Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto

Can you eat animal meat as a Buddhist? Do you have to be vegetarian? This is a common question and debate. Learn more in this episode!

Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/animals-in-buddhism/

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Can a Buddhist be in a romantic relationship? Married? What about the love we have for family and friends? Learn more about it in this episode!

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Did you know Buddhists "repent" for their transgressions? This is a very popular practice, but also a very important one Westerners might be missing out on. Learn more about repentance in Buddhism, why it's important, and how to do it.

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"Metta" or "Loving Kindness" is a popular form of Buddhist practice (and teaching) that you can incorporate in a daily practice - and even Valentine's Day!

Learn more about the "Love" that Buddhism teaches, and the "Loving-Kindness" practice in Buddhism.

- The Loving Kindness Sutta/Sutra: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.amar.html

- Loving Kindness Meditation: https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/loving-kindness/

- Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhist-virtues/

- Alan's Buddhism Starter Pack: https://BuddhismStarterPack.com

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Is there a "Buddhist" Lunar New Year celebration? What about "Mahayana New Year"? What does this have to do with Chinese New Year, Tet, etc? Learn more in this episode and how Buddhists practice!

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I'm answering your questions about Buddhism and Buddhist practice in this episode! I recently asked on social media what your questions are, and I got quite a few! This episode will be long due to the number of questions, but feel free to jump to a question if you'd like.

Here are the questions:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Is the emptiness of self any different from the emptiness of objects in the world? And if all is empty, does restraint, compassion, or ethical virtue have any meaning?

08:00 Is having a negative view on Abrahamic...

Did the Buddha and Jesus know each other? Did Buddhism influence Jesus' ministry? Are there similarities between Buddhism and Christianity? You're likely to hear one or all of these in your study of Buddhism. In this episode, I'll explain whether Jesus ever heart of Buddhism, can you be a Buddhist and Christian, views Buddhists have on Christianity, and can we get along?

Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/understanding-buddhist-christmas/

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Discover the deep roots of Zen Buddhism in our latest episode. We'll journey through its rich history and tackle common Western misconceptions. Explore the origins of Zen in Chan Buddhism, the profound practice of direct transmission, and the unique practices of chanting and reciting, threefold training, and delve into the dual practice of Chan/Zen and Pure Land. 

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In this episode we delve into the Buddhist practice of guarding the six sense organs—eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Discover how mindful observation, reflection, and meditation can help prevent unwholesome states and cultivate wisdom. We’ll explore the differences in understanding and practices across various Buddhist traditions, and for practical tips on integrating these teachings into your daily life and transforming your sensory experiences into the right conditions for progress on the Buddhist path.

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Two seemingly unrelated festivals have a Buddhist connection: The Hungry Ghosts Festival and the Ullambana Festival (also called Sangha Day).

Both go back to the time of the Buddha where he gave instruction to one of his most revered disciples on how to help his mother who had passed away and was in the hungry ghosts realm.

We celebrate today using the same instruction as the Buddha: support the sangha (monastic community) as way to generate and dedicate merit to our loved ones who have passed away and may be in the hungry ghosts realm. <...

Blessings are a beautiful and important part of Buddhism, but they can often be confused with merits. Learn about what blessings are, how they are invoked, and how to integrate into your Buddhist practice.

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The third installment of questions asked by you!

- "How can I integrate the practice with my day-to-day life as a westerner?"

- "Can I become a Buddhist if I drink or smoke socially?"

- "How can you create karma with outflows?"

- "Is it ok to mix Buddhist traditions, I was told it's best to stick to one, but I follow two."

Have a question for a future episode? Or a topic? Reply to this podcast on Spotify, or send me a message on alanpeto...

Buddhists have "virtues" they uphold on their path towards enlightenment and nirvana. What is wonderful about the virtues is that they are meant to be practiced and upheld in everyday life! Learn about nine (9) Buddhist virtues in this episode, why they are important, and how to practice them.

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What are all the 'realms of rebirth' in Buddhism (and "Samsara" or the "Cycle of Rebirth")? And what do they mean to you as a layperson Buddhist practitioner? Are they real? Are they a state of mind? Let's explore!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

08:00 The Hell Realm

10:08 The Animal Realm

11:40 The Hungry Ghosts Realm

14:56 The Human Realm

19:11 The Titans or Asuras Realm

20:50 The Devas or Gods or Heavenly Realm

25:58 Are These Real or The State of Mind?

28:44 Motivation and Buddhist Practice

Learn Buddhist Mindfulness Breathing! Want to do breathing meditation like the Buddha? It's known as Ānāpānasati / Ānāpānasmṛti but is commonly referred to as "mindfulness of breathing". And it can be as straightforward as that.

(Jump to 17:20 minutes in this episode for the meditation session; view all the chapters below) You are observing the breath without control, force, judgement, etc. While this sounds easy, your body has another agenda. You'll have thoughts, an itch, muscle aches, etc., to distract you. With practice, you will also observe these things, and just "let them go". While th...

