Podcasts by Dharma If You Dare

Uncover the Light: Awakening Through Shadow Integration from 2022-06-17T06:00

In this final regular episode of Season 4, we finish up our series on the 4 pillars of Planet Dharma’s approach to working with students with a look at Shadow Integration. In this excerpt from t...

BONUS Why Red Hats? from 2022-06-10T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite in which Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei answer a question about why they wear red hats when they teach.

Theoretical understanding and...

The Path of Service: Awakening Through Karma Yoga from 2022-06-03T06:00

In this third episode in our series on the 4 pillars of Planet Dharma’s approach to working with students, we will hear about Karma Yoga, also known as ‘the path of service’, or ‘meditation in a...

BONUS Intro to Tarot&the Fool Card from 2022-05-27T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite in which Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei give a brief introduction to the Tarot. In addition to looking at the deck’s origin and how it can b...

True Happiness: Awakening Through Meditation from 2022-05-20T06:00

In this excerpt from their online course, Beyond the Cushion, Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei talk about the value of meditation and the reason most of us find it so hard to mai...

BONUS Meditation is Not Passive from 2022-05-13T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite in which Catherine Pawasarat Sensei talks about how meditation works and why we need to value the experience of the practice and the insights we uncover. Sens...

Explore Everything: Awakening Through Study from 2022-05-06T06:00

We will finish this 4th season of the podcast with a series of four episodes that explore Planet Dharma's 4 pillars, the framework that Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei employ to...

BONUS Clinging to Emptiness from 2022-04-29T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite in which Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei respond to an insight shared by a participant after he had a breakout room conversation with other p...

INTERVIEW Climbing the Western (Mysteries) Side of the Mountain from 2022-04-22T06:00

In this interview, Qapel talks about the part the Western Mysteries played in his own path and how his teacher, Namgyal Rinpoche, employed these teachings. He also discusses the similarities and...

BONUS The Still Mind&The Moving Mind from 2022-04-15T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite in which Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei answer a question about how to stay fully engaged in wholesome and meaningful work without losing co...

The Call, Initiation&Return: Introducing the Divine Mysteries from 2022-04-08T06:00

In today’s episode, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei and Doug Qapel Duncan introduce the topic of the Western Mysteries, or better named, the Divine Mysteries. They outline an overview of the main par...

BONUS The Power of Goodness from 2022-04-01T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite from Catherine Pawasarat Sensei on how goodness is misunderstood and undervalued and how much could be done collectively if we embraced its true power.  

Relationship Implies Two: Becoming Conscious in Love from 2022-03-25T06:00

In today’s episode, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei and Doug Qapel Duncan dive into intimate relationships, and explore the skills needed to make a partnership truly work. They look at how our cultur...

BONUS Attending to Tasks While Remembering The Light from 2022-03-18T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei as they give advice to a student about how to train the mind to be attentive to the details in their r...

The Clear Light of the Mind: Exploring the Ephemeral Nature of Reality from 2022-03-11T06:00

In today’s episode Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei explore the topic of The Clear Light of the Mind. They outline how our sense of reality is formed, including how early stimula...

BONUS The Wisdom of Hua Yan from 2022-03-04T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei as they introduce the 3 principles of Hua Yan Buddhist philosophy in preparation for their upcoming me...

The Tarot: Introducing the Major Arcana from 2022-02-25T06:00

In today’s episode Doug Qapel Duncan gives an overview of the major arcana from the Tarot. He goes over all 22 of the cards from the Fool to the World, giving pithy summary statements about each...

BONUS Remaining Blissful While Counting Mantras from 2022-02-18T06:00

We hope you enjoy today’s soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei as they answer a question about how to balance staying absorbed in the bliss state during tantric deit...

Chenrezi and Tantric Deity Practice: Transforming Our Reality from 2022-02-11T06:00

Today’s episode is our third in-a-row exploring the topic of leveraging archetypes for our spiritual unfoldment. In this talk, Doug Qapel Duncan discusses archetypes specific to the Vajrayana Bu...

BONUS Intentional Celibacy from 2022-02-04T06:00

Today’s recording is bonus content from Sensei & Qapel’s audio course Conscious Love. The course explores many aspects of intimate relationships, including the unconscious patterning that influe...

