Wisdom from the Buddha

What if the greatest suffering in your life is not the pain you experience, but your refusal to feel it? In this episode, we explore a radically different interpretation of the first two Noble Truths, following the teachings of Goon Maeng Seo Jin, as presented in his book I Am Here Now. This teaching draws a sharp distinction between inevitable pain—birth, aging, sickness, death—and pathological s...

What if the very way your mind recognizes reality is also what distorts it? In this episode of The Deep Dive, we explore the teachings of Venerable Goon Maeng Seo Jin from I Am Here Now, uncovering why our perception of a “present moment” might be one of the mind’s greatest illusions. Through Buddhist psychology — the twelve bases, eighteen realms, and five aggregates — we break down how conscious...

In this chapter of I Am Here Now, we stress-test three “common sense” beliefs and watch them crumble—until a single axiom remains: “I am here now.” From this bedrock we derive the first two marks of existence—impermanence (anitya/anityatā) and non-self (anātman)—and see how they synthesize into dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda). We also examine why modern knowledge often chases results whi...

🌍 What is the truth behind life, death, and religion? In this episode, we explore how ancient civilizations — Semitic, Han, and Aryan — sought to explain the mystery of the sun, the cycle of life and death, and the origin of suffering. From monotheism and yin-yang philosophy to the doctrine of saṃsāra and karma, we uncover the hidden roots that shaped today’s major religions. ✨ A thought-provoki...

In this episode, we explore the true origin, meaning, and purpose of religion through the lens of the Buddha Śākyamuni’s teachings. From humanity’s earliest struggle for survival to the pursuit of happiness (haengbok, 幸福), we uncover how religion emerged, evolved, and came to be known as “the supreme teaching.” You’ll discover: Why early humans created religion as a tool for safety and abundance...