Ronna began the discussion by asking questions about our intentions in terms of what we expect from the Sangha. Are we looking to grow, wanting to go deeper, planning on group retreats? Answers were mixed. In Thailand, where Ronna practiced in a monastery for two years, the Sangha is everything. People are there for each other, and it's like entering a family. Her intention in asking these questions is to give us some things upon which to reflect.

At this time, Ronna is working at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital with people who suffer from depression, and she is teaching mindfulness training. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy -- is a new treatment modality available for people who suffer from depression. By 2010, depression will be the number-one disability world-wide. To the extent that our thoughts determine our moods and outlook on life, and to the extent that we can see that they are just thoughts and don't define us, this is liberating. This is a radical notion for a lot of people.

She is also working on a book for the Dalai Lama-- as a follow-up to The Art of Happiness--called The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World. It is a dialogue between Howard Cutler and His Holiness. In addition to her work at Langley Porter, Ronna maintains a private practice in Berkeley.

Last week Ronna was on retreat with Ajahn Jumnian,–one of the premier forest masters from Thailand. He is a "bubble of joy", and his work is pursuing the path of sukka or happiness. The clarity of his mind and the absence of greed, hatred, and delusion are inspiring.

The topic of tonight's talk is The Second Noble Truth, —something Ronna has contemplated writing a book about. Buddha was unambiguous about this – the cause of suffering is clinging or aversion. He talks about the freedom of the Middle Path. It is a very powerful reality that our conditioning is samsaric, out of our ignorance we think that happiness is getting what we want. This is absolutely untrue. Happiness isn't dependent on conditions and what we have in the external world.

Her experience in the monastery was extremely difficult physically and emotionally. There was no place to derive comfort except from within. Yet the generosity from lay people reflected their faith in the Buddha's teachings. She described seeing babies whose first act of coordination was bowing in respect, in sharp contrast to our culture. Before they can even talk, they are giving and letting go. The flow to the monastery in terms of generosity is unbelievable.

The monasteries are all about the end of craving. The Five Hindrances — are what cause suffering. They are all about the end of craving. There is a huge AIDS epidemic in Thailand and an enormous prostitution system which exists side-by-side with the monks and monasteries. In the sangha, the worst thing you can do is to cause divisiveness. Harmony is what the Sangha runs on. As far as toxicants are concerned, they cause delusion. There is no wiggle room with the Precepts.

Despite her feelings of physical misery due to the extreme conditions of heat, bugs, and lack of comfort, Ronna stayed on. She was looking for another level of happiness. The monastery acted as an anti-craving clinic. Things are what they are and if you don't like them you have to work with that in your mind. It's like joining the military of the mind. Commenting on the bugs in Thailand, Ajahn Sumedho, — a disciple of Ajahn Chah, —once said that mosquitoes are easier to get along with than people.

When she returned to the U.S., Ronna was heart broken to see the ignorant way in which she had lived and still lives and to see people lost in greed and delusion. It really was quite shocking to see that everything in this culture has to do with supporting a self that doesn't exist.

Her commitment now is to help as many people as she can because she has been given so much. People talk about the "priceless Dharma." But that word doesn't begin to describe the gratitude she felt to her teachers in Thailand and Burma. Metta is not just a metaphor for them. These teachers have the power to surround the world with kindness through their metta practice.

Ronna ended by expressing gratitude for all of the people who take the time to sit and look at their minds.

We ended with a Q & A.