Adventures in Buddhism

In this episode, Sensei Morris tells us about a time when the Buddha turned down an offer from Mogallana to use his special powers to feed some hungry monks. Then we hear his dharma talk about how we can develop super powers equal to those of Superman himself. 

In this episode, Sensei Morris talks about how the Buddhist flag came into being and what its colors signify. But first, he tells the story of an elephant, a monkey and a partridge, and how their tale connects to the tradition of seniority among monks. 

Sensei Morris tells about an interesting exchange between Sariputta and a young novice, and a similar comment by Dogen Zenji, founder of Soto Zen. He then interviews Geoff Shōun O’Keeffe, executive director of Zen Peacemakers International, about how the dharma has shaped his life both inside and outside the zendo. 

There are many dharma gates--paths to awakening offered by Buddhism. In this episode, Sensei Morris talks about how different practitioners awaken--and teach--according to their own natures and abilities. He concludes with a unique, pithy instruction from Dogen Zenji about how to practice, even when preparing food in the kitchen. 

In the tenth episode of the Adventures of Sariputta and Mogallana, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about one of the Jataka Tales in which the Buddha-to-be and Sariputta realize emptiness. Then he shares a dharma talk about Indra's Net, a myth drawn from the Flower Garland Sutra to help illustrate the concept of emptiness. 

In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about how Mogallana helped the Buddha bring a number of people to the truest, safest refuge. And then he shares a dharma talk he gave at White Sands Buddhist Center on the subject of Freedom. Specifically, he talks about what he has learned about freedom from his weekly trips to a state correctional institution, where he volunteers at the chapel...

Sensei Morris tells the story of a young novice who saw woodworkers shaping wood and decided to shape his own mind, thus achieving enlightenment. He then interviews filmmaker Yujiro Seki, whose documentary "Carving the Divine" explores the relationship between master wood carvers and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas they create for Japanese temples. 

Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about a time when Sariputta's own mother openly disrespected him, and what the Buddha said about his response. Then he lays out a five-point process for working with anger when it arises, a topic many people struggle with, especially when someone  close to them behaves harshly toward them.  

In this episode, we discuss an encounter between Mogallana and an ascetic who wants to know all about the cosmos, and Sensei Morris shares a dharma talk at White Sands Buddhist Center about the importance of letting go.  

The Buddha talks about praise and blame after a group of followers criticize Sariputta and other monks for their teaching style, plus a dharma talk about some areas where Buddhism and Christianity intersect. 

In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan tells the story of Mogallana's visit to the Devas before talking with renowned jazz composer and pianist Edward Simon about how his Buddhist practice has helped shape his work as an artist. Equanimity from Simon's album Sorrows & Triumphs , is the theme music for this podcast series. 

People come to spiritual practice to feel better. But unpleasant feelings are an inevitable part of being human. In this episode's dharma talk, Sensei Morris talks about working with unpleasant feelings. He also talks about the young woman Kundalakesi, a tragic love story with a truly happy ending. 

Do you want special spiritual superpowers? In this episode, Sensei Morris talks about the powers Sariputta and Mogallana developed, and about how you can develop powers of your own. 

Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan introduces this podcast series with the origins of Sariputta and Mogallana followed by a dharma talk about happiness and how to create it. Sensei Morris is a Zen monk who brings the Buddha's teachings down to earth for everyone who wants to live a fuller, more meaningful life. 

Join two dharma superheroes, Vens. Sariputta and Mogallana, on their adventures in Buddhist practice. Your host, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan, is a Zen monk who will help you apply the Buddha’s teachings to everyday life—whether you want to reduce stress, live with more purpose, or even be a spiritual superhero!