Personal and Psychological Archetypes: Wearing Whatever Hat You Want from 2022-01-28T06:00

In today’s talk, Doug Qapel Duncan continues to dive deeper into the topic of archetypes, which he introduced in the talk we heard in Episode 11. He explores how archetypes operate at the person...

BONUS The Power of Sadhanas&Arising Yoga from 2022-01-21T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei on how arising yoga sadhana practice can help us move to more responsive and liberating planetary models ...

Beyond the Cushion: Bringing Monastic Life to the Modern World from 2022-01-14T06:00

In today’s talk, taken from their course Beyond the Cushion delivered in the early days of the pandemic, Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei explore the idea of the modern monastery...

BONUS Setting Intentions: Where Will Your Refuge Be This Year? from 2022-01-07T06:00

In this soundbite taken from his Enlightened Archetypes talk, Doug Qapel Duncan outlines the three levels of refuge. For many of us, just getting to the point where we are taking refuge in the b...

The Program That‘s Running: Introducing Archetypes from 2021-12-10T06:00

In today’s talk, Doug Qapel Duncan introduces the topic of archetypes. He gives an overview of what archetypes are, how they operate in our lives and explains how to harness their power by makin...

BONUS The 3 Types of Absorption in Samatha Practice from 2021-12-03T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan on the three forms of meditative absorption: kamma samadhi, upacara samadhi & appana samadhi. 

If you are looking to inc...

Freedom from Unconscious Patterns: Uncovering 4 Contemporary Secrets from 2021-11-26T06:00

In today’s talk, Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei go over 4 secrets that make up a core part of how we orient ourselves in the world. Drawing on material from their bestselling b...

BONUS Supporting Loved Ones Through the Death Process from 2021-11-19T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan on how to support loved ones through the dying process.

For an extended look at death, dying and rebirth, check out Episode 7 fro...

Women in Buddhism: Elevating Our Voices from 2021-11-12T06:00

In today’s talk, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei explores the topic of Women in Buddhism. She talks about her early years as a feminist, becoming an attendant for her male teacher, shifting views in ...

BONUS Mindfulness and Stages of Development from 2021-11-05T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei on the difference between states and stages - models from Integral Spirituality - and the roles meditatio...

Flipping the Switch: Realizing Our Buddhanature from 2021-10-29T06:00

In today’s talk, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei and Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan explore the topic of Buddhanature. They look at the various terms that are used to describe it and highlight the challenge of ...

BONUS Chakras and the Shadow Before Psychology from 2021-10-22T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei on how Buddhism worked with the shadow before modern psychology existed to name this aspect of our psyche...

Consciousness Continues: Navigating Death, Rebirth&the Bardos from 2021-10-15T06:00

Today’s recording is a talk that Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan gave recently on the topic of death, dying and the bardos. In the talk, he explores how we really experience a death in every moment, and des...

BONUS Integrating the Lower 3 Chakras from 2021-10-08T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei on how to access higher states of consciousness through clearing the lower 3 chakras.

Today’s bonu...

INTERVIEW Ecology + Spirituality: Connecting with the Universe from 2021-10-01T06:00

In this interview, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei talks about the impact our views of connection with - or disconnection from - our natural environment have on the quality of our lives moment to mom...

BONUS Happiness is a Byproduct from 2021-09-24T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei on the folly of assigning happiness to objects and how happiness is actually a result of being in a good ...

Saturn, Chiron,&Nodes in Your Chart: Unlocking Your Highest Potential from 2021-09-17T06:00

In this episode, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei and Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan explore parts of our natal charts that are particularly connected to spiritual and personal transformation, including Chiron, ...

BONUS The Burning House Sutra from 2021-09-10T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Catherine Pawasarat Sensei and Doug ‘Qapel’ Duncan on the Buddha’s allegory of the ego being like a house on fire, inviting us to orient from the awakened s...

A Vision Bigger Than Me: Shifting Our Capitalist Paradigm from 2021-09-03T06:00

In today’s talk, Doug 'Qapel' Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei explore the topic of 'Spiritual Energy Traders' in more detail. (Season 3 Episode 22 introduces this material.) They look at t...

BONUS I Am Part of This Ecosystem from 2021-08-27T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Catherine Pawasarat Sensei and Doug Qapel Duncan on the importance of actually seeing ourselves as an integrated part of our ecosystems.

