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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
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Dharma Talks
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2026-04-20
What Do We Rely On in a World Like This?
1:43:25
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Gullu Singh
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What do we rely on in a world like this? When everything feels marred by conflict and division, violence and chaos, the mind easily fixates on fear, confusion, loss of faith. But if we keep fixating, our lives begin to organize around those energies. Taking refuge is a way of interrupting that pattern. Refuge not as a belief statement, but more like a commitment or a resolve to keep moving to align with a particular orientation to life. That we choose, again and again. And this view shifts dependency from external conditions to awakening, to the truth, to the field of practice.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2026-04-04
Q&A
44:36
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Ajahn Sucitto
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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.
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Dhamma Stream Online Sessions
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2026-04-03
Die zwei Pfeile, die zu Leiden führen
40:16
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Renate Seifarth
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Erfahren wir etwas empfinden wir dieses als angenehm oder unangenehm. Das ist der erste Pfeil. Was geschieht, interpretieren wir als .persönlichen Erfolg oder Versagen. Wir verwickeln uns in Schuldzuweisungen, in Reaktionen und Gegenreaktionen. Wir stricken daraus unsere Persönlichkeit und die der anderen. Endlos entsteht weiteres Leid. Das können wir stoppen, indem wir den zweiten Pfeil unterlassen, den wir an uns selbst abschießen oder herausziehen. Der erste Pfeil dagegen ist unvermeidlich.
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Waldhaus am Laacher See
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Vipassana und Yogaretreat
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2026-04-02
Teachings from the Dhammapada
43:03
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James Baraz
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The Dhammapada is the most well-known collection of the Buddha's words. Consisting of 26 chapters in 423 verses, it contains pith teachings from discourses that are found throughout the Pali Canon. This talk explores some verses that are relevant in these times.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2026-04-01
Spiritual Friendship & the Art of Situation Crafting
58:37
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Dawn Scott
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Situation Crafting in the social science of creating conditions that bring out the best in a group and/or an individual. One could see the teachings of the Buddha as elegant situation crafting with the aim of creating conditions that gradually led to awakening. Through meditation, contemplative inquiry, study, and reflection, we’ll explore how the teaching of spiritual friendship is a brilliant form of situation crafting that liberates the heart.
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Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
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2026-04-01
Talk on Donald's Four-Week March Retreat, Discussion, An Appearance by Guru Garbanzo Bean, and An Honoring of Cyndy Gagne
65:21
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Donald Rothberg
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Donald explores some of the main themes of his March retreat, connecting these themes to general aspects of our practice. He shares some images of the Spirit Rock land, a group of turkeys, his place of practice and altar in his room, and the bench where he twice a day carried out a kind of ritual "talking to" his parents, who are deceased. He focuses on themes of listening for what calls one in one's practice and his main practices during the retreat: concentration practice, metta practice, the Tibetan practice of tummo (the inner fire) and the life of Milarepa, and awakened awareness. He concludes by speaking of some ways of keeping the retreat going in daily life, and, in preparation for the appearance of the Garbanzo Bean, Donald's clown personality, some on humor and spiritual practice. There is then discussion, including an appearance by Guru Garbanzo Bean responding to some questions, and closing in which we remember and honor Cyndy Gagne, a sangha member who recently passed.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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Attached Files:
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Guru Garbanzo Bean
by Donald Rothberg
(PDF)
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2026-04-01
Guided Meditation: Concentration Practice, Mindfulness Practice, and Closing Reflections
39:30
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Donald Rothberg
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After getting a sense of those present and a self-introduction, there is a guided meditation. We start with a few words on posture and invite a short period to connect with what is alive in one's practice. Then there are instructions for developing samadhi (concentration), followed by several short periods of guidance to cultivate awareness of the energy of the body, to tap into a sense of happiness and perhaps joy, and then a sense of peace. There is then a short period of mindfulness followed by a few minutes of reflection on (1) what is "calling" now in one's life and practice, and (2) how best one can connect formal meditation and daily life.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2026-03-28
How Do I Apply the Dhamma to Disease & Death DN 16.31, 34-36 The Buddha’s Last Words | Ayya Santussikā
1:49:09
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Ayya Santussika
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This dhamma talk, guided meditation, comments, questions and responses was offered on March 28, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” Also included at the end is a sharing of a document titled "Practices for Before, During and After Dying." The document was created by Ayya Santussikā and includes suggestions on how to prepare for when you are dying and what friends and relatives can do after you die. Please note this document is a work in progress where changes may be made. You can find the document located on the following webpage https://www.karunabv.org/winter-retre...
22:38 - Dhamma Talk (DN 16.31)
29:50 - Comments, Questions & Responses (DN 16.31)
33:56 - Dhamma Talk (DN 16.34)
59:31 - Comments, Questions & Responses (DN 16.34)
1:14:04 - Introduction & Overview of Document “Practices Before, During and After Dying”
1:24:07 - Comments, Questions & Responses on "Practices Before, During and After Dying"
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
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Karuna Buddhist Vihara
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