Wisdom and Compassion
31 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago -Buddhism for here and now. The Wisdom and Compassion podcast is an offering of Dekeling, a Buddhist community in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to sharing the principles and practices of Buddhism in an accessible and inclusive way, to human beings everywhere. We support your right to awaken to your spiritual potential in whatever way inspires you.
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Episodes
Practicing When Things are Difficult
April 18, 2024 00:15 - 23 minutes - 32 MBChallenging times can be the best times to practice. Suffering is compelling, so you might find that resting awareness on your experience is easier than when things are going well. This episode has a longish riff on how to find a teacher and how you know when you've met a true teacher.
Guided Meditation: The Stages of Dying (concise)
April 18, 2024 00:15 - 14 minutes - 20 MBThis is a brief guided meditation on the stages of dying or 'bardos.' In Buddhism, the term 'bardo' typically refers to the intermediate state between death and rebirth; though it can refer to any transition. The most well-known and elaborated upon teachings on the bardo come from texts like the Tibetan Book of the Dead (also known as the Bardo Thodol), which is a key text in the Nyingma tradition. The Bardo teachings often outline various stages or phases that the consciousness of...
Holding a View, True or Not
April 18, 2024 00:14 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBWhy would I experiment of holding a view if I am not sure it's true? This experiment can cause you to learn something beyond your current knowing—through direct experience. No belief is required. Just hold a new view, and see how it impacts your thoughts, speech and actions. If you like the effects, continue holding the view. If not, you can always try it again later—or not!
Common Misperceptions about Tibetan Buddhism
April 17, 2024 23:02 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBYou know those rumors you heard about Tibetan Buddhism? Listen and see if they are true. Any time we adopt a custom, philosophy or tradition from another culture, we're bound to misinterpret a few things. This talk unravels a few of the veils of misunderstanding surrounding Tibetan Buddhism, shedding light on prevalent misconceptions that often obscure its profound teachings.
Common Misconceptions about Tibetan Buddhism
April 17, 2024 23:02 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBYou know those rumors you heard about Tibetan Buddhism? Listen and see if they are true. Any time we adopt a custom, philosophy or tradition from another culture, we're bound to misinterpret a few things. This talk unravels a few of the veils of misunderstanding surrounding Tibetan Buddhism, shedding light on misconceptions that sometimes obscure its profound teachings.
The Seven Branch Prayer
April 17, 2024 22:47 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBThe mindful recitation of Seven-Branch Prayer, which is often done inside another practice—like Green Tara, for example— epitomizes all the practices of gathering the accumulations as well as the purification of harmful deeds, thoughts, or speech and also of obscurations. All the major points of practice are present in the Seven Branches. Each of the branches antidotes a specific obstacle in practice. There is a reference in this episode to the Four Powers, also, which is a framewor...
Guided Meditation: Tonglen for a World in Conflict
April 10, 2024 06:11 - 14 minutes - 33.2 MBStep into a space of introspection and compassionate inquiry as you embark on a contemplative journey through the landscape of global conflict. If you are an experienced practitioner of Tonglen, you already understand its profound power to use suffering as a springboard for compassion; to allow fear to be a foundation for courage, and for contemplation of conflict to blossom into a wider and deeper understanding. Today, we'll practice beyond the boundaries of our personal experien...
Guided Meditation: Tonglen for a World in Conflict
April 10, 2024 06:11 - 14 minutes - 33.2 MBStep into a space of introspection and compassionate inquiry as you embark on a contemplative journey through the landscape of global conflict. If you are an experienced practitioner of Tonglen, you already understand its profound power to use suffering as a springboard for compassion; to allow fear to be a foundation for courage, and for contemplation of conflict to blossom into a wider and deeper understanding. Today, we'll practice beyond the boundaries of our personal experien...
Guided Meditation: Tonglen Practice for a Dying or Dead Animal
April 10, 2024 05:50 - 20 minutes - 47.9 MBAs we journey through life, our paths often intertwine with those of animals, who become companions on our journey. Their presence enriches our lives, offering us love, loyalty, and a profound connection to the natural world. In their eyes, we see reflections of ourselves, reminding us that their lives and deaths are no less significant than our own. In moments of transition, such as when a beloved animal companion approaches the end of their life, we may turn to practices like Tong...
Guided Meditation: Tonglen Practice for a Dying or Dead Animal
April 10, 2024 05:50 - 20 minutes - 47.9 MBAs we journey through life, our paths often intertwine with those of animals, who become companions on our journey. Their presence enriches our lives, offering us love, loyalty, and a profound connection to the natural world. In their eyes, we see reflections of ourselves, reminding us that their lives and deaths are no less significant than our own. In moments of transition, such as when a beloved animal companion approaches the end of their life, we may turn to practices like Tong...
