eightfold path

In this episode, Andrew discusses the Noble Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path serves as a guiding structure that helps to bring forth our innate wisdom and compassion, rather than a set of rigid rules and requirements to follow heedlessly. Similar to how one might excavate an ancient ruin to get to the beauty underneath, the Eightfold Path are our tools for doing the deep digging required for peace and freedom. Andrew also provides a brief overview of the Eightfold Path factors. Enjoy!

In this episode, WH Facilitator, Don Givens, talks about the Three Refuges. These are core principles that we turn to for stability and support as we navigate the instability of trudging through life on life's terms. In a path that teaches of impermanence and the inconstancy of life, where can we find a solid ground to stand? The Buddha: representing our greatest potential for a wise and compassionate heart, The Dharma: representing the principles and practices outlined in the Noble Eightfold Path, and The Sangha: representing the community of wise friendship and spiritual companions on the path.

Andrew continues the series on the Buddha's core teachings, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, speaking on the topic of the Second Noble Truth: Craving & Clinging. Although life is unpredictable and largely outside of the realm of our control, we can learn to meet these ups and downs with less reactivity, with less craving and clinging. When we become reactive, we make life harder than it has to be. Mindfulness helps us to step back and observe when reactivity arises, without taking the bait. I hope you enjoy!

Andrew kicks off a series of talks on the 4 noble truths and the eightfold path, speaking on the first noble truth: dukkha!

The first truth has often been misinterpreted as the Buddha making a claim that "life is suffering", but rather than a claim to be believed, the Buddha is offering a task to be put into practice centered around embracing the difficulty and vulnerability of our lives rather than running from it. His teaching captures the essence of the reality that when we resist pain, we suffer further, when we embrace pain, we experience freedom from the unnecessary layer of suffering that comes from reactivity and avoidance. 

In this episode, Andrew continues the series of talks on the 10 Paramis, discussing the topic of "Effort & Energy". It's said that the Buddha taught about effort more than any other topic in his Noble Eightfold Path, which is likely because of how essential it is for the development of wisdom and compassion, as well as the nuance of how to cultivate energy without becoming rigid or falling into the other extreme of lethargy or complacency. 

In this episode Mikey Noechel explores the 7th factor of the eightfold path which is wise mindfulness. 

In this episode Mikey Noechel introduces the second factor of the eightfold path, wise intention. He specifically outlines the 3 wise intentions, renunciation, non-harming, and good will. Enjoy! 

Andrew begins a series of talks on the 10 Paramis, starting with generosity. Generosity was often the very first teaching that the Buddha would give to folks interested in starting their spiritual search. In this talk, we discuss why the focus of service and generous giving is so essential to the Buddhist path.

In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk on the first factor of the eightfold path, which is right view. He specifically discusses the view of karma and the four noble truths. 

On the final night of the Spring Retreat, Andrew & Mikey discuss the Noble Eightfold Path. Enjoy!

On the fifth night of the Spring Retreat, Mikey offers a talk on the "Flower Sermon". He highlights the importance of the simple, experiential wisdom, that comes from being fully attentive to the here and now. 

On the second night of WH's Spring Retreat, Andrew offers a talk on "The Way to the End of Suffering". He shares personal reflections, the life story of the Buddha, and offers a teaching on the 4 Noble Truths.

From the recent, Wild Heart Spring Retreat, at Heartwood Refuge in North Carolina, Mikey offers a talk on "Happiness in the Here & Now" on the first night of the retreat. He speaks to the difference between "Hedonic Happiness" and "Genuine Happiness" and the importance of finding a type of contentment that comes from relating to the world with wisdom and compassion, instead of trying to attain happiness through worldly pursuits.

In this episode, Andrew discusses the Buddhist Heart Practice of "Compassion". He speaks about compassion as a "radical act" that comes from letting go of fixing or solving our problems and coming into a space of deeper intimacy with the pain and difficulties that we face in our lives.

Our thoughts are very powerful. The thoughts that make up a great part of our conscious life create the person that we project onto the world, create the reality of our own lives. 

Imagine a person being a tiny little radio station, broadcasting out to the world the thoughts, fears worries emptiness and depression that fill the mind. To commune with your soul, all it requires is for you to be like Source, or Soul, that being an all loving being, 

So when you choose to come from a place of love your energies reflect that, and your little miniature radio station broadcasts that into the world. When we do that we find ourselves in synchronicity with the energies of one’s soul, or godlike energies….

How do we do that?

By adopting a vision of something worthy….by endeavoring to aspire to something greater, more noble. 

