Sharpening the Mind

Can we make our struggles into part of our journey? With a story about the famous teacher Atisha. This is from the Lojong Teachings. If you’re interested in supporting these teachings with a financial donation you can do so by clicking here: https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

In all activities: practice. It’s all sacred. Even a broken beer bottle reflects the entire universe. This is from the Lojong teachings.

Objects and Poisons are Seeds of Virtue. Can we flip the script and use our weaknesses as strengths? This is from the Lojong Teachings. If you’re interested in supporting these teachings with a financial donation you can do so by clicking here: https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

This is a very short introduction to the meditation practice called Tonglen, or sending and receiving. Our intention with each breath is to inhale suffering and exhale love and compassion. This is from the Lojong Teachings. . If you’re interested in supporting these teachings with a financial donation you can do so by clicking here: https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

The spiritual journey isn’t limited to what happens when we’re meditating. We can cultivate a sense of wonder in our lives. This is from the lojong teachings. If you’re interested in supporting these teachings with a financial donation you can do so by clicking here: https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

What if we just calm down and sit in silence for a few minutes? This is from the lojong teachings. If you’re interested in supporting these teachings with a financial donation you can do so by clicking here: https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

How does the path get in the way of the path? This is from the lojong teachings. If you’re interested in supporting these teachings with a financial donation you can do so by clicking here: https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

Who are you? Who were you before your life told you who to be? This is a talk from the lojong teachings. If you’re interested in supporting these teachings with a financial donation you can do so by clicking here: https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

What does it mean to see things as dreams? Are the things we’re holding on to as important as we think? This is from the lojong teachings. If you’re interested in supporting this podcast with a donation you can go to https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

From the lojong teachings. What inspires us to do any of this? If you’re interested in supporting this podcast with a donation you can go to https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

A short introduction to lojong teachings.  If you’re interested in supporting this podcast with a donation you can go to https://meditationwithdaniel.com/donate

Teachings from Master Silly Mountain (Han Shan Deqing) This includes the first of Han Shan's Maxims. Why don't we, as Buddhists, go out and convince people to join us? Should we? Would that be effective? Also, what's the deal with impermanence? And emptiness? Let's talk about these things.  if you want to support this work by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/daniels...

A reading from "The Method of No Method" and commentary on ethics, the four great vows, and the mind of awakening.  if you want to support this workby making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

Everything always changes.  This is a talk I gave at the One Mind Zen Hermitage.

“To live in the Great Way is neither easy nor difficult, but those with limited views are fearful and irresolute" -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

“When no discriminating thoughts arise, the old mind ceases to exist.” -Sengcan Talk + MIndfulness of Breathing Practice if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: https:// paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

“Do not search for the truth; only cease to cherish opinions. Do not remain in the dualistic state; avoid such pursuits carefully.” -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

Daniel and Alicia talk about Baizhang and the Wild Fox.  I invited my soon-to-be wife Alicia Marley onto the podcast again to talk about the second koan from the Gateless Barrier Collection. This is an odd koan with some magical things going on and the lesson might be a little hard to find.  Our conversation ended up taking us pretty far afield from talking about the koan and we ended up asking qu...

“To return to the root is to find the meaning, but to pursue appearances is to miss the source.” -Sengcan

“To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality” -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: https:// paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: https:// facebook.com/dscharpy

Daniel and Alicia talk about Zhaozhou's Dog. I invited my soon-to-be wife Alicia Marley onto the podcast to talk about the first koan from The Gateless Barrier collection. She has no knowledge of zen koans, so I was wondering if her beginners perspective would help make things clear. In this episode we talk about the title "The Gateless Barrier" (sometimes called The Gateless Gate, sometimes calle...

"Be serene in the oneness of things and erroneous views will vanish by themselves." -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy This episode references a text called Faith in Mind. A version of it can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Mind-Rebellion-Chine...

Sensei Alex Kakuyo came onto the podcast again to talk with me about current events, protests, and the role of Buddhist teachers in the world of politics.  Alex is a lay Buddhist minister in the Bright Dawn Buddhist tradition. You can read his article "How to be a Buddhist Protester" here:  https://sameoldzen.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-to-be-buddhist-protester.html\ and he wrote this article for Lio...

I had my first long distance podcast guest. Sensei Alex Kakuyo is a lay Buddhist minister and author of Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life. You can learn about Alex here: sameoldzen.blogspot.com And you can buy his book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852GYDXX Alex teaches in the Bright Dawn Tradition, which you can learn about here: Brightdawn.org I first "met" Alex becaus...

The Buddha Held Up a Flower. Kasyapa Smiled. Case 6 from the Gateless Gate. The Gateless Gate is a classic text. My favorite version can be purchased here: Passing Through the Gateless Barrier by Guo Gu if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy