Enlightenment and the Self: Stories We Tell

Enlightenment and the Self: Stories We Tell

Author: Pragmatic Buddhism September 26, 2025 Duration: 43:02

We’re often told to “be true to yourself” but what if the self isn’t a fixed thing at all? In this episode of Pragmatic Buddhism, Danielle reflects on enlightenment and the self, showing how our identities are shaped by experience, culture, and change. Together with the St. Louis sangha, we consider how seeing the self as a story can help us respond to life with more intention and less suffering.


Pragmatic Buddhism offers a space for down-to-earth Dharma talks, mindful reflections, and unscripted conversations. It’s for anyone curious about how ancient insight meets the complexities of modern living. Rather than presenting teachings in isolation, this podcast weaves Buddhist principles together with perspectives from psychology, neuroscience, and ordinary lived experience. You’ll hear discussions that feel like a genuine exploration, not a lecture, focusing on how these ideas actually function in daily life. The tone is accessible, whether you’re just beginning to explore meditation or have been practicing for years. Each episode is an invitation to cultivate a more authentic awareness and a deeper sense of compassionate acceptance, without pretense or dogma. The aim is to make the path practical, examining how we navigate relationships, work, and internal challenges with a clearer, more grounded perspective. This isn’t about abstract philosophy; it’s about the tangible application of wisdom. Tune in for a thoughtful, meandering conversation that values curiosity over certainty, and finds the profound within the everyday. The Pragmatic Buddhism podcast serves as a companion for integrating these reflections into your own journey, one honest conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 35

Pragmatic Buddhism
Podcast Episodes
Buddha Nature in a Distracted World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:51
We live in a world built for distraction — scrolling, streaming, multitasking, always doing something else. But what if awakening isn’t somewhere far away, but right here in this moment? In this talk, Glenn explores Budd…
Change, Dissatisfaction, and the Self: The Three Marks of Existence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:55
The Three Marks of Existence can sound stark: everything is impermanent, clinging leads to dissatisfaction, and there is no fixed self. But these teachings aren’t pessimistic; they’re liberating. In this episode, monks f…
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Duration: 37:34
The Buddhist teaching of “no self” can sound confusing or even alarming. Does it mean we don’t exist? That our personality is an illusion? In this talk, Douglas and the St Louis sangha unpack what “no self” actually poin…
A Talk on Winter Solstice: Turning Toward the Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:43
The solstice marks a turning point—either the longest night or the longest day—and invites us to pause. In this episode recorded on the solstice, Glenn and the Columbus sangha reflect on what it means to stand at a thres…
What is Pragmatic about Pragmatic Buddhism? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:53
What’s actually pragmatic about Pragmatic Buddhism?In this talk, Danielle and the St Louis sangha explore the ways that spiritual practice doesn’t have to be about adopting rigid beliefs or signing on to metaphysics. It…
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Duration: 38:40
The word “karma” gets used everywhere from social media to pop culture but what does it actually mean in Buddhist practice? In this talk, Joe and the Columbus sangha unpack karma as a teaching about intentional action an…
Sitting with Discomfort [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:00
Dharma practice isn’t always calm or pleasant. In this episode, Danielle and the St Louis sangha look at how learning to sit with discomfort can deepen awareness, patience, and care for ourselves.
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Duration: 16:45
What if meditation wasn’t about clearing your mind, but opening to your life just as it is? In this episode, Glenn from the Columbus sangha introduces zazen as a gentle practice of open awareness, free from pressure to f…
Using Difficulty as Practice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:22
What do we do when life feels hard or overwhelming? In this episode, Danielle and the St Louis sangha explore how Buddhist practice helps us pause, notice, and choose how we respond.
Meaning with a Capital M [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:35
In this talk, Joe from the Columbus sangha explores what we mean when we talk about “meaning” — and how Buddhism invites us to relate to meaning without turning it into something fixed or absolute.