Why Buddhism Works (Without Dogma)

Podcast by Michael Caloz

English

History & religion

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About Why Buddhism Works (Without Dogma)

Not into blind faith? Skeptical of organized religion? Not a fan of dogma? Then Buddhism might be just right for you. As an existential counselor who specializes in highly rational skeptics, I’ve found that many of my clients are curious about Buddhism. But when they’ve asked me for a beginner’s book recommendation, I’ve struggled to find one that truly speaks their language. So, I decided to write my own. This book is short and to the point, with as little fluff as possible. It makes no supernatural claims, relies on no scriptures, and avoids the quantum-physics-meets-New-Age vibe of so many modern books about spirituality. My aim was to be precise and careful—examining what actually makes sense, and what can be verified through direct experience. I wanted to walk a line that most spiritual books don’t: appealing to atheists and skeptics by using modern language and focusing on observable reality, while still preserving the depth and nuance at the heart of Buddhism. This isn’t a watered-down mindfulness manual for using meditation merely as a tool for calming down and boosting productivity. There’s something deeper available here. This book explores why suffering persists at a fundamental level—even when life seems fine—and how subtle shifts in how you relate to experience can meaningfully reduce that suffering.I’ll offer a clear, modern exploration of Buddhism as a practical framework for understanding the mind, the self, and everyday dissatisfaction—written in plain language for analytical thinkers who value reason and direct experience. Michael Calozwww.michaelcaloz.comP.S. I added three episodes for the second edition of the book. So, here's the correct order to listen:Part 01 - IntroductionPart 02 - Why You SufferPart 03 - Criteria for Suffering #1Part 04 - Criteria for Suffering #1, ContinuedPart 05 - Criteria for Suffering #2Part 06 - Criteria for Suffering #3Part 07 - Criteria for Suffering #4Part 08 - Metaphysics and EnlightenmentPart 09 - Walking the Path of BuddhismPart 09.1 - Does Buddhism "Work"? (1/3)Part 09.2 - Does Buddhism "Work"? (2/3)Part 09.3 - Does Buddhism "Work"? (3/3)Part 10 - How to Begin PracticingPart 11 - Which Type of BuddhismPart 12 - Epilogue

All episodes

5 episodes

Part 09.1 - Does Buddhism "Work"? (1/3) [Listen after Part 09]

I added this and the next two episodes for the second edition of the book. So, here's the proper order: ... Part 09 – Walking the Path of Buddhism Part 09.1 – Does Buddhism "Work"? (1/3) Part 09.2 – Does Buddhism "Work"? (2/3) Part 09.3 – Does Buddhism "Work"? (3/3) Part 10 – How to Begin Practicing ...

6 Feb 2026 - 16 min

Part 11 - Which Type of Buddhism

I’ve created a lot of videos and writing on the subject of meditation. Here are a few places to get started: 1. My free step-by-step guide: My 7-day guided meditation series—for complete beginners (and intermediates too), Part 1 [https://www.michaelcaloz.com/2023/04/15/my-7-day-guided-meditation-series-for-complete-beginners-and-beyond/] 2. My YouTube playlist of meditation videos I’ve made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLApFoytTkM&list=PLqBECElv7k9tlW_iRIs11thTgnLA8BSft&pp=gAQB [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLApFoytTkM&list=PLqBECElv7k9tlW_iRIs11thTgnLA8BSft&pp=gAQB]. 3. The specific videos I most recommend from that playlist: 1. How to Actually Start Meditating (for Skeptical Thinkers) [https://youtu.be/JgCteGAoe4Q?si=m7v8jBvOl9crMrVw] 2. Guided Meditation for Skeptical Overthinkers: Try This 1 Anchor [https://youtu.be/X2aXBrxbTTk?si=mDbfHoVy9Gv8RIIV] 3. The #1 Fix That Transformed My Meditation (5 Crucial Posture Tips) [https://youtu.be/U0hbADgdDl8?si=KkiUYSPu5N6lrQdZ] 4. Why High Achievers Struggle with Meditation (and How to Actually Get It) [https://youtu.be/lWdiWzGjZ7w?si=icXzDfYXqWyZkDUi] 5. Analytical Thinkers: Why Meditation Isn't Working for You & How to Fix It [https://youtu.be/AX84i1CW7bo?si=Ia1BB716Myx-W2v7] 6. The Most Crucial Moment in Meditation (And How to Catch It) [https://youtu.be/ObCgrlJjQMo?si=1HMBqfiaF027CDZu] Buddhism-related books I like: * Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice [https://amzn.to/3XsfqRg], by Shunryu Suzuki * Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment [https://amzn.to/4bxwTNV], by Robert Wright * Already Free: Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path of Liberation [https://amzn.to/4kp035J], by Bruce Tift * Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion [https://amzn.to/4hntNxv], by Sam Harris * The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes [https://amzn.to/4bp1rl0], by Donald D. Hoffman Buddhism-related podcasts I like: * https://zendust.org/teachings/ [https://zendust.org/teachings/] * https://www.samharris.org/podcasts [https://www.samharris.org/podcasts] * https://zenstudiespodcast.com/ [https://zenstudiespodcast.com/] * https://simplicityzen.com [https://simplicityzen.com/]

27 Dec 2025 - 20 min

Part 10 - How to Begin Practicing

I added three episodes for the second edition of the book. So, here's the correct order to listen: * Part 01 - Introduction * Part 02 - Why You Suffer * Part 03 - Criteria for Suffering #1 * Part 04 - Criteria for Suffering #1, Continued * Part 05 - Criteria for Suffering #2 * Part 06 - Criteria for Suffering #3 * Part 07 - Criteria for Suffering #4 * Part 08 - Metaphysics and Enlightenment * Part 09 - Walking the Path of Buddhism * Part 09.1 - Does Buddhism "Work"? (1/3) * Part 09.2 - Does Buddhism "Work"? (2/3) * Part 09.3 - Does Buddhism "Work"? (3/3) * Part 10 - How to Begin Practicing * Part 11 - Which Type of Buddhism * Part 12 - Epilogue

27 Dec 2025 - 10 min

Part 09 - Walking the Path of Buddhism

27 Dec 2025 - 22 min

Part 01 - Introduction

27 Dec 2025 - 17 min

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