A Buddhist Podcast

Practical Buddhism for living in the 21st Century.

The Podcasts

A very merry christmas to you! This last weekend we recorded tonights lecture in the kitchen of the amazing Jackie Evans from Gower and Swansea West District in West Wales. We had a wonderful welcome and met some great people! On our return we finished the show and are delighted to bring you tonight, a lecture on Nichiren Daishonin's writing, Letter from Sado. The lecture is quite long and was recorded very late at night, so you might want to listen to it in parts! Subjects include: Time is the biggest contribution we can make I solemnly swear that I want to do good Temples were an investment The loss of each individual life matters Clinging on to life An ungrudging spirit Use problems to become happy Earnest resolve Refuting mistaken teachings Doing the right thing The heart of a lion king We play two tracks from the Podsafe Music Network, Panacea by Bill and Merry Christmas Angel by the wonderful Vittoria Conn. Thank you so much for your continued support of the show, we really are very grateful. Have a truly wonderful new year!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_Letter_from_Sado_-_Part_1.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:05pm PDT

We are back with another show! Karen has gone to visit her parents in Switzerland, so our teenage daughter, Florence is standing in for her on tonights show. On this show we have the wonderful William Woollard talking about the oneness of self and environment from Chapter 9 of his excellent book, The Reluctant Buddhist. We have music from Vittoria Conn who sings Where Would You Be, which is now available on ITunes! We also have the very talented Harley Loudon from London who sings a song dedicated to her daughter Ella and the Future Group of the UK, its called Teenagers! We will have another episode coming out before Christmas, so keep your eyes peeled for it! If you have a question, an experience or a shoutout that you would like to share with us, get in touch, we love hearing from you. Thank you for all your birthday wishes and constant support, it means alot to all of us. Have a wonderful week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_The_Reluctant_Buddhist_-_Chapter_9.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:57pm PDT

Welcome to another episode of A Buddhist Podcast. On tonights show we have a special guest, the wonderful Peter Morris! Peter talks about a fundamental aspect of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, the Gohonzon. Karen reads an amazing experience from the lovely Erica Holding who lives in California! We have great music as well! Tonight we have Howard Jones playing Love Never Wasted from his new album Ordinary Heroes. From the Podsafe Music Network we have Bobby Gentry singing Goldie Hawn. We also have, by special permission from the Lovespirals, their brand new track called Shine from their new album which drops this week, Future Past. You can get copies of the album signed by Ryan and Anji from their website and a free digital download. Thank you so much for listening to the show and for your support, we never take it for granted and really do appreciate it. Have a truly wonderful week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_Pete_Morris_and_the_Gohonzon.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:15pm PDT

Welcome to another show! Tonight we have William Woollard reading Chapter 8 from his fantastic book, The Reluctant Buddhist.Whilst Jason was in Trets recently he was able to record an experience by the lovely Mary Mulligan from Brighton in the UK, who talks about how she began to practice. We have a beautiful poem from the great Bob Kemp and shoutouts that as usual criss cross the globe!Tonight we have music from the very talented Tracy Lyons who has a new track, Don't You Know on the Podsafe Music Network. We also play the one and only Cat Malojian, we can't help it, we love them and they play Peddigoe.We have some great new material lined up in the next few weeks and can't wait to share it with you!If you have a question, an experience or a shoutout that you would like to share with us, get in touch, we love hearing from you.We know people are still after our t-shirts and you can find them at http://www.pressoffers.co.uk/abuddhistpodcast2 our thanks to Polly and Helen of Pressoffers for their help with this.Thank you so much for your support and encouragement, it means so much to us. Have a fantastic week! Welcome to another show! Tonight we have William Woollard reading Chapter 8 from his fantastic book, The Reluctant Buddhist. Whilst Jason was in Trets recently he was able to record an experience by the lovely Mary Mulligan from Brighton in the UK, who talks about how she began to practice. We have a beautiful poem from the great Bob Kemp and shoutouts that as usual criss cross the globe! Tonight we have music from the very talented Tracy Lyons who has a new track, Don't You Know on the Podsafe Music Network. We also play the one and only Cat Malojian, we can't help it, we love them and they play Peddigoe. We have some great new material lined up in the next few weeks and can't wait to share it with you! If you have a question, an experience or a shoutout that you would like to share with us, get in touch, we love hearing from you. We know people are still after our t-shirts and you can find them at http://www.pressoffers.co.uk/abuddhistpodcast2 our thanks to Polly and Helen of Pressoffers for their help with this. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement, it means so much to us. Have a fantastic week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_The_Reluctant_Buddhist_-_Chapter_8.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:17am PDT

