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 priesthood of liberation: a community of peacebuilders shaped by wisdom, not lineage.

Jason Storbakken reflects on:

• How Buddhism redefines Brahmin as one who embodies peace, compassion, and nonviolence

• The sramana movement’s roots in renunciation, forest-dwelling, and resistance to ritual domination

• Parallels between Buddha and Jesus as anti-hierarchical teachers calling forth movements of the marginalized

• The call to move beyond trauma and privilege—to choose the path of transformation (v. 384)

• The teacher as one who “neither kills, nor is complicit in killing... but cultivates compassion for all beings” (v. 405)

Drawing from Buddhist teaching, Christian scripture (1 Peter 2:9), and the work of trauma specialist Emily Wanderer Cohen, this episode invites us to embody the role of teacher as healer, transformer, and builder of liberationist communities.

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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 progression from student to teacher within the Dhammapada

• Gautama Buddha’s own journey as a student of meditation and ascetic practice

• The role of the bhikku—the alms-dependent learner committed to wisdom and simplicity

• How Buddha’s early companions became his first disciples after witnessing his transformation

• Parallels between Buddhist and Christian discipleship movements, including Jesus and his young followers

• The revolutionary role of students and youth in global movements—from the sangha to SNCC

As Buddha’s life shows us, the student path is not passive—it is deeply engaged, deeply transformative, and, at its best, deeply collective.

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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 children, sent to tempt Siddhartha beneath the Bodhi tree and pull him from the path to awakening.

Jason Storbakken reflects on:

• The subtle but profound difference between desire and craving

• Craving as addiction—and how Buddhist wisdom informs recovery and healing

• The metaphor of the “thirty-six streams” and the six senses as a map of our entanglements

• What it means to break the bonds of Mara through mindfulness, meditation, and insight

As Buddha teaches:
“If you are to break the bonds of Mara… slow down. Deepen in your practice. Dwell in meditation.” (v. 350)

Whether we’re navigating recovery, spiritual practice, or daily distractions, this chapter reminds us that freedom begins with seeing clearly—and letting go.

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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 embody those qualities not in retreat, but in the heart of conflict.

Jason Storbakken draws connections between the Buddha’s teaching and Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication, reflecting on:

• The emotional impact of harsh words—and the resilience it takes not to internalize them

• How to shift from blame and criticism to empathy and understanding

• The inner strength that comes from seeing beyond someone’s words to the needs and feelings beneath

• Compassionate communication as a spiritual practice—and an act of resistance

As Buddha teaches:
“Like an elephant bearing enemy arrows on the battlefield, I endure others’ hurtful words.” (v. 320)

Through mindful presence and heart-centered communication, we can move through the world with the quiet power of the elephant—steadfast, aware, and unshaken.

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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 despair rather than a place of damnation

• How lying, blame-shifting, and hypocrisy fuel cycles of harm and spiritual desolation (vv. 306–318)

• The warning against religious performance without integrity—a timeless caution that still echoes today

• The way out: intentional practice, honest self-examination, and compassionate connection

As the Buddha teaches:
“A person who lies or denies the harm they have caused chooses the path of despair.” (v. 306)

The path toward liberation is not built on fear or shame, but on truth-telling, humility, and sacred community. In a world rife with harm cycles and moral confusion, this chapter reminds us that we can choose a different way—one of healing, accountability, and collective light.

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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 Storbakken reflects on:

• The distinction between solitude and loneliness, with insight from Maggie Nelson and Rupi Kaur

• The U.S. Surgeon General’s call to confront the epidemic of loneliness through connection, presence, and care

• The foundational Three Gems of Buddhism—Buddha (teacher), Dharma (teaching), and Sangha (community)—and three embodied practices: the body, harmlessness, and meditation

• The path of harmlessness, nonviolence (ahimsa), and antiviolence as a spiritual and societal ethic

As Buddha teaches:
“Even alone in the wilds of the forest, peace is theirs.” (v. 305)

This chapter reminds us that even in solitude, we are never truly alone—and that the path to liberation is built on small, intentional acts of compassion.

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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 choosing intention over status, and purpose over comfort.

This episode explores:

• How Gautama left behind the path handed to him to discover the one that leads to freedom

• The Middle Path—not moderation, but a dynamic third way that resists extremes

• Insights from Bob Marley, Jesus of Nazareth, and Antonio Machado on the meaning of “the way”

• How walking the path transforms us—through meditation, intention, and community

• The spiritual and psychological power of holding multiple perspectives with compassion

As Buddha said: “I have walked this path that leads to liberation, and by walking this path I have shown the way.” (v. 275b)

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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 Storbakken reflects on Dharma’s resonance across traditions—from Torah and Sharia to Gospel and Tao—and how the Wheel of Dharma, much like the turning gears of a bicycle, signifies progress on the spiritual path.

This episode explores:

• Dharma as spiritual gravity—what holds and propels us

• The sage who “lives from the heart… beyond good and evil” (v. 267)

• Parallels with Christian ideas of Alpha and Omega, and MLK’s “arc of the moral universe”

• The balance between detachment and commitment in the face of suffering

• Nelson Mandela’s wisdom on sitting with what is—without needing it to be different

When we walk the path of Dharma, we move through life with clarity, discipline, and heart—guided by a vision of justice, harmony, and awakening.

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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 Storbakken weaves together the teachings of Gautama Buddha, Ella Baker, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Rabbi Abraham Heschel to offer a multi-tradition reflection on what it means to clear away inner decay and step into clarity, stillness, and liberation.

This episode explores:

• Buddha’s wisdom: “A house falls into ruin when no one dwells in it.”

• How disciplined practice, silence, and stillness help us return to ourselves

• The power of shamatha (calming) and vipashyana (insight)

• Sabbath wisdom from Rabbi Heschel: menuha as peace, rest, and real joy

• Ella Baker’s guiding light: “Give light and people will find the way.”

Whether through Buddhist meditation, Jewish Sabbath, or simple mindful pauses, the path forward begins with stillness. In silence, we repair the house of the soul.

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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.”

Through the lens of pop culture, neuroscience, and lived experience, this episode journeys into:

• The origin story of the Incredible Hulk and how Bruce Banner’s rage traces back to generational trauma

• A bike ride through Brooklyn that became a moment of fear, anger, and eventually self-awareness

• How the nervous system responds to threat, and how mindfulness can shift us from reactivity to reflection

• The liberating practice of naming what we feel—and offering ourselves compassion

Buddha teaches not to suppress anger but to understand it. When we pause, breathe, and connect with our deeper truth, we can move from harm to healing—and begin breaking the cycles that keep us bound.

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