Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox

To forgive, seek: Your own Freedom. Want your own freedom from pain  Compassion. Compelled by their delusions The Lesson. How can I learn from this?   Forgiveness means stopping the cycle of anger and harm.   On analysis of whether the object has self-control, anger is unjustified. The master Candrakīrti also states: "This is not living beings' fault, Rather it is the fault of the afflictions."   ...

The Buddha taught that small, good karmic actions lead to great results in the future, a powerful motivation for making even small positive changes in our lives. In this episode we look at the Four Powers of Effort, a process for making positive changes last. 1,200 years ago, the Buddhist Master Shantideva offered this Buddhist approach to lasting change and building confidence in his Guide to the...

Our modern culture tends to make us turn away from thoughts about death and even our own aging. Yet death is something that all of us, without exception, will experience. In Buddhism, there is a focus on coming to terms with our own death ans impermanence. This world is not our home,  it is said. We are a traveler destined for other worlds, other lives. By becoming mindful of our own mortality, th...

In this episode we look at attachment to self. In particular, we try to identify what attachment to self is and how to lessen it so that we experience more peace and light-heartedness. To recognize attachment to self, we can contemplate extreme examples:   Extreme examples of when we feel attachment to self Embarrassment Excessive shame or guilt Reactions to criticism like anger or dismissing the...

In this episode, we explore attachment and some simple ways to practice non-attachment. The concept of non-attachment is often misunderstood. For example, we still love people even while practicing non-attachment. We still have homes, jobs, and goals even as we lesson our attachment. Non-attachment does not mean being separated from people or things, but changing the way we relate to them. Lessene...

In this episode we look at Right Concentration, one part of the Noble Eightfold Path. In general, concentration in meditation is single-pointedness on the object of meditation. Like a laser, concentration eliminates distraction. When one attains a state of single-pointed concentration a unique feeling of tranquility accompanies it. Thus, there are two features of concentration: unbroken attentiven...

In this episode we explore Right Mindfulness, one of the Noble Eightfold Path. In general, mindfulness means awareness, presence of mind, or attentiveness. What sets Right Mindfulness apart from secular mindfulness is that it is taught as a skill that supports the Buddhist path to enlightenment. Mindfulness in this context is part of the eightfold path that leads to the realization of the four nob...

This episode dives deep into Right Livelihood, one of the Noble Eightfold Path as laid out by the Buddha. The Eightfold Path is a spiritual path that leads us to deeper and deeper levels of peace and happiness. Ultimately, following all eight of the Eightfold Path until our mind is purified of ignorance, attachment, and selfishness, leads us to enlightenment. When we talk about a path, it signifie...

In this episode we take a deep dive into what Buddha meant by Right Action or conduct. Right Action is part of the Noble Eightfold Path, which lays out the gradual path to enlightenment. Right action means a abstains from non-virtuous actions of body, principally: Killing Stealing Sexual misconduct Abandoning taking life This refers not just to killing human beings, but to refrain from intentional...

This episode explores Right Speech, as part of a series on the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path. In the context of the spiritual path, Right Speech is more than just an ethical discipline of behavior. Right Speech is a vital part of purifying our mind so that we can attain spiritual realizations and deeper levels of wisdom. Almost everyone in our modern society engages in some type of unskillful spee...

This episode focuses on Right Effort, one part of the Noble Eightfold Path. Buddha repeatedly taught the importance of effort, for realizing the rest of the eightfold spiritual path depends on effort. In this context effort means energy directed toward cultivating the mind. The path begins with an impure mind and a wish to change; the liberated mind is the culmination of the path.what comes betwee...

In this episode, we explore Right View connoting the realization of emptiness. Right View is part of the Noble Eightfold Path, laid out by Buddha as the gradual path to enlightenment. All eight parts of the path are practiced concurrently as we move along our spiritual journey. The eight parts are not sequential or practiced one-at-a-time, but you could say that the realization of emptiness is wha...

