This week Ethan Nichtern joins the show to talk about sharing the teachings of Buddhism in a more relatable way and following our karmic road home.
Show Notes
The Road Home (Opening) – Raghu and Ethan talk about ideas around rebirth and incarnating into a Dharmic family. Ethan describes what his experience was like growing up as the son of two Dharma teachers. He also shares the role that psychedelics played in his early spiritual development.
Pop Culture and Spirituality (15:25) – Ethan discusses his most recent book, The Dharma of The Princess Bride, and his method of using pop culture to explore what Buddhism has to teach about relationships. He and Raghu talk about the precious nature of the relationships that develop in a Sangha or Satsang.
“What is the spiritual value of friendship? I think a lot of communities, especially the Buddhist community in the West, have bought into this very individualized version of a path. I think we have to get out of the view that the spiritual path is just about finding the right teacher and practices because what really helps is to have friendships and community that supports us.” – Ethan Nichtern
Check out Ethan and Sharon Salzberg’s conversation about The Dharma of The Princess Bride on Ep. 62 of the Metta Hour Podcast.
Emptiness and Dating (31:00) – The pair talks about the “brutal Guru” that dating can be. They discuss the challenges that younger generations are facing when it comes to developing healthy relationships and what Buddhist teachings offer those who are struggling to connect with a partner.
”I think everyone should have some kind of ‘brutal Guru’ experience. Not a traumatic experience, but that experience where our storyline is never met and is never upheld – and yet at the same time we show up and find something meaningful anyway. I think that is a very awakened approach to modern awakened relationships.” – Ethan Nichtern
Inheriting Karma (39:40) – Ethan discusses the Karma related to familial and spiritual lineage. He and Raghu delve into the wisdom and habitual momentums we are born into.
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