Diggin' the Dharma
Diggin' the Dharma with Jon Aaron and Doug Smith is a relaxed discussion of the Buddhist dharma between friends. Jon's interest centers around practice, while Doug's centers around scholarship of the early material, so their approaches balance practice with study. Their discussions will be approachable to a broad audience of Buddhists and those curious about Buddhism, and they welcome questions and comments. Jon is a teacher at Space2Meditate and NY Insight Meditation Center and a well known teacher and trainer of teachers of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Doug has a PhD in Philosophy and runs Doug's Dharma on YouTube and the Online Dharma Institute, where he gives courses on early Buddhism. Find them at: https://digginthedharma.com/
Episodes
149 episodes
Finding a Teacher, Relating to Teachers, Being a Teacher
In this episode, Jon and. Doug discuss different styles of teaching meditation and dharma; how to find a teacher, and what it means to be a teacher.
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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29:55
Practicing Kindness with Guest Bodhipaksa
Jon and Doug discuss practicing kindness and elements of the other Brahmavihāras with their guest Bodhipakṣa, who has a new book out:
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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43:41
The Secular-Traditional Divide Examined: Four Guys Talk Dhamma | Roundtable with Clear Mountain Monastery
This week is a special episode, recorded thanks to Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho at Clear Mountain Monastery. Our conversation touched on themes Secular Buddhism vs Traditional Buddhism, the...
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Season 4
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Episode 18
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1:01:02
Devas, Nagas, Yakkhas, a Halloween Episode
It's Halloween as Jon and Doug record their episode, so the discussion is about the supernatural beings in Buddhism, their history, how they reflect our own inner and outer states, and how we can practice with them.
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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26:39
Getting Lost in Our Stories
Mental proliferation or "papañca" is one key way the mind works overtime to keep us agitated and stressed out. Jon and Doug discuss how we get lost in our stories, and how sometimes it's good to spend time figuring them out, and other times it'...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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28:29
Knowing Equanimity Without Falling Into Indifference
In many respects our practice aims towards equanimity. But if we force it, we may end up in indifference instead. Jon and Doug discuss these very different states and how our practice can help us navigate through them.
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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27:42
Bringing Our Practice to the Hospital
Practice can often be most helpful when things in our life go sideways. Jon and Doug discuss practice in the context of doctors, dentists, and hospital visits.
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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30:28
Approaching Meditation
What are we doing when we "meditate"? It seems like there are so many different styles and approaches. Jon and Doug discuss ways to frame and understand the practices.
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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29:32
Many Paths, One Destination. . Working with Different Traditions
There are many different approaches to practice within Buddhism, not to mention outside of Buddhism. How can we work with these different approaches? What are some of their key differences? Doug's Dharma Video: Do All Religions Lead...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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31:06
The Dharma of Independence (Day)
With the US holiday of July 4th upon us, Jon and Doug discuss dependence, independence, what freedom really means, and how to practice towards it.
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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26:11
Gladdening the Mind
The actual instruction to "gladden" the mind is sdd in the Anapanasati (Mindfulness of In and Out Breathing) Sutta, in the third tetrad about the Mind.What is the Buddha asking us to do here? Jon and Doug discuss what it me...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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23:06
Letting Go Is Hard to Do
The second noble truth addresses the cause of Dukkha (suffering) as our nature to cling to our desires (or push away that which we don't want). The opposite of this is letting go. Ajahn Chah, the venerable Thai forest monk and teac...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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26:05
Practice as Refuge and Recharge
These are difficult times, and our practice can be a true refuge and an opportunity to recharge. However, it’s also possible for meditation to become a means of escaping or bypassing what’s happening in the world or our personal experienc...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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26:47
Practicing Acceptance
Jon and Doug discuss the Buddhist practice of acceptance. How would the Buddha have framed it? How can we work with acceptance today, and how might an attitude of acceptance make our lives better?
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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27:35
Guarding the Sense Doors and Practicing with Social Media
The Buddha taught that guarding the sense doors is an essential part of practice. Of course, social media didn’t exist 2500 years ago. These days it’s so easy to get caught in the vortex of social media. Jon and Doug discuss h...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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29:19
The Role of Faith or Confidence in Our Practice
Jon and Doug discuss the role of faith or confidence in Buddhist practice, how it can be useful and also how it can be misused.
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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28:29
Silence and Solitude
Silence and solitude are two forms of Buddhist practice of great depth, but also some difficulty for many. Jon and Doug discuss how they appear in the early texts, and how we can practice with them today.
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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27:45
Finding Joy Through Practice
Joy is an essential aspect of Buddhist practice. And boy do we need joy right now! Jon and Doug discuss how joy can arise for us, and what attitudes and practices can help joy to arise.
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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25:57
Pilgrimage and Spiritual Seekers
Jon has been on pilgrimage in India over the last few weeks. He reports in about all he's been experiencing at various Buddhist and other sites. Links:Jon's blog posts: JonAaron.net/musin...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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29:47
It's About Time in Buddhism
How do we perceive time, and what can we learn from Buddhist teachings about it? How do we frame the past and the future, not to mention the present? Jon and Doug discuss this topic, inspired by the fact that Jon is currently in India, which is...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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27:59
Dharma Chat with Stephen Fulder-- Practicing in Challenging Times
Jon and Doug have a wide-ranging chat with the dharma teacher and peace activitist, Stephen Fulder, founder of Tovana, the Israel Insight Society. We discuss his work in Israel and his new book, How to Thrive in Hard Times.
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Season 3
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Episode 39
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33:20
Refuge in Practice: Self or Sangha?
What is the role of community in our practice? The sangha is one of the traditional three refuges or jewels of Buddhism. The Buddha also advised at the end of his life to hold the self as our island and refuge, with the dharma as our island and...
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Season 3
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Episode 38
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27:35
Investigation, Energy, and Joy
Three key aspects of the seven enlightenment factors are investigation, energy, and joy. What are they, and how can we touch them in our practice?
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Season 3
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Episode 37
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26:54
Conscious of Consciousness
The final aggregate in the set of five is consciousness. What is meant by consciousness/ As an aggregate of clinging, when does it get in the way?Jon and Doug discuss.Doug's Video:The Problem(s) of Consciousness -- https:/...
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Season 3
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Episode 36
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34:01
Sankharas, What Are They? Volitional Formations/Constructions/etc.?
In Buddhism the root of karmic action is in sankharas, a word with many uses in the dharma. As we practice, we can see the sankharas taking shape and then realize we have choices. But even the choices are related to other sankharas ...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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27:36