Oren Jay Sofer: Finding Refuge: Safety, Support, and the Ground of Awakening

(Online) In times of uncertainty and constant stimulation, the heart needs a reliable place to rest. This talk explores the Buddhist teaching of refuge as the foundation for practice and transformation. We begin by reflecting on where we habitually seek safety, and why many forms of refuge prove unstable. From there, the talk introduces the deeper meaning of taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—as sources of inner steadiness, guidance, and connection. Refuge is not escape, but a way of coming home to what can truly support awakening and compassionate engagement. (This teaching comes from the Clear Dharma Sangha, an online community exploring how to live the Dharma in everyday life.)

(Insight Meditation Community of Richmond) In this talk, we explore how our stress, emotions, and habits don’t arise randomly but depend on specific conditions. By learning to recognize and understand these conditions in meditation and daily life, we begin to loosen reactivity and cultivate the causes for greater freedom and peace.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Karuna Buddhist Vihara) This dhamma talk, guided meditation, comments, questions and responses was offered on February 21, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - DHAMMA TALK : - COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES From January 4th to April 2nd 2026 the regularly scheduled Saturday morning program taught by Ayya Santussika, will take many of the suttas referenced in "Mindfully Facing Disease and Death" by Bhikkhu Anālayo as their basis. For those who want to dive deeply into this material, you may want to read the book as we discuss the suttas, listed below. Jan 10 SN 22.1 Nakula’s Father Chapter 2 Jan 17 SN 36.6 An Arrow Chapter 3 Jan 24 SN 22.88 With Assaji Chapter 10 Jan 31 SN 22.89 With Khemaka Chapter 11 Feb 7 AN 10.60 With Girimānanda Chapter 12 Feb 14 SN 3.22 Grandmother and SN 47.13 With Cunda Chapters 13 & 14 Feb 21 MN 143 Advice to Anāthapiṇḍika Chapter 16 Feb 28 SN 55.3 With Dīghāvu and SN 55.54 Sick Chapters 17 & 18 Mar 7 SN 36.7 The Infirmary (1st) Chapter 19 Mar 14 AN 6.56 With Phagguna Chapter 20 Mar 21 SN 35.74 Sick (1st) and SN 41.10 Seeing the Sick Chapters 21 & 22 Mar 28 DN 16.31, 34-36 The Buddha’s Last Words Chapter 23

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Drawing on the story of Pukkusāti meeting the Buddha, this talk explores four core resolves: not neglecting wisdom, protecting the truth, cultivating generosity, and training in peace. With reflections from retreat practice and daily life, the talk invites us to orient the heart again and again toward these qualities as a path of gradual cultivation and inner freedom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) A Dharma talk and guided equanimity practice exploring steadiness of heart in uncertain times; How to care deeply without hardening, collapsing, or turning away from the complexities of modern life.

(Auckland Insight Meditation)

(Insight Santa Cruz)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) This guided meditation explores the third foundation of mindfulness—awareness of mind states. We bring kind, steady attention to thoughts, emotions, and moods, while gently investigating our relationship to them. Seeing how mindfulness can know these experiences without being defined by them, the practice opens space, clarity, and a more compassionate way of relating to the mind.

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center) The Buddha taught suffering and the end of suffering. When we take care of suffering in us, we take care of suffering in the world. We start to understand the interconnectedness between both. But how do we do this when it hurts? We will explore how we can practice with this first noble truth, and which supports the Buddha’s teachings offer to us as we engage on this path that results in ease, peace and liberation.