210 - Right Action

210 - Right Action

Author: Noah Rasheta August 4, 2025 Duration: 29:29

In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Action—the fourth step on the path to mindful living. Rather than a rigid set of moral rules, Right Action is about learning to engage with life skillfully, making choices that reduce unnecessary suffering for ourselves and others.

Through the story of a paragliding mishap, we'll examine how our actions, whether big or small, shape our daily experiences. We'll discuss how unskillful actions often arise from craving, aversion, or delusion, and how cultivating awareness allows us to respond more wisely to life’s challenges.

We’ll also reflect on traditional Buddhist guidelines—abstaining from taking life, taking what is not given, and sexual misconduct—and reframe them as practical tools for fostering respect, reducing harm, and nurturing relationships.

This episode invites you to pause, reflect, and ask: “Is this action skillful? Am I using the right tool for this moment?” Every decision becomes an opportunity to practice Right Action and to live with greater clarity, presence, and compassion.

Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Noah Rasheta hosts Secular Buddhism, a space where ancient teachings meet a modern, questioning mind. This isn't about ritual or dogma, but about exploring the practical philosophy at the heart of Buddhist thought. Each episode takes a core concept-like impermanence, suffering, or mindfulness-and examines it through a secular lens, asking how these ideas can resonate with our contemporary lives regardless of personal belief. You'll hear straightforward discussions that strip away cultural and religious trappings to focus on actionable wisdom. The aim is to make these teachings accessible and relevant, offering tools for cultivating resilience, compassion, and a clearer understanding of oneself in a complex world. Whether you're navigating stress, seeking ethical frameworks, or simply curious about a philosophy of mind, this podcast provides thoughtful commentary that connects ancient insight to everyday experience. Tune in for a grounded, conversational approach to finding calm and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 222

Secular Buddhism
Podcast Episodes
138 - Sticky Hair Monster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
In this podcast episode, I will talk about the Buddhist story of Sticky Hair Monster and the prince who tried to battle him. This story points to the battle that often takes place in our minds against our own thoughts, f…
137 - The Beauty Of Nothing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:36
Is nothing something? What happens when we do nothing? In this podcast episode, I will share my thoughts on the concept of nothingness and the beauty of nothing. I will also discuss the koan "every day is a good day".Exp…
136 - Mountains And Rivers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:10
In this podcast episode, I will share some of my thoughts regarding the Mountains and Rivers Sutra by Zen master Dogen. This teaching reminds me of the simple yet complex nature of reality.Explore more at eightfoldpath.c…
135 - Weathering The Storm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:20
One of my favorite Pema quotes is the one where she says, "You are the sky, everything else is the weather". In this podcast episode, I will discuss the concept of mental weather patterns and the way I correlate weather…
134 - Emotional Enlightenment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:30
In this podcast episode, I will discuss the idea of Emotional Enlightenment and what that means for me. We often find ourselves seeking certain emotions and avoiding other emotions. I've found that by giving all my emoti…
133 - Five Daily Life Guidelines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:24
In this podcast episode, I will share five daily life guidelines that have been beneficial for me in my personal practice. They are: consume mindfully, practice loving kindness, practice gratitude, discover wisdom, and a…
132 - Nowhere To Hide Nothing To Hold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
In this podcast episode, I will discuss the koan about the great meaning of the Buddha's teaching. I will also discuss some thoughts about the Buddhist approach of theism vs non-theism and how leaves us with nowhere to h…
131 - The Truth Of Unsatisfactoriness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:46
The nature of reality is that difficulties will arise, and we’ll experience suffering. We can begin to embrace that fact by recognizing that suffering, in general, is not personal. It’s simply part of the experience of e…
130 - Three Approaches for Doubt and Mistrust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:16
In Buddhism, doubt is beneficial because it is the first step in weakening our wrong views. The wonderful thing about doubt is that it can propel us in the direction of more skillful views. There is a strong emphasis in…
129 - The HALT Method [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
In this podcast episode, I will discuss the HALT Method and share my thoughts on the koan shared in the last episode: "What is your original face before you were born?". I will also leave you with this new koan to explor…