We are delighted to share the recording of Episode 11 of Vibe with Venerables, where we get to talk “live” to Buddhist masters together.
Venerable Damcho explores love from a Buddhist perspective, posing the question: “Is love a second-hand emotion?”. She begins with a short guided meditation on the four immeasurables, followed by the recitation of opening prayers — refuge, bodhicitta, and the four immeasurables.
Venerable Damcho introduces the session’s theme, What’s Love Got to Do with It, drawing inspiration from Tina Turner’s song and life story. She differentiates between love and attachment, suggesting that it is attachment — not love — that is the second-hand emotion, one that often leads to anger and disappointment.
She reads a passage from Venerable Thubten Chodron’s book, “Open Heart, Clear Mind”, discussing how attachment arises from unrealistic expectations and emotional insecurity. Using examples from both personal experience and Buddhist teachings, she emphasizes the importance of distinguishing love from attachment — a necessary clarity for deepening spiritual practice.
Participants then shared their reflections and questions, exploring practical ways to reduce attachment in relationships and daily life. The session concluded with a dedication of merit for the benefit of all beings.
References
Excerpts read from Open Heart, Clear Mind [here]
Guided meditation on taking the ache out of attachment [here]
Donation
This series is freely offered by Buddhism.net. If you’d like, you may make a donation directly to Venerable Thubten Chodron’s monastery – Sravasti Abbey.
https://sravastiabbey.org/donation
We thank you for dāna, the practice of cultivating generosity.
