In this week’s Podcast we look at Buddhism as practiced traditionally in Asia, as compared to forms popular in Western nations.  In our ongoing advocacy for traditional Buddhist practices, we make the case for maintaining the entirety of the Buddhist tradition, rather than selecting a small portion, one specific practice, or removing ideas or concepts […]

In this episode we discuss “esoteric” Buddhism. There are many misconceptions regarding Shingon as a school of Buddhism, most often discussed in terms of “secrecy”. Often understood to be a completely secret school of practice, or generally withheld from public view. In this episode we discuss this misconception, and attempt to explain Shingon, that as […]

Is there a role for faith in Buddhism, and if so what is that role?  How is faith developed?  How did Faith, become the “f” word of Western Buddhism? In this episode we discuss the importance of faith, how it differs in Buddhism from some other traditions, and how it can be a powerful support […]

In episode 18 we discuss Buddhist retreats.  Often presented as vacations, or spa-like experiences, the traditional Buddhist retreat or temple experience is generally geared at creating a highly structures environment that is at once transformative, as well as educational. Sometimes compared to military or other highly structured programs, the monastic experience provides an atmosphere in […]