u awake‪?‬ u awake?

Is social media making us more disconnected? 💔

Is social media addiction now just ‘the way it is’? 💊

When was the last time you were bored? 🥱

In this special guest episode, Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nal.jakjan) chat with our friend Asanga about the vortex that is social media and our technological devices. We talk about conscious consumption and output of content, to add to the important and developing conversation on social media in this day and age 💻📱



Our guest

Asanga is a Sri-Lankan Australian who grew up in the south east suburbs of Naarm. He currently is based on Ngunawal Country and works in public policy. He has a deep passion for advocating for multicultural young people having worked and volunteered for a number of youth advocacy and service delivery organisations. You can frequently find him tinkering with his camera or trying to improve a wayward jump shot.



Timestamps

(00:56) Introduction to Asanga

(03:01) What is your relationship with social media?

(03:46) Asanga’s relationship with social media

(07:06) Different uses for social media

(08:31) Nalanda’s relationship with social media

(11:40) How do you handle triggering content?

(14:06) Khema’s relationship with social media

(15:58) Sutrayana vs Vajrayana

(16:38) Not censoring content and observing how your mind reacts

(17:20) Different avenues for content consumption

(19:04) The algorithm can hijack you (and your senses)

(20:08) Conscious consumption

(20:39) Not looking at Instagram stories

(22:36) We are settling for mediocre connections

(23:50) But we are also conNECTED AF

(26:27) Superficiality of content

(27:40) An outlet for DNMs

(29:34) Micro-rejections, praise and blame

(32:32) Posting for yourself > for others

(35:33) Not quantifying memories

(36:23) You have to be prepared for feedback

(37:56) A powerful tool for social impact

(40:01) Delivering the positive impacts of social media (e.g. BeReal)

(42:48) Our relationships with our devices

(50:30) When was the last time you were bored?

(51:42) Being glued to your device is socially acceptable

(52:33) Restraint from consuming content

(53:05) Society catering to our phone addictions

(54:07) How loneliness shows up under anesthesia

(55:00) Not being on your device is unusual

(55:55) Aimless scrolling

(56:36) Strategies to limit use of device

(58:31) Downtimes and holidays

(01:02:20) No phones at the temple

 

References

The Rejected Generation: how we’re being shut out, and what it’s doing to us (Microrejections)

Gen Z is lonely – here’s how it shows under anesthesia – Dr. Kaveh

Sabbath and the Art of Rest

Substack

The Eight Worldly Conditions

 

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DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about in a future episode!

This episode was recorded in 2023.

 

For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask for the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

🚨 Trigger warning: suicide, loneliness, depression 🚨



Jaded (adj.)
The end result of having a steady flow of negative experiences, disappointment, and unfulfilment fed into a person where they get to the point where their anger circuits just sort of burn out and they accept disillusionment.



If you have reached this stage in your life, congratulations! You are well and truly a full-fledged adult! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻



Jokes aside, as we grow older, it’s hard not to feel jaded as the Disney-induced rose-tinted glasses start coming off and the harsh realities of life set in🌹👓💔


Tune in to Nalanda (@nal.jakjan) and Khema (@khema.1) chat about the hard-to-swallow pills in life, from losing relationships to existential loneliness, with advice from our Ajahn.
 

Timestamps
(01:06) Jaded about friendships
(02:21) Over-dependence
(03:16) Rock bottom
(07:00) Self-reliance
(08:14) Trust issues
(09:40) Ajahn’s triple-0
(10:42) Giving without expectation
(12:19) The jadedness doesn’t benefit you
(12:51) Don’t blame other people if you didn’t communicate properly
(13:14) People have a right to be selfish
(14:04) It’s hard to ask for help
(15:41) Family, career, partner > friends
(17:14) Nothing has changed, it’s the view that needs to change
(17:42) False sense of security
(19:08) Dhamma offers another way
(19:17) No expectations > low expectations
(20:09) Most of the time people’s actions say more about them than about us
(21:17) Taking kindness personally turns into entitlement
(22:25) No ‘personal’ relationships
(25:05) People’s actions have to do with their qualities
(25:25) Needing to feel special and seeking out emotionally unavailable people
(26:47) Needing someone during really dire situations
(27:13) Family ties
(29:20) The vulnerability of disability and losing independence
(31:42) Identifications challenged
(33:00) There are people out there who have it harder (but don’t dismiss yourself)
(35:15) Step 1: Acknowledging that I am helpless right now
(37:02) Karma is changeable
(37:56) Happy endings
(38:23) Enough of Samsara
(39:21) Suffered enough
(41:07) Sitting with the discomfort
(42:04) Burning room
(44:47) We’re all just on painkillers
(45:12) Family bonds are different
(46:25) There is a happiness that is permanent and lasting
(47:13) Reality is daunting
(47:55) Listen to the whispers (aka intuition)
(48:50) A hundred lifetimes of men
(49:52) “You can call me anytime”
(51:13) Anna Akana
(52:18) Psychotherapy vs Dhamma
(57:24) The other shore is probably so much better tbh
(58:45) Everyone else is suffering too
(01:00:00) You’re playing god for yourself
(01:01:25) Escaping life and the fear of death
 
