Episode 501: Faith Beyond Belief and Doubt: The “F” Word
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
1M ago
Episode 501: Faith Beyond Belief and Doubt: The “F” Word In this episode, Elizabeth takes us on a journey through the term ‘faith.' We may assume we know what faith is, but most of us have never truly explored its nuance or spectrum of meanings. We often use the term faith to refer to: dogma, fundamentalism, doctrine, confidence, devotion, conviction, just to name a few. In the context of contemporary culture, there are those who suggest that we replace the world faith with spirituality, but Elizabeth requests us not to write-off faith so glibly. Faith carries with it the undeniable tension be ..read more
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Episode 405. Bearing Witness
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
4M ago
Episode 405. Bearing Witness In episode 405, Elizabeth tells the classic Buddhist story of Avaloketeshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. She asks us to contemplate this story carefully, adding, “because something similar could happen to you.” Continuing the exploration of interdependence, the self, and the ego, Elizabeth helps us navigate our responses to the intensity of human experience and not fall into the extremes of fixing, despair or withdrawing from challenges…all of which are rooted in misunderstanding. Instead, she encourages us to be inspired by Avaloketeshvara, bear witness to ou ..read more
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Episode 404. Looking for Permanence: When Does Bread Become Toast?
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
4M ago
Episode 404. Looking for Permanence: When Does Bread Become Toast? In previous episodes we engaged in the liberating practice of looking and not finding, as we searched for something singular or independent. In this episode, Elizabeth explores the topic of permanence - the 3rd in this triad of classical Middle Way inquiries. Elizabeth drops back into her grandmother’s kitchen as she takes us on a tour of the nature of time, what it might mean to ‘live in the moment,’ and the difference between impermanence and emptiness. The episode ends with instructions from Nagarjuna himself! Download a PD ..read more
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Episode 404: The Self: When Does Bread Become Toast
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
7M ago
Episode 404: The Self: When Does Bread Become Toast? In previous episodes we engaged in the liberating practice of looking and not finding, as we searched for something singular or independent. In this episode, Elizabeth explores the topic of permanence - the 3rd in this triad of classical Middle Way inquiries. Elizabeth drops back into her grandmother’s kitchen as she takes us on a tour of the nature of time, what it might mean to ‘live in the moment,’ and the difference between impermanence and emptiness. The episode ends with instructions from Nagarjuna himself! Download a PDF of the trans ..read more
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Episode 403: The Self: Into the Watery Depths
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
7M ago
In episode 403, “Into the Watery Depths,” we will continue on with our theme: The Self: Walking the Middle Way Path, by introducing the second Century spiritual genius, Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna is considered the father of the Middle Way school, because he was responsible for re-energizing and clarifying the authentic meaning of the Prajnaparamita (Transcendent Wisdom) Sutras, which are concerned with accurately discerning reality. Nagarjuna famously said: “I prostrate to he who has abandoned all views.” In this quote, Nagarjuna is speaking of the Buddha, and the views referenced are those that im ..read more
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Life is Rich!: Sacred World - Through the Eyes of Prajnaparamita
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
7M ago
Our life - our world - can be rich…and it can also be a bitch. We walk the terrain of multiple - maybe infinite - grounds. We move in and out of these overlapping spaces. They are not geographical territories, but rather various ways we encounter our human condition as our mind and its world engage in the playful exchange we call, ‘experience.’ In this episode, I would like to invite you to walk the terrain of four grounds with me; the haunted ground; the playground; the training ground; and the sacred ground. Download a PDF of the transcript (English) >> Download a PDF of the transcr ..read more
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Episode 304: Where is “the” World?: Sacred World-Through the Eyes of Prajnaparamita
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
7M ago
Open Question Podcast Episode 304 What do you see when you think about the world? You might picture a rainforest or desert, You might envision people pushing their way through a crowded subway terminal on their way to work. You might imagine a household or a war zone.  You might think to yourself: “the world is a mess,” or feel touched by the beauty of this place and the beings that inhabit it.  Where exactly is “the” world? Is it conscious or material? Does it exist within our individual mind streams or outside of us? Is it cruel, mundane or sacred? Is it one or many?  Is “th ..read more
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Episode 302: Sacred World: Awakening Natural Intelligence
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
7M ago
The Mahayana Buddhist teachings offer an essential insight for us to consider: that all conscious beings possess natural intelligence. In its raw expression, this innate feature of our mind reveals itself in our striving for wellbeing and freedom from suffering. So, we might ask: How is it, then, that we humans create the conditions for so much suffering? Why do we have the propensity for making such a mess of things? When we honestly assess our human condition, we find that our aspiration for wellbeing can be selfishly driven. We often fail to connect the dots between our innermost l ..read more
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Episode 301: Sacred World: Through the Eyes of Prajnaparamita
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
7M ago
Most spiritual traditions offer teachings on “sacred world” - the promise of a life beyond struggle - the search for a place of ease. This is a noble human quest. And yet, the ‘sacred' often seems to be a place other than where we find ourselves now. How do we reconcile the tension between the spiritual and temporal aspects of life? This is our conundrum. And presents us with a genuine opportunity to explore something crucial to our human being. Read the transcript >> ..read more
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Episode 209: The Beloved Community
Open Question
by Jennifer Kern
7M ago
Marc Andrus is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California. His leadership is focused on key issues related to peace and justice, civil rights, and the environment. Bishop Andrus has just released a new book: Brothers in the Beloved Community: The Friendship of Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King Jr. In this interview, Elizabeth and Bishop Marc discuss the powerful connection between spirituality and activism, the nature of interdependence, and bodhisattvas in our world ..read more
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