Let’s explore how Buddhism approaches emotions in a way that is both clear-minded and compassionate—neither suppressing nor indulging them. Buddhism emphasizes seeing oneself as the observer of emotions rather than identifying with them. It advocates for a nonjudgmental “seeing” of emotions as a path to understanding, rather than confronting them as enemies. The Dharma encourages us to become people of awareness, not people without emotions, and defines mindfulness as a state of being—a sincere and present companionship with our emotional experience. Ultimately, this Buddhist perspective invites us to become friends with our emotions, for emotions that are truly seen and acknowledged gradually become calm, guiding us toward inner freedom.

We discuss the Buddhist perspective on life and death, particularly regarding issues such as suicide and euthanasia. It points out that while modern society emphasizes individual autonomy over one’s life, Buddhism views life as the result of interdependent causes and conditions, and categorizes suicide under the precept against killing. However, we also clarify that Buddhism does not categorically reject all acts of ending life. We emphasis that in Buddhist ethics, the moral value of an action is primarily determined by the underlying motivation and mental intention (karma), rather than the mere external appearance or outcome of the act. Regarding euthanasia, Buddhism advocates transcending suffering through mindfulness and contemplation, rather than seeing the termination of life as a path to liberation. Ultimately, the text underscores that Buddhism promotes compassionate accompaniment of life, rather than its premature ending.

This episode will examine the Buddhist concept of the "Middle Way" and its relationship with Negation-based thinking. It is emphasized that the Middle Way is not a mere compromise between two extremes, but rather transcends the realm of relativity, avoiding attachment to the dualistic opposition of "existence" and "non-existence."

Negation-based thinking can be traced in early Buddhist scriptures, and in the later development of Mahayana Buddhism, the mode of negation-based thinking became more distinctly articulated. Nevertheless, such modes of thought continue to emphasize the impermanence and transformation of phenomena, the distinction between appearance and essence, and the necessity of grasping the true nature of reality.

This podcast aims to explore the application, purpose, and significance of using "what is not" to understand "what is" in the context of negation-based thinking in Mahayana Buddhist scriptures.

The death penalty has been a hot topic around the world, with some believing it deters crime and brings justice, while others argue it’s too cruel and risks punishing the innocent. Buddhism, which values compassion and wisdom, offers a unique view on life and death. In this episode, we’ll explore the death penalty and its abolition from a Buddhist perspective.