Gray hair      Does not make one an elder. Someone ripe only in years      Is called “an old fool.” It is through truth,      Dharma, harmlessness, restraint, and self-control, That the wise one, purged of impurities      Is called “an elder.” (Verse 260-261)   The Eightfold Path consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness   As a person who generates the spirit of enlightenment and then promises to train in the bodhisattva deeds, you have promised to endow all living beings with the ornament of the ethical discipline of the perfect buddhas; therefore, you must accomplish the aims of all beings. In this regard you must first develop the strength of your own pure ethical discipline, for, if your own ethical discipline is impure and degenerates, you will fall to a miserable rebirth and will therefore not even achieve your own welfare, never mind the welfare of others. Hence, once you begin working for the welfare of others, value highly your ethical discipline. You need to sharply focus on safeguarding it and restraining your behavior. Do not be lax.   Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The Dignity of Restraint.   

Episode 104 - Ethical Discipline of Restraint

Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox is a weekly podcast that shares how to put the teachings of Buddhism into practice to be happier, more peaceful, or to become the spiritual warrior this world so desperately needs. JoAnn Fox has been teaching Buddhism for 17 years and does so with kindness and humor.

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In this episode we explore one of the core teachings of the Buddha—the Five Aggregates and their connection to our problems and suffering. The Buddha taught that life is pervaded by dukkha, which means dissatisfaction or suffering. More specifically, in the First Noble Truth, Buddha taught that “The five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering.” These aggregates—form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness—are the parts that make our self. When our five aggregates, including our consciousness, are conditioned by ignorance, we experience an unenlightened life subject to dissatisfaction.  In essence, our unenlightened life is suffering.  Enlightened life is Nirvana, which is free of dissatisfaction and suffering.  How do we experience an enlightened life? Buddha said that when we purify our aggregates of delusions, such as attachment and ignorance, we experience an enlightened life.  In this episode, we begin a journey to purify our intentions and actions of delusions. JoAnn Fox teaches a simple way to check whether your intention is motivated by delusion. She also guides a meditation on this technique and offers a mindfulness practice for daily life. The five aggregates are:   form   feeling   discrimination    mental formations (or influences of a previous life, mental states or delusions)    consciousness   Mindfulness Practice   Observe your intentions before acting by asking yourself “What are the consequences of this choice?” Will it bring happiness?   What is my intention?   Observe how you feel. Delusions make our minds uncomfortable. If we’re feeling uncomfortable, a delusion like anger or attachment is present in our minds, making our intention unskillful. This is a simple way to see if the intention is good or bad.  Him I call a brahmana, who even in this existence realizes the end of dukkha (i.e., Nibbana), who has laid down the burden (of the skandhas) and who is free from moral defilements. --Buddha, The Dhammapada, Verse 402   Interested in live weekly classes with Joann Fox?  Visit www.Buddhismforeveryone.comongoing-buddhist-study-program/ to enroll or learn more.   Find us at the links below:  Website: BuddhismforEveryone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone Podcast Facebook Group: Join our private group at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox       

Episode 195 - Feel before you act

         Joy and pleasures are woven into the fabric of our lives. The teachings of Buddha invite us to dance with moments of delight without the chains of attachment. In this episode, we explore how to savor the pleasures of life while releasing the grip of attachment. Way to enjoy life's pleasures without the pain of attachment:   Enjoy the Moment   Accept what is   Let go of the past and future   Enjoy the moment We discover a world of joy by fully immersing ourselves in each moment. Instead of fixating on the past or yearning for the future, let's learn to be present, allowing joy to arise from the most simple pleasures. Cultivating the art of presence also means learning to enjoy life's pleasures without trying to possess, control them, or keep them.  Accept what is Non-attachment, a cornerstone of Buddhist philosophy, encourages us to accept what is. Non-attachment means we accept what is without wishing people, experiences, and things to be different. Releasing attachments allows us to discover freedom in the vast expanse of the human experience. We let other people be who they are at present. We let ourselves be. We let the experience be what it is. Without grasping at people and things being different, we can actually enjoy them! Let go of the past and future Remembering impermanence can help us let go of the past. Impermanence is like a river; it only flows in one direction—change. Go with the flow because change is inevitable. What we once obsessed over is eventually gone or boring or broken. The phrase "go with the flow" suggests we navigate the river of impermanence with grace. We let people go. Embracing impermanence is not a call to detach from life's pleasures but an invitation to savor them with a heart wide open. We find peace by releasing our grasp on the transient. Mindfulness of the present moment can help us detach from worries or cravings of the future. Mindfulness, as taught by Buddha, is like a dance with the present moment. Incorporating mindfulness into our daily life allows us to savor the present joys without clinging, much like a dancer who moves gracefully through a performance, fully immersed in the rhythm without thinking about the next step. Embracing life's pleasures without clinging is an art. Once mastered, it unlocks the door to true peace. We discover the profound beauty that arises when we learn to enjoy life without clinging.   Like water on a lotus leaf      Or a mustard seed on the tip of an awl Whoever does not cling to sensual craving Him I call a Brahman --Buddha, The Dhammapada (Verse 401)  References with Links  The Dhammapada, by Buddha. Translated by Gil Fronsdale.  Je Tsongkhapa (2014). Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Je Tsongkhapa, Volume 1 (Kindle). Translated by the Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee. Joshua Cutler, Editor-in-Chief, and Guy Newlan, Editor. Find us at the links below:  Website: BuddhismforEveryone.com Online Study Program: https://buddhismforeveryone.com/ongoing-buddhist-study-program/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone Podcast Facebook Group: Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox       

