― Buddha

We're exploring a truth so simple yet profound it almost feels like a secret; every problem we have comes from just one thing, our own mind. Specifically, our problems come from misperceiving reality: we see our worries, fears, and stresses as big, immovable mountains. In reality, they're more like clouds, shifting and changing with the winds of the mind.

Nothing is as fixed as it seems. Everything depends on perception (even that thing you're stressing about right now).

The mind of worry conjures up what we fear. The worst-case scenario hasn't happened, may not happen, but we let these figments of our imagination torment us. Instead, we're going to practice a beautiful little mind trick: instead of thinking, "What's the worst that could happen?" we'll try asking, "What's the best that could happen?" Perhaps everything will play out in ways that are incredibly healing or positive...there's no way to know for sure. So why not plant seeds of hope instead of fear and watch what grows? This small shift that can open up a whole new way of experiencing your life.

To register for two free virtual classes, “Developing Universal Love and Compassion” on Saturday, May 10 and 17, 2025 visit www.BuddhismForEveryone.com

References with Links

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2008. How Things Exist: Teachings on Emptiness. Lama Zopa Rinpoche Edited by Ailsa Cameron. Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. 

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group: Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: @buddhism4everyone or https://www.instagram.com/buddhism4everyone

X: @Joannfox77

TikTok: @buddhism4everyone

We're exploring a truth so simple yet profound it almost feels like a secret; every problem we have comes from just one thing--our own mind. Specifically, our problems come from misperceiving reality: we see our worries, fears, and stresses as big, immovable mountains. In reality, they're more like clouds, shifting and changing with the winds of the mind.

Nothing is as fixed as it seems. Everything depends on perception (even that thing you're stressing about right now). Could we change our perception and enjoy whatever arises? Buddhist Teacher, JoAnn Fox, offers two ways to practice this wisdom.

Practice 1 Radical Love

"The universe is an example of love. Like a tree. Like the ocean. Like my body. Like my wheelchair. I see the love."

"I love every thing in the universe. That's all I do all day."

--Ram Dass

What if we opened our hearts wide enough to love everything that arises — the sweet, the strange, the inconvenient, and the miraculous? This practice invites us to shift our perception and welcome everything that happens. This practice is not about pretending things don't hurt or denying difficulty—but softening into life so deeply that we stop resisting what arises.

What we perceive depends upon the mind that perceives it. For example, the mind of anger perceives irritating or threatening things. Conversely, when the mind is pervaded by love, that mind loves whatever it sees. Could we train our minds to love everything we see? A long line, a loud neighbor, a mistake, a moment of joy, a compliment… each becomes a chance to stay open. Today, try saying, "I love this," no matter what happens. Just see how it feels. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of the blissful mind that can love it all.

Practice 2: What's the best that could happen?

The mind of worry conjures up what we fear. The worst-case scenario hasn't happened and may not happen, but we let these figments of our imagination torment us. Instead, we can practice a beautiful little mind trick: instead of thinking, "What's the worst that could happen?" we'll contemplate, "What's the best that could happen?" Perhaps everything will play out in ways that are incredibly healing or positive; there's no way to know for sure. So why not plant hope instead of fear and watch what grows? This small shift can reveal a whole new way of experiencing your life.

Whoever Knows [one’s own] former lives, Sees both the heavens and states of woe, Has attained the end of birth, Is a sage, perfected in the higher knowledges, And has perfected all perfections, I call a brahmin. (423)

--Buddha, The Dhammapada Verse 423

 References with Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories, Verses 419 and 420. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=423

Tsering, Geshe Tashi (2005). The Four Noble Truths: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought Volume 1 (Kindle). Wisdom Publications.  

*** To register for two free virtual classes, “Developing Universal Love and Compassion” on Saturday, May 10 and 17, 2025 visit www.BuddhismForEveryone.com

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

TikTok: @buddhism4everyone

In this episode, we practice one of the most powerful antidotes to anger and aversion: compassion. I know—when we’re irritated, hurt, or downright fuming, compassion is usually the last thing on our minds. But in Buddhism, compassion isn't weakness—it’s strength. It’s the most powerful way to interrupt the cycle of harm and start creating peace, inside and out.

