Shell Fischer's Podcast

Whenever we think of the word "home" we often think of a kind of brick and mortar "place" where we can physically dwell. But in the Buddhist tradition, home or "refuge" is not something we find outside of ourselves, but instead directly within. In fact, it might be said that the entirety of our practice is aimed at training ourselves how to develop this place of "home" right here - in our own mind...

Modern science has now shown us that what the Buddha was trying to tell us more than 2600 years ago is spot on: that by consciously choosing to incline our minds towards more joy, we can actually change the structure of our brains in a way that will generate even more experiences of joy for ourselves in the future. This talk explores not only how we can use our practice do this, but how we can bus...

While the Buddha assured us that our meditation practice is the path to freedom, he also explained that in order for us to achieve a more profound happiness than we could ever find outside of ourselves, we first need to take an honest, courageous look at all the ways that we create more suffering for ourselves. This talk explores the many different types of dukkha (suffering) that we experience, a...

Modern science has shown us that our words are not harmless: they have the very real power to not only affect our actual brains, but to either create more hurt and discord in this world, or more harmony and connection. This talk explores some of the Buddha's rich teachings on Wise Speech, and how we can use our meditation practice to train ourselves to become more aware of our unconscious habits o...

Apologizing is such a challenging skill that the Buddha himself said that learning to do it well is "THE essential factor in achieving purity in thought, word, and deed." This new talk explores how we can use our mindfulness practice to become better at this, and also how we can better discern whether we are either receiving or giving a real apology - or not. It includes a 15-mintue meditation at...

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh suggests that instead of focusing on everything that's wrong with ourselves, other people, or the world … we should ask: "What's NOT wrong," as a way of practicing the incredibly transformative quality of gratitude. This quality of thankfulness is so powerful, in fact, it's considered 1 of 2 main antidotes to our experience of fear. It also represents the very fruit of o...

The Buddhist teachings warn us of 5 main challenging and complicated mental states that block, confuse, or "hinder" our ability to more fully open our hearts and minds, and prevent us from discovering freedom from suffering. In this talk, Shell explores how we can use the practice of energy (or viriya , in Pali) to more clearly recognize these five mental states, and eventually loosen our grip on...

A common expression among those who practice Insight Meditation is "don't believe everything you think," which points to the idea that in order for us to discover the truth – or any transformation or release from suffering in our lives - we first need to take a good look at what we're believing, then courageously question the validity and/or benefits of these beliefs. In this talk, Shell explores...

The Buddha taught that you can search the entire universe for someone more deserving of your love and compassion than yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere. And yet, so often for many of us, it seems much easier to offer our care, compassion, and even forgiveness to others than to ourselves. We tend to beat ourselves up, or give ourselves an unnecessarily hard time for our "perfectl...

As the Buddhist teachings show us, our deepest source of pain and suffering arises from our delusion that we are somehow separate from one another, and from Earth itself. Given this, one the most profound practices we are offered to dispel this delusion is by exploring what is called Mahabhuta, or The Great Elements contained within our bodies. This talk explores not only why this practice is esse...

In the Buddhist teachings, we are asked to use our meditation practice as a way to reflect on the profound truth of anicca, or impermanence: the truth that everything – including ourselves, is always and forever in a constant state of unfolding … along with the truth that if we can learn to trust that flow, and let go of needing to control it, we can truly live with much more joy, freedom, and eas...

In the Buddha's teachings on Wise or Right Livelihood, we are urged to shine a strong light on what we're believing about our own worth, as well as our opinions about the worthiness of others,  because these assumptions touch, shape, and affect almost everyone and everything in our lives – individually, culturally, and even globally. This talk explores how we can use our practice to take a closer...

One day, when the Buddha was just 8 years old and upset, he decided to offer himself both calm and compassion by very naturally sitting in what has been called "the first meditation," and consciously nurturing a quality called Passaddhi – a Pali word translated as serenity, composure, or tranquility. In this new talk, Shell explores how we can follow the Buddha's wise example, along with his instr...

