Enlighten Up

On this episode of the podcast, we are all over the place. Jimmy from SA wrote a couple of great questions which I attempt to tackle.

The first is dealing with differences in who we are and what we perceive the dharma says we should be. Is humor with questionable themes against the teachings? How about combat sports? Poop?

Then we talk about chanting. What it is, why we do it and how prevelant it is in a modern sangha. We also look at a few situations where spontaneous chanting is useful.

Some of the chants discussed:

• The Heart Sutra (The Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge)
• ‘Om Mani Padme Hung‘ (Compassion Mantra)
• Supplication to the Takpo Kagyus

We also discuss the practice of tonglen.

In addition, it’s that time of year again: Podcamp San Antonio Numero Dos. I play the San Antonio City Cynic’s promotional rap song for the event. It’s a hoot! For more information about Podcamp San Antonio II, just click here or here.

Believe nothing,

No matter where you read it,

Or who has said it,

Not even if I have said it,

Unless it agrees with your own reason

And your own common sense

-The Buddha

I discovered a new podcast that I am playing catchup on at the moment. It’s called ‘Zen Is Stupid‘ with Patrick and Gwen. (No, it’s not Buddhist bashing podcast…geez…don’t you people know be by now?) In fact, their tag line is

“Gwen and Patrick wrestle with the problems of being young, cool, and Zen. Straight talk, tough topics, real questions. Totally Zen. Totally stupid. “

Anyway, I love this quote from Gwen on Episode 34 titled “Religion”.

“Yea…I could SAY I have goals, but my destination is death…That leaves me pretty chilled out about goals most of the time.”

Definitely check this show out.

On this episode of the podcast, we talk about anger and how to deal with it.

Today, I’m reading and responding to some viewer mail.

If there is no local Meditation Center in your area, what are your options?

Books on Meditation

• ‘Turning The Mind Into An Ally‘- The Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche
• ‘The Path Is The Goal‘ - Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche

Meditation Instruction On Line

• Meditation Instruction - The Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche

Online Buddhist Discussion

• E-Sangha
  

Other Buddhist Podcasts

• The Interdependence Project
• Buddhist Geeks

I’m finally back after a bit of an unintentional hiatus, which we review in the podcast. The highlight of which is that I was recording podcasts for the Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio.

Today’s podcast was inspired by something that Shawno from the HyperNonsense podcast when he said, “I denounce your reality and replace it with my own.”

We take a look at your reality, my reality, and everyone elses reality. And yes, we spend some time denouncing them. It really quite fun!

As I’m sure most of you are aware, it’s been awhile since the last Enlighten Up Podcast and I should tell everyone that I have not died or fallen off the face of the earth or anything like that.  I was on a business trip for a week and didn’t get a chance to record.  On top of that, the last half of the trip I developed the flu, which I am still dealing with.  At any rate, I now have no voice, so podcasting is on hold for a few days.

If you haven’t already done so, you could take a listen to to the Podcast from the Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio.  Acharya Moh Hardin and Sangyum Cynde Grieve came in from Halifax, NS and gave some wonderful talks that are getting posted over there slowly.