Guided Meditation: Counting the Breath Meditation
April 10, 2024 05:40 - 7 minutes - 16.1 MBCounting the breath meditation involves a deliberate and focused observation of the breath. The practitioner assumes a comfortable posture conducive to alertness and relaxation. With eyes either gently closed or slightly open, attention is drawn inward to the sensation of breathing. As the breath flows naturally, the practitioner directs their awareness to the rhythm of exhalation. With each outbreath, there is a mental noting or counting of the breath. This counting occurs silently within...
Death and Dying: Meditation on the Stages of the Bardos
April 10, 2024 05:32 - 26 minutes - 61.4 MBIn Tibetan Buddhism, the term "bardo" refers to the intermediate states between death and rebirth. The most well-known bardo is the "Bardo Thodol" or the "Tibetan Book of the Dead," which describes the experiences one goes through during the intermediate state after death. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, how one navigates these bardos greatly influences the next rebirth. Meditations on the stages of the bardos typically involve practices aimed at familiarizing practitioners w...
Guided Meditation: Stages of the Bardos
April 10, 2024 05:32 - 26 minutes - 61.4 MBIn Tibetan Buddhism, the term "bardo" refers to the intermediate states between death and rebirth. The most well-known bardo is the "Bardo Thodol" or the "Tibetan Book of the Dead," which describes the experiences one goes through during the intermediate state after death. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, how one navigates these bardos greatly influences the next rebirth. Meditations on the stages of the bardos typically involve practices aimed at familiarizing practitioners w...
What is an Unbounded View?
April 10, 2024 05:27 - 19 minutes - 45.3 MBIn Buddhism, the concept of the 'unbounded view' typically refers to the perception of reality that transcends narrow, limited perspectives. It involves seeing the interconnectedness and interdependence of all phenomena, understanding the impermanent and ever-changing nature of existence, and recognizing the absence of inherent self or essence in things. This view is often associated with the realization of emptiness (sunyata), which is a key teaching in Mahayana Buddhism. Emptines...
Shall I Practice the Mahayana or the Vajrayana?
April 07, 2024 23:11 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBThe choice between practicing Mahayana or Vajrayana Buddhism is deeply personal and depends on individual inclinations, aspirations, and circumstances. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the cultivation of compassion and the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, while Vajrayana Buddhism offers advanced teachings and practices for those seeking rapid spiritual transformation through methods such as deity yoga, tantra, and guru devotion. Ultimately, the ...
Tendrel
April 05, 2024 22:14 - 7 minutes - 6.57 MBIn Buddhism, "tendrel" (Tibetan: རྟེན་འབྲེལ་) refers to the concept of interdependence or interconnectedness. It is closely related to the Buddhist principle of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), which teaches that all phenomena arise in dependence upon causes and conditions. The term "tendrel" is commonly used in Tibetan Buddhism, where it signifies the intricate web of connections between all phenomena. It emphasizes the idea that everything in the universe is interconnec...
Compassion: What are we afraid of?
March 23, 2024 06:31 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBCompassion is the wish that the suffering of others be relieved. It's also the wish that the causes of that suffering be dispelled. When learning compassion practices, people sometimes express fear. What are we afraid of? Vulnerability, fear of boundaries dissolving, fear of overwhelm, inadequacy; there are so many places we could find resistance to experiencing direct and intimate contact with our own suffering and the suffering of the world. Is is possible that experiencing compas...
Generosity: Can We Offer Fearlessness to the World?
March 23, 2024 06:25 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBIn Buddhism, one of the greatest generosities is to remove fear and the causes of fear for other beings. How can we practice generosity by offering fearlessness to others? What does fearlessness look like? To alleviate suffering brought about by fear, to promote safety and security, to empower and liberate others—or at least not to oppress them, is a start. Generosity, including the removal of fear, is an expression of compassion and wisdom in Buddhist practice. It requires understa...
Speaking of Giraffes and Dharma
March 22, 2024 21:26 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBIn this episode I am remembering and sharing memories of my own American dharma teacher's teachings and teaching style. Even thinking about it now inspires my practice and my own teaching. He was humble and remarkably simple in his delivery—but years later I realize how much truth was in every sentence. You can listen to some of the teachings he gave in this last years here, too. The collection has transcripts as well as audio recordings. The music for this episode is “Starligh...