The Buddha's last words to us were said to be: " All conditioned things are impermanent; strive on with diligence! " In these difficult times we're all living through, maintaining our practice, as well as our sense of hopefulness, can often be challenging. In this new talk, Shell explores the quality of aditthana - a Pali word meaning "determination" or "resolve" - and offers us ways to "strive on...

Whenever there seems to be a gap between what is , and how we want it to be – whether this means a situation, person, ourselves, or life itself – we tend to experience frustration, or anger. Yet, if we can allow ourselves to let go of our strong expectations, our suffering can often drop dramatically. In this new talk, Shell offers us some tips – both classic and modern – for how we can use our pr...

The Buddhist nun Pema Chodron suggests that we remember to ask ourselves one key question, every day: " Since death is certain, and the timing of death uncertain, what is the most important thing ?" In this talk, we explore what the Buddha calls The Five Remembrances, or, 5 essential truths about our lives, ourselves, and our loved ones which, when contemplated daily, can help us discover more joy...

In the Buddhist tradition we are asked to develop a quality called Noble Silence, which serves not only as a sacred vehicle for us, but is also in a very real way our destination. In essence, the more we can create the space of Noble Silence, and live and practice within it, eventually, it is what we BECOME. In this talk, Shell explores this multi-layered topic of silence, and how we can use it to...

The Buddhist teachings offer us numerous ways of praying, yet people often ask: in this non-theistic tradition, what does it mean to do this? Or, what is it that we are aspiring to, when we place our hands together and bow our heads in prayer? In this talk, we explore how we can use this powerful form of aspiration to not only direct and open our hearts, but heal our deepest source of pain – which...

The teachings show us that setting healthy boundaries with others is an incredibly important skill that can help us to live with more balance, joy, and ease in our lives - but of course, this isn't always easy. Students often ask: " The teachings point to the concept of annata, no-self … so, why is there a need for boundaries? The Buddha urges us to care of others like a mother might care for her...

One of the most essential teachings of the Buddha can be found in a single and famous line of advise from him, which is,  " Be a lamp unto yourself; be a refuge to yourself; take yourself to no external refuge ." In this new talk, we take a deep dive into the Acrobat Sutra, a story and teaching that points to the importance of caring for yourself FIRST, by becoming the source of your own refuge -...

According to the Buddhist teachings, one of the main ways that we suffer is by trying to hold onto or even control that which is inherently impermanent – including everything and everyone in our lives, as well as our ourselves. Our practice, then, becomes a bit of a paradox: in order to discover more freedom and ease in our lives, we need to learn to let go, and start viewing all phenomena as new...

In order for each of us feel understood, and cared for, it's important that our hearts are both seen, and heard. And while our listening skills are absolutely essential for this, so many of us don't know how to do this well. This new talk from Shell explores how we can practice the art of Mindful Listening, and nurture our skills to not only connect more with others, but also with ourselves.

As we slowly begin to emerge from this difficult time in our history, it's essential for us to remember that we've all experienced loss this year, and to make every effort to offer our kindness, compassion, and care out to both ourselves, and others. In this new talk, Shell explores the Buddhist concept of Sila – or no harm - and how we can use it to not only bring more healing into the world, but...

According to the Buddha, choosing good relationships in this life doesn't just constitute part of our spiritual development, but in fact the whole of it. Because these choices are so critical to our happiness, the teachings offers us numerous and detailed ways in which we can better discern which companions we should seek out, and which we might want to avoid, or abandon. This talk delves into the...

The Buddha tells us that our relationships are "the whole of this spiritual life"; that in fact they can greatly determine both our happiness, or our sorrow. Because of this, he urges us to use our practice to closely discern which relationships we should nurture, and which we might want to abandon. This talk dives into the teachings on this in more detail, and offers examples about how we might g...