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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
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Dharma Talks
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2026-06-28
Doing and Not-Doing in Meditation and Daily Life: Talk and Discussion
62:13
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Donald Rothberg
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We explore the nature of doing and not-doing, both in meditation and more generally. We begin with emphasizing the importance for the Buddha of diligence, skillful effort (one of the factors of the Eightfold Path), and doing. Yet there also is a clear place for what we can call “not-doing,” for example, in cultivating mindful receptivity to experience. We examine as well how being a “doer” is so central to many of our identities, whether in our roles or work or even in our meditation. We also look to how we often experience a kind of not-doing in everyday life in “flow” experiences in different aspects of life. Finally, we show how accessing the depths of human experience commonly requires a profound not-doing, as we find brought out, for example, in Taoism, some of the Buddha’s teachings, and Tibetan Mahamudra and Dzogchen. The talk is followed by discussion.
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Benicia Insight Meditation
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2026-06-27
Q&A
50:31
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Ajahn Sucitto
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0:53 Q1 I'm very impulsive and I find that smoking grounds me. I'd like to quit but it's not the proper time or the moment. Do you have any suggestions? 07:29 Q2 I have a question about recognizing not self, anatta. It's difficult to maintain this perspective over a longer period of time. I feel quite content but my personality keeps popping up and I struggle with the anxiety of aging and losing my job. How can I handle living in the real world? 18:40 Q3 Some questions on measureless States: a) I was attending a retreat with Ayye Anandabodhi what arose was a sense of gratitude. Is gratitude a prerequisite for cultivating the brahmaviharas? b) A local sangha leader often mentions "it's like this now'. Sometimes I find this just frustrating. Can you say something about this? c) 27:29 Q4 Sometime ago you talked about the fruition of karuna / compassion as boundless space, muditha/sympathetic joy as boundless consciousness and upekkha / equanimity as no-thing-ness. Can you speak more about this? 33:17 Q5 Resignation and acceptance. I can only accept my life situation at this moment is to resign myself to the circumstances. I experience a lot of direct and indirect rejection but feel sorry and defeated. 44:12 Q6 I'm 54 and I'm feeling in a kind of bardo, an in-between space in my life. My question is not about ambition but how do I want to spend the rest of my life. What can you advise?
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Dhamma Stream Online Sessions
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2026-06-23
The 4 Elements, Earth as Creator (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
45:24
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Tere Abdala-Romano
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We are nothing but Earth inlcuding all its elements, not separete from her/them, Inviting to honor, revere it, seeing clearly the interdependence. Inviting to shift from seeing Earth as a resource to recognizing it as our creator, sustainer, healer, and home. By remembering that we are not separate from the living world—but an expression of it—we cultivate humility, gratitude, ethical responsibility, joy arises from a deeper sense of belonging, inspiring both inner transformation and compassionate care for all life.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Awaken the Elements: Connect with Joy
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2026-06-20
Dhammapada Verses 146-156: Old Age
1:36:31
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Ayya Santussika
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This dhamma talk, comments, questions and responses was offered on June 20, 2026 for East Bay Dhamma.
Dhammapada verses 146 -156 Old Age was discussed.
The text can be found here:
https://suttacentral.net/dhp146-156/en/buddharakkhita?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false
00:00 - 1:36:32 DHAMMA TALK, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES
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Karuna Buddhist Vihara
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2026-06-19
Juneteenth and Our Practice
53:13
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Donald Rothberg
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We begin with a short account of some of the history of Juneteenth and its origins in Texas, as well as how it developed in the decades after 1865, including under Jim Crow. We ask how consideration of Juneteenth and the ensuing history informs our practice, considering the three main elements of our practice: Training in wisdom (particularly in understanding the roots of racism in greed for power and wealth and a "divide and conquer" approach); meditation (both in examining our conditioning and working with difficult emotions), and ethical practice (developing care and addressing harm, for the benefit of all beings). The talk is followed by discussion.
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East Bay Meditation Center
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2026-06-18
A talk by Sister Jayavira
23:25
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Born into a Buddhist family in Malaysia, she began practising more seriously after she became a Chartered Accountant. She received the Going Forth as a Sīladharā in July 2019 at Amaravati where she resides.
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VipassanaGruppen (Sweden)
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Embody the Heart
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2026-06-18
On Love, Shame and Human Belonging with Adam Baraz
50:53
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James Baraz
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Adam will give the talk. Over the past seven months, Adam traveled through Bali, Nepal, and Japan on a pilgrimage that became both an outer journey and an inner exploration. At the heart of this journey was a simple question: What allows a human being to feel truly at home within themselves?
Drawing from meditation, spiritual pilgrimage, and somatic practice, Adam reflects on how love transforms shame and restores our innate dignity and belonging. He will share how he sees the journey through the lens of the five elemental stages of SomAwaken that he teaches.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2026-06-17
Q&A
53:04
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Questions are précised. Q1 Can you please explain once more what you mean by 'widen and expand attention around a tight solid object in the body'; 23:00 Q2 I'm afraid to leave the retreat. The world I return to is not made for the fine tuned sensitivity of awareness. Can you please advise? How can I live with my demanding small children, giving them what they need but not losing myself. 35:25 Q3 What are the differences and similarities between sampajanna (thoroughly completely knowing), dhamma vicya (exploring phenomena ) and yoniso manisakara (attention that goes to the origin); 43:35 Q4 Is it possible for a lay person to ordain when they are retired/ in old age? 47:34 How can I be with extreme fear of death? What happens when body and breath cannot be anchors for the period around death?
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VipassanaGruppen (Sweden)
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Embody the Heart
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