Tricycle Talks Sitting in the Fire with Ralph Steele
Nov 26, 2025
Ralph Steele, founder of the Life Transition Meditation Center in Santa Fe and former Theravada monk, shares his incredible journey shaped by trauma and resilience. He recalls the impactful lessons from his grandmother, Sister Mary, and how martial arts and meditation helped him confront pain. Steele discusses his unique retreats designed for veterans with PTSD, adapting Buddhist teachings to provide support and healing. His insights on 'sitting in the fire' of suffering offer a profound perspective on facing life's challenges head-on.
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Island Childhood Shaped By Community
- Ralph Steele describes growing up on Pawleys Island raised by his grandparents after his father was killed by the Ku Klux Klan.
- He recalls a rural childhood with no running water, reliance on church as community hub, and healing time in the ocean.
Grandmother's Radical Compassion
- Ralph tells of his grandmother Sister Mary handing out cornbread and lemonade to chain gangs and guards as an act of blessing.
- Her bold compassion changed the mood of workers and left people visibly moved and transformed.
From Japan Martial Arts To Vietnam Service
- Ralph describes moving with his family across states and to Japan, where martial arts introduced him to bodily energy and embodiment.
- He later served in Vietnam, used cigarettes and drugs to cope, and stopped after returning to avoid addiction in front of his parents.