is seen as key to Buddhist practice: not too loose, but also not too tight.
Please discuss Tibetan Buddhism
Yes, another huge topic! I did a video awhile back about Vajrayāna that might be some of what you're looking for: ua-cam.com/video/YVZGzgFbnGg/v-deo.html
It seems to me that these 8 aspects will all happen naturally if we’re walking the path correctly 🙏🏽
Yes, that's right I think too.
Where can we find the original story where Buddha talks to his step mother?
The suttas mentioned in the video are linked in the show notes.
If there is no self, then what is it that is reborn?
I did a video on that general topic awhile back: ua-cam.com/video/IaH3fLhO3Xc/v-deo.html
Is your secularized Buddhism more influenced from Theravada or Mahayana influences?
I talk about my own view here: ua-cam.com/video/yTxKgz8MeWg/v-deo.html
10 30 may be the part where I disagree. I blew out my candle in the streets hanging out with my peoples. The candle blew out one day when i relaxed and then dropped into the source on my way home. Started my practice in a juvenile detention center. The outside world became my challenge. Carlos calls it tolerating the petty tyrants. When something happens and the self reacts to an event is itself a great opportunity to learn about how the self reacts to different stimuli. So let's say someone steps on my shoes. Right there is the opportunity for me to learn how to deal with the pain by accepting it and observing it. But also is the opportunity for me to distance my reaction from the pain. I can choose to walk away confront fight. In some neighborhoods like mine it won't even feel like a choice to them. They automatically take offense and start a fight. But I can teach them the pain is one thing. The self reacting to pain is another thing. By observing both and accepting both without being driven by either one can learn to control one's subsequent actions. Pain is temporary and so in anger but first they must learn to distance themselves from identification with the events themselves. So as these things occur there is a me experiencing it there and an observer accepting there.
I go to different channels looking for what others have learned thus far. I leave an entry if I feel it will help me to learn to describe what I know. And if it can be of use to others. No teacher no lineage autodidactic. One must be able to see when one is being influenced by such things like greed first before they can adapt to it. It's why most monks actually lack compassion in my opinion. They repress. They don't deal with it. Meditation is no cure all. Running from one's past does not illuminate one's past. Where did this need for fame come from. What is it that really bothers you about not getting credit. If you did the Job well does it even matter. These questions must be tackled head on. When something arises in sound sight or touch or it's mental correlates that is the time to learn from it. But if I limit the stimuli I am presented with i limit the learning. When ants build ant hills we do not distinguish between city living and country living. But when we humans do it all of a sudden it matters. Has anyone bothered to question why. Or if the distinction itself is not getting in the way of seeing things as they are in the present moment. If I place more value on the countryside I limit the value of city living. If I place value on city living I limit the value of country living. I will not close either gate. Wide open. And nothing holy about this. I call this one no place to stand. The burdens are also challenges. That is what it means to evolve. Otherwise we would still be living in huts. And I for one value progress. The dinosaurs did not change fast enough and they paid the price.
ua-cam.com/video/EyZPoIVOBS4/v-deo.html
So we meditate in order to untangle sensory experience and be mindful of each moment as it arises and passes. We do self inquiry to learn about how self arises and passes by looking directly inward. But we can also do both. So we gain clear insight into who we are and can observe it as just arising and passing. But also we can do all this while in the midst of our daily lives. As we go about our day we can be mindful of what is occuring and look back into any reactions that arise and doing so while in a highly mindful state allows us to look deeper and deeper until we gain clear insight into self and others.
So learning about learning is treating everyone you meet in daily life like a teacher. It's a shortcut for learning about learning and learning about learning leads into insight into others. 2 videos 30 m each but highly worth it. The third video gives context.
ua-cam.com/video/7Pxagzhf_bY/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/zEAWweizGCc/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/whnGgq4O3jM/v-deo.html
This video is a fetter in that if a person were to go alone in solitude to practice the Buddha's teachings, and these factors would be the sign posts, one would be so involved in constant self evaluation that one could never give up the rational, objectifying, discriminatory mind. These are the effects of following the Eightfold Path, not a complimentary Eight factors as a practice.
Materialism is patently a secular ideology...by definition.
I'm sorry to say that the state of Buddhism in the modern world suffers from being a religious belief.. The prevelance of "save me" philosophy in Buddhism is about as far from Buddhas original teachings as they could be.
Umm..scholarly you are wrong