Everyday Buddhism: Making Everyday Better

In this episode I am honored to talk with Satish Kumar, a peace-pilgrim, life-long activist, and former monk, who has been inspiring global change for more than 50 years. As a child, Satish renounced the world and became a wandering Jain monk. Then in his 20s, he undertook a pilgrimage for peace, walking for two years without money, from India to America, for the cause of nuclear disarmament. Now in his 80s, Satish has devoted his life to campaigning for ecological regeneration, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment. Over the decades, he has been the guiding spirit behind a number of internationally respected ecological and educational ventures, as well as a world-renown author and international speaker. But the focus of today's conversation is his new book, Radical Love: From Separation to Connection with the Earth, Each Other, and Ourselves. You will be inspired and uplifted by this conversation with Satish, where he talks about life as a pilgrimage … and the Trinity of soil, soul, and society … How we are "soil beings"… and how activists must become optimists—wonderful inspiration in this age of doom scrolling and climate despair. Learn more about Satish and the book: https://www.parallax.org/authors/satish-kumar/ https://www.resurgence.org/satish-kumar/ Buy the book: https://bookshop.org https://shop.resurgence.org/product/view/REBK111/radical-love Browse more books by Satish Kumar: https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=Satish+Kumar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqSqU_pPRPR/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/page/52728482105/search/?q=Satish%20Kumar Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits, including a membership community and virtual sangha: https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism

In this episode, I celebrate May Day with a re-release of Episode 13 of this podcast, Right Effort: Joyful Balance. I originally released the episode for Labor Day 2018. I thought back on it during the last couple of weeks as I struggled to be still and relax, while recovering from oral surgery during the first week of warm weather. I was restless because, despite the beautiful smells, sounds, and feelings of the NOW of spring around me, I wasn't really there. My attention was on another time where I was accomplishing things on my mental to-do list. I narrate my recent experience trying to understand Right Effort in an intro to the longer episode from 2018. In this chock-full episode, I review the whole Eightfold Path but focus on ways to create a joyful balance around effort. I talk about the Five Hindrances, especially one of my own battles: restlessness. I think many of you will agree. Even in meditation, we can't wait to "get at it." We are bored while we're working and agitated while relaxing. Let my restlessness and inability to relax and enjoy the beginning of summer serve as an example for you. A time to pause and consider whether your "efforts" in life are "right"? Are they in balance? Are you trying to be perfect? Are you so consistently acting from the habit of self-perfection and achievement that you're unable to relax? It all hinges on paying attention; about noticing. That is the hard part. Adjusting your habits isn't as hard. Listen to find ways to help in creating "joyous effort" through "The Five Daily Guidelines" offered by The Bright Dawn Center of Oneness Buddhism: The Five Daily Guidelines: 5 Daily Guidelines Join me and Bob Unyo Ahlander Sensei, virtually on Zoom, for the first session of the next Introduction to Buddhism Course starting Wednesday, May 17th, 2023 at 7:30PM. Find out more: Introduction to Buddhism info and registration Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits, including a membership community and virtual sangha: https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism

Don't miss this fascinating episode where I talk with Cindy Rasicot, an award-winning author of Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter's Spiritual Quest to Thailand and creator of Casual Buddhism, a weekly YouTube series that welcomes people from all walks of life to explore their spiritual practice in conversation with Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni. The focus of the conversation is Cindy's spiritual life—especially her relationship with Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, the first woman to be ordained in Thailand. We talk, of course, about Venerable Dhammananda and her amazing and inspirational life journey from academic to activist to spiritual leader ... and about women in Buddhism. We discuss how Buddhism can be "caught not taught" to be, first, experiential, then conceptual, which is Cindy's experience with Buddhism. We also talk about the importance of healing the mother-daughter relationship … And the riches of experiencing multiple spiritual traditions, as is modeled by Venerable Dhammananda. Learn more about Cindy Rasicot and the book: https://cindyrasicot.com/ Buy the book (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3KnnM5s Instagram: https://instagram.com/cindy.rasicot Facebook: https://facebook.com/cindy.rasicot.author Casual Buddhism YouTube Series: Casual Buddhism - Youtube.com Casual Buddhism with Wendy Shinyo & Venerable: https://youtu.be/9jjq_jKnYX8 Ted Talk with Venerable Dhammanada: Ted Talk: Dhammananda Bikkuni, "Empowering Our Potentiality" Learn more about Venerable Dhammananda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhammananda_Bhikkhuni Venerable Dhammananda's Songdhammakalyani Monastery: https://www.thaibhikkhunis.com/en/ Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits, including a membership community and virtual sangha: https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism

In this episode I talk with Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, an author, Zen teacher, and Jungian psychotherapist who has devoted his life to the study and application of psychotherapy and Buddhism. In our conversation, we discuss Koshin's latest book, Untangled: Walking The Eightfold Path to Clarity, Courage, and Compassion. Among many other things, we talk about: * The needy Cookie Monster in him, myself, and maybe many of you. * The power of perspective in helping you to recognize when your old stories resurface. * The 3 kinds of minds: Grandmotherly Mind, Great Mind, and Joyful Mind. * Self-clinging as a deep form of stealing. * And how everything, everywhere is a "place of practice." I was thrilled to have this conversation with Koshin. Keep listening and you'll know why … you can actually hear the twinkle in his eyes and his beaming smile. Learn more about Koshin and the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care: About Koshin: https://zencare.org/sensei-koshin-paley-ellison/ New York Zen Center: https://zencare.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/zencare Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newyorkzencenter/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-york-zen-center-for-contemplative-care/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nyzencenter YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newyorkzencenterforcontemp4985 ************** Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism

Welcome to a special BONUS podcast, introducing our first "Chat with Everyday Buddhism" YouTube videocast on our Everyday Buddhism YouTube channel and now as an audio version for the podcast. It is our very first episode of "Chat with Everyday Buddhism" where we are planning a series of chats with our sangha leaders, our sangha members, and special guests. In the first chat, join a conversation with Wendy Shinyo Sensei, the host of the Everyday Buddhism podcast and leader of the Everyday Sangha; Bradley Jinaiyo Sensei and Terry Hosken, practice leaders of the Everyday Sangha. In this episode we talk about what Everyday Buddhism is all about and the benefit of finding community with a sangha. If you would like to ask a question or suggest a subject for us to discuss on upcoming "chat with buddhism" casts, you can do so by leaving me a voice mail on the everyday buddhism website or send an email. Go to www.everyday-buddhism.com/contact to send am email or click on the tab on the sidebar to leave us a voice mail message that is no longer than 2 minutes. ************** Check out the conversation on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/L1cydaz03fg Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism

In this episode, I talk with Emma Varvaloucas, an editor and writer with a decade+ focusing on discovering and publicizing underreported good news in the nonprofit media space. Emma is the executive director of The Progress Network, where she writes the popular What Could Go Right? weekly newsletter and is co-host of the What Could Go Right? podcast. She was formerly the executive editor of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, and the editor of two books from Wisdom Publications. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss how we can train our minds to not overreact to the negative and scary things that are happening in the world so that we might respond with equanimity rather than join the chorus of divisiveness and despair. Among many other things, we talk about the news, social media, polarization … and a non-grasping way of thinking about progress as not a utopia just around the corner but more a noticing of the gradual arc of improvement in people's lives by focusing less on the click-bait negative headlines and more on what is going right. Learn more about The Progress Network: Website: https://theprogressnetwork.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressntwrk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/progressntwrk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressntwrk/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-progress-network/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressntwrk?_t=8VeFaR9Zyxq&_r=1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2_M_Y7-PyJurGXbTuThtw ************** Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism

Enjoy a special release of a Members Only Feature: Bonus Contemplation Podcasts. These are short podcasts for you to use as subjects for contemplation or analytical meditation. I've released this contemplation, "Impermanence", as a birthday gift to my podcast audience, in celebration of my 70th birthday. It is by my friend and fellow Buddhist teacher, Kaspa Thompson. It purposely follows the episode, "Navigating Grief and Loss" by Kimberly Brown. Kaspa directs the Bright Earth with their partner, Satya, and works as a psychotherapist. They has been a Buddhist teacher for more than a decade and has a special interest in outside practice. They are a committee member of the Eco Dharma Network, and Chair of the Network of Buddhist Organisations UK. I am publicly releasing another bonus podcast, at the same time. It is a reflection on the Five Remembrances and presented by my dear friend and Everyday Buddhism Sangha leader, Bradley Jinaiyo Nussbaum. These bonus contemplation podcasts will be released regularly and presented by myself or some of my Bright Dawn Lay Minister/lay ministry student friends and colleagues. To be sure you don't miss any of them, join the Everyday Buddhism Membership Community or Everyday Sangha: https://www.everydaybuddhismcommunity.com/join-community-or-sangha.html For more about Kaspa and the Bright Earth Pure Land Buddhist Temple, check out these websites: https://www.brightearth.org/ http://www.kaspathompson.co.uk/ ***************** Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits!https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism

Enjoy a special release of a Members Only Feature: Bonus Contemplation Podcasts. These are short podcasts for you to use as subjects for contemplation or analytical meditation. I've released this contemplation, "The Five Remembrances", as a birthday gift to my podcast audience, in celebration of my 70th birthday. It is by my dear friend and Everyday Buddhism Sangha Leader, Bradley Jinaiyo Nussbaum. It purposely follows the episode, "Navigating Grief and Loss" by Kimberly Brown. I am publicly releasing another bonus podcast, at the same time. It is a reflection on Impermanence and presented by my friend and fellow Buddhist teacher, Kaspa Thompson. These bonus contemplation podcasts will be released regularly and presented by myself or some of my Bright Dawn Lay Minister/lay ministry student friends and colleagues. To be sure you don't miss any of them, join the Everyday Buddhism Membership Community or Everyday Sangha: https://www.everydaybuddhismcommunity.com/join-community-or-sangha.html ***************** Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits!https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism

In this episode, I celebrate my 70th birthday, which was yesterday, with the release of 2 special bonus contemplations on impermanence. I saved a couple of Members-only bonus episodes for release following episode 81, "Navigating Grief and Loss" with Kimberly Brown. They are Impermanence with Kaspa Thompson (Inspired by Shan Tao) and "The Five Remembrances" with Bradley Jinaiyo Nussbaum. I know many of you have more of your life ahead of you rather than behind you, the truth is, we can never know. That's the thing about impermanence and that's what these two contemplations are helping us to reflect on. It becomes harder to ignore impermanence as you age, yet I still find plenty of ways to forget about it. Not as many ways as when I was 35, but there are still plenty of ways to try to run from it. Please enjoy the contemplations and thank you to both Kaspa and Bradley for their wonderful reflections. To be sure you don't miss any of the bonus contemplations, join the Everyday Buddhism Membership Community or Everyday Sangha: https://www.everydaybuddhismcommunity.com/join-community-or-sangha.html ***************** Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits!https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism

In this episode, I talk with Kimberly Brown about her new book, Navigating Grief and Loss:25 Buddhist Practices to Keep your Heart Open to Yourself and Others, where she shares an approachable pathway to personal and collective well-being through real-life, contemporary meditations based on traditional practices. We talk about the power of love for reducing mental suffering … the illusion of control and remembering things are not all up to us … being present for and taking care of anger and other mental poisons … and how to skillfully let go of hope and fear … Among many other things. During this holiday time, I know many have a hard time keeping their hearts open and enjoying the season due to the pain of loss and grief. I hope listening to the gentle wisdom Kimberly offers in our conversation will help you discover new ways to "navigate" the pain you feel. Buy her books through my affiliate links: Navigating Grief and Loss: 25 Buddhist Practices to Keep your Heart Open to Yourself and Others Steady, Calm, and Brave: 25 Practices for Resilience and Wisdom in a Crisis Find out more about Kimberly Brown: Website: https://www.meditationwithheart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyjbrown/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meditationwithheart/ ************** Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, "Everyday Buddhism"

