Shell Fischer's Podcast

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 is a sense of a separate self.

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 only child … so, why do I feel selfish or cruel when I say no?” In this talk, we explore what the teachings have to say about these questions and more as they relate to learning how we can more wisely and compassionately know and protect our limits.

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 - which in turn transforms into an offering of care for others. It includes a meditation at the end.

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 – especially ourselves. This new talk from Shell investigates the truth of anicca (impermanence) and how we can learn to live in as even AS that flow of change. It includes a meditation at the end.

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 to truly awaken.

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 these vital contemplations, and includes a deeper investigation into the relationship we have with ourselves. It includes a meditation at the end.

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 go about doing this.

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, and discover more calm and ease by examining and questioning some of these predictions.

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 discover and take refuge in that calm, still point that rests in the center of this storm we call life.

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 bitterness, anger, or hatred.

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 open up to the whole flow of our emotions, without making any of it – including ourselves – wrong.

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 make a deep shift in our consciousness, but open our awareness to the preciousness of each moment of our lives. (It includes a 10-minute gratitude practice to end.)

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 to enter it, we become better able to not only see what is true, but what is needed.

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, Shell explores how we can use our practice to train our minds to become more focused, steady, and clear.

As we deepen our meditation practice, it is crucial for us to learn how to develop the powerful quality of Passaddhi, 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 better develop it.

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.