[Lojong Series 3.15] Contemplate the Great Kindness of Everyone
May 02, 2021 00:02 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBIn this episode, the practice is to contemplate the kindness of all beings. In today's world this can be a challenge. Here, we explore a starting point, a few options and the fruition of this practice. This talk refers to Point 3, aphorism 13 of the Seven Points of Mind Training: Contemplate the great kindness of everyone. [Translations and numbering systems may vary, depending on the book you read.] Atisha’s 'Mind Training in Seven Points' is one of the most-beloved sets of inst...
Five Elements Guided Meditation
October 26, 2020 20:17 - 31 minutes - 71.4 MBA meditation in the Five Elements. Jogen Sensei is a Zen Priest, as well as a facilitator. You can further explore his facilitation and teachings at solisluna.org The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.
Guided Body Scan Meditation
September 23, 2020 13:47 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBThe body scan is an effective way to begin or nurture a meditation practice. It helps establish mindfulness. The purpose is to tune in to your body—to connect to the direct experience of the physical body—and to notice all sensations without judgement or commentary. Many people find the body scan relaxing. This makes it pleasant to do, so it's one of the ways beginners can be motivated to increase time spent in formal mediation. It can easily be done lying down, which means it's a g...
Doubt is Your Friend
August 08, 2020 17:22 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBDoubt is one of the five hindrances. Doubt is also an essential element of practice. In this episode we look at the different kinds of doubt and how to navigate each. We also learn from the Buddha's teachings on the Kalama Sutra about how to know which teachings are true. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.
Indestructible Ease and Joy
July 14, 2020 01:16 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIn this short podcast, Lama Lekshe talks about how to discover 'indestructible' ease and joy. This is a 'pocket practice'. You CAN take it with you--dozens of times each day. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.
Short Chenrezig Compassion Practice
June 11, 2020 18:30 - 12 minutes - 17 MBIn Buddhism, Avalokitesvara bodhisattva is regarded as the embodiment of compassion. The Tibetans call this embodiment Chenrezig—the ‘one who watches with a steady gaze.’ To do this practice, take refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Recognize the universal wish of sentient beings to be from suffering and its causes—while imprisoned in the context of delusion, oppression, hatred and greed. Allow yourself to feel the tension in between their wish to be fre...
Practicing In Isolation on Full Moon June 5 - Saka Dawa Duchen
June 03, 2020 11:00 - 30 minutes - 13.9 MBCelebrating Saka Dawa Duchen while in Isolation Saka Dawa Duchen is on June 5th in 2020 In the Tibetan tradition, Saka Dawa is a month of celebration of the birth, enlightenment and passing [Skt. Parinirvana] of the Buddha Shakyamuni. Dawa means ‘month’ in Tibetan. The term Saka comes from Tibetan astrology—the Saka star is associated with the full moon of this month. Saka Dawa observations take place in the fourth Tibetan month of each year, which in 2020 begins on May 23 and e...
Simple Compassionate Abiding Meditation - 1
May 23, 2020 01:30 - 15 minutes - 7.31 MBIn order to be able to stay present in the experience of suffering, we have to able to rest there. Bringing awareness to the suffering of ourselves and others is a very loving thing to do. It also strengthens endurance in times of suffering. In the process of doing this, we can discover that pain and suffering are not the same. Practicing this simple meditation extends stability and the energy to be able to stay with suffering, which expands our ability to love. The practice can be ...
Death will Come
May 17, 2020 00:00 - 17 minutes - 8.24 MBDeath comes. Then what? Death is inevitable, so knowing how to integrate it is necessary, but what we might not know is that inside death are a number of beautiful teachings on life. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.
The Sweet Joy of the Way
May 09, 2020 15:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBLive in joy, in love, Even among those who hate. Live in joy, in health. Even among the afflicted. Live in joy, in peace, Even among the troubled. Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, Know the sweet joy of the way. —The Buddha, from the Dhammapada When things pile up and when we get overwhelmed, it’s easy to leave our natural state of ease and joy and to enter into a constricted state. We might even mistakenly identify this as virtue if we do it during a s...
Bring More Joy into Your Life
May 03, 2020 02:00 - 19 minutes - 45 MBIn challenging times, how do you cultivate more joy? If you're suffering, one way is to suffer better. Who knew? Hear this and three other ways to increase joy. All of these practices can be used any time, any place. Buddhism has so many tools for waking up to the life you have, regardless of circumstances. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.
Calm Abiding in the Midst of a Storm
April 29, 2020 04:00 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBEverything you need to awaken is right here, right now. It's your life. Will you live it? Dekeling, in Tibetan, means 'a place of happiness'. Our offering is to support for your dharma practice & your life in an accessible, inclusive way. All are welcome. All are very welcome. https://www.dekeling.online/ The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here.