Diggin' the Dharma

Jon Aaron and Doug Smith

Diggin' the Dharma with Jon Aaron and Doug Smith is a relaxed discussion of the Buddhist dharma between friends. Jon's interest centers around practice, while Doug's centers around scholarship of the early material, so their approaches balance practice with study. Their discussions will be approachable to a broad audience of Buddhists and those curious about Buddhism, and they welcome questions and comments. Jon is a teacher at Space2Meditate and NY Insight Meditation Center and a well known teacher and trainer of teachers of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Doug has a PhD in Philosophy and runs Doug's Dharma on YouTube and the Online Dharma Institute, where he gives courses on early Buddhism. Find them at: https://digginthedharma.com/

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161 episodes
Updated May 24

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Episodes161

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Oct 22, 2023 · 26 min
Is Karma Collective or Individual?
Send us Fan Mail Is there such a thing as collective karma? Doug and Jon will consider the picture of karma given in early Buddhism, and compare it to the idea of collective karma, or alternately to a notion of 'aggregate' karma. How does karma work among groups of people? Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Oct 15, 2023 · 30 min
How Do We Know What Response is Appropriate?
Send us Fan Mail The world events of the past week, added, perhaps to our own personal challenges, may bring up the question of how to respond. Meditation is not meant as an escape from these challenges. Rather, when integrated with the teachings of the Dharma, it can set the groundwork for an appropriate response to arise within any circumstance. This week, Doug and Jon explore how this works for them in practical and and spiritual ways. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Oct 8, 2023 · 26 min
Balancing our Effort in Meditation
Send us Fan Mail Among the factors of the Eightfold Noble Path is Right Effort. This is part of the meditation path, and for many, finding the right energy in our meditation practice is a big challenge. Doug and Jon discuss how they approach this and hopefully give some useful tips. Right Effort Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Oct 1, 2023 · 28 min
Buddhist Rupas and Other Images: is this idol worship?
Send us Fan Mail Many folks with western religious upbringings find discomfort when faced, at least in a practice context, with a Buddha Rupa (statue) or other images and of course even more so when bowing or offerings are encouraged. In this episode we'll talk about Buddha images: their history, practices we might use with them, as well as discuss the show on display at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC on early Buddhist artwork. Two of Doug's Videos: Buddhism and Icons: Prohibition to "Idolatry" -- https://youtu.be/qRqxuxS1qUg Tree & Serpent: New Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum -- https://youtu.be/RG3VjmMe6tY Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 24, 2023 · 28 min
Let's Talk About the Two Truths
Send us Fan Mail We decided this week to speak about the Two Truths-- the Relative and the Absolute, or the Mundane and the Ultimate. Are they real or just another construct? How did they find their way into the Buddhist teachings? How can we practice with them today? Is there even something to practice? Doug's Videos on the Two Truths: The Buddhist Doctrine of Two Truths: Origins -- https://youtu.be/qL_sspJzQx8 The Buddhist Doctrine of Two Truths: Abhidharma and Nagarjuna -- https://youtu.be/yBKK1HvieqU Is the Two Truths Doctrine a Problem for Early Buddhism? -- https://youtu.be/q5nHLz1xoSU Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Sep 3, 2023 · 26 min
Elemental Practice
Send us Fan Mail There are many ways of investigating experience, including the six elements of earth, water, fire, air (wind), space, and consciousness. In this episode, we discuss how these practices can lead to a direct insight into the nature of self. Playlist of Doug's Dharma videos on the elements: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0akoU_OszRhAhUt9nXmf4wfgkBdHRAfx Book Recommendation: Living as a River, by Bodhipaksa Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Aug 27, 2023 · 28 min
It's All Practice-- or it can be!
Send us Fan Mail Exercise is important for our bodies and minds. How do we approach exercise as a meditation ? Can we exercise mindfully, and what would that look like? In fact, any activity we do can be a meditation practice if we remember. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Aug 20, 2023 · 22 min
Turning Toward What is Here-- Whether You Like or Not.
Send us Fan Mail Being in the present moment also means acceptance of the present moment whether we like it or not. This is a key to Buddhist practice and a key to freedom. It's also a challenge, mainly when what is present is unacceptable. In this episode, we discuss how we practice (or not) acceptance. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Aug 13, 2023 · 28 min