 The Story of Aṅgulimāla

The Buddha’s radical teachings on non-violence reveal how to respond rather than react when things get heated. I also share the story of Angulimala—yes, the guy who was literally collecting fingers from those he killed. We look at how Buddha loved and accepted Angulimala and that even someone so far gone was transformed by compassion. Spoiler alert: If Angulimala can change, there’s hope for all of us.

Him I call a brahmana, who is fearless like a bull, who is noble and diligent, who is a seeker of high moral virtues and a conqueror (of three Maras), who is free from craving, who has been cleansed of moral defilements and knows the Four Noble Truths.

--Buddha, The Dhammapada Verse 422

References with Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories, Verses 419 and 420. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=422

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

TikTok: @buddhism4everyone

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

Who—or what—are you, really? If you start peeling back the layers, things get interesting fast. You have a body, but you’re not just your body. You have thoughts, but if you were your thoughts, wouldn’t you have disappeared the last time your mind went blank? And if you were your emotions, who were you before that bad mood showed up? Buddhism teaches that the self we cling to so tightly—this solid, unchanging “me”—is actually empty of independent existence. That doesn’t mean you don’t exist; it means you exist in a far more fluid, interconnected, and expansive way than you ever imagined.

In this episode, we’re diving into the profound teaching of no self—not to make you feel like a ghost, but to help you discover the freedom that comes with letting go of that tightly held “I.” We’ll explore the five aggregates—the ever-shifting components that we mistake for a fixed self—and how understanding their emptiness can unlock a sense of limitless potential. When we stop clinging to a rigid identity, we can actually relax, let go of suffering, and open up to the vast, luminous space of possibility. Let’s explore the mystery of who you really are!

Him I call a brahmana, who does not cling to the past, future and present khandha aggregates and who is free from moral defilements and attachment.

--Buddha, The Dhammapada Verse 421

References with Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories, Verses 419 and 420. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=419

Tsering, Geshe Tashi (2005). The Four Noble Truths: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought Volume 1 (Kindle). Wisdom Publications.  

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

TikTok: @buddhism4everyone

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

The Buddha taught that dukkha—suffering and dissatisfaction—doesn't come from the outside world. Our problems don't arise from difficult people or hardships. Our problems come from within our own mind, from the way we react to life. The same is true for happiness.

We spend so much of our lives trying to control the world around us—fixing this, avoiding that, chasing after happiness like it's some rare butterfly. But what if we've been looking in the wrong place? What if the source of both our problems and our joy has been inside us all along? in this episode, we explore how shifting our focus inward can bring real peace and unshakable contentment.

We tend to think, 'If I just had this... If they would just stop doing that... If things were different, then I'd be happy.' But even when we get what we want, happiness is fleeting. Why? Because external conditions are always changing, and more importantly, because our mind is always grasping, craving, and resisting.

The real source of peace isn't out there—it's inside us. 

Him I call a brahmana, who knows the death and rebirth of beings in every detail, who is detached, who follows the good practice and knows the Four Noble Truths.

Him I call a brahmana, whose destination the devas or gandhabbas or men do not know who has eradicated moral intoxicants and is an arahat.

--Buddha, The Dhammapada Verse 419 and 420

References with Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories, Verses 419 and 420. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=419

Tsering, Geshe Tashi (2005). The Four Noble Truths: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought Volume 1 (Kindle). Wisdom Publications.  

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

Attachment has a sneaky way of making us hold on too tightly—to things, to people, to our own comfort zones. We cling, we grasp, we hesitate to let go, fearing we might lose something essential. But what if the very act of giving could set us free? In this episode, we explore the transformative practice of giving as an antidote to attachment. Discover how generosity can help you break free from the things that hold you back. 

Buddhism teaches that generosity is not just a nice thing to do; it is a powerful practice of liberation. From the bodhisattva’s perfection of giving to the four types of generosity, we dive into practical ways to let go of attachment and open your heart. Tune in and find out how giving can be your path to freedom, joy, love, and a feeling of abundance.

