Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast: Recent Episodes
Timber Hawkeye
The intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire. Timber Hawkeye, bestselling author of Buddhist Boot Camp and Faithfully Religionless, offers a secular approach to being at peace with the world, both within and around us. As the Dalai Lama says, "Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist, use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are."
If we don’t say YES authentically, we say yes resentfully. And whenever we say we "have to" do something, we identify as victims, instead of saying we CHOOSE to or, better yet, we GET to!
Are we only compassionate to an extent and then turn cold? Do we have a sense of compassion for wounds we can see but not others? Where do we draw the line? Is there a line? I believe compassion has no contingencies. The invitation is for us to open our hearts to understand why ALL people behave the way they do, and even empathize if they lack certain emotional capacities.
In times of despair, it is important to remember that our current situation is not our final destination. To get through the darkness, I have often had to use the mantra "This is a bruise, not a tattoo." If you find value in these videos, please show your support at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support — Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
What is the meaning of Integrity? How do you define it? And do you have the courage to build your life around your answer?
Once we understand the difference between Judgment and Discernment, we understand the difference between Equity and Equality. Whenever I find myself thinking something is unfair, I urge myself to think again using a wider lens that doesn't place me at the center of universe.
We claim to fully understand what we have only partially experienced, and we dismiss other people's reality as invalid if it contradicts our own. That's our ego playing tricks on us until we argue and fight to prove that we are right by making someone else wrong. Yogananda called it "Feeling tall by cutting of the heads of other men." The entire concept that you are somehow separate from others is an illusion. We are here to snap out of our self-importance.
Understand your feelings and keep track of patterns that influence your emotional responses in life. Over time, you will learn to regulate your feelings in healthier ways, and stop blaming others for your state of mind.
As long as I think there is a war inside of me, the battle will continue, but struggle is not a requirement. We can call a truce, enter a peace agreement, and stop fighting. If we want inner-peace, we must be peaceful.
What would life look like if we stopped beating ourselves up with guilt and shame, and started loving ourselves unconditionally?
Spiritual practice is not what happens at church or on the meditation cushion (that’s spiritual ritual), Spiritual Practice is how you behave throughout the day. Here’s a 6-minute episode kick-in-the-🍑 :) Enjoy and share with others.
Don't believe everything you think because the mind can play tricks on you. Familiarize yourself with some of the mind's shenanigans, and you'll stop believing everything you think.
When you can't understand why people do what they do (whether it's someone you know or atrocities on the news), try this shift in outlook, and I bet you'll immediately see yourself in everyone else. Don't try to use your logic, use your heart instead!
Your home and your friendships, relationships, or marriage, are to be your safe haven and happy place, not another battle you have to fight. May we all Live In Peace.
My nose was congested when recording this on the first day I finally felt well enough to tape this episode. If you don't make time for your wellness, you will be forced to take time for your illness. Case in point! Life is not a race. People say they want a life of leisure but rarely do anything leisurely... slow down!
This is a coping skill when we are overwhelmed by a strong feeling that overshadows everything else. My takeaway: if it's not time to hit the Panic Button, don't hit the Panic Button! :)
We are all wounded in ways we don't always understand or even know about. You sometimes can't even see the wound, but you still experience its symptoms: your reactions, aversions, opinions, preferences, and biases, are often indicators of trauma, so don't ignore, escape, deny, or try to numb the symptoms, pay attention to them; awareness is the first step to healing.
Everything is in a constant state of change, and sometimes it can be very difficult for many of us to keep up. Resistance creates suffering, so acceptance is the only way forward, but some learning curves are steeper than others. Be gentle with yourself and with everyone else.
Some people will like you, others will hate you, and neither would have anything to do with you. All Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast episodes are available with captions on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4J225QZyF0o
A worry that comes up in your mind is like getting a phone call from an unknown number. When you don't have all the information, you can just hit the red button to make it go away. They will either leave a voicemail and you will deal with it later, or they will hang up. Either way, there is nothing to worry about.
I found myself surprisingly motivated by pessimistic thoughts, driven to action by what I previously thought was a "negative" perspective, but I now realize is neither "good" nor "bad," it's just another voice that needs to have equal say during the decision-making process. Now pessimism has a "seat at the table," so to speak. What motivates you?
