Teaching Peace

Teaching is not a title—it’s a path of lived wisdom, earned through practice and compassion. In this final chapter of the Dhammapada , we explore the reimagining of the term Brahmin —traditionally reserved for the priestly caste—as a spiritual teacher whose authority is earned not by birth, but by awakening. In this radical teaching, Gautama Buddha dismantles caste hierarchies and calls for a prie...

Every path to wisdom begins with the courage to learn. In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 25 of the Dhammapada , a chapter that marks a meaningful shift in the text’s arc. As the penultimate chapter—just before “Teacher”— Student reminds us that spiritual growth begins with humility, discipline, and the willingness to learn. Jason Storbakken reflects on: The symbolic progressio...

What’s the difference between wanting something—and needing it so badly it consumes you? In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 24 of the Dhammapada , where the Buddha names tanha —craving—as one of the deepest obstacles to liberation. While desire may be natural, craving is something else: a grasping that entangles us in suffering. In Buddhist cosmology, tanha is one of Mara’s chi...

In a noisy world, the one who listens deeply and responds with care becomes truly powerful. In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 23 of the Dhammapada , where the Buddha likens a wise person to an elephant on the battlefield—bearing insults and hurtful words with calm endurance. In Indian tradition, elephants symbolize strength, peace, and deep presence. This chapter invites us to...

What if hell isn’t a place—but a condition of the heart? In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 22 of the Dhammapada , where Gautama Buddha speaks to the lived reality of despair—not as eternal punishment, but as the result of harmful choices, moral denial, and disconnection from the sacred path. Jason Storbakken reflects on: The Buddhist understanding of “hell” as a state of despa...

What holds a life together isn’t always one big truth—but many small ones, lived with care. In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 21 of the Dhammapada —a collection of varied yet deeply connected teachings from the Buddha. From reflections on solitude to practices of nonviolence, these verses offer practical wisdom for navigating a complex and often disconnected world. Jason Storb...

The path to liberation doesn’t begin with certainty—it begins with a single step. In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 20 of the Dhammapada , where the Buddha invites us to reflect on The Path —not as a fixed road, but as one made by walking. Jason Storbakken traces Siddhartha Gautama’s journey from prince to seeker, from privilege to awakening, and the lessons he discovered in c...

What holds us together when the world feels like it’s falling apart? In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 19 of the Dhammapada , centering on the concept of Dharma —that which upholds. Rooted in the Sanskrit word dhri , Dharma represents both inner discipline and cosmic order. For Buddhists, it is the teaching of the Buddha. For seekers, it is the path to liberation. Jason Storba...

How do we care for the soul when life wears it down? In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 17 of the Dhammapada , where the Buddha likens the human heart to a home—one that falls into ruin if not tended. Just as rust corrodes metal, so too can worry, ignorance, and distraction eat away at our spirit. But through daily spiritual practice, the light within can be restored. Jason Sto...

What if anger isn’t the root—but the symptom? In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 17 of the Dhammapada , where the Buddha calls us to understand and transform the fire of anger. Drawing from both ancient wisdom and contemporary insight, Jason Storbakken reflects on how anger often masks more vulnerable emotions like fear and sadness—what psychologists call a “secondary emotion.”...

In this double episode of Teaching Peace , we explore sukha —the deep, enduring joy found in Buddhist teachings—as distinct from fleeting pleasure or the pursuit of happiness. Jason Storbakken reflects on Chapters 15 and 16 of the Dhammapada , where the Buddha reminds us that true joy is not something we chase—it’s something we cultivate. While pleasure is often tied to circumstance, joy is rooted...

What does it mean to awaken—not just for oneself, but for the liberation of all? In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 14 of the Dhammapada through the lens of the Buddha —the Enlightened One, the Knower, the Awakener. Just as “Christ” is a title that signifies transformation and divine presence, “Buddha” is more than a name—it is an invitation. An invitation to embody awareness,...

What world do you call home? In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 13 of the Dhammapada , where the Buddha invites us to “peel away illusory worlds and unveil the ground of being” (v. 169). Through the lens of loka —the Pali word for “world”—we reflect on how worldviews shape our sense of belonging, purpose, and collective liberation. Jason Storbakken draws connections between Bud...

