Dharma If You Dare

Astrology + Buddhism: Introducing AstroDharma

In this talk on AstroDharma Catherine and Doug discuss some basic elements of our natal astrological charts and how they can be leveraged for our spiritual unfoldment. 

 

This excerpt from the talk is focused on the 3 most important parts of your chart. The study of dharmic astrology obviously involves much more than this. You will hear Catherine and Doug refer to other elements such as houses, for example, which are not explained in detail in this recording. If you like what you hear and would like to learn more, you can find some free resources and a self-study course at planetdharma.com/astrodharma.

 

The self study course, Catherine’s Intro to AstroDharma: Awakening Through Astrology, covers all the major elements of dharmic astrology in a way that builds from module to module, all with the lens of empowering you to achieve spiritual breakthrough. A personal favourite are the exercises where you practice by analyzing the Dalai Lama’s natal chart. Visit planetdharma.com/astrodharma to learn more.

 

BONUS Submission vs. Surrender

We hope you enjoy this soundbite from Catherine Pawasarat and Doug Duncan on the distinction between submission and surrender and how they play out in the spiritual path. 

 

Don’t miss out on Doug and Catherine's next online course, The Diamond Realization: Clarity in an Unclear World, starting soon. For more information, visit planetdharma.com/diamond.

Turn Every Moment into a Meditation: The Practice of Karma Yoga

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss Awakening Through Action, traditionally known as the practice of karma yoga. Karma yoga is a practice that transforms even mundane activities into paths of spiritual growth and awakening. In this practice every moment is turned into an active meditation. It is an ideal spiritual path for action-oriented modern people, that takes us beyond our selves. In the talk you will hear them make reference to 'Buddhas in Action’. This is their 2-week intensive program on karma yoga that they are currently offering every second year.

If you find the teachings of Planet Dharma resonate and are wondering how to explore them further, we recommend our free online course called Wake Up: 4 Paths to Spiritual Awakening. This self-study course gives an introduction to the main approaches that Doug and Catherine employ with students to help them find their speediest path to spiritual awakening. It includes a module on the path of Awakening Through Action discussed in today’s episode. You can learn more and register for free by visiting planetdharma.com/wakeup.

Embrace Your Nakedness: Understanding the Diamond Sutra

The Diamond Sutra explains how a clear and strong consciousness cuts through foggy or disillusioned mind states to reveal wisdom and ultimate truth. In this talk, Doug Sensei uses the metaphor of clothing to explain how conditioning and previous karma cover up the diamond clarity of our natural state of being.  

 

The Diamond Sutra is also the focus of the first Planet Dharma online course of 2020, Diamond Realization: Clarity in an Unclear World. Taking place over 4 weeks in January, this course can be joined live or via recordings during that time. There are also optional Master Classes and an at-home weekend-long retreat available for a more immersive experience. You can learn more at planetdharma.com/diamond.

 

In 2020, Planet Dharma will be holding 4 online courses over the course of the year, along with various in-person retreats and public teachings. To learn more about these events, visit planetdharma.com/2020.

 

 

Break Through the Status Quo: Embracing Crazy Wisdom

In this talk Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat explore the topic of 'Crazy Wisdom'. Also known as 'Divine Madness’, these are energetic and unpredictable teachings that help shake students’ fixed views about their reality. The stuck nature of our egos requires a breaking through of the status quo in order to access a place of open spaciousness of possibility. Doug and Catherine also explore the paradox that we actually feel more in control and secure when we let go of our ego’s need to be in charge all the time.

 

Today’s episode covers ideas that Doug and Catherine explore in detail in their bestselling book, Wasteland to Pureland. The third section of the book is entitled Crazy Wisdom and covers a wide variety of topics, including The Shadow, Tantra, and Money, Sex & Power.

 

Podcast listeners can download a free chapter from this section of the book by visiting planetdharma.com/crazywisdom. 

 

Surrender Your Self Image: Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

In this talk Doug and Catherine discuss the Buddha’s First Ennobling Truth: that life is always in some degree of struggle. They explore how preferences and anti-preferences contribute to our self image and how the degree to which we suffer is tied to the degree to which we cling or can surrender this limiting view of ourself.

 

 

Did you know that Planet Dharma also has a library of articles covering a wide variety of topics? We have over 100 blog posts on our website offering dharmic perspectives on all sorts of issues of interest to awakening beings. You can check them out at www.planetdharma.com/articles.

 

Unchain Yourself: The Benefits of Spiritual Awakening

In this talk Doug and Catherine explore the process of spiritual awakening and its many benefits. They discuss how it leads to greater freedom and control in our lives, makes us less subject to old habits and conditioning, and allows us to bring all aspects of our self into consciousness.

 

If you find the teachings of Planet Dharma resonate and are wondering how to explore them further, we recommend our free online course called Wake Up: 4 Paths to Spiritual Awakening. This self-study course gives an introduction to the main approaches that Doug and Catherine employ with students to help them find their speediest path to spiritual awakening. You can learn more and register for free by visiting planetdharma.com/wakeup.

 

As always, you can learn more about Planet Dharma’s offerings at planetdharma.com/podcast.

Integrate Your Iceberg: Bringing the Shadow into Consciousness

In this talk, Doug and Catherine discuss the importance of bringing all aspects of ourselves into consciousness. Through integrating the shadow we can access greater and greater degrees of freedom and free up huge amounts of energy.

 

Today’s episode featured a recording from Riding the Dragon, an online course based on the ideas in Doug and Catherine's bestselling book, Wasteland to Pureland.

 

You can learn about upcoming online courses by visiting planetdharma.com/events and clicking on 'Online Courses'. You can learn more about Wasteland to Pureland, download a free chapter, or purchase your own copy by visiting planetdharma.com/pureland.

Become a Work of Art: Understanding the 6 Paramis

In this public talk Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat introduce the paramis, 6 aspects of consciousness that have been taught in the buddhadharma for more than two thousand years and allow practitioners to become their own inner and outer works of art. They are qualities that we can grow to feel internally grounded and to act from a positive, wholesome place in our relationships with others.

 

To download a free paramis reference sheet and to access more resources on this topic, visit planetdharma.com/paramis. 

 

If you are looking to take a deeper dive into this material, Doug and Catherine teach a long-weekend retreat called Becoming a Work of Art at beautiful Clear Sky Center in the British Columbia Rockies. For more information, visit planetdharma.com/paramis.

 

And as always, you can learn more about Planet Dharma’s offerings at planetdharma.com/podcast.

 

Activate Your Creativity: Surrender to Spaciousness

In this talk from the online course Riding the Dragon, Doug and Catherine explore the concepts of Quantum Creativity and Adaptive Creativity. They discuss how imagination springs forth from spaciousness and how it is the remedy for habitual mind. Surrendering, or letting go, into this spaciousness allows us to move beyond simply running on instinct and tap into our fullest potential. 

 

 

Here are the links referred to in the episode:

 

Register for the free online course called Wake Up: 4 Paths to Spiritual Awakening at planetdharma.com/wakeup.

 

Learn about upcoming online courses by visiting planetdharma.com/events.

 

Learn more about Wasteland to Pureland, download a free chapter, or purchase your own copy by visiting planetdharma.com/pureland.