A Christian and a Buddhist walk in to a bar

What is conversion?

We launch off from an earlier conversation into a rambling discussion on conversion. What is is? is it good? should we do it?
 
Please convert your friends to the pod, send it around :) 

Do religions compete?

Today in the cage - Christianity Vs Buddhism - in the showdown of the millennium.
 
Jacob and Tai-Sen discuss if religions are actually competing? or if they are in fact all speaking about the same truth. If you picked up some Bahai in this topic, well done you! 
 
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/29/what-if-the-worlds-religions-arent-competing-but-rather-one-unfolding-truth

Divine music - Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys

We are picking up all the good vibrations today, and talking about the Beach Boys! yes you heard right, notorious Christian pop band the Beach Boys. 
 
We dive in to what makes their music actually maybe about God, and how Brian Wilson was perhaps an under heralded genius (but not really, he was pretty famous). 
 
https://mbird.com/music/you-need-a-mess-of-help-to-stand-alone/

The Jade Buddha, Diplomacy and being a Bodhisattva

We are back to one of our favorite topics. The board game Diplomacy.Tai-Sen (Jamal) shares why he's known as the 'Jade Buddha', how he thinks about the game, and we talk about how others perceive him and the intersection between the game and his spirituality. Spoiler alert - its more closely connected than you may think! 

Divine music - Bob Marley

One Love dear listeners. Welcome to todays episode. And we are back with divine music! we know you missed it. We jump in to the wonderful world of Bob Marley, and Rastafarianism in general. A highly informative episode to make, where we move beyond the cliché's and really take a look at what was behind some of the most spiritual popular music of the last century.
 
Give thanks 
 
https://theconversation.com/under-the-influence-of-bob-marley-the-timeless-music-man-63347

Becoming a non monk - The Jukai ceremony

Newly dubbed KoJu Tai-Sen has done it! He's become a non monk. We reflect on the ceremony of Jukai, Jacob's thoughts in attending, and how Tai-Sen is feeling after the whole process. 

Becoming a non monk - Not Disparaging the Triple Treasure

This is it, the final 'not-monk' episode. What a journey it has been! 
 
Join us for the last time, as we discuss disparaging the three treasures, and how to 'just do it' when it comes to the precepts. 

Becoming a non monk - Not being angry

It's Hulk mode time on the pod, as we discuss not being angry. Is it even possible? what does anger do to us? Stay tuned to find out, and write us an angry letter if we don't answer your questions appropriately. 

Becoming a non monk - Not being possessive

As the owners of this podcast, Jacob and Jamal spend the episode asserting their sole rights to it, keeping it from others and ensuring that no one else can have any of it. Alongside that we continue exploring the Buddhist precepts. This time around not being possessive. 

Becoming a non monk - Not praising self

This week. We talk about why we are the best. Just so much better than everyone else. And also why Buddhism asks us not to praise ourselves at the expense of others.