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A Four-Word Buddhist Teaching for Instant Calm and (Just Maybe) Lasting Peace | Bart van Melik

A Four-Word Buddhist Teaching for Instant Calm and (Just Maybe) Lasting Peace | Bart van Melik

10% Happier with Dan Harris
Feb 27, 2026 16 min
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About this episode

<p dir="ltr">If you struggle with the terrifying reality that everything changes, this conversation is for you.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="http://bartvanmelik.com/">Bart van Melik</a> is a meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and our Teacher of the Month for January. In this live session recorded on Zoom with subscribers to the <a href="http://app.danharris.com/">10% with Dan Harris app</a>, Bart and Dan explore one of Bart's favorite teachings: "Keep calmly knowing change"—four words that supposedly distill all 84,000 of the Buddha's teachings.</p> <p dir="ltr">We talk about:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why attuning to the flow of things brings peace (even though change is terrifying)—and what the Buddha said on his deathbed about impermanence</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">How to introduce meditation to kids without making it seem difficult or boring </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The three dimensions of mindfulness: internal (your own mind), external (noticing other people's breath on the subway), and relational (the field we're all co-creating together)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Whether connecting through venting and complaining is harmless or something to examine more closely</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">"Useless speech" (sampappalāpa)—the Pali term for saying stuff that doesn't really matter, and why the urge is often just "look at me"</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why Bart is still on this path after all these years: community</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Bart closes with a beautiful dedication about coming home to the body and appreciating that we show up in community.</p> <p dir="ltr">These live sessions happen every week in the app 10% with Dan Harris, where you can meditate with Dan and guest teachers and ask questions in real time. Get the app at <a href= "http://danharris.com/">danharris.com</a>—there's a free 14-day trial.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">Join Dan's online community <a href= "http://www.danharris.com/">here</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Follow Dan on social: <a href= "https://bit.ly/3tGigG5">Instagram</a>, <a href= "https://bit.ly/3FOA84J">TikTok</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to our <a href= "https://bit.ly/3FybRzD">YouTube Channel</a></p> <p><strong><br /> <br /></strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Thanks to our sponsor: </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong id= "docs-internal-guid-bfeb0e7c-7fff-46d2-bfbf-cbd8c0f4329f">LinkedIn:  </strong>Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a $250 credit for the next one. Just go to <a href= "http://linkedin.com/happier">linkedin.com/happier</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><br /> <br /> <br /></p> <p dir="ltr">To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit <a href= "https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris">https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris</a></p>

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