Pobsa’s Dharma Lounge

In the last episode, I presented the traditional contemplation of the Five Great Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space) and with this episode I present a contemplation on the 21 elements most common in our human bodies. Through this practice we connect with our interbeing with the universe as we contemplate that the very elements of our bodies were fabricated in stars that exploded as supernova...

In this episode, I offer an introduction to the five elements taught throughout traditional Indian yoga teachings, including the basis for Ayurveda: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. These are not mere substances but principles of matter, including the bodymind. This contemplation is found as part of the First Domain of Mindfulness, The Body, taught in the "Satipatthana-Sutta".After in...

In this companion episode to Ep 30, I present some pointers as to how we can bring vedana-sati (mindfulness of feelings) into our asana practice. This is NOT a led practice session, but more a tutorial on principles of practice. I'd love to hear from any of you if you find this approach helpful.

Due to technical difficulties, this episode recorded in November, 2024 never ended up getting published! So, better late than never, eh? The Second Domain of Mindfulness presents "vedanasati" or mindfulness of feelings. What is meant by "feelings" is very specific: it's the sensations we feel throughout the body AND the hedonic or 'felt sense' of said feelings, whet...

In this companion episode to Episode 28, I offer a very short sampling of how we can bring the teachings of the satipatthana-sutta related to Mindfulness of the Body into the postural practice of hatha-yoga. Remember, our principle that we are not here to make asanas of ourselves and that it is NOT about how we look or what we can do, but rather what can we see about the lived experience of the bo...

In this episode, I offer a short summary of the practices associated with the First Domain (otherwise known as the First Foundation or Establishment of Mindfulness) as described in the satipatthana-sutta. If you'd like to read a version of this episode, click here . If you would like to offer DANA, click here .

In this episode I take off from where I left off in Episode 26 and introduce the Foundations of Mindfulness taught by the Buddha which serve as the "curriculum" for Mindfulness Yoga. Discussed is the understanding of Buddhism as a fully integrated Yogic Culture; what Hatha-Yoga is; and how postures of hatha-yoga can be practiced in such a way as to be a comprehensive Mindfulness Practice...

I've often been asked what makes Mindfulness Yoga different than other forms of Mindful Yoga or simply yoga done mindfully. Well, here's my answer. This episode also serves as an introduction to a series of episodes that will be devoted to the four domains of mindfulness. If you wish to try for one of 5 signed copies of my book, that I am offering for a contribution of $30 or more, please...

In this second in a series of coversations between Barrie Risman and Pobsa Frank Jude, they discuss the third of the principles Barrie enumerates in her book, "Evolving Your Yoga." Along the way, they discuss the difference between "change" and "transformation", the three aspects of Kriya Yoga and how to understand them in a contemporary practice context, different un...

In this first episode of 2024, Pobsa shares his vision for the new year and what he wishes to offer here at Pobsa's Dharma Lounge. Among other things, he will offer occasional book and film reviews so this episode presents a mini-review of a collection of essays about Buddhist ethics. Pobsa takes this opportunity to teach a bit about Mara, sometimes inaccurately referred to as the "Buddhi...

In this first of a series of discussions regarding the evolution of personal practice, Pobsa and Barrie Risman discuss, among other things, what it means to "evolve one's yoga". What aspects of practice change over time and what, if anything, remains the same. From there, they go on to discuss the student/teacher relationship and how it has generally changed with the commodification...

In an exchange between Ananda and the Buddha, the Buddha tells Ananda, "It is much better to talk of what you know than to speculate foolishly." Sound advice, but what do we actually know? In this episode, Pobsa explains how our perceptions are constructed and thus open to inaccuracy. After describing several ways we "fool ourselves" he offers some practices to correct for all-...

In this wide-ranging conversation with Daniel Simpson we explore questions around how to make use of texts such as The Yoga-Sutra which come from a world-denying, renunciate worldview extolling dis-embodiment and celibacy in a contemporary yoga practice setting which prioritizes embodiment and tends toward body and sex positivity. What elements should be adapted, which should be fully integrated,...