Welcome to another episode of A Buddhist Podcast! Tonight we have a lecture from Jason based on a letter written by Nichiren Daishonin, called Letter to Jakunichi-Bo. Subjects include: What does it mean to practice Buddhism correctly? One to one support The power of appreciation What is the purpose of life? Practice for oneself and others Nam-myoho-renge-kyo embodies the four paramitas What is fundamental darkness? Illuminating the darkness of bullying Nichiren, Sun Lotus Leave nothing on the pitch Being known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra Noble envoys of Nichiren Daishonin Tonight we play three tracks! Thanks to PW Fenton, we have Lea Gilmore singing Ride My Blues Away. From the Podsafe Music Network we have the Lovespirals singing This Truth and Great Big Sea singing Beat the Drum. We have a correction we make and a reading of the wonderful poem by Christian Larson called The Optimists Creed. We have so many shoutouts tonight from Amsterdam to Singapore, from London to New York and from Mexico to New Delhi! Its a packed show and we hope you enjoy it! Thank you for listening, have a wonderful week!
Direct download: ABP_-_Letter_to_Jakunichi-B.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:28am PDT

Hello Everyone! Tonight we are very glad to bring you William Woollard reading Chapter 7 from his book, The Reluctant Buddhist. The chapter is all about Karma, and its a very interesting listen. As usual we have global shout outs as well as a beautiful poem from Kim Seagrave in Australia. We play "Love is not Wasted" from the imminent Howard Jones album, Ordinary Heroes which debuts on November 3rd this year. We also play one of our favourite bands, they are Cat Malojian from Northern Ireland, a truly great band. They sing Pettigoe! If you have wondering about our tshirts, you can get them now at http://www.pressoffers.co.uk/abuddhistpodcast2 our thanks to Polly and Helen of Pressoffers for their help with this. We hope very soon to add some new photos to the shop and the new blue colour! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. Wherever you are have a wonderful week!
Direct download: ABPTRBC7t2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:33pm PDT

Welcome to another episode of A Buddhist Podcast! On tonights show we have a lecture on the letter that Nichiren Daishonin wrote to Soya Kyoshin, its called The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood. Subjects include: Who was Soya Kyoshin? Essentials are not Optional Bodhisattva Superior Practices and the Latter day of the Law Reality and wisdom Don't bend the teachings to suit your karma Misguided priests versus correct teacher Challenging wrong doing Standing firm with a teenage daughter Bridging the gap between people and Buddhism My mentor And of course we have the shoutouts and also . . . we also have three brand new songs. I think, we may be the first podcast to debut two new tracks by Howard Jones. "Soon you'll go" and "Love never wasted" are from Howard's new album, Ordinary Heroes, which is being released on November 3rd. For more information take a look at his website here. Thank you Howard for letting us play these tracks We also debut a wonderful new song from Vittoria Conn, it's called "Where would you be" which will be appearing very soon! As soon as we have a location on ITunes or elsewhere we will post the link here. If you are looking for the tshirts you can get them from our tshirt shop which is generously powered by the wonderfulPressoffers.co.uk. Thank you so much for listening tonight, have a fantastic week!

For those of you who are familiar with William Woollards excellent book, The Reluctant Buddhist, and have been listening along on the podcast, you will have noticed something. The experiences from Chapters 5 and 6 were missing. This is because William really wanted to have someone else read them, and that someone tonight is the wonderfully warm and loving person that is his wife, Sarah. So reading The Story of Joanna from Chapter 6 and The Story of Sally from Chapter 5 of The Reluctant Buddhist is Sarah Woollard. Then we have music from Heather Sullivan. She sings Stronger from the Podsafe Music Network. We find out what happened to Jason this month, we have shout outs and we read a letter from an SGI member, Frank Amatefe in Ghana, Africa. We finish with another track from the Podsafe Music Network by Angelique Kidjo called Gimme Shelter featuring Joss Stone. We have some great shows lined up for you and are so excited about all the different developments that are happening. Look at for a new look to the website that is coming soon and also for a new colour of our t-shirts, Stone Blue! If you are looking for the tshirts you can get them from http://www.pressoffers.co.uk/abuddhistpodcast2 Thank you so much for your constant support and encouragement. Have a truly wonderful week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_The_Reluctant_Buddhist_-_The_Experiences_Part_1.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:53am PDT

We have been working on tonights show for a long time. SGI-UK asked us to help them put a show together about their view of the spirit of study within SGI-UK.
Subjects include:

  • A brief explanation about Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism
  • An explanation about SGI-UK's Study program
  • A dialogue on going through the study program
  • Experiences from new members and old about taking the study exam.