The Diamond Sutra is the 'diamond' or 'lightening bolt' that cuts through 'illusion' that helps us become enlightened. It is one of the most well respected sutras in all of Mahayana Buddhism and found practiced widely in Zen/Ch'an traditions. Learn more about it in this episode and how to apply it to your daily life and practice!

I received so many questions related to Buddhism, I have another episode! Learn what I think about these questions!

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

00:20 - How much time does it take to reach nirvana?

03:17 - How can I take the Triple Gem if there is no temple or master in my country - can I do it on my own?

05:33 - Can I be a Buddhist and also believe in God or Gods

08:14 - Is having a family encouraged? Is love for our children encouraged if all is sunyata?<...

What is "Western Buddhism"? Practiced outside of Asia where Buddhism is traditionally practiced, Western countries have been adopting Buddhism, but often in different nuanced ways. Let's explore what Western Buddhism means, some misconceptions Westerners have about Buddhism, and how we can practice Buddhism authentically as Buddhists!

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Did you know the Buddha was once a baby? Learn about the Buddha's birth, and how we celebrate the Buddha's birthday in May!

Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddha-birthday/

and

https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddha-mothers-day/

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Buddhist altars are an important part of Buddhist practice. Let's explore why they are important, what they do, how we build them, and where to place them.

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The most popular Bodhisattva is Avalokiteśvara (Guan Yin, Kannon, etc.). Because they are known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion and can be called upon, you see Avalokiteśvara as the one Bodhisattva that most Buddhists know and love. Get an introduction to this Bodhisattva in my latest episode!

I'm answering YOUR questions about Buddhism in this episode! Recently I asked on my social media if anyone had questions about Buddhism and here are a few of those questions that I answered. Be on the lookout for me asking again or simply message me from my website.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Do Monastics Have a Better Chance at Nirvana Over Laypersons?

05:13 Buddhism and Vegetarian?

12:10 Westerners Focus on Vipassana [Meditation] Only?

16:55 Bodhisattvas Real?

24:34 Four Heavenly Kings Only in Chinese Buddhism?

What did the Buddha "awaken" to 2,600 years ago? It was "Dependent Origination"! This teaching is so fundamental to Buddhism, that it is where all the other things we focus on, such as karma, rebirth, five aggregates/skandhas, not self, etc., come from.

Learn more about Dependent Origination in this episode!

Want to try something special for your Buddhist practice this year? Mix in a monthly focus that compliments your daily practice! Join me in incorporating the Threefold Training throughout the year and be exposed to different Buddhist practices.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:30 The Eightfold Path & Threefold Training

02:00 The 12 Month Plan

03:27 Wisdom

11:26 Conduct & Morality

19:00 Concentration

28:12 Conclusion

Get the 12 Month Practice Graphic: https://alanpeto.gumroad.com/l/BuddhismGraphics

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Can a Western Buddhist participate in Western holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving? What about Buddhist or country specific holidays? Let's explore in this episode!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:05 Western Buddhism and Western holidays

00:30 should I engage in Western holidays?

01:22 finding Buddhism in western holidays

01:55 the path as a Buddhist with western holidays

03:15 Buddhist qualities, beliefs, ethics

04:00 engaging in the world as it is

06:07 going to church

08:40 doing complimentary activities

08:59 what about Thanksgiving or 4th of July?<...

How can you, as a lay-Buddhist, "be like The Buddha" in your daily life? Here are my five observations about the Buddha and his life that we can incorporate into our life!

00:00 - Introduction

05:00 - Mindfulness

10:18 - Generosity

13:08 - Precepts

18:00 - Compassion

21:22 - Concentration

25:18 - Conclusion

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Did you know the Buddha was "super"? He had supernatural and supranormal abilities. But this was something he didn't see as central to Buddhism, but as a consequence of meditative concentration. Yet, it is a key part of skillful means in Buddhism where the Buddha (and also Buddhas and Bodhisattvas) used these abilities in many ways to aid others with the path in Buddhism and achieving liberation. Learn in this episode why these abilities are important and what they mean to Buddhism! Contact Alan: alanpeto.com/contact Podcast Homepage: alanpeto.com/podcast Podcast Disclaimer: alanpeto.com/legal/podcast-disclaimer

The most chanted, studied, and copied sutra in the Buddhist world is the Heart Sutra. Found in most traditions that follow Mahayana Buddhism (the path of the Bodhisattva) chant this sutra daily. It teaches the profound nature of Prajna or supreme wisdom into the nature of "emptiness" and the teaching of not-self so that fear is ended, enlightenment achieved, and Nirvana realized.

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Mahayana Buddhism makes up the largest branch of Buddhism, and they follow the "Bodhisattva Path". What is that and why is it so important to them? A Bodhisattva is an enlightened being that practices for themselves and others and makes great vows to eventually become a Buddha. It provided a way for all people, not just monastics, to actively progress on the Buddhist path.

Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhism-hard-times/

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Impermanence in Buddhism is so important and central to our practice that we can't ignore it. However, it is also a very hard concept to understand. The Buddha essentially said that all conditioned things (that includes you and me) are every changing, impermanent, and interdependent on other things to exist. Because our existence is temporary in nature, thus impermanence, it is of the nature to be dukkha or suffering. This continual forced rebirth is the problem. But, when we fundamentally understand impermanence and our impermanent nature (and that of other things) we can be freed from the Three Fires...

Do Buddhists "repent"? Yes! And it's not what you think. Repentance in Buddhism is a fundamental part of Buddhist practice because it helps us "get out" the misdeed/transgression of the five precepts we created so that we can understand why, ask for help, and set an aspiration of action and cultivation of good deeds. This is important because morality/conduct is part of the Buddha's teachings and essential for enlightenment. As human beings, we sometimes go "off the path" in Buddhism and as we repent, we make ourselves aware of that so we can prevent it in the...

Check out episode three (3) of this podcast for the first part! In this new episode, I talk about more misconceptions you may have heard about Buddhism in the West. Here are the misconceptions covered in this episode: "The Buddha was just a regular guy", "There are no gods in Buddhism", "The Pali Canon in Theravada is the oldest", "Zen is not part of Mahayana", and "There is only one Buddha".

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One of the most important teachings in Buddhism is that of the "Three Fires" or "Three Poisons" of greed, anger, and ignorance. Why? Because it is the cause of our unwholesome karma keeps us trapped in the cycle of rebirth, which the Buddha said is Dukkha ("suffering"). The absence of the Three Fires is Nirvana...our true natural state and the goal of all Buddhists. Learn more in this episode!

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Hundreds of millions of Buddhist pray. But why? And more importantly, why should you pray as part of your Buddhist practice? Prayer in Buddhism is not the same as in other religions where you might be praying to a creator God or other being to have forgiveness, worship, or help. Instead, Buddhist prayer has many components and uses, one of which is showing devotion, respect, love, and reverence for our enlightened teacher(s) such as a Buddha or Bodhisattva. Just as if we were in front of the Buddha 2,600 years ago, prayer connects us at a deeper level with our...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is capturing everyone's attention at the moment. From ChatGPT to Microsoft's Bing chat and Co-Pilot, to Google Bard. It can seemingly be like talking to a real person who then gives you answers or helps you with things. But can AI ever become a sentient being and become enlightened, or become a Buddha? "Does AI have Buddha nature?!". I explore that question in this episode and my opinion on it. I'll also talk about what AI could possibly do for us in Buddhism - if used correctly. Contact Alan: alanpeto.com/contact Podcast Homepage: alanpeto.com/podcast ...

Buddhist practice isn't confined to a daily practice or going to the temple. There are "Observance Days" in numerous traditions where lay-Buddhists engage in practices that align themselves more with the monastic lifestyle and advance their development. This includes taking the Eight Precepts, vegetarian meals, or even fasting. Learn why Buddhists engage in Observance Days and what it means!

Alan's Daily Buddhist Practice Guide on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LTxbE8

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I've known meditation teacher Bodhipaksa for several years.  He was one of the first to use the internet when it was "new" to teach others about meditation when there wasn't a group or temple nearby.  He has also spread knowledge about what the Buddha really said (by dispelling fake Buddha quotes online).  With his latest book release, I interviewed him in this episode to help you learn more about mantras, recitations/chanting, visualization, meditation, and some interesting insights about the Buddha and meditation!

If you are new to Buddhism, there are plenty of things in Buddhism that make you question if it is real or not.  But they are clearly part of the religion.  And, different traditions may have various beliefs.  So, do you need to believe in everything "Buddhism" believes in?  This is one of the most asked questions and concerns for Westerners coming into Buddhism.  As I'll talk about in this episode, it's OK to not believe in everything right away, but please be respectful.  We don't always understand everything (and often how they help you understand Buddhist concepts and develo...

How do you practice Buddhism when there is no Buddhist temple or monastics where you live?  Can technology and "virtual" Buddhism be an option?  In this episode, I talked with Venerable Tri Dao, a Buddhist monk in the Theravada tradition who has over a million followers on TikTok, and tens of thousands on Instagram and other social media.  Since Venerable Tri Dao is actively using technology to spread the Buddhist teachings in a way that is understandable, we can explore how "Virtual Buddhism" can be an option, and what is needed to practice that way.

Before Siddhartha was enlightened and became the Buddha, he had to face the demon Mara and his army.  While Mara doesn't get talked about all the time in Buddhism, he is all around us trying to make us create the unwholesome karma that keeps us trapped in rebirth/samsara.  Mara is also an analogy for our obstacles in Buddhism and for the Three Fires/Poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance.  When we "defeat" Mara, we also end the Three Fires/Poisons and realize Nirvana!

In this episode, learn more about Mara, his encounters with the Buddha, and wha...