The Fire Sermon
Send us Fan Mail Dealing with wildfires associated with global warming turns our mind to one of the Buddha's most famous and trenchant suttas, his third discourse, the Fire Sermon. Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato: https://suttacentral.net/sn35.28/en/sujato Translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi: https://suttacentral.net/sn35.28/en/bodhi Doug's video: https://youtu.be/dhTULnK8BWo Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Aug 6, 2023 · 31 min
Listener Questions and Responses: Non-Judgment, Ethics, and Working with Unwanted Criticism
Send us Fan Mail Doug and Jon respond to three member questions on how to reconcile non-judgment in our practice with the role of ethics, as well as how we can best deal with personal criticism and even aggression from co-workers. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jul 30, 2023 · 29 min
Listener Questions and Responses: The Roles of Teachers and Trauma in the Path
Send us Fan Mail In this listener Q&A, Doug and Jon answer two questions: teachers' roles in guiding their students in the dharma, and how our past trauma might influence our journey. We don't pretend to have specific answers, but these wonderful questions elicited a wonderful discussion. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jul 2, 2023 · 23 min
Dealing with the "Polycrisis"
Send us Fan Mail The time we are living through just now has been termed a poly-crisis. A combination of existential crises happening all at once. Whether it's climate change, the war in Ukraine, pandemics, worldwide hunger, refugees, civil strive. . . we are experiencing it all directly or indirectly. How can our practice help? Does it help? Doug and Jon reflect on their own experience of this. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jun 25, 2023 · 25 min
Love but not Attachment
Send us Fan Mail How do we negotiate the Buddha's teachings on craving and clinging with our deep love of family and friends? What is the difference between true love and "attached love," and when does attached love lead to dukkha? This is an ongoing question. The Buddha did expect monastics to be celibate and to leave their families but he did not expect this of householders. Later traditions had other options. Still, the teaching asks us to beware of love based on attachment and clinging. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jun 18, 2023 · 31 min
Let's Talk about Buddha Nature
Send us Fan Mail Buddha Nature is a concept that arises primarily in the Mahayana Buddhist teachings, though without using that language, specifically, could certainly be interpreted within the early teachings as well. The most famous Koan on this is "Does a Dog of Buddha Nature?" Doug and Jon have a spirited and at times confusing discussion on this. Join in with us! Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jun 11, 2023 · 24 min
What Is "Now"? What Was "Now"? What will be "Now"?
Send us Fan Mail The present moment seems to come and go, but is that the case? What is the present moment anyway? This is a deep philosophical question and certainly a central point of Buddhist practice. Doug and Jon look at the topic from a number of different points of view . It's always a fun discussion! Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Jun 4, 2023 · 26 min
Speak Kindly and Don't Carry a Stick!
Send us Fan Mail In these days of divisiveness, it's easy to get into political arguments or, at the very least, think ill thoughts about some of our leaders. The Buddha's words on wise speech can be a useful guide. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
May 28, 2023 · 24 min
Do You Believe in Magic??
Send us Fan Mail A recent comment on our website prompted a discussion about whether certain Buddhist practices (Lovingkindness for instance) involve magical thinking. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
May 21, 2023 · 25 min
The Guardians of the World
Send us Fan Mail Doug and Jon discuss two natural abilities we have to skillfully maneuver through the world. The Buddha discussed them as "guardians of the world" (Iti. 42). Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
May 14, 2023 · 26 min
Does Memory have a Role in Mindfulness?
Send us Fan Mail The Pāli word Sati literally means "remember' but also has the meaning of Mindfulness. The question of memory in mindfulness practices is the starting point of our discussion in this week's episode. Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/
Apr 30, 2023 · 25 min
Secular Buddhism. . . Is that a thing?
Send us Fan Mail Recently we discussed a kind of secularized Buddhist practice with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Today we discuss the topic of secular Buddhism. What do we mean by "secular" or "religious"? How can such concepts (and they are just concepts) be helpful or not? Support the show Go to our website to leave a comment, buy us a coffee, or see further notes and links: https://digginthedharma.com/