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.

The ancient teachings continue to positively impact my life, not because they are otherworldly or lost in mystery, but because they are just

as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

Mental challenges and insecurities, voices in our heads, and internal conflict are nothing new.

That's why I'm as passionate now about sharing the messages as I was when I started more than

a decade ago.

The problem is I've noticed a recurring theme in our one-on-one sessions as well as monthly group discussions, which is that people are tempted to give up their spiritual practice altogether because they claim it doesn't work.

Well, I'm here to remind you that rituals and

practice are not the same thing, meaning if you think spiritual practice is going

to church every Sunday or meditating each morning you're mistaking ritual for

practice. I grew up surrounded by people

who often participated in religious ceremonies. Many of them, including my own parents,

told me they only follow the rituals for the sake of keeping old traditions alive even though

they don't believe in them.

It's our heritage, they said, literally meaning they inherited certain customs from previous generations

and that's why they keep them going.

If you think it's annoying to have a kid who always asks why,

imagine raising one who asked, aren't you being hypocritical?

Yep, that was me.

Who am I kidding?

That is still me.

Three books encouraging people to be honest and authentic.

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