Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox

Delusions are distorted ways of looking at things that make our mind unpeaceful and uncontrolled. Anger exaggerates someone’s faults. Attachment exaggerates someone’s good qualities. Both lead us away from reality and keep us trapped in craving or aversion.

Buddha taught that what fuels delusions is inappropriate attention. When we dwell on thoughts that feed our delusions, we are engaging in "inappropriate attention."

The way all delusions arise:

Object + inappropriate attention = Delusion

With anger, inappropriate attention might look like replaying an insult, focusing only on someone’s faults, or exaggerating how much they’ve harmed us. Each time we dwell on these thoughts, our anger grows stronger.

Appropriate attention brings peace. We might notice the impermanence of the situation, remember the person’s good qualities, or recognize that anger hurts us more than it hurts anyone else. This kind of attention dissolves anger’s grip.

The same process that fuels anger also feeds jealousy and attachment. When we compare ourselves to others or fixate on what we lack, jealousy arises. When we focus on only the pleasurable or ideal aspects of someone or something, attachment takes root. Both are forms of clinging to illusions.

We can train our minds to shift this attention. When you notice your train of thought is leading to the darkside--inappropriate attention-- you can say to yourself:

"W.A.I.T. What am I thinking?"

Are these thoughts leading me to peace or away from peace? How can I redirect my thoughts? This simple shift of attention offers profound freedom. By learning to direct our attention wisely, we begin to choose peace over pain, compassion over comparison, and clarity over illusion.

All experience is preceded by mind, 

Led by mind, 

Made by mind. 

Speak or act with a corrupted mind, 

And suffering follows 

As the wagon wheel follows the hoof of the ox. 

 

All experience is preceded by mind, 

Led by mind, 

Made by mind. 

Speak or act with a peaceful mind,

And happiness follows 

Like a never-departing shadow. 

--Buddha, The Dhammapada, Verse 1 - 2

References and Links

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

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In this episode, JoAnn Fox shares the practice of W.A.I.T.—What Am I Thinking? to help us cultivate self-compassion and retrain the often-critical voice in our minds. Through mindfulness, we can begin to notice the thoughts that shape how we treat ourselves, and choose a kinder, more beneficial way to respond.

The Buddha said: 

All experience is preceded by mind, 

Led by mind, 

Made by mind. 

Our world is created by our thoughts. Every word, every action, every mood begins as a whisper in the mind. And sometimes, those whispers aren’t so kind.

When we notice the narrator in our head becoming unkind, we can pause and think, ‘WAIT! What am I thinking?’ Then we try to speak to ourselves with compassion instead of judgment. 

Observe any specific automatic patterns of self-criticism, doubt, or fear. Gradually try to replace them with thoughts rooted in compassion, understanding, and encouragement. For a more on the practice of W.A.I.T for developing self-compassion, see our blog post Awakening Self-Compassion. 

The Five Gates of Speech

The Buddha, in his gentle wisdom, offered a path to mindful speech through what he called "The Five Gatekeepers of Speech." These gatekeepers stand like sentinels, reminding us to pause and make sure our words can pass through these five gates:

Is it true? Is it kind? Is it beneficial? Is it necessary? Is it the right time?

References and Links

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

Neff, Kristin. (n.d.). What is self-compassion? Self-Compassion.org. Retrieved https://self-compassion.org/what-is-self-compassion

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Our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/BuddhismForEveryone

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X: @Joannfox77

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To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

To learn about Life Coaching with JoAnn Fox visit www.BuddhismforEveryone.com/coaching

 

“The rain could turn to gold and still your thirst would not be slaked,” the Buddha said. He was pointing to the endless cycle of craving, the restless thirst that keeps us searching outside ourselves for satisfaction. Even if we were showered with gold, our longing would not end. So how do we free ourselves from this thirst? In this Fan Favorite episode, we look for the answer in understanding the connection between emptiness and craving.

 

When Buddhism speaks of emptiness (shunyata), it doesn’t mean that nothing exists. It means that nothing exists inherently or independently. Everything arises because of many causes and conditions.

 

Think about a table. It seems to be a table all on its own. But in truth, it depends on wood, on carpenters, on the label "table," and on our own minds to recognize it. Without these causes (and many more), the table as we know it doesn’t exist. Even beauty works this way. If we see a flower as beautiful, we think the beauty is “out there.” Yet without our mind, that beauty would never appear. Emptiness reveals that our world is far more fluid and interdependent than it seems.

 

The Buddha described craving as tanha, which literally means thirst. This isn’t just enjoying things; it’s clinging to them for happiness or pleasure.

He compared it to tasting honey on a razor’s edge. The first taste is sweet, but pain follows. That’s what happens when we cling to pleasures, possessions, or people: we suffer when they change, disappear, or fall short of our hopes. Craving always promises satisfaction but never delivers.

 

At the root of craving is a misunderstanding. We think things exist solidly and permanently, as if beauty, pleasure, or comfort live inside them. But emptiness shows us this isn’t true.

 

When you enjoy a sunset, your mind is part of creating that beauty. When you savor a meal, your mind is shaping the pleasure. But we don’t see it this way. We believe the joy is built into the object itself. So we cling, hoping to hold it forever.

 

Once we understand emptiness, craving begins to dissolve. We see the truth: things are impermanent, interdependent, and shaped by the mind. We can still enjoy them, but we don’t need to grasp so tightly.

 

The Buddha taught that the end of craving is the end of suffering. When we realize emptiness, ignorance loosens its grip. We don’t stop enjoying life! We stop demanding that impermanent things give us permanent happiness. Instead of chasing after more, we can finally enjoy and relax in freedom.

 

References and Links

Buddha.The Dhammapada. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. (Kindle). Shambala, Boston and London, 2011, pp. 78 (Link)

 

Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. 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=386

 

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To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

To learn about Life Coaching with JoAnn Fox visit www.BuddhismforEveryone.com/coaching

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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To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

 

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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To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program