References

Vaṭṭaka Paritta: The Baby Quail's Protection

The Buddha’s Relationship Advice by Ajahn Thanissaro

For When the World Can’t Help You by Ajahn Thanissaro

Why I stopped drinking by Anna AkanaHow to validate yourself by Anna Akana
 
 
Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast
 
DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about in a future episode!
 
This episode was recorded in 2023.

 
For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask for the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Ahhh, the Five Precepts… the bread and butter of Buddhism 🍞🧈

Are they cut-and-dried rules or are there ‘loopholes’? What do you do if you break a precept? What’s the point of keeping sīla (morality) anyway? Is it EVER okay to lie? And will a tiny sip of alcohol really harm anybody?

In this episode Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nal.jakjan) share their practice of the precepts, stories of when their sīla practice was tested, and reflections on this simple but incredibly profound teaching. 😌

 

Timestamps

(00:49) Wim Hof Breathing

(04:16) Motivation for the episode

(04:48) Khema’s relationship with sīla

(07:39) Nalanda’s relationship with sīla

(09:37) Ajahn Dtun on sīla

(12:03) ‘Loopholes’ in sīla practice?

(14:00) It’s a training, not a performance

(15:40) Sīla as a lifestyle

(16:46) Gentleness when you make mistakes

(17:12) It ain’t a sin

(17:57) ‘I undertake this training…’

(19:01) Rising up to occasions that test your sīla

(20:13) ‘This is what normal people do’

(21:30) Sila = Brahmaviharas

(23:18) Story #1: Skilful speech (Valentine’s Day drama!!)

(30:50) Story #2: Copyrights

(33:37) Story #3: Alcohol in food

(41:14) Trusting the Buddha & wise shame

(42:25) Finding the middle

(43:06) What about swearing??

(45:18) Integrity uplifts the mind

(46:13) Sīla makes you a safe person

(47:11) The Five Precepts ARE the higher Dhamma

(48:43) Sīla is letting go of ego

(51:50) Going against the stream

(53:11) Thought experiment: Imagine if everyone kept the Five Precepts…

 

References

Damian’s breath group: Yarra Valley Breath & Cold
Connection



Wim Hof Method



Vinaya (Buddhist Monastic Code)


https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc1.pdf
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc2.pdf?ref=opendharma.com



The Five Precepts (Access to Insight)





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DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about in a future episode!





This episode was recorded in 2023.

For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener's forgiveness and take full responsibility.

When you hear the term ‘self-love’, you think bubble baths, manicures, ice cream. 🛀💅🍨We’ve discovered after some years of experimenting that, no, it is not, in fact, about bubble baths, manicures and ice cream - it’s about being a friend to yourself 🥰

This is actually the practice of mettā or loving-kindness, which is an important foundation of the practice. We feel it’s not talked about enough so we are! Tune in to hear Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nalanda.jakjan) discuss loneliness, independence, self-empathy and mettā 💕

Timestamps
(00:48) - Catch-up
(03:33) - Motivation for the episode
(06:11) - Gentleness in the practice
(07:42) - Loneliness
(08:35) - Advice from Ajahns
(11:45) - Self-love, self-empathy
(13:47) - Fill your own cup first
(14:48) - Like a friend would
(15:27) - Notice the way yoau talk to yourself
(19:25) - Like serving a client
(22:12) - Glitches in the mind
(23:16) - You can’t do this practice without metta
(26:12) - Being intense but also having metta??
(27:45) - The criticiser and the critised
(29:37) - Independence is a quality of the stream-enterer
(30:52) - You seek out what you lack
(31:31) - Being independent vs needing support
(35:33) - Attā hi attano nātho
(36:41) - What if you have a negative personality?



