Diggin' the Dharma
Jon Aaron and Doug Smith
Diggin' the Dharma with Jon Aaron and Doug Smith is a relaxed discussion of the Buddhist dharma between friends. Jon's interest centers around practice, while Doug's centers around scholarship of the early material, so their approaches balance practice with study. Their discussions will be approachable to a broad audience of Buddhists and those curious about Buddhism, and they welcome questions and comments. Jon is a teacher at Space2Meditate and NY Insight Meditation Center and a well known teacher and trainer of teachers of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Doug has a PhD in Philosophy and runs Doug's Dharma on YouTube and the Online Dharma Institute, where he gives courses on early Buddhism. Find them at: https://digginthedharma.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 9, 2025 • 1h 1min
The Secular-Traditional Divide Examined: Four Guys Talk Dhamma | Roundtable with Clear Mountain Monastery
Send a textThis week is a special episode, recorded thanks to Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho at Clear Mountain Monastery. Our conversation touched on themes Secular Buddhism vs Traditional Buddhism, the sacred, belief in rebirth, saddhā (faith), Mundane Right View vs Transcendent Right View, attachment to views, and much more!Clear Mountain Monastery will release a video of this discussion on their YouTube channel in December.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Nov 2, 2025 • 27min
Devas, Nagas, Yakkhas, a Halloween Episode
Send a textIt's Halloween as Jon and Doug record their episode, so the discussion is about the supernatural beings in Buddhism, their history, how they reflect our own inner and outer states, and how we can practice with them. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Oct 26, 2025 • 28min
Getting Lost in Our Stories
Send a textMental proliferation or "papañca" is one key way the mind works overtime to keep us agitated and stressed out. Jon and Doug discuss how we get lost in our stories, and how sometimes it's good to spend time figuring them out, and other times it's best to figure out how to let them go.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 28, 2025 • 28min
Knowing Equanimity Without Falling Into Indifference
Send a textIn many respects our practice aims towards equanimity. But if we force it, we may end up in indifference instead. Jon and Doug discuss these very different states and how our practice can help us navigate through them.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 14, 2025 • 30min
Bringing Our Practice to the Hospital
Send a textPractice can often be most helpful when things in our life go sideways. Jon and Doug discuss practice in the context of doctors, dentists, and hospital visits. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 7, 2025 • 30min
Approaching Meditation
Send a textWhat are we doing when we "meditate"? It seems like there are so many different styles and approaches. Jon and Doug discuss ways to frame and understand the practices.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jul 20, 2025 • 31min
Many Paths, One Destination. . Working with Different Traditions
Exploring the diverse approaches in Buddhism, the hosts dive into the distinctions between Insight and Zen practices. They discuss how various traditions might point to a common spiritual goal, while examining what awakening means across different schools. The conversation also considers the role of guru relationships and the insights from early teachings. Newcomers are encouraged to explore multiple traditions and find a community that resonates, all while blending practices thoughtfully.
Jul 6, 2025 • 26min
The Dharma of Independence (Day)
Send a textWith the US holiday of July 4th upon us, Jon and Doug discuss dependence, independence, what freedom really means, and how to practice towards it.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jun 29, 2025 • 23min
Gladdening the Mind
Send a textThe actual instruction to "gladden" the mind is sdd in the Anapanasati (Mindfulness of In and Out Breathing) Sutta, in the third tetrad about the Mind.What is the Buddha asking us to do here? Jon and Doug discuss what it means to gladden the mind in Buddhist practice, why it's important and how we can practice with this instruction.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jun 22, 2025 • 26min
Letting Go Is Hard to Do
Send a textThe second noble truth addresses the cause of Dukkha (suffering) as our nature to cling to our desires (or push away that which we don't want). The opposite of this is letting go. Ajahn Chah, the venerable Thai forest monk and teacher to many of today's wonderful teachers-- would say often:Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.And yet, letting go, is not always easy! Jon and Doug discuss this.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
