Shell Fischer's Podcast

Given all the conditions that are giving rise to worry, anxiety, and fear in our world, it's natural that many of us find ourselves struggling with what the Buddha called unhealthy fear – which occurs when we become trapped in a kind of spiral of our own stories about what the future holds for us. This talk explores how we can use our practice to take a good look at our own fortune-telling skills,...

Inevitably, throughout our lives, we will all experience both the beauty and terror of what are called the 8 Worldly Winds, which can arrive in varying degrees –sometimes as a gentle breeze; at other times like a gusting tornado. Either way, the way we work with these winds is what determines how much they affect us as they're passing through. This new talk explores how we can use our practice to...

Though the experience of being insulted can feel extremely painful, it's actually a common experience. Yet, if we continue to cling to each and every barb, it can greatly affect the quality of our lives. This talk explores some of the Buddha's teachings on this subject, and how it can help us work through these experiences with the qualities of kindness and compassion, rather than with a sense of...

This new talk is based on the phrase, "This Is A Moment," which through practice can help us to detach from our busy, discursive, and negative thoughts, and bring us back home to the more open, calm, awake space of the present moment - just as it is - with great kindness, compassion, and care. It includes a 10-minute meditation at the end.

So often, we tend to believe that whenever we're experiencing sadness, there must be something "wrong," or that it "shouldn't" be happening. But when we can use our practice to courageously and compassionately allow ourselves to not only feel our sadness, but listen to what it has to say, we can uncover a profound sense of peace, connection, and freedom. In this new talk, Shell explores how we can...

Especially in times of difficulty, the practice of gratitude (or katavedita , in Pali) is one of the most profound skills we can use to help us discover some sort of balance in our lives, some ground beneath our feet, a sense of safety when everything else around us seems to be coming undone. In this new talk, Shell explores this essential element of our practice, and how we can use it to not only...

As the teachings show us, in order for us to respond to suffering – our own, and that of others – it is essential that we very consciously give ourselves permission to pause, to temporarily take some sacred time to shore up our own capacity for wisdom and compassion, so that we don't allow what's happening to harden our hearts. This pause is often called "sacred," because when we allow ourselves t...

Often, during difficult times, what's most needed to help soothe, quiet, and ease our troubled minds – the quality of patience - is also the most difficult to access. In this new talk, Shell taps into the Buddhist teachings to explore how we can develop more calm, compassion, and patience not only for the situation we find ourselves in, but also for others, and ourselves.

In this talk, recorded live on Mar. 10, Shell explores how we can use the practice of equanimity (or balanced awareness) to work with our fear, panic, and uncertainty, and discover more kindness, compassion, connection, and ease during these difficult times. (This talk is the 7th in a series of talks on the 7 Factors of Enlightenment).

In mystical and spiritual literature throughout the ages, deep states of consciousness have been described as having been achieved through the art of concentration – which is exactly what we're trying to cultivate in our meditation practice. As we learn to develop a more refined and skilled awareness, this in turn offers us access to even deeper levels of understanding and insight. In this talk, S...

As we deepen our meditation practice, it is crucial for us to learn how to develop the powerful quality of Passaddh i, also translated as "calm," "tranquility," "serenity," or "composure." This soothing, cooling quality of mind and heart can help to keep us peaceful and at ease, especially during times of difficulty. In this talk, Shell  explores this essential step along our path, and how we can...

In this 25-minute guided meditation, we're invited to look beneath our more shallow intentions to discover our deepest intention, so that we can learn to cultivate, nurture, and embody it, and carry its light out into our lives and our world.

The good news of our practice is that, as it deepens, we are bound to experience what in the Pali language is called piti - otherwise known as joy, happiness, delight, and even rapture. It's an important aspect of our journey, and we absolutely want to cultivate and nurture this sense of pleasure, and joy. Yet, it is also vital that we learn how to skillfully work with it as it arises, so as to no...

The root meaning of the Pali word viriya , or energy, is "hero" … and in the Buddhist tradition, when we start walking on the path of meditation, we are considered warriors. This is because what we're doing as we practice is acting as 'warriors' against the great forces of greed, hatred, and fear in ourselves. We're also courageously facing and confronting our natural tendencies … which are to run...

The great teacher Joseph Goldstein tells us that the awakening factor of investigation ( vicaya ) is a refined quality of mind that "discerns and illuminates the truth by means of discriminating wisdom." In our practice, this is the crucial factor that can cut through our delusion, and liberate the mind. In this 2nd talk of a 7-talk series, Shell explores how we can develop, nurture, and harness t...

As you might imagine, we cannot develop a good mindfulness practice without first learning how to be mindful. But, what does mindfulness (or sati, in Pali) really mean? And, how do we do this? In this new talk, Shell explores this foundational factor of our spiritual development, and offers suggestions about how we can both utilize and strengthen it in order to discover more joy and freedom in our...

In the teachings, it is said that there are seven profound qualities of mind that not only lead us to awakening, but also perfectly describe the awakened mind. In fact, all our approaches to practice are to be considered in the light of the development of these profound qualities, or factors. In this talk, Shell offers a summary of how we can use our meditation practice to develop these, in antici...

One of the most profound gifts we can offer both ourselves and others is our kind, compassionate presence. In truth, the most important aspect of all our interactions lies in our ability to listen, along with a deep intention to truly understand – a skill that takes conscious practice. In this talk, Shell explores how we can tap into our practice to create true connection – or communion - with bot...

There are many definitions of the word "dharma," which includes natural phenomena, as well as the Buddha's teachings. In our own practice, rather than relying on an outside authority to offer us the answers, we are being asked to contemplate the dharma (or truth) within ourselves , with guidance from the teachings. This inner seeking is often called " come and see " and is the basis of our practic...

Ever wonder what it means to Take Refuge in the 3 Jewels? In celebration of the meditation group's 9th anniversary, Shell offered a traditional Refuge Ceremony for sangha members, including a brief summary of what it means to take refuge (find sanctuary) in what are called the 3 Jewels of Practice: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. You can listen (and participate) here.

A popular myth about meditation practice tells us that in order to meditate, we need to get rid of all of our thoughts. This is not only untrue, but unhelpful. Vipassana Insight meditation is actually asking us to take a good, close look into the nature of our minds, and this includes becoming aware of what we're thinking. As we get better at exploring the mind more intimately - gradually we recog...

In our exploration of meditation, we are asked to be "mindful of feelings," and to contemplate the "feelings IN the feelings," often described as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. As we learn how to more accurately discern these subtle sensations, we gradually develop a more calm, non-judgmental awareness of whatever is happening in our lives, so that we're no longer so controlled by our condition...

This meditation was adapted by Thanissaro Bhikkhu the Abbott of the Metta Forest Monastery near San Diego. He learned this from his Thai teacher Ajaan Fuang who learned this technique from Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo (1907-1961).  I learned it from my teacher, Pat Coffey, and now it is yours! Thich Nhat Hahn: " Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your tho...

For thousands of years, the famous Satipatthana Sutra has been used as a powerful and profound spiritual road map. Contained within it are the rich teachings on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which the Buddha himself called the "direct path to enlightenment." In essence, this sutra is the very basis and ground of our entire practice, and diving deep into its teachings is exactly what can lea...

Instead of offering the weekly dharma talk, Shell opened the room up to about 30 minutes of questions this week. If you have a question you'd like to ask Shell , please visit us at the website to write your question, and Shell may answer it in the next session!  Starting in October, 2019, Shell will be offering these Q&A sessions once a month.