Toward Light: Practical Buddhism for the Modern World
A weekly podcast exploring early Buddhist teachings and how they apply to 21st century life. Kate Spina is trained to share Buddhist teachings in the Theravada lineage. IG: @towardlight108www.towardlight.netinfo@towardlight.netToward Light is committed to continuing the tradition of the Buddha by making Early Buddhist teachings accessible to all who are interested in them. We offer multiple tools to help people cultivate and maintain a meditation practice and a spiritually-oriented life. Toward Light was founded to fill a gap in Early Buddhist meditation offerings, which have often been passed down through patriarchal lineage, and do not always take feminist and 21st century perspectives into account.
Episodes
121 episodes
Taking a Break
This is the final episode of season 3. I explain the reasons behind that decision as well as share what I am continuing to offer. Questions? Please reach out: info@towardlight.net
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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5:31
Three Marks of Existence
In this episode I explore all the factors that can get in the way of us seeing the truths of anicca, dukkha, and anatta.
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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9:33
The Process of Purification
Letting go of our conditioning and getting in touch with our inner wisdom can at times be a painful process. In this episode I attempt to normalize that process so that, as it happens to you, you can continue to stay with the process.
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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9:02
The Importance of Clear Seeing
Following up on the episode on honesty I explore how we can discover the presence and absence of clarity.
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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9:29
Internal and External Honesty: The Parami of Sacca
In this episode I attempt to illustrate the importance of honesty; both internally and externally.
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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9:20
The Parami of Patience
Khanti, patience, is one of the 10 paramis, one of the qualities the Buddha is said to have perfected before his awakening.
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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9:10
Refining the Parami of Energy
This episode I explore the idea of energy drains, and why looking at this is so important on the Buddhist path.
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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12:26
Five Spiritual Faculties
The five spiritual faculties of faith, effort, mindfulness, collectedness and wisdom are the foundation of the spiritual path,. Here is an article from The Barre Center...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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13:48
Working with a Dharma Teacher
In this episode I look at the benefits of working with a Dharma teacher, how to find one, and when additional support is needed.
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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11:57
Practice: 12 Minutes of Mindfulness
In this episode I offer a 12 minute guided mindfulness practice that I recommend you practice in a still posture, either sitting, standing, or lying down.
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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14:46
Being Human
In this episode I explore what it means to be human, and how fighting with reality can create more suffering for us.
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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12:44
Untangling Our Habitual Stories
So many of our thoughts are automatic, habitual patterns, that often don't serve us, but we base our actions on them anyway. In this episode I look at common stories and what tools can serve us as we work with them.
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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16:37
Compassionate Action
In this episode I explore barriers to compassionate action and some guidelines to help us when we do take compassionate action.
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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9:04
Compassion for Others
Continuing the theme of compassion I share reflections on the importance of cultivating the felt sense of compassion for others.
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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11:16
Guided Meditation: Self Compassion
A ten minute guided meditation, cultivating compassion for self
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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11:57
Self Compassion
This episode I look at the bhramavihara of compassion, karuna, and how we can cultivate compassion toward ourselves and why that is important.
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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8:44
Unrealistic Expectations on the Buddhist Path
In this episode I explore how unrealistic expectations around Buddhism, both internally and externally, can create dukkha, and in some cases take us away from the path.
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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11:46
Wise Concentration
Finalizing the series on the Noble Eightfold Path with the eighth path factor of Wise Concentration.
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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7:37
Wise Mindfulness
Wise Mindfulness is the 7th path factor, and it's also a study to itself. Some resources if you're interested in exploring mindfulness: Mindfulness in Plain English b...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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12:28
Wise Effort
In our meditation practice we cultivate a balanced effort, and prevent unwholseome mind states from arising, abandon them when they do arise. We cultivate wholesome mind states and sustain them.
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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11:35
Wise Livelihood
How can we reduce harm in how we make and spend money?
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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10:05
Wise Action
The fourth factor on the Noble Eightfold Path is Wise Action. How does our Wise View and Wise Intention affect how we act in the world?
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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9:51