I'm away this week, so we're revisiting the very first episode of the podcast. Originally titled “On Meditation: An Uncommon View,” it now becomes episode 25.

Meditation is often framed as a self-help tool—to reduce stress, manage pain, improve sleep, or boost performance. And yes, science supports all of that. But the original intention, as taught by the Buddha, was something much deeper: a path to wake up from suffering, discover wisdom, cultivate compassion, and live with courage.

This episode explores meditation as a spiritual practice—a way to move beyond conventional thinking and connect with your natural clarity, without relying on religious belief or cultural appropriation.

Topics discussed:

• Meditation as Self-Inquiry: In many wisdom traditions, the core aim is to understand the nature of mind. In Buddhism, this process is meditation.
• How Meditation Went Mainstream: Once seen as fringe, meditation is now widely accepted for its health benefits—though its deeper spiritual dimensions often get lost.
• Three Yanas (Vehicles) in Buddhism and Three Views of Meditation:
  • Hinayana (Foundational Vehicle): Focuses on personal liberation, calming the mind, and cultivating simplicity and discipline.
  • Mahayana (Great Vehicle): Emphasizes compassion, the bodhisattva path, and using meditation to benefit others.
  • Vajrayana (Indestructible Vehicle): A mystical path where meditation serves as a direct means to awakening and transformation.

Instead of approaching meditation only for outcomes like stress relief, what happens if we let it reveal something deeper?

As always, Buddhism Beyond Belief invites you to explore for yourself—don’t take my word for it.

For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha for more connection with community and with me.

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Produced by Citizens of Sound

Music by: Derek O'Brien

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