Noticing the Return

Practicing with Emotions

This dhamma talk, guided meditation, comments, questions and responses was offered on February 21, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - DHAMMA TALK : - COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES From January 4th to April 2nd 2026 the regularly scheduled Saturday morning program taught by Ayya Santussika, will take many of the suttas referenced in "Mindfully Facing Disease and Death" by Bhikkhu Anālayo as their basis. For those who want to dive deeply into this material, you may want to read the book as we discuss the suttas, listed below. Jan 10 SN 22.1 Nakula’s Father Chapter 2 Jan 17 SN 36.6 An Arrow Chapter 3 Jan 24 SN 22.88 With Assaji Chapter 10 Jan 31 SN 22.89 With Khemaka Chapter 11 Feb 7 AN 10.60 With Girimānanda Chapter 12 Feb 14 SN 3.22 Grandmother and SN 47.13 With Cunda Chapters 13 & 14 Feb 21 MN 143 Advice to Anāthapiṇḍika Chapter 16 Feb 28 SN 55.3 With Dīghāvu and SN 55.54 Sick Chapters 17 & 18 Mar 7 SN 36.7 The Infirmary (1st) Chapter 19 Mar 14 AN 6.56 With Phagguna Chapter 20 Mar 21 SN 35.74 Sick (1st) and SN 41.10 Seeing the Sick Chapters 21 & 22 Mar 28 DN 16.31, 34-36 The Buddha’s Last Words Chapter 23

In this talk, we explore how our stress, emotions, and habits don’t arise randomly but depend on specific conditions. By learning to recognize and understand these conditions in meditation and daily life, we begin to loosen reactivity and cultivate the causes for greater freedom and peace.

In times of uncertainty and constant stimulation, the heart needs a reliable place to rest. This talk explores the Buddhist teaching of refuge as the foundation for practice and transformation. We begin by reflecting on where we habitually seek safety, and why many forms of refuge prove unstable. From there, the talk introduces the deeper meaning of taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—as sources of inner steadiness, guidance, and connection. Refuge is not escape, but a way of coming home to what can truly support awakening and compassionate engagement. (This teaching comes from the Clear Dharma Sangha, an online community exploring how to live the Dharma in everyday life.)

This dhamma talk, guided meditation, comments, questions and responses was offered on February 28, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:25 - GUIDED MEDITATION 22:14 - DHAMMA TALK (SN 55.3 WITH DĪGHĀVU--PT 1) 28:25 - COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES (SN 55.3 WITH DĪGHĀVU--PT 1) 45:11 - DHAMMA TALK (SN 55.3 WITH DĪGHĀVU--PT 2) 54:30 - COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES (SN 55.3 WITH DĪGHĀVU--PT 2) 1:08:04 - DHAMMA TALK (SN 55.54 SICK) 1:20:30 - COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES (SN 55.54 SICK) From January 4th to April 2nd 2026 the regularly scheduled Saturday morning program taught by Ayya Santussika, will take many of the suttas referenced in "Mindfully Facing Disease and Death" by Bhikkhu Anālayo as their basis. For those who want to dive deeply into this material, you may want to read the book as we discuss the suttas, listed below. Jan 10 SN 22.1 Nakula’s Father Chapter 2 Jan 17 SN 36.6 An Arrow Chapter 3 Jan 24 SN 22.88 With Assaji Chapter 10 Jan 31 SN 22.89 With Khemaka Chapter 11 Feb 7 AN 10.60 With Girimānanda Chapter 12 Feb 14 SN 3.22 Grandmother and SN 47.13 With Cunda Chapters 13 & 14 Feb 21 MN 143 Advice to Anāthapiṇḍika Chapter 16 Feb 28 SN 55.3 With Dīghāvu and SN 55.54 Sick Chapters 17 & 18 Mar 7 SN 36.7 The Infirmary (1st) Chapter 19 Mar 14 AN 6.56 With Phagguna Chapter 20 Mar 21 SN 35.74 Sick (1st) and SN 41.10 Seeing the Sick Chapters 21 & 22 Mar 28 DN 16.31, 34-36 The Buddha’s Last Words Chapter 23

We often need something to be special to catch our attention. It takes practice to be mindful of ordinary experiences like the breath, a sound or a sensation. When we practice looking at reality through the lens of Sacred Perception, however, everything becomes holy and worthy of our attention. This talk explores Sacred Perception as a practice that makes even the mundane come alive.