PODCAST · religion
Secular Buddhism
by Noah Rasheta
Don't use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist. Use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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226 - Artificial I
In this episode, I explore the "artificial I" — the sense of self that feels so solid and obviously real, yet works a lot like the AI systems so many of us are worried about right now. Drawing on my work in data infrastructure, my studies in applied AI, and the Noah AI tool I built, I explain in...
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224 - The Long Way Home
In this episode, I explore the timeless wisdom found in Homer's The Odyssey through a secular Buddhist lens, drawing parallels between Odysseus's arduous journey home and our own human experiences. I highlight key lessons such as the danger of numbing ourselves with comfort, akin to the Lotus...
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223 - Nothing is Missing
In this episode, I explore the concept of being "already whole" by examining two seemingly contradictory Buddhist stories: the Golden Buddha and peeling an onion. The Golden Buddha story suggests we are inherently valuable, covered by layers of conditioning, while the onion story, referencing...
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221 - Stars, Planets, and Black Holes
In this episode, I explore the cosmic metaphor of stars, planets, and black holes as three distinct ways humans experience the world. Drawing parallels from the Artemis II moon mission and the film Project Hail Mary, I discuss how these celestial bodies represent generating light (star mode),...
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220 - This Messy Gorgeous Love
In this episode, I talk to Devon and Nico Hase about their book, This Messy, Gorgeous Love. We explore how the Buddhist concept of dukkha, or inherent unsatisfactoriness, applies to relationships, reframing difficulty not as a sign of failure but as a natural and even beautiful aspect of...
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219 - You Are Good, You Are Enough
In this episode, I talk to Lodro Rinzler about his book, You Are Good, You Are Enough, which explores the Buddhist concept of basic goodness. We discuss how life's experiences can cover our inherent wholeness with "clay"—conditioning and societal messages—leading us to believe we are lacking. The...
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218 - Right Concentration
In this episode, I explore skillful concentration, the final aspect of the Eightfold Path, using a road trip analogy where concentration is like having steady hands on the wheel. I clarify that concentration is distinct from mindfulness, doesn't require hours of meditation, and is characterized…
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217 - Right Mindfulness
In this episode, I explore skillful mindfulness, the seventh aspect of the Eightfold Path, using analogies like a permanently attached camera and a train station to illustrate its core principles. I emphasize that mindfulness isn't about stopping thoughts but about developing the capacity to...
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216 - Right Effort
In this episode, I explore the concept of skillful effort, also known as right effort, which is the sixth aspect of the Eightfold Path. I explain that skillful effort isn't about "trying harder" but rather about applying energy wisely, much like a gardener tends to their plants. This involves…
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215 - Dying to Live
In this episode, I talk to Andy Chaleff about his book Dying to Live, which explores our societal discomfort with death and how confronting mortality can lead to a more meaningful life. We discuss the "3 AM panic" of existential dread, the concept of "little deaths" as moments of letting go of...
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214 - Skillful Means (10-Year Anniversary Episode)
In this episode, I celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Secular Buddhism podcast by announcing a new AI-powered website, EightfoldPath.com, which serves as a modern application of the Buddhist concept of skillful means. Skillful means, or upaya, is the idea that teachings should adapt to meet...
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213 - No Water, No Moon
Why are we so uncomfortable with not knowing? We often race toward any answer, even a bad one, just to escape the anxiety of uncertainty. This episode explores the strange and profound world of Zen koans. Using the powerful story of the nun Chiyono and her breaking water pail ("No water, no…
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212 - The War Within
In this episode, Noah reflects on the heaviness of living in a world filled with violence, hatred, and suffering. From school shootings to war and personal experiences of pain, he explores the Buddhist teaching of the three poisons: ignorance, greed, and hatred, and how they manifest both…
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211 - Right Livelihood
In this episode, Noah explores Right Livelihood, the next step on the Eightfold Path. More than just avoiding harmful professions, Right Livelihood invites us to reflect on how our work shapes who we are and how we show up in the world. Noah shares personal stories, analogies, and practical...
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210 - Right Action
In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Action—the fourth step on the path to mindful living. Rather than a rigid set of moral rules, Right Action is about learning to engage with life skillfully, making choices that reduce unnecessary suffering for...
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209 - Unbecoming Ourselves (with Heather Schenck)
In this special interview episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow traveler on the path, Heather Schenck. Many of you may recognize Heather from our online community—she’s been part of our Sangha since 2020. What began as a personal journey through suffering and self-inquiry has now…
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208 - Right Speech
In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Speech. More than just speaking truthfully or avoiding gossip, Right Speech is a mindfulness practice—an invitation to reflect on how, why, and when we communicate. We look at the four types of unskillful...