That which we don't like about someone else is often what we dislike about ourselves. So, next time someone triggers you, think to yourself "Thank you" instead of "F-you" because they are reflecting a side of you that you try to ignore.
What you DON'T do is as important as what you do (if not more so). So, instead of thinking you need to do MORE of something in order to be more mindful or spiritual or healthy, what do you need to STOP doing because it's working against you?
Does the way you cope with one challenge cause another problem down the line, sometimes even bigger than the initial difficulty with which your coping mechanism was designed to help? It's important to have multiple tools so we don't try to solve everything with food, for example, which would be like trying to build with only a hammer.
You get upset with people as if life has a script and they need to play along. There is no script. And nobody is under contract to act according to you. When I get upset with someone, this is the 3-minute episode I bring to mind to calm down.
If we chase happiness by seeking sense pleasures and avoiding unpleasant sensations, attachment to wealth and praise, or aversion to loss and blame, we may gain temporary happiness, but it will be accompanied by fear, restlessness, and concern, all of which make us miserable. But there is another way...
Nothing hurts the same way forever, though sometimes it seems right that it should. Gauge your pain by monitoring its intensity, frequency, and duration.
When we are emotionally triggered, we get tunnel vision and only see things from our perspective. We feel so wronged that our brains actually rationalize irrational behavior (like aggression) when we most need to remain calm and patient.
It's not literally about the people upstairs, it's about the few who make decisions that affect the many.
Is it possible to pay too much attention and lose perspective? Let's not miss the forest for the trees, nor the trees for the forest.
Understing what's going on with people who don't walk the talk. Are they hypocritical or reasonable? Is it possible for us to be driven by conflicting intentions, or is it our old friend Cognitive Dissonance? Does doing this create turmoil within? Only you can answer that for yourself.
Get curious about the many paths up this mountain of life, not just the trail most traveled. Neurodivergents are also known as being on the autism spectrum, processing data and feelings in ways that neurotypicals don't always understand, let alone accept. It's an operating system that works just fine, though not always compatible with others (like Android and Apple). This was one of the most difficult episodes for me to record, thank you for receiving it with gentle grace and kindness, I appreciate you.
Why do some survive when others don't? Is it just luck, or is there a bigger reason behind it? Do we look for the meaning behind a second chance, or do we give it meaning by what we do with it?
Answering the question "Who Am I?" (without confusing identity with personality) is a lifelong journey of development, creation, and realization.
We either actively create the balance we seek or we are creating the imbalance we try to escape. To listen with captions, watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/N80LPA6mN3U
Are you what the Buddha called a Hungry Ghost? If you expect the world to run according to you, that expectation is the source of your misery, not anybody or anything else. And if this accountability feels like an attack to someone, they are not yet ready to acknowledge their own behavior. This episode is about the entitlement, the greed, the self-centeredness, and general preoccupation with our own desires at the expense of others.
How far must you go off the path before you realize you are off of it? If you define it well enough and frequently check, the reward of being on the path is enough motivation not to veer off.
Buddhism is called a practice, and we are practitioners. As such, we exercise mindful conduct, speech, resolve, livelihood, effort, and so on, the same way athletes exercise their skills between games. We are not perfect, but even professional basketball players don't make every shot.
It's impossible to stop wanting things, but there is a difference between wholesome desires and being blinded by greed. Buddhism is a practice of discernment with the intention to reduce suffering (for ourselves and others). It's easy to spot greed out in the world, but if we are mindful, we can spot it in our own thoughts and actions as well.
This is a call for us to rise as Soldiers of Peace in the Army of Love and put mindfulness into action, which instills a sense of purpose into our every thought, word, and action, because our beliefs alone don't make us "better people," our behavior does. So.. buckle up!