Finally we have some shoutouts and some great music from the one and only Cat Malojian. On tonights show we play Made in America from Cat Malojians new album, The Dawn Chorus.
Thank you to everyone who made tonights show possible including everyone who chanted for Jason to get well enough to leave hospital. Both Karen and I are sincerely grateful! Have a truly fantastic week!

Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_SGI-UK_A_Spirit_of_Study.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:36pm PDT

Welcome to another show, tonights show is a lecture on the writing of Nichiren Daishonin called On Repaying Debts of Gratitude. Some of the points include:

  • What is debt of gratitude anyway?
  • 28th April 1253, remember that speech?
  • A lifetime of struggle
  • Ssshhh! the Three Great Secret Laws
  • Without sparing our voice
  • Depth of teaching and depth of struggle
  • Drove this teaching to hell and back
  • How China get called China?
  • Putting people first
  • Three Virtues
  • Use each struggle as a means to become happier

Songs for this show come from Musicalley.com, part of Mevio the new name for Podshow! We play Rocket to the Moon by Jimmy Golding and Mine Again by Black Lab.
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for listening, for encouraging and for supporting us in this adventure. Have a wonderful week.

Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_On_Repaying_Debts_of_Gratitude.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:11pm PDT

Well tonight we have truly great explanation of the Buddhist concept known as the Ten Worlds as William Woollard reads Chapter 6 from The Reluctant Buddhist! We have music from the Podsafe Music Network tonight with Lee Coulter playing Booty Voodoo and Rocky Votolato with White Daisy Passing. More shoutouts from across the globe and chipper conversation from Jason and Karen who, at home in England are enjoying the wonderful summer! Thank you for listening and thank you so much for your encouragement. Have a fantastic week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_The_Reluctant_Buddhist_-_Chapter_6.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:27pm PDT

We can hardly believe that it is almost exactly half way through 2009! Wow! Tonight we bring you a lecture on the letter written by Nichiren Daishonin called, Hell is the Land of Tranquil Light. Some of the subject teasers for tonight include: We need to reveal Buddhahood to overcome our karma Lets try and remember the names of our mothers The icy wind of thoughtless encouragement The ten worlds exist in life and death Giving 150% . . .in small bursts Are you in a prison of someone elses making? Changing circumstances won't change karma Attaining Buddhahood just as you are It is human to feel grief when someone dies Gohonzon is the baseline of Buddhahood Chant first, shout later. We have music for you from the Podsafe Music Network. First up is Carbon Leaf with A Life Less Ordinary. We close the show with Shines Right Through Me by the amazing Great Big Sea! The links we have for the tracks will take you through to where you can buy them on iTunes and the links for the names will take you through to their own website. Karen and I are busy posting off orders for our new Tshirts! If you have yours and you send us a photograph, we will consider putting it on the artwork for the show, so send them in to jason(at)thejarretts.com! Thankyou for your comments and encouragement. Thank you for all the support you give us, we really do feel and appreciate it. Please take great care and have the most amazing and wonderful week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_Hell_is_the_Land_of_Tranquil_Light.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:16pm PDT

A Buddhist Podcast - The Reluctant Buddhist - Chapter 5 We are back on schedule tonight with the wonderful William Woollard reading Chapter 5, "What do we mean by happiness?", from his book The Reluctant Buddhist which is now being reprinted and translated into more languages! We have shoutouts and some great music. Tonight we play Rocket to the Moon by the wonderful Jimmy Golding and Day by Now is Now. Both artists are on the Podsafe Music Network. We have some great new material to bring to you and we welcome your feedback, reviews, experiences and contributions. For those people who have been asking about a tshirt, you can get them now at http://www.pressoffers.co.uk/abuddhistpodcast2 our thanks to Polly and Helen of Pressoffers for their help with this. Thank you for your support and encouragement, we do appreciate it so much. Have a fantastic week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_The_Reluctant_Buddhist_-_Chapter_5.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:44am PDT