If you are l...

INTERVIEW What's in a Name? Transitioning from Doug Sensei to Qapel from 2021-08-20T06:00

Today we are introducing the first of what we hope will become a regular addition to this podcast: interviews with Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat. 

Given the pace at which the teachi...

BONUS Supporting Loved Ones Through the Dying Process from 2021-08-13T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan on how we can best support loved ones through the death process.

If you are finding the teachings of Planet Dharma resonate and are wonde...

Escape the Invisible Hand: Understanding the 4 Deep Ego Fears from 2021-08-06T20:25

In order to truly understand what drives our unconscious behaviour we have to understand the core fears of the ego. If we don’t, we are doomed to repeat behaviour that we may even realize is unw...

BONUS Putting the Horse in Front of the Cart from 2021-07-30T06:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on creating a harmonious relationship between absolute and relative truths through the cultivation of both a clear view ...

Systems&Training: Leaning into 21st-Century Awakening from 2021-07-23T06:00

In today's episode, Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat speak about what form the teachings will likely take in the 21st Century. Given how teachings of spiritual liberation have evolved through...

Season 4 Trailer from 2021-07-09T05:00

Season 4 is launching soon!

Today producer Christopher Lawley takes the opportunity to introduce himself and to talk a bit about how Planet Dharma operates.

For more on karma yoga,...

An Economic Revolution: Untangling Ourselves from Capitalism from 2020-05-29T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss how the current capitalist paradigm that is so focused on the individual creates all sorts of conditions in our psyches that lead to suffering. They explore ...

BONUS Why You Need a Retreat from 2020-05-22T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on why retreat work is unparalleled in its transformative potential: it allows us to access higher states of consciousness,...

Uncover Your Secrets: Making Desires Conscious from 2020-05-15T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss how we attempt to manipulate and control our worlds in order to get what we desire. They explain the importance of making these actions conscious in order to...

BONUS Establishing a Solid Meditation Practice from 2020-05-08T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on a few ways to establish a well-supported meditation practice and some of the key benefits of doing so.     Have you che...

Unveil the Puppeteer: Freedom Through Shadow Integration from 2020-05-01T07:00

In this talk, Doug and Catherine explore 'the shadow', the unconscious drives that keep us stuck in repetitive patterns and limited views of what’s possible. They discuss how integrating our shadow...

BONUS Don’t Just Settle for Mindfulness from 2020-04-24T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on how much more is available to us when we go beyond mindfulness into deeper meditative practices that involve not just aw...

Beyond Mindfulness: Experiencing the Ground of Being from 2020-04-17T07:00

In this talk from their Livestream Series, Enlighten Up, Doug and Catherine explore the difference between mindfulness and meditation, the power of retreat work and why people tend not to practice....

BONUS Dealing with Pandemic Anxiety from 2020-04-10T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan’s recent response to a student during an online Office Hours call. The stu...

A Closer Look at Money, Sex&Power: Exploring Chakra Energy from 2020-04-03T07:00

In this talk from their 2019 online course, Crazy Wisdom, Doug and Catherine discuss in detail the three lowest chakras and the energies they manifest. This recording is a continuation of an earlie...

BONUS Our Collective Shadow and Consumerism from 2020-03-27T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on the most prevalent aspects of our society’s collective shadow and whether we can shift our collective actions to more wh...

The Wave is Also Water: Understanding Spiritual Awakening from 2020-03-20T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss the question ‘What is Awakening?’ Known by many terms in various traditions, spiritual awakening or enlightenment is about waking up to our true nature. Doug...

BONUS The Purpose of Spiritual Organizations from 2020-03-13T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on spiritual organizations and how they support our growth and unfoldment. During the talk, you will hear the term ‘quantum...

Choose Radiance: Opening the Box of the Ego from 2020-03-06T07:00

In this talk from their online course The Pearl Without Price, Doug and Catherine discuss the nature of the ego and how we can step outside the box of our comfort zone to experience greater degrees...

BONUS Ripening Wisdom: The Prajna Parami from 2020-02-28T07:00

Welcome to this Dharma If You Dare Bonus Episode. We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on the sixth of the 6 Paramis: Prajna, usually translated as ‘wisdom'. If...

