The Buddha’s Discourse On Teachings Given to the Sick: Online

The Buddha’s Discourse On Teachings Given To The Sick: A Mini-Retreat

With Alley Smith with Death Doula, Meli-Tashi Happy

Saturday, March 14 2026 PST – Seattle Time

*All are welcome!

10:00 AM-  1 PM

Donation-based

About This Mini-Retreat:

According to Buddhist belief, a compassionate person is the most powerful healer, not only of their own sicknesses and problems, but also those of others. During this mini-retreat, we will read and explore the Buddha’s Discourse on the Teachings to Be Given to the Sick. Together we will examine traditional Buddhist teachings on the six senses, six sense objects, six elements, the five aggregates, and more. This precious teaching is practiced world-wide by Buddhist practitioners ministering to the sick and terminally ill and can be of great benefit to those with health issues, or who are supporting those with health issues.

There are several analogies for well-being in the scriptures. Well-being of body is like a majestically solid mountain with no mist and no rain. Well-being of speech is like a stringed instrument disengaged from the strings so that it no longer has any desire to communicate with the musician. Well-being of mind is like a great lake with no ripples, no waves, and no wind. Well-being is thus simple, majestic and uninterrupted. – Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

This Mini-Retreat Offers: 

• The opportunity to study a traditional Buddhist Mahayana sutra with others
• The opportunity to study, contemplate and meditate in community from the comfort of your own home and practice space
• Guidance and support from two clinically trained Buddhist Chaplains
• Connection with other meditators interested in this topuc

What to Bring to the Session:

• Journal

Recommended Reading Material (not required): 

Cosmic Suffering. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche Institute. https://chogyamtrungpa.com/quotes/cosmic-suffering/

The Buddah’s Discourse on the Teachings be Given to the Sick. Plum Village. https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/discourse-on-the-teachings-to-be-given-to-the-sick

Note: Chaplain Alley will screen share the Buddha’s discourse and share it with attendees. We will not be chanting the sutra.  

Prerequisites: No prerequisites. Open to all levels of experience.

About the Teacher:

Alley Smith (she/her) is an ordained Zen Chaplain and Thanatology researcher. She serves at a college and university. Alley is also a US military war veteran. She specializes in spiritual care, mortuary affairs, and as a funeral clergy/celebrant. Alley has been a student of Shambhala and Zen since 1999. She is deeply influenced by Korean “Seon” Zen and Contemplative Christianity. Her favorite Shambhala dharma book is, The Tea Cup & The Skull Cup: Where Zen & Tantra Meet by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Alley lives in Montana. chaplainalley@gmail.com

COST: FREE *Donations Welcome

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ADDRESS:

3107 East Harrison Street Seattle Washington 98112 United States.