A Buddhist Podcast - Letter to Misawa Tonight we have a lecture on "Letter to Misawa". This lectures is about many things, but one thing is for sure it does address the three obstacles and four devils. Perhaps because it does so it might explain why it has taken 5 months to write 3 times, why cables went missing right before we started the show and a myriad of others obstacles emerged! Some of tonights themes include: Practicing correctly involves transforming the negativity in the world around you Three obstacles and four devils What is the devil king of the 6th heaven anyway? Nikko takes it to the man Self reliant faith The Gohonzon certifies that Buddhahood exists Some experience of overcoming obstacles What do you want to break through? Why is the Soka Gakkai different? Its a full show and along with the shout outs we play three tracks tonight from the Podsafe Music Network (http://www.mevio.com) We play Code Monkey by Jonathan Coulton (http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=97007092b961d7e9a7d77c2614ee0086) who sings Code Monkey http://www.jonathancoulton.com/ http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=211036259&s=143444 And we play two tracks from Adrina Thorpe (http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=a892daf89e5efee9bd4705bbf8c092fc) who sings Coming Home and Fly Fly Fly She is also on iTunes! http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=64954602&s=143444 In response to the many requests for TShirts we are now able to offer them for almost half the previous price and twice the quality! Thanks Polly Earnest and Helen Steyner of PressOffers.com who have created the shop for us! Thank you for all your support, encouragement, comments and input! It is such great good fortune to be able to do this podcast.
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_Letter_to_Misawa.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:57am PDT

A Buddhist Podcast - The Reluctant Buddhist - Chapter 4 On tonights show, William Woollard reads Chapter 4 from his wonderful book, The Reluctant Buddhist. The chapter is called A Question of Faith and its a great listen. Also on tonight we have an experience from Estelle Jackson, a member of the Students Division in SGI-UK. As usual we have shoutouts that criss cross the world and music from the Podsafe Music Network. We play Vittoria Conn's track called Mirror and a podcasting anthem, Not On The Radio by Geoff Smith. The show tonight is absolutely packed! We know we have been sometime in getting you a show and so tonights episode lasts for 78 minutes or so, so it will fit on a CD if you want to burn it for a friend! We have some more shows ready for you and are looking forward to putting them out in the next few weeks! Thank you for your support and encouragement, we do appreciate it so much. Have a wonderful week!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_The_Reluctant_Buddhist_-_Chapter_4.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:04pm PDT

Welcome to another episode of A Buddhist Podcast. Tonight we continue with our new series of lectures on the Jigage portion of Gongyo by looking at the meaning of the words, Nyorai Juryo hon dai juroku! Haven't you ever wondered what it means? This poem of life is so amazing. Some of the headings include: What does gongyo mean? Lotus Sutra for the Latter Day of the Law Wisdom illuminates ignorance Nichiren Daishonin, the true Buddha Causing the sun of hope to dawn Shelley on Dante A practice to perpetuate Every character is a shining buddha Living the poem of life You can't use force to create change Our victories are your victories Walt Whitman, Song of Myself Seek out your true self! Live like the waterfall Once again the music for tonights show is a blatant expression of how much we love the music of Cat Malojian! We play Pettigoe and Life Rolls On, which you can find on iTunes! Thank you for all the comments, emails and messages of support, we truly appreciate every single last one of them. One last point, our love goes out to Dash and Donna, we are so happy to know that Donna is out of hospital and on the mend! Have a wonderful week.
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_Lifespan_Chapter_-_Part_Two.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:36am PDT

Finally, we are back! We are so pleased to do this show tonight, so pleased to be able to share this with you! After 3 years we have decided to finish our lecture series on Gongyo! Tonights lecture is an introduction to the Juryo Chapter, the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, known as the Lifespan Chapter! Some of the headings include: Traveller Where do we come from and where are we going? How can life be eternal if we all die? Overview of the Lotus Sutra Eternity is an aspect of life Do you ride the shopping trolley of life? Mentor and Disciple Nichiren the human being White knuckle daimoku Our lives are one with the universe We are the Bodhisattvas of the Earth Striving for self worth Unprecedented Challenge Music for tonights show comes from the great talent of Cat Malojian! These two lads from Northern Ireland make great music, and we love it. Tonight they play Who Knows? and Goodnight. If you like their music, pop over to ITunes and buy some! Thank you for all your messages of support and encouragement, we hope you enjoy tonights show!
Direct download: A_Buddhist_Podcast_-_Introduction_to_the_Lifespan_Chapter.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:29pm PDT