In this special "best of" episode, we celebrate Bodhi Day, the traditional celebration of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment. Yet, listen as we discover how it is a celebration of our enlightenment, too. The message of the December darkness is a messenger of our own enlightenment. Without darkness, we couldn't know light. Shakyamuni's enlightenment experience is ours. He proclaimed, "I and the great earth, and all beings are naturally and simultaneously awakened." We don't chase the darkness away through external ritual or stringing lights, but by looking inside to find our own light. ****************** Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, "Everyday Buddhism" Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Or say "Hi, I enjoy your podcast by buying me a coffee!" Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, I get lost in a conversation with Deborah Eden Tull, who I wished I could have talked with for hours! Deborah Eden Tull is a Zen meditation and dharma teacher, author, public speaker, and sustainability educator. In our conversation we discuss her latest book, Luminous Darkness: An Engaged Buddhist Approach to Embracing the Unknown, a deep book bridging the Dharma, personal awareness, and transformation—through the lens of darkness and all that word connotes, like uncertainty, change, grief, and fear. I know you'll enjoy this episode, as we meander through a conversation about spirituality, living in inquiry, leading in the dark AND being LED by the dark ... and showing up as we are, in our strength and vulnerability. And I'm sure you will be inspired by Deborah Eden Tull, as she shares a way for all of us to "navigate the uncertainty of our times" and welcome the presence of life "as it is." Buy the book through my affiliate link: Luminous Darkness: An Engaged Buddhist Approach to Embracing the Unknown Find out more about Deborah Eden Tull and her upcoming retreats and workshops: https://www.deborahedentull.com/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindfulLivingRevolution/ ************** Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, "Everyday Buddhism"

In this episode, I have a far-ranging and fascinating conversation with Melissa Moore, Ph.D., a teacher of Buddhism and Contemplative Psychology. In it we talk about her book, The Diamonds Within Us: Uncovering Brilliant Sanity Through Contemplative Psychology, a treasure of a book that weaves the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism with psychology, producing a guidebook of real-life practices to address our internal struggles and the reactions we have to the daunting times we live in. I know you'll enjoy this talk with Melissa, who openly shares her own personal challenges and personality in talking about how we can train ourselves to "go toward emotional energy and open to it for the wisdom that is innate with the messiness of feelings." She truly has her finger on the pulse of our reactive emotions and how they actually can be helpful in discovering our "intrinsic health." I'm sure you will be inspired by the approach Melissa uses in Karuna Training, teaching that our vulnerabilities is where we will find our greatest strengths. In her book we learn that when we go towards discomfort and rest in not knowing, it becomes a great teacher. Buy the book through my affiliate link: The Diamonds Within Us: Uncovering Brilliant Sanity Through Contemplative Psychology Find out more about Melissa Moore, Ph.D. and Karuna Training: https://karunatraining.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karunatraining/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karunatraining/ ************** Check out my Substack posts for more everyday Buddhism: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/ If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, "Everyday Buddhism"

I am honored to present this podcast episode with Rev. Marvin Harada, the Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America. In it we discuss what makes Shin Buddhism a truly "everyday Buddhism", meditation, mindfulness, chanting, ritual, and about the teachers we have in common and what made them special. I know you'll enjoy this talk with Rev. Harada as much as I did talking with him. He is down-to-earth and delightful, if you can't tell by his giggle! if you've never heard of Shin Buddhism—or don't know too much about it—this episode is for you. Pure Land Buddhism is one of the most widely practiced forms of Buddhism in East Asia, and in Japan, Shin Buddhism, or Jodo Shinshu, is actually the largest school of Buddhism in Japan. CORRECTION TO THE INTRODUCTION OF REV. HARADA: Rev. Harada served as a minister for the Orange County Buddhist Church, but did not serve as head minister throughout the entire 33-year period. Find out more about the Buddhist Churches of America: https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/ Find out more about the BCA "Everyday Buddhist" program mentioned by Bishop Harada: https://www.everydaybuddhist.org/ ************** If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/podcast-donations Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, "Everyday Buddhism"

Enjoy another special preview of a Members Only Feature: Bonus Contemplation Podcasts. These are short podcasts for you to use as subjects for contemplation or analytical meditation. This contemplation, "Loved Just As I Am", is by my dear friend, Satya Robyn, and purposely follows the episode where I share my journey into baldness due to Alopecia Areata. Satya directs the Bright Earth with her partner, Kaspa, and works as a psychotherapist and a writer. These bonus contemplation podcasts will be released regularly and presented by myself or some of my Bright Dawn Lay Minister/lay ministry student friends and colleagues. To be sure you don't miss any of them, join the Everyday Buddhism Membership Community or Everyday Sangha: https://www.everydaybuddhismcommunity.com/join-community-or-sangha.html For more about Satya and the Bright Earth Pure Land Buddhist Temple, check out these websites: http://www.brightearth.org/ www.satyarobyn.com or at www.dearearth.co.uk ***************** Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism

In this episode, I share my journey into baldness caused by Alopecia Areata. September is Alopecia Awareness month, so I'm happy to share this episode now. No matter what our hair looks like or changes to, we are never satisfied. Hair seems one of the most prominent marks of our self. We seem uniquely attached to our hair as self. My hair loss first started in mid-December 2021, then paused and seemed to start growing back, then in April it was on a steady downward trend. And by July, I began to make peace with the fact that I was losing so much hair there wasn't much of a point in trying to hide it, so I shaved it all off. This was a process of working to accept things as they are, called Arugamama, from Morita Therapy in Japanese Psychology. Listen to this episode to see how I've come to accept my new bald self. ***************** Book, Diamond Sutra by Red Pine, mentioned in this podcast: The Diamond Sutra - Translation & Commentary by Red Pine My book, mentioned in this podcast: Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices For Real Change ***************** Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism

Join me for a conversation with Jack Huynh, a long-time Buddhist practitioner and the founder of the https://beyondthecushion.com/ website. Jack is a first-generation immigrant to the U.S. from the Vietnam War and found his own path in the Dharma, different from his parents who are also Buddhist practitioners. Jack's website explores the diversity of Buddhist lay practice in a complex modern life. The idea for it was born from Jack's own curiosity and longing to ask lay practitioners about their practice, after years of attending retreats and not having a local sangha. In exploring the compelling personal stories of the practitioners highlighted on the site, you'll find that despite the Buddhist schools, lineages, geographic location, and stages of practice, all Dharma is Dharma. It's an inspiring journey, as is the conversation in this episode. Check out the website: https://beyondthecushion.com/ Visit Jack's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackhuynh/ Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, "Everyday Buddhism" Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism

Join me for a special summer mirror episode of the podcast, Zen At The Sharp End by Mark Westmoquette where I was invited to talk about my experience with "troublesome Buddhas." The Zen At The Sharp End podcast focuses on how to turn difficult people and relationships into your best teachers. In each episode, Mark and guests discuss how Buddhist and mindfulness practices can help us see our difficult people or situations as troublesome Buddhas, our greatest teachers. I am sharing this episode of Mark's podcast on my podcast because I think what Mark has to teach with this method is something everyone of my listeners can benefit from. I am painfully honest in the episode, so I debated sharing it directly with you, but I believe it is in our shared vulnerability that Buddhist practice comes alive. Check out Mark's podcast: Zen at The Sharp End Buy his book: Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People: How to Learn from your Troublesome Buddhas Learn more about Mark by visiting his website: https://markwestmoquette.co.uk/ Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book: Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change Become a patron to support this podcast and get special member benefits! https://www.patreon.com/EverydayBuddhism

Join me for a very special conversation with Ashley Lynn Olson, the author of the book, Confined to Align, and the author of a life that has consistently defied the odds. And that is, in no small part, due to her unbelievable spirit and ability to steer her thoughts, emotions, … and her life into the positive. As you will hear, Ashley has overcome obstacles in her life that would knock many of so far down we would have trouble ever looking up again, including a car accident that killed her father and paralyzed her when she was fourteen years old. But she demonstrates an amazing attitude—dare I say a "Buddhist" way of seeing life—evident from this quote from her book: "Choose to choose. Feeling confined is a choice…. Choose compassion for yourself and those around you. Choose to see your situation as an opportunity to expand internally, or better yet, as a moment in time-space to re-align and focus on your path of well-being and purpose…." Click play to listen to a conversation with Ashley you won't soon forget! Buy the book: Confined to Align: A Journey to Wellbeing Learn more about Ashley by visiting her website: https://wheelchairtraveling.com/ Her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/wheelchairtraveler08 And her Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/wheelchairtraveling/ Click here to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices For Real Change

Join me for a conversation with Arlene Faulk, as we talk about the ups and downs of living with the symptoms, diagnosis, and eventual healing of Multiple Sclerosis. Arlene went from a career as business executive to a calling as a Tai Chi teacher. ​Arlene captured her dramatic personal story in a memoir, Walking on Pins and Needles: A Memoir of Chronic Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis. Faulk recounts how she regained mobility, embraced the power of Tai Chi, and took back control of her life. Her inspiring story demonstrates how a chronic and debilitating health condition lacks the power to control our lives and stop us from moving in the direction of possibility. Buy the book: "Walking on Pins and Needles" Learn more about Arlene by visiting her website: https://arlenefaulk.com/about/ Check out her YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/faulktaichi