Whoever, having given up human bondage, Has gone beyond heavenly bondage, 

Is unbound from all bondage, 

I call a brahmin. (417)

Whoever, having given up liking and disliking, 

Has become cooled, without attachments, 

A hero overcoming the entire world, 

I call a brahmin. (418)*

--Buddha, The Dhammapada Verse 417 and 418

References and Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=417

Je Tsongkhapa (2014). Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Je Tsongkhapa, Volume 2 (Kindle). Translated by the Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee. Joshua Cutler, Editor-in-Chief, and Guy Newlan, Editor.

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

Giving, or dāna, is one of the most fundamental and beautiful practices in Buddhism. In this episode, we explore how giving is not just an act of generosity—it is a path to freedom, a way to dissolve the tight grip of self-centeredness and open our hearts to others.

The Buddha taught that giving benefits both the giver and the receiver, creating the karmic cause for an abundance of whatever we give, be it materially, love, Dharma, or fearlessness. Giving also reduces attachment, and deepens our sense of interconnectedness.

Four Ways to Practice Giving:

- Materially

- Dharma

- Fearlessness

- Love 

The simplest and most immediate form of generosity is offering material support—food, clothing, shelter, or financial aid. The Buddha and his monastic followers relied entirely on the generosity of laypeople for their survival, and even today, supporting others in need is considered a vital Buddhist practice. But material giving is not only about wealth; it is also about sharing whatever we have, no matter how small. Even a single grain of rice, when offered with a pure heart, carries immense merit (good karma).

We give Dharma by sharing wisdom, offering guidance, and teaching the path to liberation. Giving Dharma is considered the highest form of giving. A single word of wisdom, a book on Buddhist teachings, or even a moment of genuine encouragement can plant the seeds of awakening in another’s heart. Unlike material gifts, which can be used up, the gift of Dharma continues to benefit a person for their entire life and beyond.

To give fearlessness is to offer safety, protection, and freedom from fear to others. This might mean standing up for someone who is vulnerable, comforting a friend in distress, or simply creating a space where people feel safe to be themselves. To give fearlessness can also be saving the lives of insects, animals, or people!

At its deepest level, all acts of generosity are rooted in love. Giving love can be through a kind word or simply by listening with undivided attention. It is to offer our presence, our patience, and our open-hearted acceptance. When we give love freely, without expectation, we emulate the boundless compassion of the Buddha.

In practicing generosity, we learn one of the greatest lessons of the Dharma: that clinging brings suffering, and letting go brings freedom. And in this giving, we find real joy—not in what we possess, but in what we share.

Him I call a brahmana, who, in this world, has given up craving, and leaving the home-life has become a bhikkhu; who has eradicated craving and has come to the end of existence.

--Buddha, The Dhammapada, Verse 416

References and Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=416

Je Tsongkhapa (2014). Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Je Tsongkhapa, Volume 2 (Kindle). Translated by the Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee. Joshua Cutler, Editor-in-Chief, and Guy Newlan, Editor.

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

Attachment is like a rope that binds us—tying our happiness to people, possessions, and circumstances. In Buddhism, attachment isn’t just about clinging to things we love; it’s the grasping, craving, and fear of loss that keep us trapped in cycles of dissatisfaction. The tighter we hold on, the more suffering we create.

But don’t worry—there are antidotes to this challenging habit of attachment! In this episode, we’ll uncover practical tools from the Buddhist path to help us shift from attachment to true freedom. How can we love without clinging? Enjoy without suffering? These antidotes aren’t just abstract teachings; they’re actionable, life-changing practices that can transform our everyday experiences.

Him I call a brahmana, who, in this world, has given up sensual pleasures, and leaving the home-life has become a bhikkhu; who has eradicated sensual desires and has come to the end of existence.

--Buddha, The Dhammapada, Verse 415

References and Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=415

Yeshe, Lama Thubten (2005) Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of Desire [Kindle]. Wisdom Publications.

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

Buddhist Blog: buddhismforeveryone.com/buddhist-blog

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

In the rush of daily life, our minds often feel like restless seas—waves of thoughts crashing, emotions rising and falling. But beneath the surface, there is a deep, still place. Tranquility meditation, or shamatha, is the practice of sinking into that stillness, calming the waters of the mind so that clarity and peace can naturally arise. In this episode, JoAnn Fox guides a tranquility meditation and explores the power of this practice.

