Buddhist Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

07/23/2025

In the UAE, the term "People of Determination" is used instead of "people with disabilities" to promote dignity, inclusion, and empowerment. Introduced in 2017, this positive language reflects a nationwide effort to highlight individuals' strength and resilience, appearing on public signs, access points, and official documents to foster a more respectful and inclusive society.

07/21/2025

When a Japanese aquarium closed for renovations, no one expected its quietest resident to take it the hardest. A solitary sunfish began to withdraw refusing to eat and drifting listlessly through its tank. With no visitors walking by, no children's laughter, no curious faces tapping on the glass, the fish seemed... lonely. Staff quickly realized this wasn’t just coincidence. Their sunfish was grieving the absence of human connection.

So, they tried something simple. They printed out smiling photos of regular visitors and taped them around the tank, surrounding the sunfish with the faces it had grown used to seeing. The change was almost immediate. The fish began eating again, showing livelier movement and interacting with its environment. It was a gentle but profound moment: proof that emotional bonds can form across species even when separated by glass and silence.

This touching act of empathy reminds us that animals no matter how different from us feel, react, and need connection too. In a world that moves fast, sometimes all it takes is a simple gesture to show we care. Because sometimes, even a fish just wants to know someone’s still out there looking in.

Source: Japanese aquarium caretakers, via multiple 2024 media reports on animal behavior and enrichment during closures.

07/20/2025

07/17/2025

State of California

07/17/2025

In 1999, a 19-year-old Chinese student named Song Yang arrived in London feeling overwhelmed and alone. While searching for a place to stay, he saw an elderly man struggling with heavy bags near a subway station. Without hesitation, Song helped him. That man was Johann Hodel, whom Song would later affectionately call “Hans.”

Hans had moved from Switzerland to London and lived a quiet, lonely life. He had no family and had never married. Touched by Song’s kindness, Hans offered him a place to live in exchange for doing simple household chores. In return, Hans helped Song learn English and guided him in finding part-time work. Over time, they became like family supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.

When Song was badly injured in a car accident, Hans stayed by his side and helped him recover. Song made him a promise: “You take care of me now, and I will take care of you too.” He kept that promise. Years later, when Hans needed surgery, Song brought him to China to care for him. He even left a high-paying job to be closer. After work, he would spend time with Hans reading, talking, and making him feel loved.

Hans became a true part of Song’s family. When Hans passed away in 2013 at the age of 80, people gathered to honor him. Song’s tribute said it all: “Hans was like a meteor that flashed across my life. I will never forget him.”

07/16/2025

Dana means the spirit of freely giving. Cultivate Dana and the other Buddhist qualities of Loving Kindness, Compassion and Sympathetic Joy.