Daily Buddhism

The Four Immeasurables
Question:
What are the four Immeasurables?
Answer:
Good question!  The four immeasurables are a collection of meditation practices that are designed to increase four specific virtuous ideals. We’ve already talked quite a bit about the first one:
1. Loving Kindness
Remember when we talked about loving-kindness meditation a few weeks back?  The practitioner sits in meditation [...]

Question:
Hi Brian, I’m reading a book by by the Dalai Lama, and he mentions the “Four Seals.” What are these?
Answer:
I’m not sure I’d call this a beginner’s idea, but it won’t kill anyone to touch on some more advanced ideas occasionally.
The Four Seals are:

All compounded things are impermanent.
All stained emotions are painful.
All phenomena are empty.
Nirvana [...]

Review: Seeds of Kindness Beads
By: http://www.seedsofkindness.biz

“May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be peaceful, may you be safe.”
A couple of months ago, I reviewed the book “The Gift of Loving Kindness.” In the introduction of the book, one of the authors mentions that she sells beads. When I contacted her for more [...]

To Meat or Not to Meat?

Question:
I was recently reading “The Accidental Buddhist” and read that the Dalai Lama eats meat. That bleew me away. Can you cover eating meat? Thanks for your great podcast.
Answer:
We’ve discussed this topic several times in the past, but it just keeps coming back.  This question seems be especially confusing to [...]

Book: Quiet Mind, Open Heart: Finding Inner Peace Through Reflection, Journaling, and Meditation.
By Laura Wright
Reviewed by Brian Schell
Bristlecone, 2008. 256 Pages, ISBN 978-0-9787757-6-6
Buy from Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0978775767?tag=askdrarca-20
The subtitle of the book is “Finding Inner Peace Through Reflection, Journaling, and Meditation.” That combination of ideas is really an excellent summary of the point of the book. Reflection [...]

(If you have submitted a question, please be patient, I’m starting to get backlogged. Keep sending them in, but be patient, I’ll answer them all as soon as possible.)
Question:
I’ve been listening to the podcast since summertime, and I guess I am a new Buddhist. What do I do about celebrating Christmas?  Is that allowed?
Answer:
Christians have [...]

Question:
Hello, I have been following your Podcast for a few days only.  I am quite intrigued and pleasantly surprised in all the information you provide as it clears a lot of misconception I have myself about Buddhism.  Further on this subject.  I have been researching and doing some reading about buddhism and it’s denominations. [...]