Be Your Own Zen Master

What's the point of making a promise you're guaranteed to break? The Four Great Vows of the Bodhisattva are exactly that — impossible by design. In this episode, Justin explores each of the four vows, what they actually mean in a Buddhist context, and why failing to keep them might be the most honest thing you can do. Along the way: compassion as practice rather than feeling, delusion as...

Insecurity and self-doubt don’t disappear with experience—they just change shape. In this episode, I explore criticism, confidence, and Zen practice, and what happens when we stop making feedback personal and start seeing it clearly. Who, exactly, is being criticized?  Connect with Be Your Own Zen Master:  Web: www.byozm.com IG : @beyourownzenmaster YT: @byozm If you found value in this episode, p...

Sometimes the harder we try to say something meaningful, the less we have to say. In this episode, I talk about the pressure to make my practice — and this podcast — mean something, and what happens when that pressure starts to push back. From overthinking Zen to overcorrecting my dogs on a walk, this is a reflection on letting go of control, easing off the spring, and finding a little Dharma in t...

I've been caught up in creating content about Buddhist practice while neglecting the practice itself. This episode explores the difference between using teachings as a refuge (where you actually dwell) versus a shield (something to hide behind), and why returning to the basics—breath, body, presence—might be the most honest path forward.  Connect with Be Your Own Zen Master:  Web: www.byozm.c...

How do we stay sane when the world feels like it’s on fire? In this episode of Be Your Own Zen Master, Justin explores how media feeds our fear — and how taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha can help us stay grounded, compassionate, and human. Includes lo-fi vibes, sincere reflection, and a parody ad you probably shouldn’t take. Connect with Be Your Own Zen Master:  Web: www.byozm.com I...