A Course In Happiness and a downloadable pdf of today's A Course In Happiness can be found at 

• https://www.patreon.com/thehappinessquotient

Suggested Readings:

• Emotional Intelligence - Daniel Goleman
• 
  
• Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda
• 
  
• The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge - Carlos Castaneda
• 
  
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig
• 
  
• Cloud Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown: A Mountain Journal: Alan Watts

A COURSE IN HAPPINESS PDF DOWNLOAD CAN BE FOUND HERE:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/course-in-issue-45574377?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copy_to_clipboard&utm_campaign=postshare

Music from today's episode was found on the free music archive, featuring the brilliant music of Marianne Dissard. Please find out more about her incredible music at:
www.mariannedissard.com

For more about Thom Dharma Pollard, about personal coaching or his inspirational presentations, virtual or in person, look for him at eyesopenproductions.com

To join his mailing list for A Course In Happiness, email him at thom.dharma.pollard@gmail.com

Certified Sanskrit Mantra Instructor, Parashakti Jill Jardine, shares Sanskrit Mantras to improve your intuition.  Jill offers this podcast teaching after fielding years of questions from clients and students on "How can I improve my psychic skills?"

Some people are born with natural psychic abilities, either as a result of genetic inheritance (such as those of Celtic ancestry) or because of positive past life karma (called Poorvapunya in Sanskrit).  Astrologers can see if their clients are inclined to above average intuitive abilities from certain astrological signatures in one's natal charts.

Everyone can improve their intuition and develop other spiritual gifts by implementing certain practices such as: performing acts of kindness, generosity, Karma Yoga (or selfless service), healing others, and practicing the eight limbs of Yoga, and other ancient proven healing techniques, such as chanting Sanskrit mantra.  We can develop "siddhis" or special spiritual powers by rightly performing the "Yamas" and "Niyamas" of the Yoga Sutras and following the ethical and moral codes of any religious scriptures, such as the Buddhist Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.

One can also develop intuition by working with archetypal symbolic systems  such as the Tarot, Astrology, Palmistry, I Ching ,and other oracular systems.

Chanting Sanskrit Mantra is an ancient sacred tradition to improve intuition and develop other spiritual gifts. Here are some mantras that are proven to help:

1) GUM:  seed (bija) mantra to Ganesha, to remove obstacles

2) EIM:  seed (bija) mantra to Saraswati, goddess of creative wisdom and divine knowledge

3) OM EIM SARASWATIYEI SWAHA:  foundation or mula mantra to Saraswati, goddess of divine wisdom. Governs all spiritual pursuits, gives mantras their power. Good for education, musical and artistic endeavors and makes any project successful.

4) SAT CHID EKAM BRAHMA: Mantra to Brahma, the great Creator.  Sat=Truth; Chid=Spiritual mind stuff; Ekam= one, without a second; Brahma=This entire cosmos, with all its contents, sometimes also called Brahman, the state of conscious existence that is one with everything

5) OM GAJA KARNAKAYA NAMAHA:  Ganesha mantra to remove obstacles. One can sit anywhere and tune this cosmic television (the body) with seven channels (chakras), and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God, or the voice of the prophets.  (per Sanskrit Mantra Guru, Satguru Sant Keshavadas in his book, Lord Ganesha).

6) OM BHALACHANDRAYA NAMAHA: In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center. Chandra means the crescent moon.  Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips.  That is the secret of all healing. (per Sanskrit Mantra Guru, Satguru Sant Keshavadas in his book, Lord Ganesha).

7) OM SIDDHA LAKSHMIYEI NAMAHA: "Salutations to the Divine Mother who is the bestower of supernatural powers." This is a Lakshmi mantra, to the goddess of prosperity and abundance.

(THE ABOVE MANTRAS WERE TRANSMITTED TO JILL BY HER MANTRA GURU, NAMADEVA ARCHARYA, THOMAS ASHLEY-FARRAND)

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In this episode, Andrew discusses many facets of "Wise Effort"-- the sixth factor of the eightfold path. He talks about the importance of "resolve" and having a strong commitment to spiritual practice. He also details the nuance of developing a "gentle approach" to investigating mind states during meditation, and the difference between discernment v. self-judgement. Finally, he discusses the "Four Great Efforts" as outlined in the Buddha's teaching.

Andrew continues on the theme of "Wise View", speaking on the topic of "The Four Noble Truths".

Andrew discusses the first of the eightfold path factors, "Wise View". He discusses the role of meditation in breaking out of habitual patterns of reactivity in our lives.