Virtual Sangha Podcast

Mike was asked to participate in an interview about Buddhism.

This is an extremely brief intro to the Five Hinderances. My hope is that it can provide an entry point for your reflection and further study in understanding which obstacle may be holding back your practice at any moment.

The Buddhist "Devil," Mara, aka The Wicked One, reads the Buddha's bucket list and encourages the Fully Enlightened One to leave our world behind.

Can lay folks also make progress in the path? Read along:https://suttacentral.net/an8.23https://suttacentral.net/sn41.5

Mike reads Chapter 2 of the Vimalakirti Sutra.https://virtualsangha.org

The Buddha gives advice for lay people, how they can have happiness in this life and the next.Read along: https://suttacentral.net/an8.54/en/sujato

Join in our morning practice, modeled after our regular practice at the temple. Follow along at https://virtualsangha.org/practiceIncense Offering, Three Refuges, Heart Sutra, Five Precepts, Meditation with Gatha, Sharing the Merit

https://virtualsangha.org

Mike learns about Jay's journey. They discuss the importance of connecting with a community, and how they experience the relationship between secular and traditional Buddhism.

Why keep the precepts?Study and practice with our online Buddhist Sangha at https://virtualsangha.org

Chris shares a talk on the subject of Right Effort.Study and practice with our online Buddhist Discord at https://virtualsangha.org.

Always avoid speech that is untrue, pointless, or harmful, and be mindful of proper timing when explaining what you know to be true and beneficial.

Right Intention, samma-saṅkappa, also called Right Thought, is the wholesome application of the mind, described in MN 19.Read along at https://virtualsangha.org/right-intention-mn-19/

Nick-Chöden shares his deep connection to both Buddhism and Christianity. His Buddhist roots trace back to his mother's practice of Nichiren Shōshū, which was followed by a decades-long practice of Tibetan Buddhism that began in his early thirties. The pinnacle of his Tibetan practice was his ordination as a novice monk in 2012 by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in India, who granted him the ordination name Tenzin Chöden. Nick-Chöden is also a dedicated participant in the Thích Nhất Hạnh Plum Village Zen tradition. Complementing his Buddhist path, he holds a Master of Divinity degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary, was ordained a Reverend in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and currently an Associate Pastor in San Francisco as a self-described Buddhist-Christian.Warning: This episode contains a description of self-harm. If you or someone you know is struggling, please visit https://virtualsangha.org/helpline

This is how we chant the Heart Sutra at our English services.

Pam and Mike talk about the Dhammapada.Check out Pam's Dharma Art Journal at:https://www.dharmaartjournal.com/Dhammapada app:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intradarma.dhammapada.en_buddharakkhita&pcampaignid=web_shareJoin the discord at https://virtualsangha.org

How important is Right View? What does Right View even mean?Read along in the suttas and find out:https://suttacentral.net/an1.306-315/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=none&highlight=false&script=latinhttps://suttacentral.net/mn9/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=none&highlight=false&script=latinFind other resources and connect with our Buddhist Discord server at https://virtualsangha.org

Mike here... feeling burnt out today. Let's take another look at SN 45.8, especially the section on Right Effort, and see if I can take some motivation from it.https://virtualsangha.org

https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=main&highlight=falseJoin our Buddhist Discord: https://virtualsangha.org

Mike reads the discourse on non-self, and the heart sutra.