Episode 221 - W.A.I.T. What Am I Thinking?

Episode 221 - W.A.I.T. What Am I Thinking?

From Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox by JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Teacher

October 24, 2025 · 46 min · Episode 221

About this episode

The episode discusses how inappropriate attention fuels delusions and leads to unpeaceful states of mind, emphasizing the importance of shifting our focus to achieve peace.

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…

People in this episode

Host: JoAnn Fox

Topics covered

  • delusions
  • inappropriate attention
  • anger
  • attachment
  • jealousy
  • mindfulness

Keywords

  • delusions
  • anger
  • attachment
  • mindfulness
  • Buddha
  • inappropriate attention
  • jealousy

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