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
Oct 16, 2022 • 27min
The Usual Suspects-- the Five Hindrances
Send a textDoug and Jon discuss the five hindrances that the Buddha had to overcome on the night of his enlightenment. We find them not only cropping up in our formal meditation practice, but in our everyday lives as well. How should we deal with them? We have lots of tips.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Oct 9, 2022 • 27min
The Great Equalizer--the Buddha's Five Reflections
Send a textThe Five Reflections are a teaching which confronts us directly with the realities of life. These reflections are the great equalizer-- no matter your status in life, your income, your age, your race, your sex, or any of your identities, these Five Reflections are a reminder of what's really true. This podcast is a perfect follow-up to Dying before you Dye!A link to the sutta in which the reflections occur:https://suttacentral.net/an5.57/en/sujatoSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Oct 2, 2022 • 29min
Dying Before You Die
Send a textTurning toward death through various meditation practices can be transformative and liberative. In this episode Doug and Jon discuss how they practice with this and the impact it has had on their lives.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 25, 2022 • 30min
All of the Pleasure, None of the Clinging
Send a textPeople often think of Buddhism as a very austere and all about renunciation. In this episode we discuss the difference between worldly and unworldly pleasures and perhaps can dispel some of these mis-understandings. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 18, 2022 • 26min
Buddhism in the Natural World
Send a textBuddhism was originally practiced in the forests and it was evolving at a time when much of society was seeing itself as a separate from nature by trying to control it. The Buddha, it is written, always went into the forest when he took leave from his sangha for retreat. In this episode, Doug and Jon explore the importance of reconnecting with the natural world as part of our practice. What do we learn about ourselves and how the core teachings, particularly around 'non-self' are illuminated through re-connecting with the natural world. Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 11, 2022 • 26min
Generosity- it's more than just giving
Send a textGenerosity is the first instruction the Buddha would give to laypeople, it's also one of the deepest and most helpful teachings in Buddhism. We will consider generosity, and how it can be manifest in our lives.Buddhist Global Relief website:https://www.buddhistglobalrelief.orgSupport the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 4, 2022 • 39min
Q&A with a Listener and Member: Children, Non-attachment, and the Military
Send a textThis special episode Jon and Doug take questions from Sorrell, one of their generous member-donors over at Buy Me a Coffee. They discuss having children in a Buddhist context, how thorough non-attachment can be in lay life, as well as Sorrell's experiences on deployment in the navy.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Aug 28, 2022 • 25min
What Are the Goals of Practice?
Send a textIs Buddhist practice only about attaining enlightenment, or are there other things it can help us with? If so, what would they be? Is it OK to focus on something less than the ultimate goal? We'll look at these questions and more.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Aug 21, 2022 • 29min
The Triple Gem and the Refuge it Provides
Send a textIn this episode Doug and Jon exploring the practice of taking refuge. The Triple Gem refers to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This is considered a True Refuge. A refuge that doesn't fade that is always there. It is both a practice and a commitment and a very important part of Buddhism. We explore the different ways to interpret these gems as well as understanding the difference between this True Refuge and the false refuges we often seek.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Aug 14, 2022 • 28min
Dealing with Politics in the Buddhist Context
Send a textThe Buddha taught that we don't hold to fixed views. Politics often finds its way into spiritual context and can be a slippery slope. Some of us may assume that all Buddhist have the same stance on particular issues but this is rarely the case. Some political situations are important to bring up in a Buddhist context and a definitely place of investigation. How do we work with our own fixed views and the fixed views of others. Our practice, may bring us to a place of softening such views which then might create a place of common ground.Support the showGo to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