The defense mechanisms we developed during one time in our lives in order to protect ourselves can work against us if we don't let them go when they no longer serve their initial purpose. If you find value in these videos, please show your support at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support or with as little as $1/month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp
Liberate yourself from anguish and anxiety by embracing uncertainty. After all, anything else is an illusion, isn't it? 🤔
Nobody will choose to let go of what they still believe has value. We often get stuck thinking something improves our lives, we lose sight of how our lives might improve if we let go of it completely. And some people don’t let go of what is detrimental to them because they don’t know how; they don’t have the tools or skills or.. the screwdriver with which to unscrew themselves. To keep the podcast sponsor free, show your support at https://patreon.com/buddhistbootcamp
Most of us like being in control, yet the only thing we actually CAN control is the one thing we don't: our composure. Imagine responding to emotions and events with grace instead of reacting with rage. To listen with captions, visit https://youtu.be/XQzFCsqRq8I
Is it a big deal? Well.. that depends... Getting into the habit of asking yourself this question throughout the day will change the way you eat, drink, argue, text, relate to others, and dare I say... it will change your life (it's changing mine).
What we focus on, grows, and I made the mistake of focusing on what I wanted to change about myself, which only made it worse. What we think about, we bring about! So, what I needed to do (and will start doing from now on), is promote what I love instead of bashing what I hate (about myself and the world), because we see what we seek. I know there is beauty in the world (and in me), so if I don't see it, it's because I'm not looking at it. Seems so obvious now, but I failed to apply it to myself. The spiritual path is not linear... we zig-zag our way up this mountain, pause, re-evaluate, and keep going. Thank you for walking beside me on this journey
Give yourself the gift of depth by elaborating to better understand yourself and others, and strengthen your connections.
We all slip off the path from time to time. It's important to remember that a relapse is just a bruise, not a tattoo. In sports terms, it's like being down a point, not losing the game, and we are all still in the game.
Love and attachment are not the same thing, they are the healthy and unhealthy versions of the same thing. We get attached to items, people, ideas, beliefs, and opinions. The more attached we are, the less free we are. This episode is an abbreviation of a talk I gave on Sunday about the beauty of love without attachment, not because the love will last forever, but because nothing ever does.
These principles are helpful guides to ensure our actions are aligned with our beliefs. You can either accept these guidelines or reject them, amend or append, uphold or release; there is no wrong answer. The Buddha never told us WHAT to think, he told us to think! His intention was for us to contemplate WHY we do what we do. This is so we aren't even tempted to do certain things in the first place, not because we are told not to, but because doing them would be incongruent with mindful living. I hope these principles enrich your life as much as they have mine. If you find value in these videos, please show your support at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support
People seldom ask themselves if they are ready to love before they decide to get into a relationship or to have kids, they just want to BE loved and simply assume they will be able to love in return. For some, loving comes easily because they aren’t judgmental, but for many, judgment comes easily, making love difficult to find. What’s in question is no longer whether or not we can love freely, it is suddenly a discussion about us judging compulsively. Thankfully, we are not limited, restricted, or confined by our past, we are shaped by what we decide to do in the present. Have a listen to this 5-minute episode, and here is the link to the episode with captions if you want to share it with others: https://youtu.be/cjsslmpdHDI
It's a huge relief to distinguish between what is for us to decide and what is out of our hands. Some things are not up to us, yet we try to control every step of the process AND the outcome, which causes unnecessary stress and anxiety. The simple mantra "It's not up to me," keeps me grounded, and I hope it helps you as well. To listen to the episode with captions, visit the Buddhist Boot Camp YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/jE9l6FHocH4
In celebration of Pride Month, many people ask "What is the Buddhist view on homosexuality?" Here is the answer you can share with everyone you know: https://youtu.be/9WP3534V83Y
Fear will run and ruin your life if you let it. The trick is to see fear as a speed bump, not a dead-end street. This episode is only five minutes long, but it can stay with you for a lifetime. The Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast is commercial-free without ads or sponsorships thanks to listeners like you who donate as little as $1 a month through patreon.com/buddhistbootcamp Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
What does "Normal" even mean? To what lengths are we willing go to fit in? From a very young age, I was told something was wrong with me simply because I was different. Would you pretend to be someone you're not in order to be liked and admired, celebrated or accepted? Would you commit a crime? Do drugs? Work 80 hours a week? Wear certain clothes to fit-in? Have kids? Sign a 30-year loan? Would you do what feels unnatural to you simply because it's expected of you? To what end? As Ani DiFranco said, "I was four years old when they showed me a picture of three oranges and a pear. They asked me which one was different and does not belong? They taught me that different was wrong." This short podcast episode is a glimpse into my own journey to where I am today.
