A Christian and a Buddhist walk in to a bar

Monks and Drugs

What happens when an entire Monastery worth of Buddhist monks gets busted for meth? This week we discuss how being a monk doesn't always mean you have good ethics and the implications of this for religion. 
 
https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz7ke/thailand-buddhist-monks-drug-test-meth 

Conversations with a (former) Monk – Part 2

We continue our discussion with Yong Kooi Kuo. Former monk, taxi driver, and current yoga teacher.
 
https://www.grasshopperyoga.com/ 

Conversations with a (former) Monk – Part 1

This week we have our very first Guest! Former Buddhist monk Yong Kooi Kuo joins us at the bar to discuss what its like being a monk and how he got there. 

Living Faithfully – What Does It Mean?

This week we once again ramble off into the weeds of spirituality. What does it mean to live in line with your faith, your practice or God? What do we do when we notice that we are not living in line with our religious teachings? and is doing so even possible?

Living in the tension of impermanence and eternity

Today we take ourselves on a walk through impermanence, eternity, and what gives us hope. 
Let us know if you'd like more of these 'rambling' episodes at christianbuddhistbar@gmail.com

Does Everybody Worship?

Today we enter the world of David Foster Wallace, and his assertation: everybody worships. Wallace contends that there is no such this as atheism and we only get to choose what, not if, we worship. 
Jacob and Jamal explore this contention, and go off on all the usual tangents. 
 
https://mbird.com/literature/more-david-foster-wallace-quotes/ 

The Mindfulness Capitalist Conspiracy Part 2

Last episode we asked 'what does mindfulness look like without ethics behind it?'. This week we  turn the lens toward the mindfulness industry, and investigate the intersection between mindfulness and capitalism while asking: is there a place for mindfulness as a commodity in the market?
 
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/14/the-mindfulness-conspiracy-capitalist-spirituality 

The Mindfulness Capitalist Conspiracy Part 1

Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist technique for achieving enlightenment. It is also a massive capitalist industry, promising to both counter the issues caused by capitalism, and also to bring productivity and riches to all. 
What does 'McMindfullness' have to do with traditional Buddhism, and what does it say about our society and religions?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/14/the-mindfulness-conspiracy-capitalist-spirituality 

Buddhism and Relationships – The Eightfold Path

We continue our discussion on how Buddhist teachings can apply to romantic relationships. How can we accept our partners as they are? How should we think and behave towards our partners? 
 
https://medium.com/@spiver/buddhism-and-relationships-the-eight-qualities-of-love-b820cdc415f0  

Buddhism and Relationships - the Four Noble Truths of Love

What does Buddhism say about relationships? Can you have them? and if so, how should you go about being in relationships in a Buddhist way? 
We start the year by exploring the Four Noble Truths of Love, and how these can help us have happier and stronger romantic relationships.
 
https://medium.com/@spiver/buddhism-and-relationships-the-four-noble-truths-of-love-11859b5ca2df