Turn Your Mind to Practice: Leveraging the Common Foundations from 2020-02-21T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss the Buddhist Common Foundations, also known as 'the four thoughts that turn the mind towards practice”. These are reflections that help us stay in contact wi...

BONUS Meditative Absorption: The Dhyana Parami from 2020-02-14T07:00

Welcome to this Dharma If You Dare Bonus Episode. We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on the fifth of the 6 Paramis: Dhyana, usually translated as ‘concentrati...

Make Money, Sex&Power Conscious: Integrating the Lower Chakras from 2020-02-07T07:00

In this talk from their online course, Crazy Wisdom, Doug and Catherine discuss the three lowest chakras and the energies they manifest. They look at the problems that are created in our lives when...

BONUS Unlocking Energy: The Virya Parami from 2020-01-31T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on the fourth of the 6 Paramis: Virya, usually translated as ‘energy'. If the paramis are new to you, you can hear an intro...

Become Fearless: Taming the Monsters in Your Closet from 2020-01-24T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss the topic of ‘monsters in the closet', a.k.a. the shadow. They look at how the ego is formed through early trauma, and how it calcifies through additional...

BONUS Cultivating Patience: The Ksanti Parami from 2020-01-17T07:00

Welcome to this Dharma If You Dare Bonus Episode. We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on the third of the 6 Paramis: Ksanti, usually translated as ‘patience'. ...

Ask Impossible Questions: Accessing True Creativity from 2020-01-10T07:00

In this talk from their 2019 online course Riding the Dragon, Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat discuss how to free ourselves from "the B Movie of our lives”, the flat storylines caused by our at...

BONUS Perfecting Our Morality: The Sila Parami from 2020-01-03T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on the second of the 6 paramis, sila, usually translated as ‘ethics’ or ‘morality'. If the paramis are new to you, you can ...

BONUS Practicing Generosity: The Dana Parami from 2019-12-27T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat on the first of the 6 paramis, dana, usually translated as ‘generosity'. If the paramis are new to you, you can hear an int...

Astrology + Buddhism: Introducing AstroDharma from 2019-12-20T07:00

In this talk on AstroDharma Catherine and Doug discuss some basic elements of our natal astrological charts and how they can be leveraged for our spiritual unfoldment.    This excerpt from the talk...

BONUS Submission vs. Surrender from 2019-12-13T07:00

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Catherine Pawasarat and Doug Duncan on the distinction between submission and surrender and how they play out in the spiritual path.    Don’t miss out on Doug ...

Turn Every Moment into a Meditation: The Practice of Karma Yoga from 2019-12-06T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss Awakening Through Action, traditionally known as the practice of karma yoga. Karma yoga is a practice that transforms even mundane activities into paths o...

Embrace Your Nakedness: Understanding the Diamond Sutra from 2019-11-22T07:00

The Diamond Sutra explains how a clear and strong consciousness cuts through foggy or disillusioned mind states to reveal wisdom and ultimate truth. In this talk, Doug Sensei uses the metaphor of c...

Break Through the Status Quo: Embracing Crazy Wisdom from 2019-11-08T06:00

In this talk Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat explore the topic of 'Crazy Wisdom'. Also known as 'Divine Madness’, these are energetic and unpredictable teachings that help shake students’ fixed...

Surrender Your Self Image: Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable from 2019-10-25T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss the Buddha’s First Ennobling Truth: that life is always in some degree of struggle. They explore how preferences and anti-preferences contribute to our self ...

Unchain Yourself: The Benefits of Spiritual Awakening from 2019-10-11T07:00

In this talk Doug and Catherine explore the process of spiritual awakening and its many benefits. They discuss how it leads to greater freedom and control in our lives, makes us less subject to old...

Integrate Your Iceberg: Bringing the Shadow into Consciousness from 2019-09-27T07:00

In this talk, Doug and Catherine discuss the importance of bringing all aspects of ourselves into consciousness. Through integrating the shadow we can access greater and greater degrees of freedom ...

Become a Work of Art: Understanding the 6 Paramis from 2019-09-13T07:00

In this public talk Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat introduce the paramis, 6 aspects of consciousness that have been taught in the buddhadharma for more than two thousand years and allow practi...

