Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast

Setting the record straight that Buddhism is not a religion, not all Buddhists are vegetarian, we do not worship false idols, and the Buddha was not a God, the son of God, or even a messenger of God.

Perhaps the wisest thing we can do isn't to necessarily acquire additional knowledge, but to unlearn some of what we thought we knew in the first place. Let's hold what we know very lightly, without any grasping or attachment, for we might need to let it go someday.

If life is a road trip in the car, who is driving and deciding which path to take? Are you behind the wheel, or did you get on a bus with millions of other people, all living the same life, heading in the same direction, just sitting there... sometimes until the very last stop? We can get off the bus and change direction at any point if we're not happy with where we are, so the first step is to ask ourselves: who's driving, and are we happy with where we're headed?

How I stopped blaming other people for the way I feel. The problem isn't frustrating situations or annoying people, it's that I keep getting annoyed and frustrated. It's not you.. it's me.

I was recently interviewed by Steve Prussack on his Juice Guru Radio Show, and this is a recorded portion of that live conversation. If you know someone who might benefit from the message and invitation in Buddhist Boot Camp, go ahead and send them this audio clip as a good place to start, or enjoy it as a good reminder.

We either enjoy the ebb and flow of the tide, or we try to fight the ocean. Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.

The first chapter from Faithfully Religionless.

The power of gratitude and why it's so important.

A quick pep talk reminder that our actions convey our priorities.

A couple of sample chapters from Buddhist Boot Camp. Each chapter is only a page or two long and can be read in any order. Keep a copy of the book on your nightstand and read just one chapter each day.

Our thoughts are rarely ever truly our own; they are shaped by the people around us, current events, and media exposure. Even when we think of something ourselves (or we think we do), it's important to remember that the mind is strangely capable of believing just about anything in order to avoid internal conflict.

The differences and similarities between prayer and meditation, and how each supports the other.

A list of some books I have very much enjoyed reading or listening to, and why I recommend each one. To see the list and links from which to order these titles and more, please visit https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/bookshelf and then comment back with which books you liked and which you absolutely loved. Enjoy!

Mindful money and time management, raising awareness of our habits, value assessments, enjoying the freedom that accompanies having less instead of more, and introducing joy to generosity. Do you have spending habits or investment habits? Your discipline reflects your priorities.

If true love is unconditional, then if you only love someone because they love you back (or with the expectation that they always will), is it love at all?

A couple of questions from this month's live stream. The first is about boundaries with an estranged family member, and the other is about the two ways in which we get our sense of self-worth and value. Prepare questions in advance for next month's live, video Q&A on Patreon, and I'll continue recording additional episodes in the meantime. Thank you for joining our live discussions.

Before adding stuff to your life in an ongoing effort to make it better, contemplate what you can take out that's making it less than ideal in the first place. It could be a person, a job, a closely-held belief, perspective, attitude, opinion, etc.

On a slightly more serious note, in this podcast episode, I explain why I'm "Faithfully Religionless." Not against religion, just don't think we need one in order to be ethical or to have faith. The next episode will be shorter and more lighthearted, I promise! :)

This month's recording of the live Q&A hosted on Facebook was about breakups, death, jealousy, kids, marriage, and unreasonable expectations. To find out when the next live Q&A will take place, subscribe to our monthly email at BuddhistBootCamp.com, where you can also link to show your support on Patreon.

Simplify your life even more, and avoid decision fatigue, by setting certain standards for yourself in advance. This way almost every decision would already be made for you, by you, ahead of time.

Everything is subject to time, place, and circumstance, so stay flexible, fluid, and open-minded. Celebrate Impermanence!

You can't be happy if you're not living in line with your own core values. And you can't live in line with your values if you don't even know what they are. Companies have a vision statement, code of conduct, and ethics that they strive to operate by. Write yours down.

Replacing the habit of comparing with accepting.

Forgiveness is a gift that you give to yourself.

We can only use the problem-solving tools we've got, which is why it's best to have a wide selection instead of just one. Those with only a hammer try to solve everything by beating it to death (not an ideal solution in circumstances that call for a gentle touch), but those with only a white glove are equally ill-equipped in situations that call for elbow grease. So how many tools do you have in your belt? Can you be gentle yet assertive without being aggressive? Loving, kind, and compassionate but never hateful? Because as Maya Angelou said, "Hate has caused many problems in the world, but hasn't solved one yet." Learn the tools of nonviolent communication to use in some situations, for example, and quiet contemplation in others. Gasoline is great for starting a fire but terrible at putting it out. Namaste. Do you enjoy these podcasts? Please show your support at BuddhistBootCamp.com/support

I am a lot of things and not one of them defines me. You are also many things, so don't limit yourself to just a few. Do you enjoy these podcasts? Please show your support at BuddhistBootCamp.com/support

There is a difference between always being happy and always being in a good mood. Do you enjoy these podcasts? Please show your support at BuddhistBootCamp.com/support

If you regularly blame other people for something that is not their fault, then you also make it their job to fix what is your own responsibility to maintain, like your inner peace. Do you enjoy these podcasts? Please show your support at BuddhistBootCamp.com/support

Growing away from possessiveness toward a collaboration and co-creation of transformative relationships.

If we focus on everything that's wrong in the world or in our lives, then we're overlooking everything that's right. The trick is to zoom out and look at the big picture.

Anger is a mask that covers hurt feelings or fear. If we learn to explain our anger instead of expressing it, we will immediately move away from hatred and rage, and gently open the door to solutions and understanding.

If you respond to any situation in life by saying, "This shouldn't be happening," you will experience anger, anxiety, despair, and hopelessness, which are significantly worse than the situation itself. We have a choice: we can either resist change (which leads to a life-long struggle with everything and everyone around us), OR we can gently navigate through all the inevitable twists and turns.

The important difference between Family and Relatives.

Ever want to focus on something but your mind keeps drifting away to whatever IT wants to think about, or really want to stop thinking about something but your mind "can't help it?" That's because you've never trained your mind to listen to you, and have allowed it to do whatever it wants. It's time to train it, slowly but surely...

The way we do one thing is the way we do everything. If we practice letting go of the little things, we exercise the same muscle with which we can then let go of the big stuff in life (from old opinions, beliefs, judgments, and resentments).

This episode is about the back story of Buddhist Boot Camp, and how the blog to book to podcast came to be.