At its heart, tranquility meditation is about resting in focused awareness. We choose an object like the breath—and gently anchor our attention there. Each time the mind wanders, we kindly guide it back. No struggle, no judgment. Just the steady return to presence.

As the practice deepens, the mind settles. Thoughts no longer pull us in a hundred directions. A sense of spaciousness grows, and with it, a gentle peace. This tranquility isn’t just a fleeting calm; it’s the foundation for wisdom.

Buddha taught that cultivating tranquility prepares us for insight—the ability to see into the true nature of things, to understand the causes of suffering, and, ultimately, to find liberation. Only when the mind is still can we begin to see reality as it is.

But even if enlightenment feels far away, tranquility meditation offers something invaluable in this moment: the ability to pause, to breathe, relax, and touch a little peace—right now.

Him I call a brahmana, who, having traversed this dangerous swamp (of passion), this difficult road (of moral defilements), the ocean of life (samsara) and the darkness of ignorance (moha), and having crossed the fourfold Flood, has reached the other shore (Nibbana); who practices Tranquility and Insight Meditation, who is free from craving and from doubt, who clings to nothing and remains in perfect peace.

--Buddha, The Dhammapada, Verse 414

References and Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=414

Je Tsongkhapa (2014). Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Je Tsongkhapa, Volume 2 (Kindle). Translated by the Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee. Joshua Cutler, Editor-in-Chief, and Guy Newlan, Editor.

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

The spiritual path begins with a mind conditioned by anger, attachment, and ignorance—and a stirring wish for change. The culmination of the path is a mind liberated—compassionate, boundless, and freed by wisdom. What comes between is unyielding, joyful effort. 

Buddha himself and his disciples are the living proof that the task is not beyond our reach. They show us that anyone who follows the path can accomplish the same goals. But what is needed is effort.

The three obstacles to spiritual effort

• Procrastination 

• Attachment to what is meaningless or non-virtuous

• Discouragement

Procrastination

Procrastination is the quiet voice that says, "Not now," allowing us to put off the work of self-cultivation until some elusive "better time." This postponement becomes a barrier that subtly entrenches old habits, robbing us of the momentum we need to progress. Overcoming procrastination requires recognizing that each moment offers a unique chance for growth. 

A traditional antidote to procrastination is remembering the preciousness of this human life, which affords us everything we need to attain enlightenment in this very lifetime! We can also remind ourselves that we don't know how long this particular human vehicle will last (it does seem to have more squeaks and problems under the hood than it used to!) In reality, the time of death is uncertain. Now is the time!

Attachment to What is Meaningless or Non-virtuous

We can check whether we are devoting too much time to fleeting pleasures, material desires, or activities that may bring temporary satisfaction but leave us feeling empty. Attachment to what is meaningless or non-virtuous distracts us from pursuing true joy and clarity. Perhaps we discover we don't just enjoy playing video games or binge-watching Netflix; we've become ensnared! 

Overcoming this attachment requires discerning the difference between fleeting pleasures and the enduring fulfillment of spiritual progress, choosing the latter as our aim. Every time we choose spiritual practice and activities, we loosen the grip of those attachments that block our spiritual growth. We give energy to more meaningful pursuits that align with our highest purpose and bring us closer to liberation. 

Discouragement

Discouragement is the shadow that insists our progress is not enough. It saps our energy, making the spiritual journey seem arduous and our own potential small. Facing our own inner critic is a challenge that invites us to cultivate resilience and trust in our capacity for spiritual growth. Each small step on the path is significant. To rebel against this critical inner voice is to gather strength and to remember that the journey itself, with all its challenges, is the transformation.

Him I call a brahmana, who, like the moon (in a cloudless sky), is pure, clear and serene, and in whom craving for existence is extinct.

--Buddha, The Dhammapada, Verse 413

References and Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma. Retrieved from https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=413

Je Tsongkhapa (2014). Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Je Tsongkhapa, Volume 3 (Kindle). Translated by the Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee. Joshua Cutler, Editor-in-Chief, and Guy Newlan, Editor.

To get the Zoom link for the virtual Buddhist class on Feb. 15, 2025, email [email protected]

Find us at the links below: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox

X: @Joannfox77

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program