Activate Your Creativity: Surrender to Spaciousness from 2019-08-21T07:00

In this talk from the online course Riding the Dragon, Doug and Catherine explore the concepts of Quantum Creativity and Adaptive Creativity. They discuss how imagination springs forth from spaciou...

Connect to Your World: The Power of Lived Experience from 2019-08-02T07:00

In this talk Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat look at the pitfalls of our society’s tendency to value information over lived experience. They discuss ways to integrate knowledge and wisdom so we...

Aligning Your Personal Vision with Absolute Truth from 2019-07-19T07:00

Drawing on material from the first reflection in their book, Wasteland to Pureland, Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat explore the topic of personal vision and connect it to the concepts of absolu...

Season 3 Trailer: A Birthday Podcast from 2019-07-14T08:00

This week is Doug Duncan‘s 70th birthday. We thought this was the perfect time to launch Season 3 of the podcast with its new title, Dharma If You Dare. 

Season 3 Trailer: Why Awaken? from 2019-05-21T06:00

Why Awaken? Today's episode explores the idea of personal vision and how it relates to spiritual unfoldment. It's part of our celebration for the upcoming release of more podcast episodes from P...

Living the Spiritual Life in a Modern World from 2018-11-18T11:58

Join Deborah Price, founder of The Money Coaching Institute, in a conversation with dharma teachers Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat as they address the challenges of living a spiritual life ...

The Curious Case of the Comfort Zone from 2018-07-04T09:34

We all have boundaries that help us feel safe and comfortable. But what happens when we cling to the comfort? 

In this episode, Duncan and Catherine explore the comfort zones of their stu...

Go Do Something: Becoming a Buddha in Action from 2018-06-16T16:56

We’re all familiar with yoga in the studio, with an instructor guiding us on our mats. But did you know that there are other types of yoga that we can incorporate into our spiritual practice?  Listen

Don’t Let Distractions Hold You Back from 2018-04-26T07:34

We live in a distracted society. Keeping focused can be challenging, whether we’re engaging in conversation or trying to meet a deadline. Learn what it means to put ‘complete effort’ into things...

How to Find Your Purpose in Life from 2018-04-19T16:50

How do you find your purpose? Embrace compassion, explore, and ultimately, get over yourself so you can tap into something much, much deeper.

In this talk, Doug and Catherine explain the ...

What You Need to Live a Wholesome Life from 2018-03-20T19:54

The paramis are Buddhist teachings that allow you to overcome bad habits and transform them into more wholesome ways of being. When applying these principles in our daily lives, unnecessary suff...

Why Comfort Creates Suffering from 2017-12-07T15:32

There’s a sense of safety with feeling comfortable. But comfort often goes hand-in-hand with habit, routine and ultimately suffering. It’s time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Why Guru Yoga? from 2017-08-05T00:35

"Lama Rinpoche, to you I supplicate." Even if you're fully awakened, you still say that.

Why?

To overcome pride, which is very subtle! Listen

All Suffering Is Self-Created from 2013-10-30T17:13

The 'you' -- is an illusion...because 'you' aren't there. And if you knew that, the 'you' would disappear. It would evaporate like a fog.

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Transcript Student: The ego is hurt.....

Basic Trust in the Universe from 2013-10-19T19:40

The first step in spiritual awakening is becoming aware of our ego structure -- actually perceiving the particular beliefs and images that we have identified with and taken to be true -- then di...

Why Practice the Paramis? (Part 2 of 2) from 2013-10-05T08:34

Part 2: Paralyzed and Free!

A quadriplegic man in the hospital for 25 years sees the spaciousness through which all manifestations can arise, including the mind. Was no longer obsessed wi...

Why Practice the Paramis? (Part 1 of 2) from 2013-08-23T20:06

The paramis are qualities of character, or "perfections" of heart and mind that can be developed to support the path of awakening--practices which develop wholesome activity, growth and enlighte...

Bliss Arises from 2013-04-30T21:02

Bliss is present because there is no one trying to do anything. Be very clear about this: bliss arises when you no longer try to do anything.

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A one-minute excerpt from a talk b...

A New Year's Resolution from 2013-02-05T21:59

"I undertake to train myself to refrain from getting lost in phenomena" -- a suggestion from Sensei for a New Year's -- (from falling asleep in my own stories about me)

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Sensei ...

