Bill Moyers on Faith and Reason With Pema Chodron - Part 1

[MyKrabi]

This got me through a difficult divorce .... 5 years later her teachings have changed my life

[aubhar]

I just stumble upon this lady like 2 or 3 minutes ago. Yes she may be hard looking but I sense the love and a kind loving heart from her. Her eyes show love and compassion and her voice is soothing. I WAS a hard man and I WAS hateful and violent when I was out there drinking...I hated mankind and I wished I was Hitlers apprentice. That was 14 years ago. I tried many religions and now this one makes lots of sense.

[Fike2308]

Bill Moyers Rocks!

[douceclaude]

Her eyes are so peaceful and gentle and good ! They just express love !

[ammabreathe]

Thank you, dear Pema Chodron. We love you!

[laurasbotanicals]

maybe radical islamists could learn something from her.

[lumay1966]

@laurasbotanicals As could radical Christians.

[zoo899]

"the best spiritual instruction is to wake up in the morning and say 'I wonder what's gonna happen today'"

[jigme911]

thanx for the video

thanx for the comments

:)

[qxw667]

awaken? God no.. I want some sleep for god sakes!

[Nishiki83]

great to hear someone say her name! i felt like i was never going to pronounce it right, LOL! :)

[KathleenQi]

Pema Chodron and words of wisdom and calmness have helped me very much and I thank her !!

[mapmanic]

Buddhism was the first "spiritual" tradition that recognized god or the gods to be of psychological origin and as such is fully compatible with the scientific world view. When asked to sum up his philosophy in one sentence, Siddattha Gotama said: ""Sabbe dhamma nalam abhinivesaya. (All things should not be clung to.) This includes the ego, the sense of self we desperately cling to. You can do this with meditative practices. You can get closer to the real world only if you know your own mind.

[Nintendan]

Sane is the new sexy.

Pema can teach me any day.

;)

[padmagrrl]

thank you so much for posting this!

[EgoTailTRAILCIRCLE]

I started meditation 5 years ago, these days my mind is radically calmer, the difference bewteen day and night, also my breath almost stands still when im meditating, my body feels like its pocessed by a energy bubble, its incredible, i researched my condition and i think im starting to full my body with chi anyway im happier.

[Tomar17]

Hi,

As Buddhists, do you guys believe in a God or a Deity that controls reincarnation, chi, karma, and who created the universe?

Or do you believe Buddhism is just a nice way to control one's ego desires, and spirituality?

this is an honest question, I don't know much about Buddhism

peace

[heyjudy2]

No, there is no God or Deity that controls. Things just happens. Like if you hurt somebody, you get scared - and that makes things happen, and the other person gets scared or even hateful, and that makes things happen. That is karma. Everything is always created before. Buddhism is a nice way to realize that the ego is just an illusion, and when you cling to it, cling to that illusion, you get very unhappy. You are always created by erverything else, therefore there is no I.

[Tomar17]

thanks, where do Buddhists believe the world came about.

peace

[heyjudy2]

Gautama Buddha says he doesn't know and that there is no use in asking. He likens it to a man who is shot by a poisoned arrow, but doesn't want the doctor to treat him before he knows who shot the arrow, what cast he was, what kind of job he has and why he shot him. Buddha says it is no difference with the Way, get the arrow and poison out of your body first, there is no reason of asking all these questions.. He didn't want to teach things which were not helpful or nescessary.

[Tomar17]

interesting. thanks for the answer.

What are Buddhisms holy texts, if any?

And how do you guys view Buddha? An inspired man? Or somehow divine or incarnation of the divine?

thanks

[heyjudy2]

The texts are Sutras, if you google:

"Mahayana Buddhist Sutras in English" you'll find quite a few. Karen Armstrongs book "Buddha" is very good, so is Trungpa's books.

If you listen to this interview, you'll get the answers. She says: "(Buddha) was an ordinary human being with hopes and fears, and Shenpa, you know ability to get hooked. And he freed himself from suffering, not from pain but from suffering." Listen to what she says. And google pema and moyers, and you'll find the text.

[lillyvalleys]

We do not know and may never find out, because the Universe is so vast that we will never reach its outer limits, if limits to exhist.

As a Buddhist, I enjoy the vastness of the Universe, feeling one with it without worrying, or preoccupy myself with 'where did it all come from', 'who or what created it all', etc etc. I feel that it is much more important to live each moment in its completness but at peace with oneself and the world that surrounds us.

Best wishes

Rosanella :-)

[vnocito3813]

Buddhism is atheistic and "all-theistic." Everything is interconnected and functions as a naturally occurring system. There's no one "in charge" besides your own mind and how you perceive the world. and there is no independent self or "soul." Your "self" is really just an amalgamation of causes & effects, which cease at death. However there is an underlying identity with the Universe. Buddhism is about realizing all this and taking the path of compassion as a response.

[sweetxevex23]

i think she looks cool haha. But youre entitled to your opinion. I think it really doesn't matter what she is wearing and I don't think the issue of physcial appearance requires too much analysis. She wears what she wears, can't it be as simple than that?

[truthformeandyou]

Why does she feel the need to chop her hair off and dress like other Buddhist? She's taking on a role, the Buddhist role. She would be much more effective if she would dress as she always has, and had longer hair - she would then be authentic. She is just playing a role.

[mbwaldo]

I hear your point but I am thinking about what a Catholic nun friend of mine once said to me... She commented that she continued to wear her habit although she was no longer required to, because she wanted to be a symbol, a reminder in the world, a world that as we are all aware needs to be reminded to slow down and think of the Divine more than ever...

[JFMJJ]

"she would then be authentic."

Every word that comes out of her mouth, every work she's written, sounds authentic to me. Why focus on her physical appearance?

[Nexustraveler]

Totally agree. I am thankful for the teaching of Pema as well as Thich Nhat Hanh. It is Buddhism that transcends Buddhism. It is life. It is truth. The teaching is what one must have expected Buddhism to become - universal and undogmatic. In this regard, it can be equated to the teachings of Jesus. This is a movement to get behind. Thich Nhat Hanh has taken Buddhism into the territory of social activism. These people are sending out the ripples in the pond of life to change the world!

[KSLarrabee]

In her book "When Things Fall Apart" she discusses discipline and I would say her dress and hair are a result of that - also she still lives in Gampo Abby when she isn't doing speaking engagements. She IS still a nun, from what I understand. I in no way feel she's playing a role.

[nicolatwo]

But faith is not the foundation of having an open heart. Love is. Faith is there for us to feel connected and protected by our gods.

[Ricine]

Like the last two people to comment this show was my first view into this way of thinking. It has sparked my interest. I have read Pema's book "The places that scare you" The relief I felt from these teachings was tremendous and I can tell there is so much more to come.

[mbwaldo]

It was this Bill Moyers series that first introduced me to Pema Chodron. Men and women of all faiths can benefit from listening to this kind and insightful teacher. Many blessings to you for sharing!!!!

[hornybodhisattva]

secular blessing

the series that changed the way i saw my self , my patterns, my habits and the way i am in the world and other people!

fierce blessing!