Video
I highly recommend finding teachers you like online and watching their talks on a daily basis. It can provide the re-centering and inspiration needed to keep on track with your spiritual progress if you are having problems staying focused. Making this part of my daily routine has been one of the most helpful things I've ever done. Shown below are some of my favorite talks.
Buddhist Monks
Ajahn Jayasaro Happiness
Ajahn Jayasaro Meditation
Ajahn Brahm Depression
Ajahn Viradhammo Awakening to the Way Things Are
Ajahn Dhiravamso The Five Hindrances
Ajahn Jitindriya Suffering and Liberation
Some Notes on Buddhism
The talks above are not presented to try and change your religious views but represent some of the best psychological advice I have run across for finding peace and happiness and understanding how the mind works. You are free to take their practical advice and keep all your religious beliefs intact (please read below for a more thorough explanation).
Many people are reluctant to listen to Buddhist talks due to misconceptions surrounding Buddhism. First of all, Buddhism primarily deals with how to overcome mental suffering and is not involved in the worshiping of any gods. While many different types of Buddhism have developed, any Buddhist that worships Buddha as a god is in direct conflict with the Buddha's original teachings which state that he was simply a human. In the west, we understand religions as being primarily focused on beliefs and any life skills that are taught receive very little emphasis in comparison. In Buddhism the opposite is true. Buddhism is more of an education system than a belief system (as Ajahn Jayasaro often points out) and the main emphasis is on developing the practical life skills needed to see things clearly for yourself.
Buddhism does not claim to be the only worthwhile teaching and offers its lessons for the benefit of all without focusing on gaining converts. The Buddha was often referred to as a physician, and from a western viewpoint, this seems to be the more accurate description . In reality, the west often benefits from Buddhist practices without even knowing it (e.g. meditation, mindfulness, cognitive therapy). These ideas are often cherry picked without even referencing the Buddhist context from which they often come. In doing so, we fail to see that they were part of a broader context and that they lose much of their liberating potential when they are taught in isolation. It is fine to incorporate Buddhist practices and teachings into other traditions but I would stress the need to understand the holistic approach of Buddhism rather than cherry picking a few attractive aspects. Unfortunately the former requires more effort which is why it is seldom done.
Buddhist Monks
Ajahn Jayasaro Happiness
Ajahn Jayasaro Meditation
Ajahn Brahm Depression
Ajahn Viradhammo Awakening to the Way Things Are
Ajahn Dhiravamso The Five Hindrances
Ajahn Jitindriya Suffering and Liberation
Some Notes on Buddhism
The talks above are not presented to try and change your religious views but represent some of the best psychological advice I have run across for finding peace and happiness and understanding how the mind works. You are free to take their practical advice and keep all your religious beliefs intact (please read below for a more thorough explanation).
Many people are reluctant to listen to Buddhist talks due to misconceptions surrounding Buddhism. First of all, Buddhism primarily deals with how to overcome mental suffering and is not involved in the worshiping of any gods. While many different types of Buddhism have developed, any Buddhist that worships Buddha as a god is in direct conflict with the Buddha's original teachings which state that he was simply a human. In the west, we understand religions as being primarily focused on beliefs and any life skills that are taught receive very little emphasis in comparison. In Buddhism the opposite is true. Buddhism is more of an education system than a belief system (as Ajahn Jayasaro often points out) and the main emphasis is on developing the practical life skills needed to see things clearly for yourself.
Buddhism does not claim to be the only worthwhile teaching and offers its lessons for the benefit of all without focusing on gaining converts. The Buddha was often referred to as a physician, and from a western viewpoint, this seems to be the more accurate description . In reality, the west often benefits from Buddhist practices without even knowing it (e.g. meditation, mindfulness, cognitive therapy). These ideas are often cherry picked without even referencing the Buddhist context from which they often come. In doing so, we fail to see that they were part of a broader context and that they lose much of their liberating potential when they are taught in isolation. It is fine to incorporate Buddhist practices and teachings into other traditions but I would stress the need to understand the holistic approach of Buddhism rather than cherry picking a few attractive aspects. Unfortunately the former requires more effort which is why it is seldom done.