Living with Life’s Discontent

Living with Life’s Discontent

Author: Pragmatic Buddhism August 22, 2025 Duration: 52:40

We all want to avoid pain, boredom, and disappointment but these feelings are part of life. In Buddhism, this is called dukkha, the second of the Three Marks of Existence. In this conversation with the St. Louis sangha, Danielle unpacks what dukkha really means, why it’s more than just “suffering,” and how accepting its place in the human experience can actually free us to enjoy life more fully.


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: 41

Pragmatic Buddhism
Podcast Episodes
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…
What Do We Mean by Karma? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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.
What is Zazen, Really? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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.
Mind Training for a Reactive World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:00
What if life’s difficulties weren’t obstacles to practice, but the practice itself? With the St Louis sangha, Danielle explores Lojong slogans as cognitive and embodied tools for transforming reactivity, cultivating awar…
Sympathetic Joy: Joy Without Comparison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:47
In this Dharma talk from Curtis from the Columbus sangha explores sympathetic joy, the practice of rejoicing in the happiness and success of others. Rather than denying envy or comparison, Curtis looks at how awareness a…
Why Sangha Matters: The Forgotten Jewel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:53
Buddhist practice isn’t meant to happen in isolation. In this conversation, Danielle invites the St. Louis Sangha to reflect on what it means to find refuge in one another — to learn, practice, and grow in community. Thr…
Before the New Year, Pause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:12
What if happiness isn’t found in getting what we want, but in loosening our grip on craving, aversion, and delusion? In this year-end discussion, the Danielle and the St Louis sangha reflect on the past year’s choices, i…