Have you ever wondered why you have the urge to share your opinion with people without being asked? Even some of the information we THINK is helpful, caring, and kind, is actually demoralizing, hostile, and reeks of a superiority complex lurking behind our urge to share. All too often, we have ulterior motives when we dump our opinions on others unsolicited.
All sorts of random thoughts show up during the day and even while meditating, so we need a bouncer to decide which thoughts get to enter our minds, which have to stand outside, and which are banned for life. To listen with captions, visit: https://youtu.be/XnUAJB3Y0Xk
We think happiness will result from accumulating one instant gratification after another, but each gratifying moment is so brief, we spend more time chasing happiness than being happy. Practice not giving the mind everything it wants.
Inside of you there is a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time. If you find value in these videos, please show your support at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support or with as little as $1/month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp • You can schedule a one-on-one session at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/meet — Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Effort is a direct reflection of our dedication and commitment. If you find value in these videos, please show your support at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support or with as little as $1/month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp • You can schedule a one-on-one session at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/meet
This is the recording of Timber's talk at a local church this morning, all about Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages, Clay Davidson's Unconditional Love, and an uncomfortable look in the mirror to see where we still hold judgment about how others do things, how we fail to love people the way they want to be loved (insisting instead on loving them the way we want), and how loving God fits into all this (since this was at a New Thought fellowship, after all, and Timber is all about incorporating anything we can learn from ancient teachings to modern psychology. There's value in it all). Enjoy. If you find value in these Podcast episodes, show your support at https://buddhistbootcamp.com/support
Have so many feelings and don’t know what to do with them? I’ve been taught to avoid identifying with them or even claim them as my own, just observe the feelings with curiosity from a place of serenity, because it’s the only place from which we can see things clearly. If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support or with as little as $1/month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp
• You can schedule a one-on-one session at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/meet
— Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Do your decisions reflect that you care about your well-being or that you don't? Why are we so dismissive of our own divinity and worth? If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Make anything that distracts you from your chosen path unappealing by adjusting your focus. If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Why meditate? What's the point? Directing our attention where we choose is how we learn to no longer get distracted by outside circumstances. That's enough incentive for me to make Sit Happen, because if you are easily provoked, you are easy to control. Determination and restraint can be your superpower. If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
If we have our claws so deeply embedded in the way we were, we get in the way of who we might become. Loosen your grip and rigidity to become more fluid. As Bruce Lee said, "Be Water, My Friend." If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Visibility leads to acceptance. Exposure to diversity opens our eyes first, our minds second, and our hearts third. When we understand and connect with one another, empathy and compassion become the inevitable end results. Let's talk about the problem with the Golden Rule and the importance of balancing introspection with outrospection.
If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Why do we acknowledge that a single individual can make a big difference in our lives (or in the world), but we rarely credit ourselves for the ability to do the same? If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Everybody is privileged in at least one way or another, and that's not a bad thing. What is privilege? What is it not? And what can we do with it? If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Lao Tzu said, "Care what other people think, and you will always be their prisoner." Liberate yourself by getting to know who you are according to you, not anybody else. If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Do we now live in a world where we have to find non-physical ways to show affection? Let's talk about deeper methods of intimacy like vulnerability and transparency, and use tools like empathy and compassion to connect with one another when a hug isn't an option (and even when it is). If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Why do we so easily accept bad news but are reluctant to embrace good news? Maybe enlightenment is not about finding some truth that sets us free, perhaps it’s about recognizing which lies hold us hostage? If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
What if instead of expressing our feelings we explained which of our needs are not being met? This practice requires awareness and vulnerability, but it could put an end to the shame and blame games we play in our relationships. Growth isn't easy, but every step forward brings us more clarity, understanding, and connection. So don't proceed with caution, proceed with curiosity. Good luck!
