logo
episode-header-image
Sep 16
30m 21s

The Eightfold Path, Part 1: The Path to ...

Jonathan Foust
About this episode

This talk explores how the Buddha’s Eightfold Path offers a clear, practical guide to living with greater wisdom, compassion, and inner freedom in everyday life. We’ll look at how each step on the path supports both personal transformation and the well-being of others.

 

Wise View, the first step, invites us to see life as it truly is—recognizing impermanence, the causes of suffering, and the possibility of liberation. It’s about shifting from a narrow, self-centered perspective to a broader understanding that our thoughts, actions, and attitudes shape our experience.

Up next
Today
One Breath at a Time: Anchoring Awareness in the Present
This talk explores the simple yet profound practice of using the breath as an anchor for awareness. In a world where distraction and stress pull us in countless directions, the breath is always available as a doorway back into presence. Drawing from the Buddha’s teachings on mind ... Show More
30m 27s
Sep 30
The Eightfold Path, Part 2: Living from Wise Intention
This talk explores the second step of the Eightfold Path, Wise Intention—the heart’s compass that points us toward freedom. Rooted in the Buddha’s teachings, Wise Intention asks us to orient our lives around letting go of what doesn’t serve, cultivating goodwill instead of ill wi ... Show More
30m 12s
Sep 23
Your Body is a Temple: Coming Home to Sensation
This talk explores the profound practice of coming home to the body—not as an object to fix or improve, but as sacred ground for awakening. Drawing on early Buddhist teachings and somatic insights, we’ll reflect on what it means to honor the body as a temple of presence. Through ... Show More
34m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Realizing True Well-Being, Part 2
Buddhist psychology and the Western oriented field of positive psychology agree: How we pay attention determines whether we live primarily in fear and judgment, or happiness and peace. This two-part series explores the teachings, practices and attitudes that enable us to live a m ... Show More
56m 58s
Jan 2025
The Infinite Game - From Self-Improvement to Spiritual Freedom
While meditation is widely practiced in today’s world, many miss the opportunity to tap into its profound potential to awaken the heart and mind. Beyond its surface benefits, meditation can guide us to the radiant light, boundless love, and pure awareness that is our true nature. ... Show More
49m 57s
Feb 2024
Letting Go of Controlling – Part 1: The Path of Freedom
Letting Go of Controlling – Part 1: The Path of Freedom - While it’s natural to try to control our life experience, our chronic controlling cuts us off from presence and obscures the loving awareness that is our essence. This series of talks explores how we can let go in four key ... Show More
56m 10s
Jan 2025
197 - A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, I sit down with Cortland Dahl, author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism, to explore how Buddhist teachings and meditation can help us navigate life’s challenges with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.Cortland shares insights from ... Show More
59m 48s
Apr 2025
Realizing True Well-Being, Part 1
Buddhist psychology and the Western oriented field of positive psychology agree: How we pay attention determines whether we live primarily in fear and judgment, or happiness and peace. This two part series explores the teachings, practices and attitudes that enable us to live a m ... Show More
55m 17s
Aug 21
From Head to Heart
If we are suffering, we are believing an interpretation of reality that is limiting and untrue. At these times we are imprisoned in a painful looping of fear-driven thoughts and feelings. This talk explores the ways our practices of mindfulness, compassion and loving presence can ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2024
190 - No Mud, No Lotus
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, we explore the Buddhist perspective on suffering and how we can transform our relationship with it. We'll explore how changing our relationship with suffering can lead to personal growth, wisdom, and even unexpected joy. This episo ... Show More
24m 36s
Aug 2023
Part 1: Rewiring for Happiness and Freedom
Part 1: Rewiring for Happiness and Freedom - The Buddha said, “I would not be teaching this (a path of awakening) if genuine happiness and freedom were not possible.” While this is our potential, we each have deep conditioning to get stuck in feelings of fear, deficiency and sepa ... Show More
52m 56s
Jan 2025
Radical Compassion: Loving Ourselves and Our World into Healing, Part 1
Drawn from Tara’s book, Radical Compassion (2020), these three talks explore how the RAIN practice (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) awakens the active, embodied caring that heals and frees our hearts. Through the framework of this practice, we look at how we can reconnect ... Show More
59m 28s
Jun 2025
E82: Stop Leaving the Self: The Path to Unconditional Freedom
Most people must constantly manage their thoughts, emotions, and outer conditions to avoid discomfort. The deeper path through life is to realize that there is a place of great beauty and peace inside that transcends all outer turmoil. This is the seat of Self. Spiritual growth m ... Show More
49m 49s