In his first teaching, the Buddha presented his yoga practice as a middle way between sensory deprivation and indulgence, showing that both extremes were caught in notions of the self. The Middle Way is an alternative path between the two extremes, but is one that is made step by step by each practitioner. There is no "one way" to be the Middle Way and in the ever-changing circumstances...

Inspired by a conversation with some students and remembering a song from the Sex Pistols, Pobsa shares about problems and how to work with their inevitability. This episode ends with a somewhat humorous and quite telling story of the Buddha and a Brahman who sought relief from his 85 problems. Click here to contact Pobsa with any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes. Click here...

In this episode, Pobsa introduces a form of "objectless meditation" which is a form of meditation that embodies simply maintaining open awareness, without directing the mind to any particular object. He does this through a graduated process of two other meditations that can function as "stand alone" meditations designed to develop stability (Mountain Meditation) and reflectivity of mind (Lake Medi...

I think you will enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Barrie Risman as much as I did! Prompted by a Facebook post, I reached out to Barrie and she gracefully accepted my invitation to chat about some of the philosophical aspects of the Yoga Tradition(s). Barrie is an internationally-recognized yoga teacher, public speaker, and author. Her book,  Evolving Your Yoga: Ten Principles for Enl...

There's a major discrepancy between the contemporary definition and understanding of "mindfulness" and how it is described and understood in the Buddhist traditions. In this episode, Pobsa details the difference and why it matters. There are two places where he mis-spoke: when mentioning the ground-breaking work of Willoughby Britton, he says she discovered that only 4 out of 1800 studies on mindf...

After a discussion about gratitude, Poep Sa shares a practice from the Japanese Pure Land School of Buddhism that helps cultivate an attitude of gratitude and appreciation for the myriad ways our lives our supported by other beings, processes and things. If you'd like to read more about this profound practice, check out the book by Greg Krech. If you'd like to support this Podcast, consider offeri...

When asked what he taught, the Buddha said he taught only one thing: "Suffering and the end of suffering." However, the Pali/Sanskrit word duhkha points to a reality of existence more nuanced than the word "suffering" would lead us to expect. In this short episode, I introduce this concept, and some of the various ways it's been understood as a way to make sense of the statement often made by Budd...

In this episode of Pobsa's Dharma Lounge, I use the film After.life as a launchpad to discuss the koan-like phrase from Hsu Yun, "Who carries this corpse?" The hwadu or 'live word' distilled from this question is "Who?" It is an invitation to bring "don't know mind" and the great questioning that can lead to great awakening. After.life is directed by Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo  Click here to...

Inspired by the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, in this episode, Pobsa examines the Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist understanding of atonement. He ends by sharing the Zen Buddhist Gatha of Atonement.  If you wish to support this podcast, please subscribe, review, like, and share with others. If you wish to offer any financial support, any amount of dana is greatly appreciat...

The Venerable Samu Sunim, a Korean Seon (Zen) Master who was my teacher, preceptor and who ordained me as a Poep Sa (Dharma Teacher) died this past August 6, 2022. In this episode, I offer a personal reminiscence. If you wish to learn more about Sunim and The Buddhist Society for Compassionate Wisdom, please check out their website. If you wish to support Pobsa's Dharma Lounge, please subscribe, c...

Be forewarned, there is a ten-second delay in the beginning of the episode... In the first satipatthana on the body ( kaya-sati ) the Buddha begins with mindfulness of breathing (See Episode 4 for this aspect of practice). He then goes on to discuss mindfulness of body postures and activities, before offering a contemplation on the various parts of the body. Thich Nhat Hanh created an approach to...

In this first conversation-based episode of Pobsa's Dharma Lounge, recorded on June 2, 2022, I had the delight in reconnecting to my dharma brother, Muhan Jose Palma. We met over 20 years ago when we were both students of the Korean Son (Zen) Master, Samu Sunim. While I was on the Dharma Teacher track, Muhan was on the track to become a priest. After his ordination, he went on to train with Joan H...