This episode is dedicated to Right View, one part of The Noble Eightfold Path. Right View has two parts to it: a mundane right view and a superior right view (emptiness).Today we look at mundane right view which adopts the understanding and belief in karma. It is specifically, "right view of the ownership of action" (kammassakata sammaditthi). What does it mean to live mindfully in accordance with...

In this last of a three episode series on Right Intention, one of the Noble Eightfold Path, we look at how to practice the aspect of harmlessness. Right intention has three parts: Renunciation, Loving-kindness, and Harmlessness. Buddhist Teacher, JoAnn Fox, also shares a meditation and daily mindfulness practice to help us cultivate harmlessness.   What is harmlessness in Buddhism Harmlessness is...

  In this episode, we look at one aspect of Right Intention—loving-kindness. Buddhist Teacher, JoAn Fox, teaches how to practice loving-kindness in daily life, as well as a way to cultivate it through meditation. She teaches and guides the metta meditation, a powerful method to increase our loving-kindness, redirect our love from our usual self-focus, and gradually extend it to all living beings. ...

This episode begins a series in which we take a deep dive into the practice of each part of the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is Buddha's guide to a gradual path to happiness and, if one chose to take it all the way, to enlightenment. In this episode we look at Right Intention. Right intention has three parts: Loving-kindness, Harmlessness, and Renunciation. We begin with the prac...

Buddhism, one could say, is the gradual path to happiness. The essence of all the teachings of Buddha can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The Noble Truths reveal Buddha's realization that life is pervaded by suffering, the cause of suffering are the toxins in the mind like attachment, aversion and ignorance, and that there is a solution to all suffering. The Eightfold...

Buddhism, one could say, is the gradual path to happiness. The essence of all the teachings of Buddha can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The Noble Truths reveal Buddha's realization that life is pervaded by suffering, the cause of suffering are the toxins in the mind like attachment, aversion and ignorance, and that there is a solution to all suffering. The Eightfold...

In this episode we look at the singular cause of our pain and suffering and the solution!  Our problems and suffering come from the toxins in our mind such as anger, attachment, selfishness, and ignorance. The Buddhist path presents many methods to reduce and finally eliminate these toxins from our mind. This a gradual process with a variety of practices to achieve this goal.    In the episode's b...

In this episode, we explore non-harmfulness. Non-harm is so central to Buddhism, the two can not be separated from each other. Our own inner peace is dependent upon lessening and eventually eliminating the harm we do to others. Inner peace is the great victory and prize for removing this harm from our actions of body, speech and mind.    ----------------------------------------- While residing at...

In this episode, we look at creating merit by intentionally engaging in activities that are good karma. Merit, or good karma, propels our spiritual practice forward. Thus accumulating merit is a central activity of a bodhisattva, one striving for enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, as well as those who believe in the law of karma.    Ten merit-making activities    Giving (dāna ) Observing...

  "Renunciation is not the same as giving up pleasure or denying ourselves happiness. It means giving up our unreal expectations about ordinary pleasures. These expectations themselves are what turn pleasure into pain." —Lama Yeshe   Is it is real cause of happiness? Does it cause unwanted side effects? Every time we turn to it for pleasure does it make us happy? Does it bring peace Does it set us...

  I'm this episode we look at what the Buddha said about character. The English word for character comes from the Greek word chisel. A sculptor uses a chisel to mold a piece of stone into a work of art, or to cut away what is unnecessary. We chisel our character like a sculptor transforms stone into beauty. How? By our choices and intentions. Strengthening character can be a conscious, active proc...

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, ri...

In this episode we look at what it means to be an "Upholder of the Dharma" according to Buddha, and how we can, in a practical way, be one. In particular, we try to lessen the harm we do.   One does not uphold the Dharma     Only because one speaks a lot. Having heard even a little,     If one perceives the Dharma with one's own body And is never negligent of the Dharma,     Then one is indeed an...