All those who quote Lao Tzu and speak of the "Tao" are not teaching the historical Buddha's message of liberation from suffering and samsara
Anyone who says "nirvana is samsara" speaks ill of the Buddha's message of liberation in this very life, in this body, in this world
Syncretism (blending traditions) is beautiful, but it will not likely produce the result of either path. If the Tao is the "way," then the Eightfold Way (magga) the Buddha talked about is a very different use of the word
If the true Tao is everything, then there is no sense in talking about it
The Buddha defined the problem, defined the cause, assured is there is a solution, and pointed out the path, the Middle Way, to that solution: dukkha, samudaya, nirodha, magga
The problem is disappointment (suffering)
The cause is ignorance bound up with craving and aversion
The extinction of suffering is the extinction of ignorance
The path leading to this extinction has eight parts
Buddhism and Taoism may blend beautifully like milk and water, but they are not the same
(exurb1a) Buddhism is kinda out there, Mana whimsical survey of the various Buddhisms (major Buddhist schools), repeating many popular misconceptions but in a very entertaining way.
What is "salvation"?Moksha (Sanskrit मोक्ष, mokṣa) is also called vimutti* or vimukti and also mukti and vimoksha [3].
It is a concept in the Dharmic religions -- Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism -- that means liberation, non-bondage, freedom, emancipation, deliverance, escape, salvation, release, nirvana [4].
Los Angeles damnation
(PBS SoCal) The Chinatown punk rock wars of Los Angeles
I want your "Salvation"
In its soteriological and eschatological senses, it refers to freedom from saṃsāra, the incessant Cycle of Rebirths and Deaths [5]. In its epistemological and psychological senses, moksha is freedom from ignorance: self-realization, self-actualization, self-knowledge [6]....
NOTE: If moksha were just what the Vedas, Brahmins, or Hinduism says it is, there would be no need for a supremely enlightened one, the Buddha, to arise and make known a Teaching and Training that culminates in Buddhist nirvana, which is the real end of all suffering and rebirth, not mere rebirth in a long lasting heavenly plane or in the company of Brahma or other such stand ins.
Moksha (vimutti) is nirvana
Release from rebirth is release from all suffering
*In Buddhism the term moksha is uncommon, but there is an equivalent Pali term vimutti, "freedom," "release," "escape."
In the sutras two forms of freedom or release are mentioned, namely ceto-vimutti, "deliverance of mind," and panna-vimutti, "deliverance through wisdom" (insight or vipassana).
Ceto-vimutti is related to the practice of jhana or dhyana (shamatha), while panna-vimutti is related to the cultivation of insight.
Dharmas agree on moksha, they just define it differently, with Buddhism defining it as ultimate
. According to Gombrich, the distinction may be a later development, which resulted in a change of doctrine, regarding the practice of jhana to be insufficient for final liberation [108]. It is the first step, setting up the foundation of calm on top of which is built insight through mindfulness (sati,satipatthana, Dependent Origination).
With release comes nirvana (Pali nibbana), "quenching," "slaking," "cooling," "blowing out," or "extinguishing" the fires of the defiled passions and the wrong view of self [109, 110].
It is a "timeless state" (akaliko) in which there is no further becoming [111]. Nirvana ends the otherwise endless cycle of rebirth and suffering (dukkha) in the 31 Planes of Existence, which for simplification Mahayana reduces to six realms of saṃsāra [112, Note 2].
It is the third of the Four Ennobling (Enlightening) Truths of Buddhism, which plays a central role in Theravada Buddhism [117, 118].
What can be said of the ultimate attainment?
Nirvana has been described in Buddhist texts in ways that make it sound like other Indian religions. Every tradition says it has complete liberation, freedom, ultimate bliss, the highest happiness, fearlessness, emancipation, dukkha-lessness, permanence, the deathless, the unconditioned element that is the only thing that is not dependently originated, the unconstructed, unfathomable, ineffable, indescribable [119, 120].
The unconditioned element: nirvana (Ven. Bodhi)
It has also been described as release marked by a realization of the "emptiness" (impersonal, non-self nature of ALL conditioned things but most significantly the Five Aggregates clung to as self) [121, 122, 123].
Such descriptions are debated by scholars because "nirvana" in Buddhism is described as a state or condition after the dissolution of ignorance and suffering (disappointment, dis-ease, distress, ill, woe, off-kilter, unsatisfactoriness), of luminous mind, which would seem to be "stopped consciousness (blown out), but one that is not non-existent," as Peter Harvey states, and for him "it seems impossible to imagine what awareness devoid of any object would be like" [124, 112].
Nirvana is much more than the end of suffering.
See Bhikkhu Bodhi's exhaustive description in The Teachings of the Buddha: As It Is (early lecture series). Words and concepts cannot do nirvana justice because it is unlike everything else in samsara. Therefore, it is not a thought or concept but something very real to be personally experienced. Freedom awaits. More
Rock 'N Roll True Stories; Punk Rock MBA; Rancid; Dhr. Seven, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit
"Bodhidharma" was a semi-legendary Indian Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE [1]. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch [a]. He is also popularly regarded as the founder of Shaolin kung fu [2, 3, 4, 5], an idea popularized in the 20th century [4, 5, 2] but based on the 17th century Yijin Jing and the Taoist association of daoyin gymnastics with him. More
The ONE practice that contains every spiritual method | Bodhidharma's breakthrough sermon
(ECHOES OF LOST KNOWLEDGE) April 17, 2026: What if one single practice contained every other spiritual method within it?
In this final chapter of the series, the First Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma [from India] reveals the most essential teaching of his entire lineage — and it begins with beholding the mind.
This video is a direct transmission of Buddhist Wisdom that cuts through centuries of misunderstanding about what spiritual practice truly means.
Discover why temples, rituals, chanting, and good deeds alone cannot free us — and what actually can.
In this sermon, Bodhidharma teaches
→ The single method that contains all other methods
→ The three hidden poisons (greed, anger, delusion) — and how they silently run our life
→ The six "thieves" operating through our own senses, robbing us of peace every day
→ Why "three asankhya kalpas [aeons of indeterminate length]" of hardship is not what most people think
→ The true meaning of the six perfections (paramitas), the three sets of precepts, and invoking the Buddha
→ How to behold our own mind and free ourselves from suffering — in this very lifetime.
This is not a lecture. This is Buddhist Wisdom spoken directly — clear, unfiltered, and as alive today as it was 1,500 years ago.
📌 THIS SERIES
Chapter 1 — Blood Stream Sermon (watch first)
Chapter 2 — Wake-Up Sermon
Chapter 3 — Breakthrough Sermon (you are here)
🔍 TOPICS COVERED
Bodhidharma teachings | Breakthrough Sermon | Beholding the mind | Three Poisons in Buddhism | Six Perfections (paramitas) explained | Buddha Nature | Zen Buddhism | Buddhist Wisdom for modern life | First Zen Patriarch | Liberation from suffering | Three sets of precepts | Six thieves of the mind | Enlightenment teachings
Every week, this channel brings rare Buddhist Wisdom drawn from the original [Mahayana] teachings of the great masters — Bodhidharma, Bankei, Linji Yixuan, and the earliest Zen patriarchs. If the ancient path to liberation is what one are looking for [that person might try Theravada, a back-to-basics Buddhist movement that holds the teachings of the historical Buddha in the highest esteem over subsequent Mahayana interpretations and apocryphal inclusions, distortions, and additions], subscribe and turn on notifications to never miss a teaching.
This video is best experienced in a quiet space, and with full attention. #BuddhistWisdom #Bodhidharma #ZenBuddhism. How this was made: auto-dubbed and audio tracks for some languages were automatically generated.
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967–circa April 5, 1994) was an American punk, emo, alternative rock musician and a member of the infamous 27 Club. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana, a name he chose when he found out that in Buddhism the definition of nirvana is "the end of suffering." Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establishment persona, he widened the thematic conventions of mainstream rock music. He was heralded as a spokesman of Generation X and is widely recognized as one of the most influential rock musicians. More
(Asmongold TV) Kurt Cobain didn't kill himself. (They found proof). [And a hired private investigator came to the conclusion that it was his drug addict wife Courtney Love.]
Syd Barrett after acid (LSD) at age 27
The Pink Floyd Sound with Syd (on right)
Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (Jan. 6, 1946–July 7, 2006) was an English singer, guitarist, and songwriter who co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965. Until his permanent departure in 1968, he was Pink Floyd's frontman and primary songwriter, known for his whimsical style of psychedelia and stream-of-consciousness writing [1, 6]. He was already absent and undependable by 1967. As a guitarist, he was influential for his free-form playing and for employing effects such as dissonance, distortion, echo, and feedback. More: Syd Barrett
(SEEKER TO SEEKER) Buddhist non-duality [there being no distinction between seen and seer in the Mind Only School] sees all of reality as the activity of consciousness.
Divisions such as subject and object, mind and matter, self and world, [nirvana and samsara], are artificially created by consciousness in the process of simulating an external reality.
This video explores the philosophy of the Yogācāra School of Buddhism, a tradition that specializes in the study of mind—and how insight into the mind's workings can transform our way of being.
📝 SCRIPT: Read the script of this video essay on the author's personal Substack page: [soon...]. Video editing by Sempiter & Simeon
#Buddhism #nonduality#AdvaitaVedanta#Neo-Advaita#meditation #philosophy #awakening #enlightenment. How this was made: auto-dubbed
audio tracks for some languages were automatically generated. Learn more
SEEKER TO SEEKER, Jan. 23, 2026; Dhr. Seven, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
The Three Marks or Characteristics of All Existence: anicca (all things are radically impermanent); dukkha (all things are unsatisfactory, incapable of fulfilling us); anatta (all things are impersonal in an ultimate sense).
What is (Pali) papañca or (Sanskrit) prapañca? In Buddhist doctrinal usage, [puh-pon-chuh] signifies the proliferation, expansion, differentiation, "diffuseness," and "manifoldness" of the world. It may refer to the "phenomenal world" in general or to the mental attitude of "worldliness."
In A. IV, 173, it is said: "As far as the field of sixfold sense-impression extends, so far reaches the world of diffuseness (the phenomenal world, papañcassa gati). As far as the world of diffuseness extends, so far extends the field of sixfold sense-impression. Through the complete fading away and cessation of the field of sixfold sense-impression, there comes about the cessation and the coming-to-rest of the world of diffuseness (papañca-nirodho papañca-vupasamo)."
The opposite term nippapañca is another name for nirvana (Pali nibbāna) (S. LIII) in the sense of "freedom from samsaric diffuseness."
Dhammapada 254: "Humankind delights in the diffuseness of the world, whereas the Perfect Ones are free from such diffuseness" (papañcābhiratā pajā, nippapañca tathāgatā).
The eighth of the "thoughts of a great person" (mahā-purisa-vitakka, A. VIII, 30) is: "This Dhamma [Teaching, Truth, Doctrine] is for one who delights in non-diffuseness (nirvana, the unworldly); it is not for one who delights in worldliness (papañca)."
For the psychological sense of "differentiation," see MN 18 (Madhupindika Sutta): "Whatever a person conceives (vitakketi) that one differentiates (papañceti). And what one differentiates, by reason thereof ideas and considerations of differentiation (papañca-saññā-sankhā) arise in one."
On this text and the term papañca, see Dr. Kurt Schmidt in German Buddhist Writers (BPS.lk, Wheel 74/75) p. 61ff. See DN 21 (Sakka's Quest, Wheel 10).
In the Commentaries, one often finds a threefold classification (tanhā-, ditthi-, māna-papañca), which probably means the world's diffuseness created hy craving, wrong views, and conceit. See MN 123; A. IV, 173; A. VI, 14, Sn. 530, 874, 916.
Ven. Ñānananda Bhikkhu, in Concept and Reality: An Essay on Papañca and Papañca-saññā-sankhā (Kandy 1971, Buddhist Publication Society), suggests that the term refers to the human "tendency towards proliferation in the realm of concepts" and proposes translating the term as "conceptual proliferation," which appears convincing in a psychological context, for example, in two of the texts quoted above (A. IV, 173 and MN 18).
The threefold classification of papañca, by way of craving, wrong views, and conceit is explained by the author as three aspects, or instances, of the foremost of deluded conceptualizations, namely, the ego-concept, the belief in a permanent, unchanging "self" or "soul." See anatta.
Buddhist Podcast (video); Ven. Nyanaponika (Buddhist Dictionary) edited by Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Thich Nhat Hanh – A Journey into the Heart of Buddhism | SLICE WHO
(SLICE Who?) Oct. 27, 2025: In this rare and intimate interview, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thai) shares his vision of Buddhism as a living practice of freedom.
Speaking softly yet profoundly, he explains how meditation, awareness, and compassion can transform suffering into peace.
Documentary: Interview Thich Nhat Hanh. Production: Productions Campagne Premiere. ABOUT: Curious about everything, an expert in nothing?
Accessible anytime, anywhere, SLICE is a weekly dose of short documentaries. A slice of history, science, ecology, or architecture, to discover amusing anecdotes, inventions, unusual stories, bizarre, entertaining, and instructive.
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In Dharmic (Indian) religions, the siddhis (Sanskrit सिद्धि siddhi, fulfillment, accomplishment) are material, paranormal, supernatural, magical powers, abilities, and attainments, such as levitation (paranormal).
They are the products (sometimes byproducts) of yogic advancement through daily practices (sādhanās) such as meditation (jhana, dhyana) and eight-limbed yoga [1].
The Pali term iddhi ("psychic powers," ṛddhi) is often used interchangeably in Buddhism.
Etymology
Illusion in Prague using steel armature
Siddhi is a Sanskrit noun that can be translated as super "knowledge," "accomplishment," "attainment," or "success" [2].
Method
Buddhism's Path of Purification (Visuddhi-magga) is one of the great commentarial texts to give explicit details about how meditators and spiritual masters can actually manifest supernormal abilities [3].
[These powers are not really "supernatural" because, however uncommon, they are our natural potential.]
It states that abilities such as levitation (flying through the air), walking through walls (solid obstructions), diving into the ground as if it were water, walking on water as if it were land, and so forth are achieved through changing one element, such as the earth element (Pali pathavi), into another element, such as air (vayu) [3].
[This is done at will because one has mastered the absorptions (jhanas) via that element. How this is done is explained in practice by Buddhist teachers and meditation masters. Theoretically and conceptually, it is laid out in The Path of Purification, an ancient Buddhist text compiled by the great monk and commentator Buddhaghosa.]
The individual must master disc (kasina) meditation before this is possible [3]. The modern Buddhist Master Dipa Ma ("Dipa's Mother"), who trained in The Path of Purification via her personal teacher Anagarika Munindra, had these abilities -- according to her closest American students who went on to become world famous meditators and teachers (Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstein). Their claims were verified in Calcutta and the USA but, of course, never to the satisfaction of Western science or the impossible standards of the great skeptic the Great Randi. See the great book about her by an American admirer Amy Schmidt, Knee Deep in Grace. Not only did she develop these powers with Anagarika Munindra's instructions, she taught them to her enlightened daughter Dipa and others around her. More: Siddhi
Levitating monk | Stable Diffusion; Aperture, The 7 Levels of Reality; Jason Gregory, Siddhis; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit
This video looks at the Buddhist teaching of “not-self” [that ALL things are impersonal] alongside insights from modern neuroscience.
Let’s see why the constant feeling of [me, myself, and] “I” may not be a fixed entity [remaining fixed through time] but an impersonal process the mind creates moment by moment.
Let’s learn about the Five Aggregates clung to as self —
and how they shape the idea of a personal self. Modern brain science also points to the same conclusion: There’s no single control center in the brain that is “I.”
This isn’t about denying life, being confused by it, or falling into nihilism. It’s about understanding the true nature of experience and freeing ourselves from unnecessary ignorance, attachment (clinging), aversion, and tremendous amounts of suffering. What could set us free? The Truth sets one free.
It's a practice, not a theory of origins.
[For anyone who foolishly says that because there is no self there is nothing, there is the profound ultimate truth of Dependent Origination, that all things that come to be come to be dependent on causes and conditions and not without them. But just as these things, these elements or ingredients, are not the constituent-composite-thing that seems to come into being when they come together, just so the only thing that really comes into being is unsatisfactory. It is ignorance (illusion). It is radically impermanent (in constant flux and hurtling towards destruction). Seeing this with clarity, with right view (vipassana, lit. "clear seeing"), the mind/heart lets go of what it was previously clinging to so fiercely. It is, according to the Buddha, on according of not seeing the truth of Dependent Origination that we continuously wander on through uncountable lives in search of pleasure, pleasant distractions, and fulfillment without find anything but unsatisfactoriness. But if I'm not my thoughts, who’s thinking them? Buddhism's answer changes everything and it can be verified, which leads to enlightenment in this very life!]
Let’s walk through the practical path of Virtue (Ethics, Morality, Kind), Stillness (Calm, Singlepointed, Concentration), and Wisdom (Insight, Right View, Enlightenment), leading to clarity and a deeper sense of freedom.
03:16 - What we’re made of
09:14 - How the mind creates the story of “me”
14:13 - When we let go completely [because we have seen things as they really are], peace reveals itself
19:05 - Life without the “self” — not “empty” but free
What really happens after death, according to Buddhism?
Rebirth leads to me.
This in-depth reflection explores the nature of rebirth, karma, the final moments of consciousness in one life before rearising in the next, and the 31 Planes of Existence (reduced to Six Realms in Three Spheres and countless worlds)—not as distant beliefs, but as states of mind shaped by intention.
Based on early Buddhist texts, this teaching points beyond the idea of a fixed self and reveals a deeper truth: liberation begins not at death, but in this very moment. [If we were to understand Dependent Origination, this moment itself could be the moment of realization and awakening to the Truth.]
00:00 - Who are we—before we ask where we’ll go
04:23 - What shapes the path after death?
09:18 - What are the [31 Planes of Existence, summarized as Six Realms, and countless] worlds of rebirth?
14:47 - What happens in the last moment of consciousness?
19:56 - The final answer: beyond maps and destinations
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: At [Buddhism Podcast] channel, we are committed to sharing the beauty and wisdom of Buddhist teachings with the purpose of education and inspiration. All our content is created with deep respect for the historical Buddha’s teachings, aiming to promote understanding, mindfulness, and compassion in everyday life.
Our goal is to present the values and practices of Buddhism in a way that is accessible and beneficial to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. We do not seek to influence or alter anyone’s faith but simply to offer insights into the timeless wisdom of Buddhism as a source of guidance and positivity.
This channel is a space for learning, reflection, and connection, guided by the principles of respect, kindness, and truth. If you have any feedback or concerns, we welcome open and respectful dialogue. Thank you for supporting our mission to share the meaningful messages of Buddhism with the world." #BuddhistWisdom #NoSelf #SpiritualAwakening
Mirror self memes (tenor.com); Buddhism Podcast, Aug. 10, 2025; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
While most mindfulness meditation teachers praise the benefits of "bare awareness," he teaches BEAR awareness. Huh? He helps us make friends with the scary things that come up on the cushion, and he knows how to lift the mood with a well-placed stuffed teddy––or a well-timed pun.
The intimacy of the question-and-answer format provides a fresh experience of learning from a master meditator.
Whether Ajahn Brahm is urging readers to fly Buddha Air (sit back and relax on the way to nirvana), giving tips for dealing with panic attacks or depression, or extolling the bliss of meditation that is better than sex, he gives us permission to enjoy our lives and our kindful and joyful practice. More(Amazon.com)
Hello, friends!
Perhaps it goes without saying, but I am going to say it anyway: I love our Sangha (Spiritual Community).
A few years back, if someone had told me that we’d have co-created such an engaged, enthusiastic, emotionally honest community of deeply dedicated practitioners, it would have been right on the edge of my wildest dreams. But here we are, doing it together.
When I step back and take it in, it astonishes me in the most beautiful way.
Sangha can serve us in many ways as we navigate our Dhamma paths: It can be where we form wise friendships (kalyana-mittas), where we come for support, accountability, inspiration, and connection.
Then, sometimes, if we’re really lucky, we might receive one of those rare transformative moments of feeling truly seen, loved, supported, and accepted in our fullness. I had one of those rare and special moments recently, when I received this:
Watch me, or else...
If the Dhamma is the love of my life, then Delphine [my VW van] is the second love. Here is a photo of me and my Dad with her a few days ago.
On second thought, maybe I should have put my Dad ahead of my van on the list of things I love the most, but I’m sure he’ll understand.
Is there any way to speed up this process already?
So how do we attain Nirvana (Pali Nibbana) when we’re stuck in second gear?
The answer, for most of us, is that we don’t.
Perhaps a better question is why on earth would we want to do that? Why would we want to make the journey unnecessarily clunky, sluggish, and inefficient?
Sometimes we’re our own worst enemies (aren’t we?) holding on tightly to all things coarse and burdensome, willfully keeping ourselves stuck in second gear, all while reserving the right to complain when progress is slow.
I'll get this alone by brute force! (No you won't)
Sometimes we want the best of both worlds (don’t we?), the familiarity and comfort of life in second gear, as well as swift progress towards Nirvana. Unfortunately, that’s not possible.
Let me know in the comments: What’s keeping you stuck in second gear? Let’s get confessional.
Is it the late-night pretzels, like our dear friend Dan Harris?
Or rather is it the late-night binges of online content?
Is it a relationship that really needs to shift?
A responsibility you need to put down?
A bad habit you need to break?
Can a group go farther than an individual?
Let’s be wise friends to each other and harness the power of this wonderful Sangha to shift into a decisive third or even fourth gear over the weeks to come.
Lastly, a huge thanks to all who got back to me with ideas of things to write about.*
In the meantime, to support this work, do that here:
SUPPORT.
*I received way more inspiration than I can process right now. For those who didn’t get a reply from me, please know that I did read and take note of every single suggestion that was sent. It’s just that there are only so many hours per week that I am willing to spend on my laptop. I hope you’ll understand. I’ll be writing about those things and more over the weeks and months to come. Maybe the next newsletter will be the one with a button to book time with me).
Beth Upton (bethupton.com), July 28, 2025, edited by Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly
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