Pobsa’s Dharma Lounge

It’s been argued that contemporary mainstream western Buddhism has been co-opted by neo-liberal ideology. In this episode I use the deconstruction of the description of an online course offered by a celebrity Buddhist teacher and hosted by Tricycle, the Buddhist journal as a way to expose and critique the neo-liberal assumptions that permeate so much of contemporary Buddhism and the secularlized m...

It was his engaging with the realities of aging, illness, and death that led the man who would become known as "the Buddha" to take up Dharma practice. After his awakening, he created the powerful practice of "The Five Remembrances" to help us wake up from complacency and denial in order to embrace reality and to live our life fully and intimately. After a 17 minute introduction to the practice, I...

In this episode, Pobsa shares a story heard in both an ashram and a zen monastery with two radically different take-away meanings. If possible, you may wish to have a strawberry or two handy in order to experience the dharma of just this.  Please click the link if you would like to offer dana to support Pobsa's Dharma Lounge, know that all offerings are greatly appreciated and received with d...

This episode begins by reviewing the historical debate as to whether Buddhism is a religion and then goes on to describe the two overarching forms of religion: soteriological and communal. It ends by situating Zen Naturalism within relationship with Zen Buddhism and Yoga. Please support the Podcast by subscribing, sharing, reviewing, and commenting. Click on dana if you'd like to offer any financi...

People often come to meditation with lots of misconceptions, mostly due to the sectarian instructions given by teachers from particular traditions. In this episode, Poep Sa Frank Jude addresses some of the reasons for these misconceptions and introduces the two faculties and powers necessary for all forms of meditation: concentration and mindfulness. Halfway through the episode, he presents a guid...

Buddhist ethical training, like the Yoga path enumerated by Patanjali, involves five precepts or mindfulness trainings. In Zen, there are three different but interpenetrating ways of approaching the precepts.    In this episode, Pobsa presents an introductory overview centered around the guiding principle of ahimsa, "non-harming" or "non-violence."    If you wish to support thi...

In this short talk, Pobsa introduces the beautiful, simple, and profound practice of dana . It is the first of the paramitas or 'perfections' already embodying the highest wisdom teaching, while being accessible to anyone and everyone.   If you wish to practice this sharing, all dana will be gratefully received and appreciated here : https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/poepsafrankjude?locale.x=en...

In this episode, Pobsa describes what to expect from this new podcast. He talks frankly about how all teachers present their interpretation of what it is alleged that the Buddha taught and that his perspective is informed by critical thinking, skepticism, the western philosophical traditions, and science. He presents Zen Naturalism as an aspect of the growing Religious Naturalism movement. Dharma...