Teaching Peace is a podcast from Brooklyn Peace Center exploring the many paths to justice and reconciliation. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken, the series features conversations with educators, theologians, organizers, artists, and spiritual leaders on the practices and pedagogies of peacebuilding. Alongside longform interviews, the podcast includes shortform series like Dhammapada: A Sacred Path to Liberation and Sister Sister—offering meditations on sacred wisdom, global sisterhood, and…
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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.”…