In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 12 of the Dhammapada , turning inward to examine the Buddhist view of atman —the self that is no self. Jason Storbakken reflects on how Buddhist teachings disrupt common understandings of the soul. Unlike many world religions that affirm an eternal, individual soul, Buddhism invites us into a different truth: the self is not fixed or separate...

In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 11 of the Dhammapada , a meditation on decay, impermanence, and the unraveling of harmful systems. Drawing from the Buddhist concept of jaramarana —the cycle of aging, deterioration, and death—we reflect on how things fall apart not only within us, but around us: in our relationships, communities, and the world. Jason Storbakken takes us from...

In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 10 of the Dhammapada : Violence ( Pali: donda , literally “the stick”)—a sobering meditation on the roots, cycles, and transformation of violence, from interpersonal harm to systemic injustice. Through a trauma-aware and liberationist lens, Jason Storbakken reflects on the Buddha’s powerful insight: “Those who oppress others to maintain their...

This episode of Teaching Peace , the podcast from Brooklyn Peace Center, turns inward to spotlight Little by Little —a performance residency and curatorial project founded by Isabella Thorpe-Woods. Over the past two years, Little by Little has welcomed seven resident artists into a space shaped by care, slowness, and relational process, rather than urgency or polished outcomes. Host Jason Storbakk...

In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore Chapter 9 of the Dhammapada : Harm ( Pali: papa )—a word often translated as evil or sin , but here rendered as harm , pointing to the real and measurable ways suffering is caused, carried, and passed on. Through a trauma-informed lens, Jason Storbakken unpacks how harm moves through bodies, communities, and generations. Drawing from Gautama Buddha, R...

In part two of our conversation, Sister Maria Nina Benedicta Krapic joins host Zipporah Storbakken to share her personal journey—from Croatian journalist to Vatican communicator and Sister of Mercy. Speaking with warmth and conviction, she reflects on what it means to love courageously in a wounded world. In this episode, Sister Nina shares: How community brought her back to faith Why she chose Ed...

In this episode of Teaching Peace , we reflect on Chapter 8 of the Dhammapada : Thousands ( Pali: sahassa )—a powerful teaching on the value of presence over performance, and substance over spectacle. Gautama Buddha reminds us that a single verse rooted in peace is worth more than a thousand hollow ones. He challenges superficial religiosity and instead calls for a path of deep engagement, compass...

In this episode, recorded in Rome and Brooklyn, Teaching Peace host Jason Storbakken speaks with Sister Maria Nina Benedicta Krapic, a Sister of Mercy of St. Vincent DePaul and communications specialist at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. Speaking in her personal capacity, Sister Nina offers heartfelt reflections on: What it was like in St. Peter’s Square during Pope Leo’s election The p...

In this episode of Teaching Peace , we turn to Chapter 7 of the Dhammapada : The Noble —a text that introduces a third path beyond the binary of wisdom and foolishness. Drawing from the Sanskrit arhat and Pali arahant , this chapter explores what it means to live a life worthy of honor—not bystatus or wealth, but through liberation from cycles of harm and generational suffering. Jason Storbakken g...

Teaching Peace , the flagship podcast of Brooklyn Peace Center, returns with a new season of conversations on liberation, transformation, and the radical practice of peace. In this episode, host Jason Storbakken speaks with Kazu Haga—author, activist, and longtime practitioner of nonviolence. From Buddhist monasteries to movement spaces, Haga’s journey is one of rupture and reconnection, ancestral...

In this episode of Teaching Peace , we explore the contrasting paths of the fool ( bala ) and the wise ( pandita ) as taught in Chapters 5 and 6 of the Dhammapada . The Buddha teaches that wisdom and foolishness are not based on education, family, or status—but on the choices we make. The fool is one who knows what is right yet refuses to act accordingly, while the wise live in harmony with right...

🎧 Sister Sister Ep. 3 : Congo Resilience In this moving episode of Sister Sister , Zipporah Storbakken speaks with Onyx Myanda Nyringabo—a Congolese peacemaker, activist, and poet—about war, sisterhood, and the work of healing. Highlights include: ​A powerful primer on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo—from colonization to cobalt mining ​Onyx’s journey from medical school to grassroo...