The DPO Project

Loved To Death, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Zi and Vindesh discuss tough love and ask, "is it ever unhealthy to love too much."  Zi shares his philosophical insights on how love is described by the yoga sadhus and ancients.  Perhaps, we can love those too much to the point that we enable them or their unhealthy habits because we think it's best for them.  We see this in the west with relationships, we love our parent or spouse who just overcame a big health challenge and now to celebrate they will eat the same food that made them sick.  We look at why boundary setting is important and the harmony of unconditional love.

Refresh Yourself, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh discuss the importance of taking the time to reflect and know yourself.  As it is said in the Tao Te Ching, “those who look for other’s approval will always be their slave.”   If we can learn to better understand  the self, then we have an opportunity to navigate the world with less woes.  Fate is a wayward mistress that will visit us at the worst time, but at least by knowing who you are, you can make adjustments.  They discuss how societal pressures and the chemical Atrazine are impacting our health and wellbeing.

Waiting To Die, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh welcome a guest, Rob Stone, who is a student of Zi's to the podcast.  Rob was invited on this podcast episode because he wanted to learn more about current dating trends and hear Rob's experience especially with online dating. Zi asks the question that if we're not trying to create and maintain quality relationships, then are we just waiting to die?  Statistics show that people who are in committed relationships live longer.  We explore the current barriers to developing long lasting relationships and strategies to overcome societal narratives that do not serve us.

How Far Can We Go? By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh talk about the myths of the sustainability movement.  Electric cars, green packaging, and ditching natural gas are not the end all be all towards saving the planet.  In fact, the hunt for the minerals and elements to make these "green" versions are just as disruptive.  This narrative has moved into our every day lives and interactions with people.  How far can we take this before we explode?  Master Zi talks about tolerance and asks if we've become too tolerant to the things that really don't benefit us. 

Bury the Dead, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh have a conversation about mourning and moving forward after a period of grief.  Grief plays a big role in our lives and we do it whenever we've lost something we've really cared about or loved.  In the west, we're given a few days to take the time and bury our dead, but then are expected to get back to work and life like it never happened.  It's important to move on, but Zi and Vindesh explore how this plays out in the other areas of life.  When is it time to walk away from someone or something that is "dead" or has no energy anymore?  Zi comes up with a strategy and shares his insight on all of Vindesh's questions.

Controlling Happiness, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh explore what makes Finland the happiest country in the world. What are the markers of happiness?  We also talk about how control stifles happiness.  It’s challenging dealing with uncertainty, but if we allow room for divine intervention, it can ease our suffering.   The guys discuss why they think controlling behavior is destructive.

Ghost Protocol, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh discuss the intricacies of navigating relationships with close ones even when it's challenging.  Zi is a big fan of dynamic meditation as a technique to use when you find yourself in awkward or unpleasant situations.  We all have that one person in our family that we need to exercise a lot of boundaries with.  If you've ever asked yourself, "how do I deal with so-so?" well then this episode looks at different strategies from a Buddhist point of view.

Bittersweet, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh continue to explore the current health trends and reflect on the closing of 2022.  Master Zi shares one of his favorite Taoist excerpts, "a master takes bitters everyday, because every day is hard." We talk about why it's hard to practice gratitude and what gets in the way of our contentment. Life is bittersweet so we might as well enjoy the ride!

A World Without Substance, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh explore a world without substance.  It sounds bleak at first, but every generation has faced a moment where they are confronted with new technology and culture shifts.  What makes this one so different? AI, crypto, and VR are amazing advancements.  What isn’t advancing is the human condition.  This week Zi shares excerpts from the Tao and Vedas in order to understand the past so we can know how we got here.  We must learn how to use this technology, otherwise it may use us.

Reciprocity, By Master Zi and Vindesh

This week Master Zi and Vindesh explore reciprocity and what that really looks like played out in our daily lives and relationships.  All relationships have a mutual benefit, or at least they should.  This is a principle from the Vedas, which Master Zi elaborates on it's meaning in the contemporary moment.  As the year comes to a close, we are often pulled in so many directions with holiday parties, social gatherings, gift giving, and so on.  We reflect on what it means to give and receive holistically so that our overall health and well-being can thrive, not just survive.