Breaking Habits without Breaking Down

Talk given by Padmasagara on 2026-02-28. 

In this talk, Padmasagara picks up threads from his last talk on The Wheel of Life and turns to the story of the Japanese Zen master Hakuin, who at one point in his life pushed himself so hard in practice that he became seriously unwell. Describing exhaustion, fearfulness, and physical distress, Hakuin sought help from a mountain hermit who diagnosed him with what he called "meditation sickness".

Drawing on this encounter, the talk explores how we can bring our existing habits and tendencies into our Buddhist lives, sometimes creating tension and imbalance even as we try to practise sincerely. Taking a small meditative workshop approach, Padmasagara reflects on what Hakuin’s experience might mean for practitioners today and offers practical tools that can help make practice less strained, more alive, and sustainable. To break out of our habitual patterns.

Enjoyed this talk? You are warmly invited to visit Buddhistisches Tor Berlin in Kreuzberg in person. Join us for meditation, Dharma talks, and courses that support practice in everyday life. 

Find out more at: 

• ☸️ https://buddhistisches-tor-berlin.de 

• 🏰 https://rote-burg.de 

• 📸 https://instagram.com/buddhistischestorberlin