Episode 194 - Enjoying without attachment

For the average person, Moments of anger are inevitable. They can flare up in response to various triggers, from personal frustrations to global injustices. However, according to the Buddha's teachings, there is a powerful antidote to this destructive emotion: compassion. In Buddhism, compassion is revered as a guiding light, illuminating the path towards healing and awakening.    At the heart of Buddhist philosophy lies the understanding of interconnectedness. Understanding interconnectedness leads to an awareness that everything we do as an individual affects the rest of humanity. It is also the idea that all beings are deeply interconnected by sharing a common desire for happiness and freedom from suffering. This fundamental principle forms the basis for cultivating compassion to overcome anger.   Compassion is not merely a lofty ideal but a practical tool for navigating the complexities of human emotions. Buddha invites us to embrace the humanity in others, even in moments of conflict and turmoil. Through the lens of compassion, Buddha reminds us that every soul carries its burdens, and every heart yearns for solace and peace.   In the face of anger, Buddha encourages us to pause and breathe. Witness the storm raging within with gentleness and understanding. Like a fragile bloom breaking through rocks, we can nurture the seeds of compassion within our hearts, even in the harshest environment. Buddha's teachings invite us to reclaim our power from the clutches of anger. No one benefits more from our patience and compassion than we do!    Compassion can be like a warm embrace—soothing our weariness as we acknowledge the pain and struggles everyone faces. By extending compassion to others, we dissolve the barriers that separate us.   Relying on compassion as an antidote to anger requires daily mindfulness—the awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and actions in the present moment. Through mindfulness, we observe the arising of anger without becoming consumed by it. Instead of feeding our painful feelings with angry thoughts, we feed them with thoughts of compassion towards that person. Rather than suppressing our emotions, we acknowledge them with compassion and guide them to pass without causing harm.     By cultivating compassion, we can overcome the grip of anger and replace the habit with a sense of connection and harmony with all beings. In a world filled with turmoil and conflict, may we each strive to embody compassion and sow the seeds of peace and understanding wherever we go. In this episode, JoAnn Fox guides a meditation called taking and giving that helps us develop compassion toward someone who makes us angry or that we have some resentment toward.  To practice taking and giving meditation with someone you feel anger toward:   Begin by visualizing the person in front of you.   Try to recognize their humanity, acknowledge that they experience suffering and desire happiness just like you.   Consider the ways in which this person suffers.   Imagine a day walking in their shoes. What causes them pain or frustration?   Contemplate how you make them suffer.      This meditation not only transforms your relationship with this person, but it also creates inner peace and harmony in your life.   Him I call a brahmana, who is free from anger, who practises austerity, who is virtuous and free from craving, who is controlled in his senses and for whom this body (i.e., existence) is the very last. --Buddha, The Dammapada, Verse 400 References with 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=400 Je Tsongkhapa (2014).  Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, by Je Tsongkhapa, Volume 1 and 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:  To learn about the Buddhist Study Group or Courses, visit our Website: BuddhismforEveryone.com 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  

Episode 193: Compassion as antidote to anger

In this episode, we delve into a universal human experience: anger. But fear not! We're not just exploring the problem; we're diving into solutions. Get ready for an enlightening journey as we uncover practical strategies rooted in Buddhist wisdom to tame the flames of anger and cultivate inner peace.    We can learn how to transform the energy of anger into understanding and compassion. Through understanding and compassion we can heal ourselves and be a refuge of peace for others. In fact, in the story associated with the following verse, Buddha said: ‘Because I am patient and do no wrong to those who do me wrong, I have become a refuge to many." Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows: Him I call a brahmana,  who, without anger endures abuse, beating and being bound,  and to whom the strength of patience is like the strength of an army.  --Buddha, The Dhammapada (Verse 399)   Interested in live weekly classes with Joann Fox?  Visit www.Buddhismforeveryone.com to enroll or learn more. Find us at the links below:  Website: BuddhismforEveryone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone Podcast Facebook Group: Join our private group at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox References with 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=399 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.

Episode 192 - Solving Anger with Dharma

                              Virtual Classes with JoAnn Fox start this Saturday, March 2nd! You can enroll any time!   What: An ongoing study program to practice the entire path of Buddhism. Join us at any point!   When: Saturdays 10 am EST   Why: People often have to study Buddhism in a piecemeal fashion. JoAnn participated in a virtual teacher training program for over ten years that presented the whole path of Buddhism. This systematic approach makes the path very clear. It makes it much easier to practice and creates deeper inner change. JoAnn wants others to have the same opportunity! We’ll also find ways to create a connected sangha.   How: Live Classes will be held on Zoom. Or watch the recordings   Two Class Options: Join the ongoing study program or enroll in short courses.   Enroll on the website Buddhismforeveryone.com    - For Ongoing Buddhist Study Program: https://buddhismforeveryone.com/ongoing-buddhist-study.../   - Short Courses: https://buddhismforeveryone.com/short-buddhist-courses.../   You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time.    100% Satisfaction Guarantee: If you discover the classes aren’t for you, get a full refund within the first 30 days.   Questions: email joann@buddhismforeveryone.com              

Episode 104 - Ethical Discipline of Restraint

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