In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa break down one of Buddhism’s most practical (and misunderstood) teachings: emptiness—using the now-famous story of the pen. Is it a pen or a chew toy? It depends who’s looking.

Drawing from the Heart Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, and modern life at the kitchen table (complete with dog Poppy chewing pens), they explore how reality doesn’t come from objects themselves, but from the karmic seeds and meanings our minds project onto them.

You’ll also learn a simple 4-step Buddhist-inspired method for “getting what you want”—whether that’s more money, better health, deeper love, or greater inner peace—without relying on empty affirmations or spiritual bypassing.

Instead of “toxic positivity,” they talk about intentional action, generosity, and planting seeds in your mind through how you treat others.

If you’ve ever wondered how karma really works, how to manifest change in a grounded way, or how ancient Buddhist philosophy can actually help your day-to-day life and relationships, this conversation is for you.

Main Topics Covered:

How a simple pen (and a chew-happy pup) can explain Buddhist emptiness
Why reality doesn’t come from things, but from you and your mind’s “seeds”
The surprising link between karmic seeds, perception, and everyday reactions
What Buddhism actually means by “emptiness”(and why it’s not “nothing matters”)
A 4-step Buddhist-inspired method to get what you want in life
How to use karma and generosity to attract more money, love, health, and peace
Why affirmations and prayers alone don’t change your life—and what does
The role of intention in shaping your reality (and why that makes humans unique)
How to “water” the right seeds at night with a simple bedtime reflection practice
Turning your life into a karmic garden: becoming a “karma farmer” on purpose