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207 - Be a Lamp Unto Yourself
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I explore what it means to “be a lamp unto yourself.” Drawing from personal stories, including my time teaching paragliding, and Buddhist teachings on wisdom, I reflect on the journey from seeking external guidance to cultivating trust in your own...
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206 - Right Intention
In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Eightfold Path by diving into the second aspect of wisdom—Right Intention. We explore how intention functions like a compass, helping us navigate life with purpose and clarity. Rather than reacting habitually, Right Intention invites us to…
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205 - Right View
In this episode, I share the audio recording of a Dharma talk I gave during one of our Sunday Zoom calls. The topic is Right View, the first step on the Buddhist Eightfold Path. Inspired by the book Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari, I explore the nature of truth and how we relate to it in our everyday...
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204 - Beyond Happiness
What is the difference between happiness and joy, and how can we experience greater contentment, even when life doesn’t go as planned? In this episode, I explore the Buddhist perspectives and modern insights that reveal happiness as a fleeting emotional state, while joy represents a deeper, more...
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203 - The Art of Purposelessness
In this episode, I explore the Buddhist teaching of aimlessness, one of the Three Doors of Liberation, through personal reflection and the lens of my son’s journey into adulthood. What if life doesn’t need a fixed purpose to be meaningful? Drawing on insights from Buddhism, Alan Watts, and…
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202 - Who's Driving the Car?
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah explores the Buddhist teaching of no-self through the powerful metaphor of a car ride. Who—or what—is really in control as we navigate our lives? Drawing from the five aggregates and the Internal Family Systems model, Noah illustrates how our...
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201 - The Empty Boat
In this episode, I explore the parable of The Empty Boat and how it serves as a powerful metaphor for understanding the way we react to life’s inevitable bumps (especially those caused by others). Drawing from Taoist and Zen traditions, this story reminds us that much of our suffering arises not...
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200 - The Music of Connection
In this episode of The Secular Buddhism Podcast, I reflect on an experience at a dance competition that led me to deeply consider connection, perception, and the way we assign meaning to our experiences. As I watched dancers perform to carefully chosen songs, I found myself drawn into the…
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199 - A Candle in the Darkness
In times of uncertainty and suffering, many of us find ourselves asking: What can I do? The weight of the world’s challenges—humanitarian crises, injustice, personal struggles—can feel overwhelming, leaving us wondering whether our efforts even make a difference. In this episode of the Secular...
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198 - Between What Was and What Will Be
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, Noah Rasheta explores the Tibetan Buddhist concept of bardos, traditionally understood as transitional states between life, death, and rebirth. Taking a secular approach, Noah reinterprets bardos as a framework for understanding all of life’s...
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197 - A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, I sit down with Cortland Dahl, author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism, to explore how Buddhist teachings and meditation can help us navigate life’s challenges with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Cortland shares insights from his book, which...
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196 - Enlightenment Is the Path, Not the Destination
In honor of Bodhi Day—commemorating the Buddha’s awakening—this episode challenges the conventional notion of enlightenment as a distant finish line. Instead, I explore how awakening emerges naturally in the everyday moments of our lives. Drawing on the Buddha’s story and reflecting on personal...
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195 - Letting Go: The Path to Freedom
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah Rasheta explores the concept of letting go as a path to freedom and liberation. Using analogies like hanging onto a rope, carrying a backpack, and navigating monkey bars, Noah illustrates how our attachments to beliefs, roles, and identities…
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194 - The Cup Is Already Broken: A Buddhist Approach to Gratitude
In this episode, I explore gratitude as a natural byproduct of awareness, interdependence, and impermanence. Through the lens of Buddhist teachings, including the metaphor of Indra’s net and the Zen story of “The Cup Is Already Broken,” I share how mindfulness reveals the interconnectedness of…
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193 - 30 Life Lessons
In this episode, I distill 30 life lessons that have shaped my personal journey and that I’ve found most impactful after nearly a decade of hosting the Secular Buddhism Podcast. Drawing from the timeless wisdom of Buddhist teachings, these lessons serve as practical guides to living with more...
