Welcome to the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast. Our intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life. Discover the benefits of mindful living with your host, Timber Hawkeye.

So many people are jumping down each other's throats lately because of differing opinions about COVID-19, the economy, the upcoming election, and so on. So I figured it timely for us to talk about the difference between having an argument with

someone and having a discussion.

On the first day of each month, I post a blog entry with some food for thought on the Buddhist

boot camp website and also send it over email, which I typically get to read out loud and share in person

with our monthly Buddhist boot camp discussion circles throughout California.

But since all large gatherings have been postponed until we can all safely leave the house,

I tried yesterday to share this month's blog over a YouTube live stream video with an open floor for

Q&A, but we experienced a number of technical

glitches so I'm not sure I would do that again. Perhaps it would work better if

questions are submitted through Buddhist boot camp's Patreon page and writing ahead of time and I will

answer them publicly in a podcast episode for everyone to hear without having to listen to me

on a live broadcast repeatedly asking can you hear me now can you see me is this working and I wouldn't have to scroll through a bunch of comments just to find the questions

now back to the difference between an argument and a discussion.

In a nutshell, when you argue with someone, you're trying to find out who is right.

But in a discussion, both parties are trying to find out what is right.

So next time you find yourself in a disagreement with someone,

ask yourself what's more important to you,

to change what they believe or to gain a better understanding of how they have arrived at their opinion.

I didn't include this next bit in my monthly email but this is literally what triggered

this month's topic. I used to have a coworker with a knack for nick naming all of our office mates based on their special skills.

Our marketing director who could sell you anything you didn't even know you needed was called Costco and our receptionist

...