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This discussion has made me aware that I-we- need to do something about the horrific atrocity in Gaza. I pay US taxes and so there is a connection. I may not be in charge but I am involved. The asymmetry should be my signal to generate compassion. The fact that I can see asymmetry shows that I wouldn’t want to be in that situation. Perhaps I can only write to my representatives. Maybe I can join an anti-war initiative. Perhaps I can boycott things or reduce income and consumption to minimize my taxes. Maybe I’ll sing some folk songs with others. I think it is important not to use not having complete control as a reason to do nothing. Together we can make changes. I do not believe that the Israeli government can’t be changed. Governments can be changed. We need to change our own in fact. I am grateful for this conversation because I personally do not feel joy knowing others are suffering so greatly unless I acknowledge what’s happening and do something. My personal joy will always be tempered by the suffering of others.

Great talk! Stephen Fulder is a very, very interesting person. Gonna buy his book... 😅 Thanks and metta to everybody...! 🐱🙏

This has left me thinking 'never judge a book by it's cover' or 'never judge a mind by it's form' maybe. A form is just a form. And as a beautician, I come across both men and women wanting to keep their youthful form. There's a lot of disappointment when myself and my workplace can't provide the fountain of youth. I work with a spa brand that's loosely based on Ayurvedic principles. I try and draw attention to the benefits of 'balance' when it comes to health and skin. Not that I'm perfect at avoiding the aesthetic side of my job and I have to look presentable each day. But changing my perception about beauty and form hasn't been a bad thing for me personally, I've been happier whilst taking my form a little less seriously or permanently. My form has changed and will continue to change, as does everyone else's.

What Jon mentions in the end, remembering past lives, would indeed be a good topic for another episode. As I see it, remembrance/memory doesn't prove anthing. We can remember "things" that never happened (false memory effect). False memories can even be "placed inside" our minds by other people and/or cultural belief systems etc. So what do memories mean? What is their epistemic status, so to speak? Go for it, guys... 😁🐱🙏 [Edit: typo.]

The middle way applies to momentary pain and pleasure. We can try to avoid those feelings to develop equanimity.

The idea of not creating karma reminds me tremendously of the Daoist concept of wu-wei (or: wei-wu-wei). Just thinking aloud... 🙈😂 🐱🙏

If a non-enlightened person does good deeds with the aim of being reborn in a higher realm where they will have time to practice and attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, would this be ego driven and generate sankharas? Or could this be a motivation that's free of ignorance and ego? Sorry for the excessively long sentence

I try to see it this way: Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.” The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.” Maybe it's helpful. Yes, *maybe* ... 😂

The Buddha was no California Liberal, you two would've called him "far-right" Lol.

How is it that the 3 biggest leaders in the world (USA, China, Russia) are not committed to the climate change crisis?

Thank you for sharing about your anxiety over this moment in politics. I’m experiencing the same thing and struggling with it.

Highly recommended: Bikkhu Anālayo's _Deepening Insight: Teachings on vedanā in the Early Buddhist Discourses._

Groucho is the perfect closing note for this one. Appreciate you guys!

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Buddha is shown in the far ancient art from all over the planet being born from the flowers of the Tree Goddess. All Hindu Gods & Goddesses are shown seated or standing on flowers because they are born from Her flowers. There is infinite art showing that She is THE SUPREME GOD Every single day of my life The Tree Goddess appears as a bush or a tree beside me, or She is standing on a flower of the bush & speaks so me, or She appears as The Virgin Queen of heaven & then transforms into a tree before my eyes. She tells me to take my shoes off because She needs to plant a soul orb into my body. I studied Buddha & all His teachings were burnt & replaced with the teachings of the dim-witted priests. Mohammad went through the same deletions. And no doubt Jesus' teachings were Edited to fit the puny minds of the priests (nuisances). Truth is Not allowed. All far ancients worshipped The Tree Goddess who created Buddha & all the Gods & Goddesses. There is clearly a hatred of women in all priests' minds. If you meditate & clear your minds & open your minds to the spirit realm you will meet The Angels & be shown The Tree Goddess. You will meet all the God's & Goddesses & They will take you to meet The Tree Goddess who created Buddha. No Gods or Goddesses can survive unless they drink Her Nectar Daily. She has visited me all my life. She is amazing. Without Her your soul will not survive. The Bible says at the beginning & the end that Only The Tree of life can save you & all the Gods. No Gods & no souls can live without Her. Have a nice eternity

Why is it exactly that you think that it is important to "get out an vote", especially from a buddhist point of view?

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Me having to work is really starting to get in the way of watching live podcasts 😅 sorry I missed it

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Sorry i missed this one live, i was so tired after work i had to sleep.

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Something I have come to realize in my life is that the more I have lost, the more I have become better at letting go of things that do not last. It's as if the experience of loss allows discernment to arise and choose more carefully which things in life do have lasting value to you as a person. For example, the one thing my father left behind for me as a gift before he passed away was a watch, and what stays with me is not the object itself, but the symbolic meaning behind that final gift of his regarding how fleeting life is without any words, as well as his love for me. The watch, which in this case is an object with sentimental value, can easily get lost or broken, but the deep realization I had through that gesture of his remains with me, guiding my judgment. So, if the watch disappears one day, I will be able to let go of it. I also remember Ajahn Chah speaking about how the Buddha saw the breakable in that which is not yet broken, so when the object finally broke he was not affected given he always saw it the way it was, breakable. Thank you for the talk!

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Thank you for this!

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I missed it, sorry gents. I'll catch the next one hopefully.

Doug, can you please link us to the book you mention @2:58? (Bikkhu Analeo (sp?))

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Anyone wondering about the artist Doug & Jon mention without recalling the name, starting about 23:31, I believe it’s Andy Goldsworthy.

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Thanks for the channel. Nice to put John’s face with his voice! I’m in the Chicago area…. Welcome in advance to John:)

Thank you for the new channel, Doug.

Thanks for the talk, dudes 😊

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