The Buddha said that the minds of his followers should "constantly, day and night, delight in spiritual practice." But what practice can we stitch into the fabric of ordinary days? This fan-favorite epsiode explores a spiritual thread that can run through work, family, errands, and all the passing moments that make up our lives.

Cherishing others requires no shrine, no retreat, no special circumstance—only a special intention. To cherish another means we think and act on this intention,

"Your happiness matters. I will work for your happiness."

Whether it's the barista, a child, a colleague, or a stranger in the grocery store, cherishing others transforms every interaction into a step on the spiritual path.

Cherishing others is loving-kindness, or metta, in action. This practice softens the heart. It also dismantles the walls of self-cherishing (selfishness), our habit of "me first" that actually gives rise to our own pain.

The Buddha taught that cherishing others is the root of all good qualities, from patience to compassion, and the sacred root from which enlightenment eventually blossoms.

The Buddha also taught that cherishing others helps solve problems and creates the causes of happiness (through creating good karma). And science, centuries later, agrees. A 2024 study involving three countries and 4,000 people found that even one act of kindness a week toward others decreased loneliness, social anxiety, neighborhood conflict, and isolation.

Even our bodies rejoice when we cherish others. Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that people who regularly performed kind acts had lower blood pressure and reduced inflammatory markers—key factors in long-term health. And a study from Carnegie Mellon University showed that offering support to loved ones was linked to lower cortisol levels and improved immune response.

Cherishing others is beneficial for the mind and weaves joy into everyday life. What if, day and night, we delighted in this?

If you are interested in working with JoAnn Fox as a Life/Spiritual Coach, visit https://buddhismforeveryone.com/coaching

References and Links

Buddha. The Dhammapada, Translated by Gil Fronsdale. (Kindle). Shambala, Boston and London, 2011, pp. 76

Gill, Sharman. (Nov. 2024). BYU study shows that even one act of kindness a week improves wellbeings for individuals, communites. Retrieved from: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-random-acts-of-kindness-can-boost-your-health-5105301

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We’re bringing back a fan favorite episode from the Buddhism for Everyone archives with an exploration of fear, anxiety, and bravery. Fearlessness is often spoken of in Buddhist teachings, but here we go beyond the idea of simply “being brave” to uncover how the Buddha understood fear itself. Together, we’ll look at what causes fear, the antidotes that dissolve it, and how we can tap into the quiet courage already within us.

In Buddhism, there is a distinction between skillful fear and unskillful fear. Skillful fear can protect us. An example of skilful fear is noticing a subway train barreling down the tracks and stepping back. But unskillful fear? That’s the kind that traps us, limits us, and leads to actions that cause suffering. In this beloved episode, we explore unskillful fear and how to meet it with wisdom, compassion, and practical tools for everyday life.

We also examine the common forms unskillful fear takes, such as:

• Fear of things that may or may not happen

• Fear of the inevitable changes of life, like aging

• Fear for the safety or happiness of those we love

This episode has been replayed again and again by listeners who say it’s brought them peace, clarity, and even a little spark of bravery. We’re so happy to share it with you once more.

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Have you ever walked away from a conversation and thought, "Why did I just say that?" Oh, me too. But thankfully, the Buddha left us plenty of tools to transform even our speech into something sacred. In this episode, we explore an acronym I recently added to my spiritual toolbox, W.A.I.T. — Why Am I Talking? Before we speak, we can pause and ask ourselves this simple question to check our motivation. Are we trying to connect or control? Are we speaking from kindness or merely from habit?

Another powerful filter comes directly from the Buddha. Before we speak, we can ask ourselves if our words pass through these Four Gates:

1. Is it true?
2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary?
4. Is it the right time?

In the Buddhist teaching on Right Speech, the Buddha identified four types of unskillful speech that cause harm:

• Lying – intentionally deceiving
• Divisive speech – creating conflict or turning people against each other
• Harsh speech – cruel, aggressive, or hurtful words
• Idle gossip– pointless talk that distracts and wastes energy

We can gradually reduce these habits and move toward speech that uplifts, heals, and connects.

Next time you're about to speak, even just in casual conversation, take a beat and ask:

"W.A.I.T — Why am I talking?"

You might find there's wisdom in the silence. Or you might find your words come from a more beautiful place, a place of kindness, truth, and intention.

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This episode is a gentle return to something simple, sacred, and too often forgotten: the present moment. The only moment we ever truly have.

We explore what it means to really be present. True calm arises when we're not lost in yesterday's story or tomorrow's worries but rest in the stillness of the now. JoAnn Fox, a Buddhist teacher of over twenty years, will talk about why presence is the ground of peace, the birthplace of connection, and the secret doorway to joy.

Let's take a breath and be here now.

They do not grieve over the past,

Nor do they yearn for the future;

They live only in the present

— That is why their face is so calm.

It's from yearning for the future,

And from grieving over the past;

This is how fools become withered

Like a fresh reed that's been hacked down.

–Buddha, from the Arañña Sutta (A Face So Calm)

Resources

Buddha, translated by Andrew Olendzki, 2006. The Arañña Sutta: A Face So Calm. Retrieved from: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn01/sn01.010.olen.html

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This episode is about those moments when life doesn't go according to plan: when things go wrong, fall apart, or just feel too heavy to bear. At these times, mental strength becomes our most valuable refuge. But what does it really mean to be mentally strong? How can we cultivate that strength without becoming rigid or emotionally shut down?