The Map to Awakening (Part 4 of 4) from 2012-12-24T18:39

Part 4: Q & A

In this full talk, the "Map to Awakening" metaphor is a journey from west to east—in this case Kyoto to Tokyo—with the arrival point being the awakened state.

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The Map to Awakening (Part 3 of 4) from 2012-11-16T13:42

Part 3: The Awakened State

In this full talk, the "Map to Awakening" metaphor is a journey from west to east—in this case Kyoto to Tokyo—with the arrival point being the awakened state. Listen

The Map to Awakening (Part 2 of 4) from 2012-05-02T23:49

Part 2: Heading to "Tokyo" (Planetary Consciousness)

In this full talk, the "Map to Awakening" metaphor is a journey from west to east—in this case Kyoto to Tokyo—with the arrival point b...

The Map to Awakening (Part 1 of 4) from 2012-02-26T12:20

Part 1: First, You Need the Map!

In this full talk, the "Map to Awakening" metaphor is a journey from west to east—in this case Kyoto to Tokyo—with the arrival point being the awakened st...

Meditation and the Ego's Needs (Part 2 of 2) from 2011-10-19T13:52

In meditation you just notice what arises rather than seeking after experiences, which are conditioned by the ego's need for stimulation, recognition and structure.

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Doug Duncan...

Meditation and the Ego's Needs (Part 1 of 2) from 2011-10-07T21:24

In meditation you just notice what arises rather than seeking after experiences, which are conditioned by the ego's need for stimulation, recognition and structure. 

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"Awakening...

The Nature of Addiction/Appetite (Part 5 of 5) from 2011-06-11T15:41

The nature of addiction is an attempt to escape the pain at the core of our being. Resisting the urge to give in rather than face the appetite or addiction takes patience and determination. 

The Nature of Addiction/Appetite (Part 4 of 5) from 2011-06-11T15:02

The nature of addiction is an attempt to escape the pain at the core of our being. Resisting the urge to give in rather than face the appetite or addiction takes patience and determination. 

The Nature of Addiction/Appetite (Part 3 of 5) from 2011-04-22T17:00

The nature of addiction is an attempt to escape the pain at the core of our being. Resisting the urge to give in rather than face the appetite or addiction takes patience and determination.

The Nature of Addiction/Appetite (Part 2 of 5) from 2011-04-15T16:46

The nature of addiction is an attempt to escape the pain at the core of our being. Resisting the urge to give in rather than face the appetite or addiction takes patience and determination. 

The Nature of Addiction/Appetite (Part 1 of 5) from 2011-02-20T15:02

The nature of addiction is an attempt to escape the pain at the core of our being. Resisting the urge to give in rather than face the appetite or addiction takes patience and determination.

How to Get Comfortable When It's Not Really Possible (Part 3 of 3) from 2010-12-04T12:08

Part 3: You Cannot Let the Unwholesome Run You

The real work is to pay attention to and recognize what's going on in inside -- our mental states. We cannot let ourselves be ruled by subco...

How to Get Comfortable When It's Not Really Possible (Part 2 of 3) from 2010-11-05T21:37

Part 2: Why Wait for Spring?

The real work is to pay attention to and recognize what's going on in inside -- our mental states. We cannot let ourselves be ruled by subconscious conditioni...

How to Get Comfortable When It's Not Really Possible (Part 1 of 3) from 2010-10-11T14:49

Part 1: Nobody's Perfect

The real work is to pay attention to and recognize what's going on in inside -- our mental states. We cannot let ourselves be ruled by subconscious conditioning.<...

What is Karma? from 2010-08-14T15:54

Sensei answers questions and riffs energetically on cause and effect -- karma -- and a range of other subjects from the point of view of the Buddha (ultimate truth vs. relative truth)

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Your Journey is Upriver! from 2010-06-26T15:59

Sensei talks about going against the flow by meditating, reflecting and taking on the challenge to let go, abandon, renounce, and give up the idea that samsara is resolvable.

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D...

Get Off Your Royal.....! from 2010-06-17T18:21

Doug Sensei rapidly outlines the Buddhist teachings -- how to awaken -- giving life to them with direct commentary suited for people today.

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"You're not looking at suffering cle...

The Four Impediments to Awakening (Part 3 of 3) from 2010-06-09T16:33

Part 3: Wake Up, Little Suzy

Teachings based on the book "Gems of Dharma, Jewels of Freedom" by Gampopa. 

Your preferences are shaped, formed by conditioning. Ultimately everything...

The Four Impediments to Awakening (Part 2 of 3) from 2010-05-04T12:14

Teachings based on the book "Gems of Dharma, Jewels of Freedom" by Gampopa.

We are constantly seeking satisfaction. Merely accepting the cycle of getting temporary satisfaction and then s...

The Four Impediments to Awakening (Part 1 of 3) from 2010-02-24T11:35

Teachings based on the book "Gems of Dharma, Jewels of Freedom" by Gampopa. 

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The Four Impediments to Awakening Why don't you want to awaken? Get ready for impact. Talk given at...

What Does it Mean to Awaken? (Part 4 of 4) from 2010-01-08T12:24

Some topics covered in this talk: skandhas (composites), the awakening experience, dealing with pain, "karma is cetana (will or decision)", being hurt and how to forgive

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What Does it Mean to Awaken? (Part 1 of 4) from 2009-11-22T12:28

Part 1: No More Quiet Desperation

We don't have to lead lives of quiet desperation. Sensei tells us: "The key to awakening is being aware of your own state, almost as if it's not your own...

Are You at the Edge of the Cliff? (Part 2 of 2) from 2009-10-31T09:00

We're obsessed with our lives. We reference everything back to ourselves. We need to let go of this obsession in order to access that which is greater than ourselves. You can't be busy with dist...

Are You at the Edge of the Cliff? (Part 1 of 2) from 2009-10-25T23:48

Are We Our Thoughts?

Part 1 of 2

The mistake we make that hinders our spiritual development is that we take things personally, which feeds experiences back into the conditioned res...

You Don't Have to Be "Smart" from 2009-09-25T14:16

To meditate, you don't have to be "smart," says Doug Sensei. You just have to see clearly.

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In this edited talk excerpt, Sensei discusses "the Purification of View" (from the Ab...

Fundamental Friendliness from 2009-07-29T12:12

What does it mean to purify one's morality?

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In this short excerpt from a talk given in Calgary, B.C., Canada, Doug Sensei discusses "the purification of virtue (sila)" as part ...

An Introduction to Meditation (Part 3 of 3) from 2009-07-04T14:44

A discussion on the seven types of meditation, includes the Sanskrit terms samatha, vipassana, and rupa/arupa jhana

Full talk: Part 3 of 3

Sanskrit terminology used in this talk in...

An Introduction to Meditation (Part 2 of 3) from 2009-06-25T12:08

A discussion on the seven types of meditation.

Full talk: Part 2 of 3

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Continuing with this discussion on the seven types of meditation, you’ll encounter the following Sa...

An Introduction to Meditation (Part 1 of 3) from 2009-06-07T10:39

A discussion on the seven types of meditation.

Full talk: Part 1 of 3

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In this discussion on the seven types of meditation, you'll encounter the following Sanskrit terms:...

On the Senses and Consciousness (Part 2 of 2) from 2009-05-10T19:56

With the purification of consciousness, you realize that you are a wave and you are an ocean. In essence you are water -- all the same water. Water is the six senses in this metaphor.

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On the Senses and Consciousness (Part 1 of 2) from 2009-05-01T12:04

Purification of the sense doors is probably the most important work you do on the path, leading to a body of radiance.

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This talk was given for a retreat in Guatemala on Feb. 26...

The Left/Right Brain and Capital "M" Mind (Part 3 of 3) from 2009-02-28T18:38

The root of the path is sila, samadhi and panna.

1. The Golden Rule works.

2. Concentration -- requires and effort that goes beyond your preference mind (you get bored). Important ...

The Left/Right Brain and Capital "M" Mind (Part 2 of 3) from 2009-02-20T17:37

All the objects of your mind are impermanent. Liberation from suffering/Nirvana/Christ consciousness is a right-hemisphere experience but the left hemisphere is the hemisphere that knows about i...

The Left/Right Brain and Capital “M” Mind (Part 1 of 3) from 2009-02-01T20:47

When studying the mind, if you're busy with your thoughts, feelings and sensations, you're getting caught up with what's in the mind, not the nature of the mind itself. "M" Mind is aware, spacio...