Buddhism for Beginners
The Buddhism for Beginners Podcast is brought to you by Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC). KPC was founded by Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo Rinpoche to uphold the Palyul lineage within the Nyingma tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. KPC is a hub of compassionate activity with a mission to inspire people to improve the world and end suffering for the benefit of all beings.
The Buddhism for Beginners podcast draws from a wealth of teachings by Jetsunma and other great masters from around the world. Gain insight and guidance into how you can apply foundational Buddhist principles and meditation techniques to use in your everyday life. For more teachings, meditations, and resources visit out online virtual temple at Tara.org.
Episodes
38 episodes
Experience Holidays with a Calm Mind
Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo gave this teaching Christmas eve 1995. In it she describes the hope and fear that is magnified during the holiday season, using it as a way to understand the habits of our minds. During the holiday season our minds become e...
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1:09:58
Marrying Your Spiritual Life with Western Culture
Our spiritual life can be a precious living truth inside of us if we develop a deep and ultimate connection with our spiritual path. Jetsunma explains to us that this is not easy to do because our society is materialistic and removed from the n...
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1:13:48
Compassion Stops the Suffering
Jetsunma takes us to a deeper understanding of the interdependence of the practices of Refuge and Bodhicitta. Leading us through the mental equations that will result in the cessation of suffering, she points out, "The cessation of suffering do...
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1:05:28
Live a Sacred Life
The ideas of competition and materialism are taught to us as virtues during our childhood. Collecting things and going somewhere are pivotal ways of viewing our life’s progress. Jetsunma steers us away from these misconceptions: "Every moment i...
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1:12:11
What do the Five Senses Really Tell You?
The five senses are about distinction - the idea of self-nature being inherently real. They are extensions of our ego. Why is the understanding of our own true nature so difficult for human beings? Jetsunma answers, "Because we are practicing t...
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59:21
Go Beyond Safety to Love
We are taught to never truly surrender our heart, to never risk in order to experience great passion, to always keep something aside for ourselves. Our quest for safety leads us to compartmentalize our experiences and keep everything in a neat,...
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53:42
Chöd (Cutting the Ego) Western-style
When Jetsunma was in her early 20’s she practiced examining all aspects of life: physical, mental, emotional. What she found in the things of samsara: "There’s no future in this." At the same time, meditating upon the natural, luminous state th...
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1:07:45
The Logic of Dharma Practice
There is a deep prejudice in the West that has become almost invisible to us: the idea that one’s spiritual life is somehow separate from the rest of one’s life. This results in the habit of denial about the truth of our situation and we are li...
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1:03:25
Not Grasping Means Not Suffering
Growing up in a materialistic culture, being taught to "be all that you can be", actually produces obstacles to the path to enlightenment. The definition of neurotic is acting in a way that is inappropriate according to reality. The Buddha teac...
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1:01:24
How we Experience Perception
Each of us has our own "perceptual bubble", describes Jesunma Ahkon Lhamo, as she unveils for us the dynamics of how we perceive, and react to, everything around us.
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43:36
Turning the Mind to Dharma
One of the first things we hear about in Buddhism is "turning the mind to Dharma". This is a study of the first teachings of the Buddha. Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo walks us through this process, and explains how necessary it is to motivate us on the ...
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39:01
How to Pacify Increasing Desire
The Buddha teaches us that the root of all suffering is desire. We've all had the experience of fulfilling one desire only to be overcome with the next. Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo helps us unravel this endless loop to look at how we can begin to paci...
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44:44
Loving-Kindness is Your Practice, by Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo
The basis for understanding your true nature is Bodhicitta - the compassionate intent to benefit all beings. Kindness then becomes the essence of your practice. Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo guides us in understanding how this works.
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33:39
Equality of All That Lives, by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
Since all of us have the Buddha nature intact within us, we are all equal. How we can practice that is addressed by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo in this teaching on the reality of who we are.
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38:53
Desire & Dharma Warrior, by Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo
How does one fight desire in our minds? In this teaching, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo teaches the way of the compassionate warrior.
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42:47
Understanding Cause & Effect - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
What is karma? In this teaching, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo explains how the interdependence of cause and effect affects our lives.
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40:15
You Have the Power to Make a Better World - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
It takes extraordinary effort to lift out of suffering and reach enlightenment. On the way, you rely on the lineage, the Guru, and the knowledge of cause and result. Then step by step, you will reach your goal.
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56:15
The Lama Never Leaves You - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
In this teaching, focusing on the supports of Dharma, and the treasure they represent, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo explains that in truth, the Lama never leaves you.
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Episode 21
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1:08:07
How To Reach Enlightenment
In this teaching, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo takes us through the steps that will support and lead to our own enlightenment as well as those who have hopes of us.
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1:15:03
AA, Buddhism, and Addiction - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
One of the few successful programs in treating substance abuse has been AA. Jetsunma explains how the AA method can be applied to our addiction to samsara.
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44:35
Dakini In the Sphere of Truth - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
In this live teaching from 1991, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, following His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, opens the doors to the sphere of truth; sharing with us the qualities of activity expressed by the Dakini.
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51:42
Creating a Deep Storehouse of Merit - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
In this teaching, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo gives us an in-depth understanding of the Buddhist concept of merit and how it works in our lives. Through lucid explanation and example, Jetsunma shows us how meritorious intention and activity can lead u...
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57:45
See Beyond Preconceptions
There is a whole world outside of our concepts. Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo gives us the keys to unlocking it.
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57:02
Experience the Equality of All Beings - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo not only explains the logic of the equality of all beings, she takes us through various ways to experience our sameness.
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55:30
Apply the Four Noble Truths - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
The "Four Noble Truths" was the first teaching given by the Buddha. In it he describes the truth of suffering, the end of suffering and the path out of suffering. Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo shows us that applying these teachings in our lives will bri...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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36:50