Are you living in line with your values? Do you know what your values are? This month's intervention holds up a mirror for us to look at ourselves and question whether we claim to be one way but act another. It's an invitation to live a congruent life in our integrity, where what we think, what we say, and what we do is all in alignment. If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Do you only show the ugliest side of you (the rude, mean, and nasty) to the people you love the most while strangers see the nicest side of you? Is it possible my dysfunctional family cutting people out of their lives left-and-right has a silver lining? Can we be kind to everyone? Even to our family members? If you find value in this Podcast, please show your support with just $1/month through https://patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
What you allow is what will continue, and what you put up with is what you end up with, so set your boundaries, communicate them, and stick to them with conviction because if you don't honor your own boundaries, why and how can you expect others to? Be tolerant and accepting, yes, but tolerant does not mean accepting what is harmful. Define what "harmful" means to you, and you'll be one step closer to setting healthy boundaries.
The best way to have uncomfortable conversations with family members or friends who don't see the problem or how you perceive them to be part of the problem, and how to avoid finger-pointing so we can have effective discussions rather than arguments. If you find value in these podcast episodes, please show your support through Venmo @TimberHawkeye or with as little as $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp or a one-time contribution at https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
God, Prayer, Grace, Mercy, if any of those topics make you uncomfortable, skip this episode; it's a recording of Sunday's sermon at Unity Church, bridging the gap between my upbringing, religion, and Buddhism, in a way to which people of faith can relate.
Our actions convey our priorities but we often fail to contemplate the WHY behind people's actions. When you argue with someone, you’re trying to prove WHO is right, but in a discussion, both parties are trying to find out WHAT is right. If you find value in the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast, please show your support with just $1/month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
I am typically calm and collected, so when I experienced a panic attack that triggered serious suicidal thoughts, it was mindfulness, meditation, surrender, and a mantra that brought me back to center. Years ago, I made a commitment to be vulnerable and transparent with all of you, and this was the lowest point in my adult life but I'd be a hack if I kept it from you. This is me. But I'm grateful for the tools with which to work through it all. Your brother, Timber Hawkeye
Losing all hope is freedom? What?! Have a listen to distinguish between faith and hope, and learn to hold all opinions lightly so there's room to accept other people's reality as valid as our own.
What changes to incorporate and how to remember which ones we want to implement in our lives when this pandemic is over, getting in touch with what (not who) we are grateful for, and helping each other out on this incredible journey we call life.
On March 22, 2020, Timber hosted a live video broadcast Q&A in lieu of in-person events that have been canceled due to travel restrictions and social distancing. There will be a series of these in the coming weeks for people to tune into via YouTube from all over the world. Visit the Buddhist Boot Camp website for upcoming event information and additional details.
Stop expecting perfection from others, it’s not like you can offer it in return. Consider this a relief from the burden of judgment. Forget the conventional idea of "perfection," and embrace Wabi Sabi instead.
The song that helped me get over my issues with the word "God" and ease my resistance to places of worship like synagogues, churches, temples, and so on...
I think we can do better than have great hindsight, we can train ourselves to have immediate insight. Here’s how…
If you admit you miss someone or something, does that mean your life is incomplete? I may have to take back what I've often said was true for me... I don't know. What do you think?
When you know the difference between feelings and emotions, you can pause between impulse and response to avoid expressing anger when what you're really feeling is hurt, for example. Don't let your mood affect your manners. Inner peace is in the present moment, everything else is an illusion.
We can't see clearly because we often focus on how things used to be, how we want them to be, how we think they should be, anywhere other than focusing on how things actually are. It's 2020, where's your focus?
What is your true nature? Are you living in line with it or with habitual tendencies that take you away from your true nature? Do we all have the same true nature? Lots of food for thought...
As Maya Angelou said, "I may be changed by what happens in my life, but I refuse to be reduced by it." We are never broken unless we believe we are. If you find value in this podcast and what to keep it commercial-free, it is available without ads thanks to listeners just like you who donate just $1/month through https://patreon.com/buddhistbootcamp. Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Can our life's purpose be to do things on purpose? Can something as ubiquitous as shopping be made altruistic if there's meaning behind each purchase? I mean, we can't all save the rainforest first hand, for example, but what if the clothes we buy support an organization that does? At the end of the day, it's not about what we get but what we give, so let's give life meaning. If you find value in these commercial-free podcast episodes, my online posts, monthly emails, and discussion circles, then head over to Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp to show your support with just $1/month to keep the conversation going. Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Talking yourself off the ledge by knowing your way home. If you find value in these commercial-free podcast episodes, my online posts, monthly emails, and discussion circles, then head over to https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp to show your support with just $1/month to keep the conversation going. Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Is desire the root of suffering as Buddhism suggests? The answer is tricky because it depends on whether you desire the journey or the destination; only one of those is available to you right now. So is desire really the root of suffering or, perhaps better stated, is happiness the absence of desire? Have a listen, think about it, and decide for yourself. This is just food for thought and if you find value in these commercial-free podcast episodes, the online posts, monthly emails, and discussion circles, then head over to Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp to show your support with just $1/month to keep the conversation going. Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Instead of changing who we are depending on outside circumstances, let's commit to being a certain way no-matter-what. Your response in any situation would be consistent with who you are rather than dependent on the whim of those around you. We don't so much "discover ourselves," we create who we are, so choose wisely.
This might just be the way for us to avoid judgment, segregation, and discrimination by making everyone instantly more relatable. If you find value in the ad-free Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast, Facebook page, public events, books, and programs, please consider showing your support with just $1 a month through https://patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
I don't meditate to control my thoughts, I meditate so my thoughts don't control me. Visit https://BuddhistBootCamp.com for more information, and if you find value in these commercial-free Podcast episodes, please show your support with just $1/month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
We must stop undermining our ability to be generous by overlooking the fact that generosity doesn’t have to be monetary.
The lifetime we are given (the good times, the terrible, and all the time in between), is a gift from a mysterious stranger. And the natural response to receiving a gift is gratitude, not a sense of entitlement. For more information about Timber Hawkeye, his books, TED Talk, and Books-to-Prisons project, please visit https://www.BuddhistBootCamp.com and consider showing your support for the Podcast, online posts, and monthly emails with just $1 a month at https://www.Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp
Why do you do what you do? What are you trying to accomplish? Are your actions fueled by the ego? I ask myself these questions all the time to make sure I don't get into the habit of letting my ego run the show. What motivates YOUR actions?
If you find value in this Podcast episode or my online posts, monthly emails, the books, or local events, please show your support with just $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp
Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Would your life choices be different if you were to set a single intention to motivate all of your actions? What's your intention?
Every experience triggers an emotion in us and we then make judgments, decisions, and act out of that emotion, unreliable and variable as it may be. Could the labels that offered us comfort and clarity at one time in our lives later cause our segregation and discomfort? The question to ask yourself is if your narrative is working for you or against you. If you find value in these commercial-free Podcast episodes or my online posts, monthly emails, the books or local events, please show your support with just $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.
Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy guilt. As my brother says, "Most of what weighs you down isn't even yours to carry." If you find value in these Podcast episodes, please show your support with just $1 a month through https://Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp These podcasts are available commercial-free thanks to listeners just like you who show their support. Thank you for being Soldiers of Peace in the Army of Love.
According to NVC (Non-Violent Communication), Unsolicited Advice is a form of violence; it's a way to bully someone by telling them what you think they "should" or "shouldn't" do. It can be very invasive when unwelcomed, so let's be mindful of what to do when we receive it, how to stop giving it, and the gift inherent in waiting for someone to ask for help rather than freely giving it. If you find value in these Podcast episodes, please show your support with just $1 a month through Patreon.com/BuddhistBootCamp These podcasts are available commercial-free thanks to listeners just like you who show their support. Thank you for being Soldiers of Peace in the Army of Love.
Life is going to throw some curve balls your way, take you up steep terrain, and surprise you with unexpected twists and turns. Are you ready to face it all like a champion so no challenge is overwhelming, or does everything in your life feel insurmountable? I say intentionally go without the very things you fear losing so you're prepared, trained, and ready! Keep your power instead of giving it away to fear.
Release your tight grip on things like identity wrapped in a job title or financial status, your car, home, or marital status. Keep stretching and expanding a flexible outlook as it ripples outward to encompass everything in the Universe. Turn to vapor, ice, liquid, and back again, without getting attached to any of it.
