This dhamma talk, guided meditation, comments, questions and responses was offered on 4th of April, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:43 - Guided Meditation 28:09 - DHAMMA TALK 57:28 - COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

Two questions about worry: Q1 Anxiety creeps in and brings imbalance and I fail to immediately recognize the signs. What can you advise? Q2 [continues] When sitting I go through the worry of being a failed mother of a grown-up child. Aversion, and craving how I'd like to see things different. I'm trying to be with these thoughts rather than in them. The inner tyrant exaggerates the situation. How do I deal with the worry? 16:47 Q3 Please explain about, and in what way, consciousness is an element. I've heard Ajahn Sumedho say it is an element. 30:34 Q4 Relationships are complicated and painful. However as my "don't take your life personally" practice goes on, it seems people around me can present problematic relationships. Another one: I've been experiencing feelings of being a misfit. Your speaking about personality as a "me bag" was illuminating and a release from taking it personally. But if I withdraw from others, I meet my inner critic and get berated for not fitting in. So I'm lost either way! Q5 38:03 I've become aware of a familiar feeling of being trapped as a result of my work situation. I can feel it and yet feel at ease at the same time. This was deeply heartening. Q5 41:02 Sometimes when you are talking there's a sharp nasal blowing sound. What's happening? It's quite jolting to the nerves as I'm listening. Also I noticed that you often laugh when things are distressing? What is this about? I don't mean to be respectful.

This talk continues exploring teachings from the Dhammapada, the most well-known collection of the Buddha's words. It shares the Buddha's teachings on harmlessness and the consequences of causing harm or threatening to cause harm. These verses seem relevant to current times.

From a simple moment of contact, the mind can create a lot of mental proliferation (papañca), leading to stress and conflict. This talk shows how to interrupt that process through clear, present-moment awareness, drawing on the Honey Ball sutta (MN18), and the Buddha's teachings to the wanderer Bahiya (Ud 1.10).

Short Reflection & Guided Meditation with quotes from Sand Talk, a book by Tyson Yunkaporta | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene III | Online Wednesday-Morning

This dhamma talk, guided meditation, comments, questions and responses was offered on April 18, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - 22:50 Guided Meditation 22:50 - 45:00 DHAMMA TALK 45:00 - 1:30:00 COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES