This is the start of the Off the Cushion, Into the World Series! I want to begin with the question “Why are we even studying these Buddhist concepts?” (Especially if you might not even be Buddhist! The thing is, the Dalai Lama said that you don’t need to be a Buddhist to benefit from the teachings. You can use them to have less suffering as whatever-you-already-are 😉
Speaking for myself, I first came to Buddhism while I was suffering a spiritual crisis at 18 years old, having panic attacks and seeking relief from my despair. We often come to these teachings in moments of profound suffering. But we can also arrive when we have a sense that something is missing.
At its heart, Buddhism is about F R E E D O M. Yes, freedom from suffering – but not as in magically erasing life’s pain. It’s about freedom from being hooked by aversion, craving, fear, and ignorance. Freedom from the endless cycle of wanting things to be different than they are. Freedom from the suffering that arises when we resist reality.
We taste freedom when we meet each moment with presence and clarity. When we love without the intense fear of inevitable loss. We sense the freedom to live fully awake, even when life is uncertain and messy.
So we study these concepts within Buddhism so we can practice a way of being that brings true liberation – the kind of freedom that shows up in the middle of ordinary life. Our every day shit.
As part of this series, we’ll be practicing ways to bring these concepts off the cushion and into the world. Everyday dharma. Living dharma.
We start with a story, because Buddhism isn’t just philosophy. It’s a living tradition that began with a human being who struggled – just like us.
About 2600 years ago in what is now Nepal, Siddhartha Gautama was born into a wealthy family. His father wanted him to become a great ruler (and definitely not a monk), so part of that plan was to keep him shielded from anything unpleasant — aging, sickness, death. So Siddhartha grew up surrounded by pleasure, beauty, and comfort. But life doesn’t let us hide forever, right? No one escapes the entirety of the human experience.
And that’s where the story begins – when the palace walls thin and Siddhartha gets a taste of true reality
I dive more into the story of Siddhartha in the full pod, so be sure to give it a listen, but the gist is that when Siddhartha finally went out into the world and witnessed the suffering contained in the full human experience, his illusion of comfort and safety and a false reality was shattered.
Maybe you’ve had a moment like this — realizing that the things you thought you could avoid, like illness or death, are part of the deal. There’s no opt-out.
When I had my first experience of this (probably when my caregivers betrayed me with abuse) — and I mean really feeling this truth, not just knowing it intellectually — it rocked my world and brought me to my knees.
For all of us, it can rock us into despair… or into inquiry.
That’s what happened to Siddhartha. Instead of sinking into despair, he chose to leave the palace and begin seeking. He walked away from wealth, title, privilege, and even his family. Why? Because the question burned too strongly: is there a way to live in this world without being crushed by suffering?
After a lot of searching, he finally clearly saw the truth of suffering, its causes, and the path to liberation. He became the Buddha – not a god, but “The Awakened One.” Something possible for all of us.
And I think I want to really emphasize here that what makes this tradition unique is that the Buddha didn’t say, “worship me.” He said, “ehipassiko” – come and see for yourself.
That means you don’t have to take anything on faith. You test the teachings against your own life. You practice, you notice what happens, and you draw your own conclusions.
Buddhism is a path of practice and inquiry, not blind belief.
So as we begin this series, that’s the spirit I want to invite you to carry. Stay curious. Stay open. Let your life be the living lab where you get to experiment with these ideas and see what’s true for you.
Later in this pod we dive into the “Three Jewels” – the foundations of practice. The places we go when we get brought to our knees.
The first – the Buddha – is a reminder that awakening is possible for ALL of us.
The Dhamma/Dharma shows us that happiness comes from the mind we bring to life, and the truth and wisdom of the teachings that we’ve tested for ourselves.
The third – Sangha – reminds us that we are not alone in this journey. That we need spiritual friends and community.
We’ll explore when you currently seek and find refuge…and where we might need to let some old habits of refuge fall away.
You will learn:
// Why we might want to study these teachings in the first place – even if we aren’t Buddhist or religious
// The story of Siddhartha (later known as Buddha) and why he’d leave a phat pad, buckets of money and a legacy of power
// Why Buddhism is so unique in its practice of inquiry, questioning, debate, and no requirements or blind faith. (And why it often works well for atheists and agnostics as well)
// The three jewels / refuges and why we need them on our journey
// One practice you can try this week to show up with curiosity around your own sources of refuge and resourcing
Resources:
// Episode 122: Come See for Yourself – Ehipassiko
// Episode 136: Freedom to Change Your Mind
// Episode 198: WTF Is Enlightenment?
// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.
// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there!
// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I’d love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here or on Spotify by clicking here.