I'm answering your questions about Buddhism and Buddhist practice in this episode! I recently asked on social media what your questions are, and I got quite a few! This episode will be long due to the number of questions, but feel free to jump to a question if you'd like.

Here are the questions:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Is the emptiness of self any different from the emptiness of objects in the world? And if all is empty, does restraint, compassion, or ethical virtue have any meaning?

08:00 Is having a negative view on Abrahamic religions bad karma or unwholesome? How does Buddhists view the catholic faith?

15:30 Is music used in meditation practices?

18:35 Buddhist guidance on manifestation.

22:35 How can we keep our practice up when our worldly life is taking so much time/energy.

26:13 Different types of meditation. I wanna know the difference between vipassana and such

32:58 Karma

36:20 Can you be a full Buddhist and not believe in reincarnation or other realms/divine beings?

47:07 How to handle attending a temple for the first time.

51:19 The differences in levels you can attain in Buddhism!

57:59 why do so many schools of Buddhism have deities, reincarnation, metaphysical stuff. when buddha refused to talk about afterlife as it was a distraction from the present and specifically said I'm not a deity

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Did the Buddha and Jesus know each other? Did Buddhism influence Jesus' ministry? Are there similarities between Buddhism and Christianity? You're likely to hear one or all of these in your study of Buddhism. In this episode, I'll explain whether Jesus ever heart of Buddhism, can you be a Buddhist and Christian, views Buddhists have on Christianity, and can we get along?

Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-buddhist-christmas/

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Discover the deep roots of Zen Buddhism in our latest episode. We'll journey through its rich history and tackle common Western misconceptions. Explore the origins of Zen in Chan Buddhism, the profound practice of direct transmission, and the unique practices of chanting and reciting, threefold training, and delve into the dual practice of Chan/Zen and Pure Land. 

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In this episode we delve into the Buddhist practice of guarding the six sense organs—eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Discover how mindful observation, reflection, and meditation can help prevent unwholesome states and cultivate wisdom. We’ll explore the differences in understanding and practices across various Buddhist traditions, and for practical tips on integrating these teachings into your daily life and transforming your sensory experiences into the right conditions for progress on the Buddhist path.

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Two seemingly unrelated festivals have a Buddhist connection: The Hungry Ghosts Festival and the Ullambana Festival (also called Sangha Day).

Both go back to the time of the Buddha where he gave instruction to one of his most revered disciples on how to help his mother who had passed away and was in the hungry ghosts realm.

We celebrate today using the same instruction as the Buddha: support the sangha (monastic community) as way to generate and dedicate merit to our loved ones who have passed away and may be in the hungry ghosts realm.

It also helps us built compassion, generosity/giving, and loving kindness - all key Buddhist qualities.

Read the article:  https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/ullambana-hungry-ghosts/ ‎

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Blessings are a beautiful and important part of Buddhism, but they can often be confused with merits. Learn about what blessings are, how they are invoked, and how to integrate into your Buddhist practice.

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The third installment of questions asked by you!

- "How can I integrate the practice with my day-to-day life as a westerner?"

- "Can I become a Buddhist if I drink or smoke socially?"

- "How can you create karma with outflows?"

- "Is it ok to mix Buddhist traditions, I was told it's best to stick to one, but I follow two."

Have a question for a future episode? Or a topic? Reply to this podcast on Spotify, or send me a message on alanpeto.com, or via social media.

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Buddhists have "virtues" they uphold on their path towards enlightenment and nirvana. What is wonderful about the virtues is that they are meant to be practiced and upheld in everyday life! Learn about nine (9) Buddhist virtues in this episode, why they are important, and how to practice them.

1. Wisdom.
2. Ethical Conduct
3. Patience
4. Generosity
5. Loving-kindness (Metta)
6. Compassion (Karuna)
7. Sympathetic Joy (Muditā)
8. Equanimity (Upekkhā)
9. Diligence (Viriya )

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What are all the 'realms of rebirth' in Buddhism (and "Samsara" or the "Cycle of Rebirth")? And what do they mean to you as a layperson Buddhist practitioner? Are they real? Are they a state of mind? Let's explore!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

08:00 The Hell Realm

10:08 The Animal Realm

11:40 The Hungry Ghosts Realm

14:56 The Human Realm

19:11 The Titans or Asuras Realm

20:50 The Devas or Gods or Heavenly Realm

25:58 Are These Real or The State of Mind?

28:44 Motivation and Buddhist Practice

30:08 Conclusion

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Learn Buddhist Mindfulness Breathing! Want to do breathing meditation like the Buddha? It's known as Ānāpānasati / Ānāpānasmṛti but is commonly referred to as "mindfulness of breathing". And it can be as straightforward as that.

(Jump to 17:20 minutes in this episode for the meditation session; view all the chapters below) You are observing the breath without control, force, judgement, etc. While this sounds easy, your body has another agenda. You'll have thoughts, an itch, muscle aches, etc., to distract you. With practice, you will also observe these things, and just "let them go". While there are many different ways (and levels) to mindfulness of breathing, I'll give you a short and simple version here. Don't worry about trying to cover all these steps - just work on focusing on one spot on your body (such as the inside of your nostrils) and observe the breath going in and out, and your counting. That's it! With practice, and under the proper guidance of a teacher, this breathing meditation has many benefits to the development of meditative concentration, insight into conditioned phenomena, and much more!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:53 Purpose

01:15 Why Practice

03:30 How to Practice

05:29 Where to Focus

06:14 Think Like an Observer

07:35 Length of Practice

08:01 Distractions

08:58 Calming & Insight

09:30 Go Easy on Yourself

10:30 How to Breathe

11:25 How it Changes You

12:55 Pre-Meditation Tips

17:20 Meditation Session (Follow Along)

23:00 End of Meditation Session

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The Diamond Sutra is the 'diamond' or 'lightening bolt' that cuts through 'illusion' that helps us become enlightened. It is one of the most well respected sutras in all of Mahayana Buddhism and found practiced widely in Zen/Ch'an traditions. Learn more about it in this episode and how to apply it to your daily life and practice!

• Free eBook by Venerable Master Hsing Yun on the Diamond Sutra: https://www.fgsitc.org/wisdom-and-emptiness-of-the-diamond-sutra/
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