Do you have a close circle of friends who help you grow and evolve, or do you have an echo chamber in which everyone you know keeps you confined in a loop of destructive behavior, stunting your growth instead of promoting it?
Can you look at the world with a fresh, unbiased mind, and trust your own discernment instead of looking for someone whom you deem "credible" to validate it for you?
If your image (how people perceive you) is more important to you than your own values, you'd allow people to cross some boundaries (or not even set them in the first place), all to protect your image. Your actions convey your priorities, so where does your image rank compared to your core values?
In response to the Buddhist invitation to "Do No Harm," which I think is impossible, I prefer contemplating "Doing LESS Harm," which triggers awareness of our decisions' ripple effects on ourselves and the world around us until we find ways to minimize (not eliminate) the harm we cause when we eat, drink, read, watch, etc.
It's not about controlling your thoughts, it's about getting to a point where your thoughts don't control you.
We've been raised to never talk about it, and told that any mention of it is morbid, so how can we ever be prepared for the death of our loved ones or ourselves if we never discuss it?
The problem with being goal-oriented and future-focused is that at no given point are you where you want to be. When one eye is fixed upon the destination, only one eye is left with which to find the way.
If your happiness depends on something you can lose, you will spend your entire life afraid of losing it. But if your happiness depends on who you are in relation to each moment, then nothing and nobody can take that away from you.
Insecurities are the result of accepting the media's and other people's projections about us as truth until we no longer hear our highest selves reassure us of our inherent worth, which isn't measured by our job title, skin color, tax bracket, waist size, etc.
If we're dependent on outside validation for a sense of self-worth, then we run the risk of living our entire lives polishing an image that pleases others rather than having awareness of our inherent worth by simply living and working with integrity. We've been told a story of hierarchy and then urged to make it to the top so we can look down on others, but I don't think our value is a contest or a competition; we all serve a purpose. And if we can live in peace with ourselves and with others, then we are part of the solution by not being part of the pollution.
Not forgiving is a form of self-imprisonment. Liberate yourself by doing away with the existing apology-and-forgiveness model that is similar to loan transactions in which one person is indebted to another, and get unstuck by taking the lesson from every experience, throwing away any grudge or resentment, and moving forward.
Summary of comments from the live online discussion about the previous podcast episode regarding understanding hatred.
To better understand hatred, we must first be honest about where it resides within each of us. When we fail to do that, we end up hating the hater, yet justifying our hatred as somehow "superior." Since all hate is rooted in segregation, questioning the labels we assign to everything we know and experience is a good place to start. I say Non-Judgment Day is Near, but your participation is required.
Change is natural and inevitable. The cause of our discomfort and suffering isn't change, it's our resistance to it. So the question is, are you open to change, or are you fighting the inevitable and creating your own suffering?
Is it possible that meddling is just another narcotic, a way to escape having to face our own issues, insecurities, and shortcomings, by pointing out somebody else’s? If drama is an addiction, is mindfulness the cure?
The same way we filter-out harmful germs and chemicals from our drinking water, we need to install some sort of filter in our lives to keep out the harmful information that is found in our media. We need to limit how much negativity we are exposed to, and then balance it with some positive energy. Balance is something we create, not find. And by not being part of the pollution, we are automatically part of the solution.
There is a way to recall our past experiences without triggering any anger, resentment, or even judgment. Do not identify as "broken" or you will actually start believing that you are. The past is in your head. The future is in your hands.
When you feel the impulse to hurt someone (or when someone hurts you), remember we can't soothe our own pain by placing it on someone else. In fact, I think we increase our suffering when we harbor ill-thoughts toward others.
I used to rely on validation from other people in order to have a sense of self-worth, but that essentially meant I was in a co-dependent relationship with the entire world (think about it). Now my sense of value is up to me living a congruent life, striving to make sure that what I think, say, and do, are all in alignment. Give yourself the gift of true happiness, which isn’t contingent on outside validation, but on the goodness within. Namaste.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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There is a difference between always being happy and always being in a good mood.
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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.
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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.
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.