The Daily Dharma

In this episode, we explore what Enlightenment truly is and how it relates to our every day practice.

What is the agitated mind and why do we need to be aware of it? In this episode, we talk about the danger of neglecting the agitated mind and how we can redirect it in a positive way.

In this episode, we learn why being born as a human being is so rare and powerful and how we can truly appreciate our circumstances compared to other life forms.

In this episode we talk about what the "default" state of the mind is and what we can do to transition into a more meditative and relaxed state.

In this episode, we take inspiration from our furry friends on how to disconnect from our everyday thoughts and appreciate the beauty of the moment.

It's not just your body that needs guarding - it's your spirit. In this episode, we talk about the importance of protecting your spirit and how you can do this in your every day life.

The body can often be a source of pain and guilt. In this episode, we talk about how to process past, present and future pain around our bodies and choose healing.

For many of us, anger is a conditioned response to situations where things don't go to plan. In this episode, we explore how we can better analyze and understand our anger in the moment and release it, peacefully.

What is the ultimate refuge and how can we get there? In this episode, we talk about the Buddha's words on loving kindness in the Karaniya Metta Sutta and how it discusses the most powerful form of spiritual protection we can achieve.

It can be so difficult to decide how to end different things in our lives. In this episode, we talk about the challenges of this process and how to end things with compassion for ourselves and everyone involved. 

In this episode, we reflect on how desire and the pressure to desire things in life can negatively impact us and why it can be a deep relief to replace it with contentment and satisfaction instead.

Do you often feel guilty that you cannot directly help or support those who are suffering? In this episode, we talk about this emotion, what it indicates and why being empathetic towards others can be intrinsically empowering.

Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Being focused on our daily lives can make us feel like we're surrounded by a mental haze. We're so tired that all we can do is see three feet in front of us. In this episode, we talk about "Scottish Mists", a story from Ajahn Brahm's book "Don't Worry Be Grumpy" on how we can find a sense of direction when feeling lost in the mist of life.

How do we live in a world full of injustice without burning ourselves out? In this episode, we explore the challenge of needing to take care of ourselves as well as the communities around us and how to approach this situation with compassion towards ourselves.

Is our suffering 100% our own? In this episode, we explore how the blueprint given to us may very well be extending samsara and how we can instead, choose to opt-out, bit by bit.

Pain is more than just a sensation we want to avoid - it's a wake-up call, a sign of spiritual awakening. In this episode, we explore passages from Pema Chodron's book, "Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Forgiveness & Compassion" on what is the love that doesn't die and why it's the answer in the face of uncertainty and impermanence.

In this episode, we hear about a Buddhist folk tale around a little bird who couldn't be burnt in a raging forest fire, and the parallels it offers on how to deal with a world that feels like it's constantly in decline. How do we move forward without being consumed by dread? 

In this episode, we talk about the three spheres of influence (you, your personal network and beyond) and why we always need to start with ourselves when striving to be positive change makers in the world.

How do we generate light, hope and compassion within when we feel the world is falling apart around us? In this episode, we reflect on the Roe vs Wade overruling and how we can do our best to process our complex emotions, cultivate compassion and be the change the communities around us need.

In this episode, we talk about the deeper belief that leads to burnout in our educational, professional and social spheres and how we can dismantle it in order to experience joy and abundance instead.

When trying to be a good spiritual person, what is the right path forward? In this episode, we talk about the importance of asking yourself big questions and challenging yourself to create the right "recipe" for your own spiritual life.

In the wake of the Uvalde shootings, I searched for a Buddhist response to deeply saddening and upsetting tragedy. In this episode, we reflect upon the wisdom in Bikkhuni Ayya Dhammadipa's discussion of this question and why creating connection and compassion in society is the solution. You can also find a link to her video in our Linktree, found in the bio of our Instagram, @the.daily.dharma

Everyone has a "should-have" talk track in their minds. In this episode, we explore what they are and how we can slowly, with time and effort, be free of them.

Why is stigmatization so harmful and what is the value of creating space in your day to do "nothing"? Listen in and let's explore together.

Right understanding is all about grasping the big picture, the spiritual long-game of your life.

What's Right Effort all about? We discuss another rung of the Eight-Fold Path in this episode.

In this episode, we talk about Right Thought, a facet of the Noble Eight-Fold Path, and how it guides us towards joy.

What's standing in the way of our view, spiritually? In this episode, we navigate the myriad of reasons why our view of life can be crowded and how to unclutter it so we can feel happier.

Difficult people are everywhere. Here's a quick three step approach to help deal with them compassionately, accompanied by a great story from Ajahn Brahm.

What is right speech? As a facet of the Eight-Fold Path, it sometimes comes across as daunting and difficult to follow. In this episode, we dissect what right speech really means and how we can use words as a tool to create joy and preserve peace for ourselves and others.

Blaming is so ingrained in our culture, it feels natural to do so. But what does blame really accomplish? Whether it's towards yourself or others, blame is an action that festers negativity. In this episode, we talk about why blame is so easy to fall into and how to move away from this way of thinking.

What is happiness and how do we achieve it? In this episode, we take inspiration from a passage in the Dhammapada to help define the process by which we can generate happiness.

In this episode, we talk about how overwhelming tragedy can be and how to approach it in a way that will lead to greater wisdom and compassion.

Where can we find daily joy? Is joy even something we can truly access every day? In this episode, we talk about where we can find joy and how to identify mechanisms to unlock joy within our lives.

In this episode, we talk about how we can find a personal process to let go of our negative memories, emotions and thoughts. We also discuss why it's important to grow aware of all the expectations placed on us and learn to let go of them on a regular basis, to feel more calm, energized and happy in our lives.

What is kindfulness? We explore why mindfulness is not enough and why we need to mix in kindness to create kindfulness.

Being mindful of what influences us is an important part of our spiritual journey. All of us are influenced by what we see, hear and interact with. As a result, we can use influences as well as positive habits as a tool to help us move in the right direction.

In this episode, we talk about how every emotion has a physical counterpart, and how this knowledge can help us counteract and treat our anxiety with compassion.

Positivity is not a bad thing. But positivity no matter what can turn toxic.

In today's episode, we talk about how to forgive ourselves in order to achieve true growth.

Hoping everyone is having a safe and warm new year. In this episode, we talk about how our survival instinct can sometimes slow down our spiritual journey.

In this episode, we talk about a great story on how to deal with situations where there's nowhere to run and no solution in sight. 

In this episode, we talk about a passage in the Devadaha Sutta, which talks about how we create our reality through a mixture of both karma and our present actions. As a result, we are fully able to break the cycles that perpetually arise in our lives with this understanding in mind.

For today's episode, we'll visit a wonderful story from Ajahn Brahm, entitled "The Origin of Stress".

In this episode, we talk about what Buddhist philosophy considers the most valuable thing in our lives and why.

There is a lot of hate out there in the world. It's easy to lose ourselves in it. In this episode, we talk about how to re-focus ourselves on what matters and continue growing spiritually, despite living in a complicated and conflict-ridden world. 

In this episode, I talk about a fun little story about a person who's nearing their end of life and what happened when they asked their four best friends to come with them. It's a creative reminder to re-examine our priorities in life and make sure we're focusing on what matters.

Pain is an intensely personal spiritual experience.

There's so much to be fearful of, according to the world around us. How do we face this fear and find safety? Listen to learn more.