Episode #24 — Right Action = Right Acts
Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:00:39 +0000
Most religious systems demand and teach behavioral norms and use fear as an incentive. If you do a bad deed, one can be expected to suffer at the hands of God. Therefore, if you do not want to be punished, do not do the forbidden deed. The laws of most countries are the same way [...]...

  Episode #23 — Right Thoughts About Thoughts
Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:54:05 +0000
Now, let’s take a look at Right Thought. In order to escape the misery of the unsatisfactory world which is impermanent, we must have Right Thoughts at all times. We must, at all times, think, “This world is impermanent and any situation I am in is impermanent. If I am patient this will pass. I must quit insisting things and [...]...

  Episode #22 — Right Thinking or Right View
Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:08:44 +0000
I cannot overstate this: when we remember that everything is impermanent and has a beginning and an end, nothing will be able to upset our happiness and peace. What could? This we will call Right Understanding or Right View. We must develop this through knowing the facts with our minds and giving mental assent and [...]...

  Episode #21 — Making Better Nows Now
Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:03:20 +0000
Wisdom teaches us to accept the NOW, as it is with no judgments, no pretty and no ugly: just IS. ISNESS. NOWNESS. RIGHT NOWNESS. Do you remember a single moment in your life that wasn’t right now? Can you say, “Wow. I had a good time yesterday today.” Or, “I had the most wonderful tomorrow today.” Of course [...]...

  Episode #20 — Happening to Life — Orthodoxy Transforming
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:44:48 +0000
In the last podcast episode we revealed the fourth great spiritual truth that everything is exactly as it must be. Since the entire world as we understand it and all relationships in it are interconnected by infinite causes and effects, nothing is out of place. Everything is exactly as it MUST be. We might not [...]...

  Episode #19 — Everything is As It Must Be — Orthodoxy Transforming
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:41:23 +0000
In the last episode of this series we saw that everything around us, including us, is the result of cause and effect. Because of that, this. Because of this, that. Nothing escapes this third great truth of spirituality. Now, we will look at the fourth great truth: one most people find very difficult to accept. The [...]...

  Episode #18 — Because of this, that — Orthodoxy Transforming
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:37:57 +0000
In the last podcast I promised we would look at the third great spiritual truth. Let’s review. The first great spiritual truth is that everything has a beginning and an end. The second is that nothing is as it seems. These two truths are undeniable, obvious and observable by anyone who will be quiet long [...]...

  Episode #17 — Immediacy — Orthodoxy Transforming
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:34:23 +0000
Now, let’s look at another benefit of these two truths we have learned. What are those truths we have learned so far? I.                    Everything has a beginning and an end. II.                  Nothing is as it seems These two truths, so fundamental and self-evident have wide implications for the spiritual life. They are available to everyone...

  Episode #16 — Gratitude and Wonder — Orthodoxy Transforming
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:25:08 +0000
I want to keep you motivated on this spiritual path. So, like the last podcast, let’s look at more practical benefits of our new understanding and steps toward a spiritual lifestyle. We have already seen that by embracing the temporary nature of everything that anger will vanish and delight will fill our daily moments if [...]...

  Episode #15 — Embracing Others –Orthodoxy Transforming
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:21:23 +0000
I remember watching someone cremated on the banks of the Ganges River. The only things left of the loved one were a pile of brittle, burnt bones. Minerals. Get rid of the water and the air, and you have minerals. And rocks are definitely non-human parts. Or at least we think so until we begin [...]...

  Episode #14 — Patience and Delight –Orthodoxy Transforming
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:17:31 +0000
Everything is temporary, the first great spiritual step. If you really believe everything is temporary, that everything has a beginning and an end, what will your behavior look like? For one thing, patience will increase 100 fold. Why? Because you know that whatever you are facing will change if you wait. Since everything changes, negative [...]...