References:

- Dhammapada verse 160

- Upaddha Sutta





Resources:

- Virtual Metta Retreat (series) by Ajahn Sona




Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast
DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about!



This episode was recorded in 2023.
For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Today’s episode is a long-awaited catch up episode recorded at the end of last year in 2022 with Khema (@khema.1) in Malaysia and Nalanda (@nalanda.jakjan) in Thailand. We finally have the opportunity to share this episode with you all and this time in video format! The episode features stories from Nalanda’s trip to Chiangmai in November 2022, visiting Thai forest monks in the North, learning about the history of the places that she visited with the Vimokkharam committee and our Ajahn, Ajahn Hāsapañño.



Timestamps:

(1:28) - Food poisoning

(8:51) - Reflections on Thailand vs. Melbourne

(10:04) - Chiangmai Trip

(10:13) - Wat Dhammasanti (Luang Pu Insom)

(12:25) - Wat Tham Dok Kham (Ajahn Mun)

(12:40) - Wat Pah Achan Man Phurithatto (Luang Por Moo)

(13:21) - Wat Pah Kantitham (Luang Por Lai)

(14:01) - Wat Pah Panyawuttharam (Prah Ajahn Khemanando)

(17:21) - Places where Ajahn Hāsapañño tudonged.

(17:40) - Phrao market

(18:02) - Hill tribe people

(20:01) - Wat Doi Mae Pang

(20:36) - Wat Pah Nanachat

(21:02) - Ajahn Sumedho

(22:45) - The Hard Drive

(25:14) - Nalanda's string of bad luck

(25:25) - Birds

(27:24) - Luang Pu Waen Suciṇṇo (Wat Doi Mae Pang)





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This episode was recorded in 2022. For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.

Generosity can be a very confusing, complex concept in society.
We could be guilted into giving - "You have so much, and they have so little - if you don't give, then you're just selfish and privileged."
We could be giving to save face - "If I don't do this favour for them, what will they think of me?"
We could be giving out of pity - "These poor people have such sad lives - the least I can do is give them something..."
We could be giving out of other various negative intentions or emotions. It might not feel good because there can sometimes be a sense of reluctance or the feeling that we've been pressured into giving when we don't really want to.
In this episode, Khema (@khema.1) and Nalanda (@nalanda.jakjan) discuss generosity and how they view and practice giving, following the guidelines given by the Buddha, which makes it a straightforward and uplifting act for the mind 🤲✨💖

Timestamps  
(0:51) - Motivation for the episode 
(01:38) - Generosity in mainstream culture 
(02:21) - Feeling pressured to give 
(04:32) - Pressuring people to give 
(12:11) - Suspecting that you’re giving to a scammer 
(15:32) - Giving can be complex 
(16:15) - Do your research before giving 
(17:51) - Giving to ‘save face’ 
(20:51) - It's not worth giving if you have break sila to do it 
(21:31) - Giving to preserve harmony 
(22:10) - Buddhism provides a clear guideline for giving 
(23:01) - Give where you feel inspired 
(23:49) - Giving out of pity vs compassion 
(25:20) - Give at your capacity and with equanimity
(27:16) - Generosity as a practice, not an obligation 
(27:55) - Equality/ eradication of poverty is just a lofty ideal 
(30:01) - Status of giving in society is degraded 
(30:55) - Types of gifts 
(31:20) - Purity of the giver and receiver 
(32:20) - Giving encouragement 
(33:26) - There are many opportunities to give 
(34:07) - Hilarious stories of bogus monks, haha 
(38:26) - Knowing how to judge 
(39:07) - Generosity as a way to uplift your mind 
(40:31) - Giving with expectation of something in return 
(41:46) - Gift-giving - 'troublesome' cultural ritual?
(42:57) - Intrinsically motivated to give 
(43:39) - Marie Kondo it - "does it spark joy?" ✨

References:
The Economy of Gifts by Ajahn Thanissaro 
MN 142 Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasutta: The analysis of religious donations 
Divine Abidings and their perfection (Brahma-vihara) [Info on near and far enemies] 
Three (not four - sorry!) types of giving - The Perfection of Giving by Acariya Dhammapala 

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/uawake_podcast
DM us if you have questions, comments or a topic you want us to talk about!

This episode was recorded in 2022.
For any words said negligently or that may have caused offence, we ask the listener’s forgiveness and take full responsibility.