Retreat Talks at Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center

Sept 13, 2026 Dvedhavitakka Sutta Recounting his own experiences in developing meditation, the Buddha explains how to understand harmful and harmless thoughts, and how to go beyond thought altogether.

Aug 30, 2026 Madhupindika Sutta Challenged by a brahmin, the Buddha gives an enigmatic response on how conflict arises due to proliferation based on perceptions. Venerable Kaccāna draws out the detailed implications of this in one of the most insightful passages in the entire canon.

Aug 2, 2026 Vanapattha Sutta Jungle Thickets While living in the wilderness is great, not everyone is ready for it. The Buddha encourages meditators to reflect on whether one’s environment is genuinely supporting their meditation practice, and if not, to leave.

July 19, 2026 Cetokhila Sutta The Wilderness in the Heart The Buddha explains various ways one can become emotionally cut off from one’s spiritual community.

July 5 2026 Venerable Moggallāna raises the topic of admonishment, without which healthy community is not possible. He lists a number of qualities that will encourage others to think it worthwhile to admonish you in a constructive way. https://lnk.bio/delsonarmstrong https://delsonarmstrong.com Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center https://www.dhammasukha.org

June 28,2026 MN14 Cula-dukkhakkhandha Sutta A lay person is puzzled at how, despite their long practice, they still have greedy or hateful thoughts. The Buddha explains the importance of absorption meditation for letting go such attachments. But he also criticizes self-mortification, and recounts a previous dialog with Jain ascetics.

June 21, 2026 Maha-dukkhakkhandha Sutta The Greater Discourse on the Mass of Suffering Challenged to show the difference between his teaching and that of other ascetics, the Buddha points out that they speak of letting go, but do not really understand why. He then explains in great detail the suffering that arises from attachment to sensual stimulation.

June 14,2026 Maha Sihananda Sutta A disrobed monk, Sunakkhatta, attacks the Buddha’s teaching because it merely leads to the end of suffering. The Buddha counters that this is, in fact, praise, and goes on to enumerate his many profound and powerful achievements.

June 7, 2026 The Buddha declares that only those following his path can genuinely experience the four stages of awakening. This is because, while much is shared with other systems, none of them go so far as to fully reject all attachment to the idea of a self.

May 17 Part 2 Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta Explanation -Continuing with Feeling