As Maya Angelou said, "I may be changed by what happens in my life, but I refuse to be reduced by it." We are never broken unless we believe we are. If you find value in this podcast and what to keep it commercial-free, it is available without ads thanks to listeners just like you who show their support through BuddhistBootCamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.

Can our life's purpose be to do things on purpose? Can something as ubiquitous as shopping be made altruistic if there's meaning behind each purchase? I mean, we can't all save the rainforest first hand, for example, but what if the clothes we buy support an organization that does? At the end of the day, it's not about what we get but what we give, so let's give life meaning. If you find value in these commercial-free podcast episodes, my online posts, monthly emails, and discussion circles, then head over to BuddhistBootCamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.

Talking yourself off the ledge by knowing your way home. If you find value in these commercial-free podcast episodes, my online posts, monthly emails, and discussion circles, then head over to BuddhistBootCamp.com/support to show your support with just $1/month to keep the conversation going. Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.

Is desire the root of suffering as Buddhism suggests? The answer is tricky because it depends on whether you desire the journey or the destination; only one of those is available to you right now. So is desire really the root of suffering or, perhaps better stated, is happiness the absence of desire? Have a listen, think about it, and decide for yourself. This is just food for thought and if you find value in these commercial-free podcast episodes, the online posts, monthly emails, and discussion circles, please show your support at BuddhistBootCamp.com/support to keep the conversation going. Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.

Instead of changing who we are depending on outside circumstances, let's commit to being a certain way no-matter-what. Your response in any situation would be consistent with who you are rather than dependent on the whim of those around you. We don't so much "discover ourselves," we create who we are, so choose wisely.

This might just be the way for us to avoid judgment, segregation, and discrimination by making everyone instantly more relatable. If you find value in the ad-free Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast, Facebook page, public events, books, and programs, please consider showing your support at BuddhistBootCamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.

I don't meditate to control my thoughts, I meditate so my thoughts don't control me. Visit https://BuddhistBootCamp.com for more information, and if you find value in these commercial-free Podcast episodes, please show your support at BuddhistBootCamp.com/support Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love.

Are we robbing ourselves of contentment by chasing happiness? 

We must stop undermining our ability to be generous by overlooking the fact that generosity doesn’t have to be monetary.

The lifetime we are given (the good times, the terrible, and all the time in between), is a gift from a mysterious stranger. And the natural response to receiving a gift is gratitude, not a sense of entitlement.