Not your problem?

Not your problem?

Author: Pod Pond September 13, 2021 Duration: 24:29

With so much flux right now, the world can feel like it's getting on top of us. How many of these problems are actually truly ours? Are we defined by our problems?


Concepts:

Ego (See season 1 episode Big Ego)

Inner and outer problems (See parable)

Acceptance


If you can solve the problem,

Then what is the need of worrying?

If you cannot solve it,

Then what is the use of worrying?

-Shantideva


In Modern Buddhism, Geshe Kelsang says there are two types of problem, an inner and an outer problem:

We should understand that our problems do not exist outside of our self, but are part of our mind that experiences unpleasant feelings. When our car, for example, has a problem we usually say “I have a problem”, but in reality it is the car’s problem and not our problem.

The car’s problem is an outer problem, and our problem, which is our own unpleasant feeling, is an inner problem. These two problems are completely different. We need to solve the car’s problem by repairing it, and we need to solve our own problem by controlling our attachment to the car.

 


Links

https://bit.ly/3stJGdF Tiny Buddha: 3 steps to practice acceptance & have a peaceful life

Simple, practical steps you can take to accept the world around you as it is and find peace when things aren't how you wish they were


https://bit.ly/3iU5hZN Kadampa Life: How to stop worrying about anything, everything and nothing 

The source of the above car problem quote and a deeper dive on understanding which problems you can change and which you have to accept


Ever find yourself curious about mindfulness or meditation but immediately turned off by any mention of the supernatural or dogma? That’s exactly the space where Secular Buddhism for Skeptical Atheists lives. Hosts Cal Hoffman and Dougie Robertson, from Pod Pond, have built a conversation for those who value evidence and rational thought but are still drawn to the practical, psychological insights found in Buddhist philosophy. They strip away centuries of cultural and religious ornamentation to examine the core ideas: impermanence, suffering, and the self, all through a contemporary, fact-based lens. In each episode, you’ll hear a straightforward breakdown of these concepts, discussing how they apply to modern stressors, relationships, and the general pursuit of a more grounded, contented life. The tone is more like a thoughtful chat between friends than a lecture, often punctuated with laughter and genuine curiosity. This isn’t about converting anyone; it’s about exploring whether these ancient tools can work in a secular toolkit for living well. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at spiritual jargon but wondered if there was something useful underneath, this podcast offers a refreshing, no-nonsense place to start that exploration.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 12

Secular Buddhism for Skeptical Atheists
Podcast Episodes
"Good is a point of view, Anakin..." [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
Socials! @intralocal @d0ug7a5 podpondpods@gmail.com In Buddhism, the main duality considered is generally "suffering" and "enlightenment". Quite different to "good" and "evil" or the "good" and "bad" lens through which w…
#bekind - A guide to metta loving kindness meditation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:04
Socials, you say!? @intralocal @d0ug7a5 podpondpods@gmail.com Issue: - The traditional Buddhist notion of "metta" is often translated as 'loving kindness' or 'compassion'. If you do Headspace meditations and do visualisa…
Dougie's Twitter beef! THEY SAID WHAT!? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:11
Socials: @d0ug7a5 @intralocalNews and social media are more divisive than ever. Covid has exposed a lot of mis- and disinformation and conspiracy theorists. It's a natural response to be reactive and combative. This is l…
Why me? :( [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:45
Cal: @intralocalDougie: @d0ug7a5A lot of people have found themselves suffering from conditions and situations they didn't expect, such as long covid, the loss of many loved ones, other health issues and personal catastr…
There go my plans! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:04
Cal: @intralocalDougie: @d0ug7a5Issue:Everything is changing all the time! Cal and Dougie talk about letting go in the face of disappointment and we have a tough listener question about the shootings in Plymouth and the…
Intro bonus: Death. And how to move on* [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:11
*Spoiler - we never really do move on. Recorded before the covid-19 pandemic hit the West hard, but more relevant now than ever, Dougie and Cal examine what it means to accept the death of a loved one, as well as how to…
Intro 4: The Science of Meditation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:32
Mindfulness - what's it all about? Turns out its about your brain. Dougie and Cal explore mindfulness, meditation, and the observable changes that they can bring about in the human body.
Intro 3: Anxious? The world doesn't revolve around you! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:50
...or: how to stay sane in the apocalypse! Cal and Dougie take apart their own neuroses and put their brains back together using buddhist principles and practical techniques.
Intro 2: Karma's a Bitch, So Don't Be One! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:53
What goes around comes around... or does it? Cal and Dougie take a look at one of Buddhism's best-known ideas - the principle of Karma, and the Eightfold Path.
Intro 1: Big Ego? How To Get Over Yourself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:39
Cal and Dougie explore the Four Noble Truths, what suffering is and how to avoid it (clue: we can't) and consider what we can do to start questioning the stories we tell ourselves. Can we be more flexible about how we pe…