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192 - Embracing Uncertainty
In this episode, I explore the topic of uncertainty and how embracing life’s unpredictability can lead to greater peace and freedom. From everyday frustrations to life’s biggest challenges, groundlessness is a shared human experience. Drawing on stories, metaphors, and Buddhist teachings, I…
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191 - Uplift Kids: Guiding Parents on Emotions and Wisdom
In this episode, I interview the co-founders of Uplift Kids—Jon, Amanda, and Michelle—to explore how their curriculum helps parents teach emotional awareness and wisdom traditions to kids. We dive into practical tips for guiding kids through big emotions, the importance of mindfulness in…
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190 - No Mud, No Lotus
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, we explore the Buddhist perspective on suffering and how we can transform our relationship with it. We'll explore how changing our relationship with suffering can lead to personal growth, wisdom, and even unexpected joy. This episode offers…
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189 - The One You Feed
Welcome to a unique episode where I'm excited to share the audio of a thought-provoking conversation I recently had with Eric Zimmer, the esteemed host of "The One You Feed" podcast. In this compelling discussion, we delve into the ancient parable of the two wolves that reside within each of us,...
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188 - Examining the Beliefs That Drive Us
In this introspective episode, Noah Rasheta shares personal updates about significant changes in his life over the past few months, including a career transition and a move to a new home. He explores the parallels between his new role in data infrastructure and the inner workings of the human…
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187 - The Unseen Teachers
In this episode, I reflect on my transformative journey from intense frustration to effortless flying, drawing parallels between the challenges of paragliding and the introspective path of personal growth. Sharing insights from my experience with learning to ridge soar, I connect these adventures...
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186 - Renunciation: Gaining Through Letting Go
This episode discusses how renunciation is not merely about giving up material or physical pleasures but about a deeper understanding and release of attachments that cause suffering. The episode invites listeners to consider the ways in which they might be clinging too tightly to certain aspects…
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185 - Weathering the Storms Within
In this episode, I delve into the landscape of our emotions, drawing parallels between the ever-changing sky and our internal world. Journey with me as we explore the transient nature of emotions, taking cues from the wisdom of ancient Buddhist teachings and insights from modern psychology. Learn...
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184 - Emotional Equanimity and Antifragility
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, Noah delves into the concept of emotional equanimity, likening it to the tale of monk Sona who learned to maintain a balanced approach to life's challenges, akin to finely tuning a musical instrument. Drawing from the Mangala Sutta and Nassim...
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183 - Six Words of Advice
Welcome back to the Secular Buddhism Podcast, a globally top-ranked Buddhist show. Today, best-selling author and host Noah Rasheta delves into the topic of Tilopa's Six Words of Advice. Tilopa's 'Six Words of Advice' provide meditation guidance for people of all levels, including both beginners...
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182 - Unraveling Suffering: The Four Noble Truths Explained
Prepare to step onto a path of transformation and liberation as we unravel the most fundamental teachings of Buddhism - the Four Noble Truths. I'll break down each of these foundational truths, venturing into the realm of life's inherent suffering, understanding its root cause, and most...
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181 - Redefining Kindness
In the practice of self-kindness, we often overlook a profound truth: our relationship with ourselves sets the tone for our relationship with others. Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or…
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180 - Meditation: The Pause Button for Habitual Reactivity
In this episode, I delve deeper into how meditation acts as a massive pause button for the cycle of habitual reactivity. I'll explore beliefs, thoughts, emotions, feelings, actions, and consequences, discussing how they influence our lives and the lives of others. We'll look at how we can…
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179 - Notice Your Thoughts
"All experience is preceded by mind"; that is to say, our mind determines whether or not we suffer. Knowing that we can't escape the consequences of our actions and that actions originate with thoughts, this episode will explore how and why we should practice noticing our thoughts. Explore more…
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178 - The Four Investigations
This is episode #178. The topic I have in mind for today is the teaching of "The Four Investigations." This is a teaching that comes from the Yogachara school of Buddhism. According to Yogachara teachings, the key to understanding reality is to understand the mind. There are four investigations…
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177 - 10,000 Heroes Podcast Interview
In this episode, I'll share the audio from an interview I did on the 10,000 heroes podcast. You can find the episode here: https://pod.link/1565667158/episode/f438b75d2dfc86e40c526270a4cd4975 Are you interested in trekking with me to Everest Base Camp? Learn more at mindfultrekking.com Explore…
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176 - Working with our Propensities
In this first episode of 2023, I will talk about propensities and our relationship to our propensities. Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
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175 - The Two Truths
What are the two truths? There is the Truth of how things really are, and the truth of how things seem to be. These are sometimes referred to as Absolute truth and Relative truth. Relative truths are always dependent on HOW we perceive them. Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Don't use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist. Use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Noah Rasheta
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Secular Buddhism have?
Secular Buddhism currently has 229 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Secular Buddhism about?
Don't use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist. Use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often does Secular Buddhism release new episodes?
Secular Buddhism publishes regularly with 229 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Secular Buddhism?
You can listen to Secular Buddhism on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Secular Buddhism?
Secular Buddhism is created and hosted by Noah Rasheta.
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