The Jason Gregory Podcast

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will speak about three spiritual mantras that will help you though life's most difficult situations. There are thousands of mantras to come out of Asia, but the three mantras I recite are arguably the most calming and powerful. They not only have the ability to help you out of the most difficult situations, but they also posses the ability to bring equani...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will explain why intellectual study is crucial for spiritual growth and maturity. There are a growing number of people interested in spirituality who are under the illusion that they don't need to intellectually understand the tradition they are attracted to. This has developed due to the misinterpretations of classical texts through bad translations, res...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will explain how observing our thoughts in meditation and self-inquiry can have a negative impact on our life if we don't have the correct knowledge to practice correctly. A common habit in meditation and self-inquiry is people begin to demonize thoughts, creating a divide within themselves based on the hunt for the perceived enemy of the ego, which cause...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will explain an important element within Taoism that many people often don't know about due to a lack of knowledge of what the verses actually mean that arise from incorrect translations of the Tao Te Ching. Taoism in its essence is a critique of Confucianism and this also relates to our modern world, as Taoism is not truly isolated to one period of time,...

In chapter 28 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu explains how the interplay of the unified opposites of yin and yang function within our consciousness. Lao-tzu explains what our psychological disposition should be to be in perfect balance between yin and yang so that we can be in harmony with the Tao. Though, this chapter is not so easy to grasp. Chapter 28 is obscure to those not familiar with Taoist p...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will speak about our commitment to ending the cycle of Samsara. Often people want to do good deeds in their present life so that their next life will be a prosperous. People do this because they are under the belief that they are accumulating good karma. But they are missing the point altogether and are driven by the fruits of the external world. This typ...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will speak about why religious conversion is a problem in the world, especially in countries such as India. For thousands of years, some religions have traveled the world in an attempt to convert people from other parts of the world to bolster their religion's influence over the world. These religious conquests have often led to conflict and violence, not...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will speak about why the law of karma is governed by nature rather than morality. There is a common misconception that the law of karma is based on the ethics and morality of a system of religion and culture, leading people into the illusion of good and bad karma according to their own belief systems. This is plain illogical and against the nature of karm...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today , I will discuss whether God is an adequate word when referring to the irreducible essence of the universe. In the great Eastern traditions, there are many words that describe the true nature of the universe a lot better than the word God. This stems from the context in which God is thought of in some influential Western religions. But, from an Eastern perspe...

I have been meditating every day for over 10 years. Meditation has changed my life more than anything else. This commitment I made to myself over 10 years ago is the main reason I have done what I have in my life thus far. Grounding myself in that daily practice has strengthened my resolve in the work that I do. But there has been times when I've dragged myself out of bed kicking and screaming in...

The second Noble Truth in Buddhism is one of the most important teachings passed down from the Buddha to humanity. The historical Buddha went to great lengths to discover the origin of human suffering so that we can eventually be liberated in this life. But how can we understand the nature of the second Noble Truth? In this episode of The Sacred Word , we will contemplate the significance of the s...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today, I will explain who are energy vampires and how to protect yourself against them. We've all encountered energy vampires in our life, where our energy reserves are depleted in their presence. I will define the characteristics and behaviors of an energy vampire so that you can identify them early in the process of a friendship/relationship. As a result, you wil...

The Sacred Word is a new series about the great masters, sages, and texts of the East. I aim to give thorough explanations of some the deepest teachings expounded by the great masters, sages, and classical texts of the East. In this series you will find clarity on these deep teachings to benefit your own spiritual development. In episode one, we will explore Shankara's teaching on how to see the t...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today, I will explain how thoughts create the ego and the nature of thoughts. Thoughts and the process of thinking has been an area the East has focused on for thousands of years. In the modern world, we are under the impression that thoughts are linked in a series creating this continuity of the person we think we are. What causes this linkage? Is it a natural fun...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today, I will speak about what enlightenment is and also if you will ever be enlightened. There is a glaring misconception about enlightenment that most people overlook. We live in an age where many people claim to be enlightened, including self-styled gurus who make up their own enlightenment stories. But the problem with all of these claims is enlightenment has n...

How Your Body Can be an Extension of the Universe is the eighth video in the series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this video, I explain how the universe can be an extension of your body. When we trust completely, our physical, mental, and spiritual planes of consciousness harmonize with the heartbeat of the Earth. When we have cleared the passage for Tao to function through us with i...

The Taoist Natural Way vs. Confucian Social Control is the seventh video in the series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this video, I explain how the Taoism of Lao-tzu emphasized that if we do not let individuals grow as nature intended, they will lose their naturalness and be drawn into the world of animal drives, desires, attachments, and ultimately suffering. The Way of the Tao and o...

Why a Taoist is a Threat to Society is the sixth video in the series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this video, I explain how the virtuous individual always presents danger to social, religious, and cultural systems that seek to bind humanity with superficial constraints. The individual who knows and follows the Tao is a threat because their way of being is liberated from the shackles...

Taoist Wisdom for Embracing Life and Yourself is the fifth video in the series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this video, I explain how the heart of Eastern wisdom teaches you to be naturally in the world without rejecting it. Many spiritual paths condemn and judge the world, as if they were enabling one to move beyond desires. But many fail to realize that they are desiring not to de...

The Intrinsic Beauty of Nature is the fourth video in a series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this video, I will explain the organic pattern and order of the universe that is a blueprint for nature to express its beauty. This organic pattern originates within an organism as its nature and comes into existence when an organism harmonizes with the Tao. Effortless Living Audiobook https:...

The Tao of Unconditional Love is the third video in a series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this film I explore what it truly means to love without boundaries. Our love has to exceed our boundaries to include not only our neighbors but also our so-called enemies. Thus if we can be radical enough to live wu-wei, the right social and cultural conditions will emerge that will enable peop...

The Natural Human is the second film in a series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this film I explore what it truly means for a human to be as nature intended us to be, essentially embodying the naturalness we all have within, with no external form of governance needed. The order and pattern of nature is not a forced order, as nature is not bound by external influence or control. The Ta...

Trust the Universe is the first video in a series based on my Effortless Living audiobook. In this video, I explore how and why we should trust the universe from a Taoist perspective. The Tao can only make use of you when you are empty of all that blocks a union between yourself and the universe. The peace that resides in the unity of trust allows the individual to harmonize with the world. This n...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today, I will speak about if we are blessed. Many people proclaim to be blessed based on their fortunate experiences in life which are usually based on pleasure. Personally claiming to be blessed is purely egotistical, especially considering you are implying that you are more special than someone else. From a spiritual perspective, feeling that one is blessed over...

In this episode of Enlightenment Today, I will speak about the ultimate sage showdown between Lao-tzu and Confucius. Both sages have diametrically opposed philosophies and viewpoints on the nature of humans and the irreducible essence of the Tao. These differences are showcased in the opposing metaphors of Lao-tzu's uncarved block and Confucius's carving and polishing. Both metaphors try to dissec...