Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery: Ayya Santussika's most recent Dharma talks

(Karuna Buddhist Vihara) This talk was given at East Bay Dhamma in Berkeley on July 11, 2026. It covers Dhammapada verses 157-166 on the Self.

(Karuna Buddhist Vihara) This dhamma talk, comments, questions and responses was offered on July 4th, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - 33:46 DHAMMA TALK 33:46 - 1:12:27 COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

(Karuna Buddhist Vihara) 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

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center)

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center)

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Equanimity as an Enlightenment Factor and equanimity arising from insight bring a kind of gentle joy to the heart and lead to awakening.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Guided meditation using the chant from the Pali Sutta text for the Divine Abidings (Brahmaviharas)

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Brahmaviharas, equanimity, kamma and joy.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Second Q & A, with questions about demons and devas, practice, assisted suicide, and feeling like a dog that finally got up on the couch.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) This is a brief sample of "Feeding Your Demons," developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) In the First Noble Truth the Buddha encourages us to turn towards dukkha, acknowledge it and understand it. This is essential for awakening, for freeing ourselves from bondage. This talk contains stories about how one might do this, ending with a brief intro to the process "Feeding Your Demons."

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) On the lighter side, tranquility and some stories.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Relaxing into tranquility using the breath and instructions from the Buddha, followed by a short sutta, "About Nibbana" (4th) from the Udana 8.4

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) This talk is based on the verses of the Enlightened Monk called Gotama. He was in the Buddha's family, but a different Gotama. The verses are found in the "Verses of the Enlightened Monks," the Theragāthā 10.7

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center)

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center)

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) The Buddha taught that there are some qualities, such as virtue, that naturally lead to Samadhi and on to seeing reality as it is.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Questions on devas, chanting and Dhamma in general.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Scanning the front, back and inside of the body with the image of warm oil flowing slowly over all its parts.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Using SN 28.1 "Born of Seclusion" as a basis, we can come to understand what "ultimate goodness" is: the end of "eradicated I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit."

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Finding joy in everything good: generosity, kindness, letting go, virtuous behavior. Seeing how the qualities of generosity lay the groundwork for awakening and show up in that process as well. Cultivating mudita, appreciative joy, for the good in ourselves, in others, and goodness wherever we find it.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) These recollections from the Buddha help to lift up the heart, remind us of our goodness and give us encouragement on the path. The recollections are of the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. And then, recollections on one's own moral conduct (sila), generosity, and the qualities of the devas that caused them to become devas that we ourselves also possess.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) In Itivuttaka 38, the Buddha talks about how the Tathāgata frequently has two thoughts: one about sanctuary and the other about seclusion. The thought about sanctuary, the safety and security for living beings, comes from his love of and delight in kindness. The thought comes from the Buddha's love of seclusion and his delight in it, so this thought often occurs to...

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) Physical seclusion, mental seclusion, seclusion from people, unethical conduct, wrong view and defilements, and the relief and joy that comes from seclusion.

(Cloud Mountain Retreat Center) As we being to reflect on the joy of seclusion, we turn inwards for mental seclusion using Mindfulness of Breathing.