We'll be exploring one of my favorite quotes from the great Buddhist master Shantideva:

"If something can be done, why worry?

If nothing can be done, why worry?"

This deceptively simple teaching holds the key to freedom from anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity. In this episode, we explore practical strategies to move through worry and return to peace, even in the middle of life's messiness.

When facing a challenge that has a solution, taking action (even a very small steps) restores our sense of agency.

Can you make a call? Write something down? Apologize? Ask for help? Tiny acts of courage move the mind from helplessness to confidence.

But often, we don't take action because our own minds get in the way.

Sometimes, there's nothing we can do to change a situation. We have no control over a loss, an illness, or someone else's behavior. This is where mental strength blossoms, not from resistance, but from acceptance.

Here are a few practices for these moments:

• Limit your worry window.

Give yourself 20–30 minutes to think it through, write it out, or talk it out. Then gently close the door on worry for the day. This boundary creates emotional breathing room.

• Let other people be who they are.

Much of our suffering comes from trying to manage others' choices. We can still love them and maintain boundaries, but we cannot fix or control them. Let them.

• Don't believe every thought.

Especially the ones that say, "This will never get better," or "I can't handle this." Thoughts are not facts. Watch them arise like clouds, but don't let them storm your peace.

Mental strength isn't the absence of emotion or difficulty. It's the quiet courage to respond rather than react—to act when we can and let go when we must.

So next time something goes wrong, take a breath and ask yourself:

"Can something be done?"

If yes, begin.

If not, release.

That's the wisdom of worry-less living.

― Buddha

We're exploring a truth so simple yet profound it almost feels like a secret; every problem we have comes from just one thing, our own mind. Specifically, our problems come from misperceiving reality: we see our worries, fears, and stresses as big, immovable mountains. In reality, they're more like clouds, shifting and changing with the winds of the mind.

Nothing is as fixed as it seems. Everything depends on perception (even that thing you're stressing about right now).

The mind of worry conjures up what we fear. The worst-case scenario hasn't happened, may not happen, but we let these figments of our imagination torment us. Instead, we're going to practice a beautiful little mind trick: instead of thinking, "What's the worst that could happen?" we'll try asking, "What's the best that could happen?" Perhaps everything will play out in ways that are incredibly healing or positive...there's no way to know for sure. So why not plant seeds of hope instead of fear and watch what grows? This small shift that can open up a whole new way of experiencing your life.

To register for two free virtual classes, “Developing Universal Love and Compassion” on Saturday, May 10 and 17, 2025 visit www.BuddhismForEveryone.com

References with Links

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2008. How Things Exist: Teachings on Emptiness. Lama Zopa Rinpoche Edited by Ailsa Cameron. Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

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We're exploring a truth so simple yet profound it almost feels like a secret; every problem we have comes from just one thing--our own mind. Specifically, our problems come from misperceiving reality: we see our worries, fears, and stresses as big, immovable mountains. In reality, they're more like clouds, shifting and changing with the winds of the mind.

Nothing is as fixed as it seems. Everything depends on perception (even that thing you're stressing about right now). Could we change our perception and enjoy whatever arises? Buddhist Teacher, JoAnn Fox, offers two ways to practice this wisdom.

Practice 1 Radical Love

"The universe is an example of love. Like a tree. Like the ocean. Like my body. Like my wheelchair. I see the love."

"I love every thing in the universe. That's all I do all day."

--Ram Dass

What if we opened our hearts wide enough to love everything that arises — the sweet, the strange, the inconvenient, and the miraculous? This practice invites us to shift our perception and welcome everything that happens. This practice is not about pretending things don't hurt or denying difficulty—but softening into life so deeply that we stop resisting what arises.

What we perceive depends upon the mind that perceives it. For example, the mind of anger perceives irritating or threatening things. Conversely, when the mind is pervaded by love, that mind loves whatever it sees. Could we train our minds to love everything we see? A long line, a loud neighbor, a mistake, a moment of joy, a compliment… each becomes a chance to stay open. Today, try saying, "I love this," no matter what happens. Just see how it feels. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of the blissful mind that can love it all.

Practice 2: What's the best that could happen?

The mind of worry conjures up what we fear. The worst-case scenario hasn't happened and may not happen, but we let these figments of our imagination torment us. Instead, we can practice a beautiful little mind trick: instead of thinking, "What's the worst that could happen?" we'll contemplate, "What's the best that could happen?" Perhaps everything will play out in ways that are incredibly healing or positive; there's no way to know for sure. So why not plant hope instead of fear and watch what grows? This small shift can reveal a whole new way of experiencing your life.

Whoever Knows [one’s own] former lives, Sees both the heavens and states of woe, Has attained the end of birth, Is a sage, perfected in the higher knowledges, And has perfected all perfections, I call a brahmin. (423)

--Buddha, The Dhammapada Verse 423

References with Links

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories, Verses 419 and 420. 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=423

Tsering, Geshe Tashi (2005). The Four Noble Truths: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought Volume 1 (Kindle). Wisdom Publications.

*** To register for two free virtual classes, “Developing Universal Love and Compassion” on Saturday, May 10 and 17, 2025 visit www.BuddhismForEveryone.com

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