Episose 225 - Is your mind the Matrix?
Mon Jan 12 2026
In The Matrix, the red pill reveals the truth behind appearances and opens the path to freedom. In Buddhism, a realization of the true nature of reality is the ultimate path to freedom. In this episode, we explore how waking up to reality gives us
the ability to reshape who you are because nothing is fixed
learn to bend the "rules" of your reality
unplug from emotional reactivity
Buddha explained the ultimate truth of reality as "emptiness." Emptiness does not mean nothingness. This teaching doesn't mean that nothing exists. We have to ask ourselves, what is reality empty of? Reality is "empty" of being fixed, independent of causes and conditions. For example, when we wake up from a bad dream, we're relieved because we realize that the scary monster was just a creation of our dreaming mind. Buddha said that our waking mind creates all the beautiful and disturbing appearances of ordinary life.
When someone annoys us, for example, we don't think our mind has anything to do with creating those annoying qualities we perceive. We innocently go about our lives, and an annoying person is just there to ruin our fun. Just as we don't question the realness of the nightmare while we are still sleeping, we don't think our waking mind has anything to do with how our waking life appears to us.
The Diamond Sutra says:
All conditioned phenomena
Are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows,
Like dew and lightning.
One should contemplate them in this way.
To learn about Life Coaching with JoAnn Fox visit www.BuddhismforEveryone.com or email JoAnn Fox at joann@buddhismforeveryone.com
References:
Diamond Sutra. Retrieved from All Worldly Affairs Are Transient - FoGuangPedia https://share.google/OPtZLbx2OkQpUEueB
Find us at the links below:
Our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/BuddhismForEveryone
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To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program
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In The Matrix, the red pill reveals the truth behind appearances and opens the path to freedom. In Buddhism, a realization of the true nature of reality is the ultimate path to freedom. In this episode, we explore how waking up to reality gives us the ability to reshape who you are because nothing is fixed learn to bend the "rules" of your reality unplug from emotional reactivity Buddha explained the ultimate truth of reality as "emptiness." Emptiness does not mean nothingness. This teaching doesn't mean that nothing exists. We have to ask ourselves, what is reality empty of? Reality is "empty" of being fixed, independent of causes and conditions. For example, when we wake up from a bad dream, we're relieved because we realize that the scary monster was just a creation of our dreaming mind. Buddha said that our waking mind creates all the beautiful and disturbing appearances of ordinary life. When someone annoys us, for example, we don't think our mind has anything to do with creating those annoying qualities we perceive. We innocently go about our lives, and an annoying person is just there to ruin our fun. Just as we don't question the realness of the nightmare while we are still sleeping, we don't think our waking mind has anything to do with how our waking life appears to us. The Diamond Sutra says: All conditioned phenomena Are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows, Like dew and lightning. One should contemplate them in this way. To learn about Life Coaching with JoAnn Fox visit www.BuddhismforEveryone.com or email JoAnn Fox at joann@buddhismforeveryone.com References: Diamond Sutra. Retrieved from All Worldly Affairs Are Transient - FoGuangPedia https://share.google/OPtZLbx2OkQpUEueB Find us at the links below: Our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/BuddhismForEveryone Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone Private Facebook Group:: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/ Website: Buddhismforeveryone.com Instagram: @buddhism4everyone X: @Joannfox77 TikTok: @buddhism4everyone YouTube: @Buddhism4Everyone To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program