Ep. 29 - Dead Buddhas

FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestionMissed us? We’re back with fresh momentum, an international precept ceremony under our belt, and a major access upgrade: live Zoom captions so students can follow teachings in their own language. We share how opening our doors wider reshapes practice—removing excuses, tightening community bonds, and letting curiosity turn into daily discipline no matter where you live.A listener’s question sparks the heart of the conversation: Are there living Buddhas, and would we know them? What makes a bodhisattva different from the rest of us who have Buddha nature? We unpack the meanings of Buddha (original nature and the historical Shakyamuni), the role of vows in Mahayana, and why waiting for enlightenment before helping others is a trap. Instead, we explore how to embody compassion and right conduct now, so the spirit of the bodhisattvas shows up in ordinary life—emails, families, and crowded schedules included.We also address a subtle danger: turning profound teachings into slogans. Calling Buddha “living” risks reducing the unborn to the realm of coming and going. Misreading emptiness as a void can feed complacency or nihilism, and spiritual ego loves to hide behind big words. Our antidote is simple and demanding: share only what you truly know, lift only what you can carry, and ask for help when the load is heavy. If each person offers a spoonful, the eleventh person eats. Practice becomes portable—like a tent you fold and move to higher ground as your understanding matures.Join us for a grounded, practical, and compassionate exploration of Buddha nature, bodhisattva vows, and the everyday moves that keep the path alive. If this resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with a friend who could use a clear, kind nudge toward practice today.Support the showDr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.comVen. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org