Steve Hagen on Perception, Conception, and Enlightenment

Steve Hagen is the founder and teacher of the Dharma Field Zen Center in Minneapolis, MN and the author of several books on Buddhism, including Buddhism Plain and Simple which is one of the top five best selling books on Buddhism in the United States. In this episode, Steve teaches us about several Buddhist concepts that are often misunderstood: Wholeness vs Unwholesomeness, Perception vs Conception and Belief vs Knowledge. Knowing the true meaning of these ideas will give you great freedom as you seek the enlightenment that is your true nature.This episode is sponsored by Health IQ and CasperPlease Support The Show with a DonationIn This Interview, Steve Hagen and I Discuss...The Wolf ParableHis book, Buddhism Plain and SimpleThe Horse and the Farmer parableWholeness vs UnwholesomeConsider the welfare of other beings in all you doAwarenessPerception (the immediate, direct experience) vs Conception (our construct of things)Belief vs KnowledgeThat we can't arrive at truth through conceptionThat enlightenment is with us all of the time, we're just not aware of itThat enlightenment is our natural stateThe idea of "stream" as self, the Buddha saidThat the way things appear to be is more of a construct than a realityHow picking and choosing is the mind's worst diseaseNoticing how the mind leans a certain wayThat a Buddha is a person who is awakeThe power of simply observing something about ourselves rather than trying to put a stop to it or judging itThe Story about the 84 Problems Please Support The Show with a Donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.