During this talk, Allie begins a series of reviews she will provide focusing on the Paramis, the skills and virtues to be perfected on the path to Awakening. The topic for this talk is generosity, both material and non-material, as a way to cultivate kindness and renunciation of greed and miserliness. She responds to questions and comments from those participating.
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During this talk, April provides a review of Right Speech as a basic element of the Noble Eightfold Path, cultivating a clear conscience as the platform from which the process of Awakening develops. An element of Right Speech, truthfulness, is associated with the challenges presented by media disinformation and Artificial Intelligence in contemporary life. This recording includes comments coming from those participating in the meeting.
Here are quotes from the talk; of particular interest is a response ChatGPT created to a question April presented inquiring if ChatGPT has a personality like a human: Quotes for Right Speech Dharma talk
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We often provide an opportunity for those among us who have just completed a significant retreat to “think out loud” about the experience. This can be beneficial for that person and perhaps inspiring for those listening. This was the first retreat for Lezlie that involved the intense training provided by the teaching of S. N. Goenka, who has had a significant impact on many contemporary mindfulness meditators. She describes the structure of the retreat and some significant insights she realized about herself. Her presentation is followed by several comments and questions from participants in the meeting.
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During this talk, Peter responds to questions from those attending, focusing on the importance of establishing mindfulness of breathing as a stabilizing reference point, because the intention to remain aware of the sensations experienced while breathing as other mental phenomena occur provides a “distancing” effect, enabling us to be less affected as craving and clinging occur and thereby enabling us to understand the impermanent and impersonal nature of subjective experience. He also describes how he uses his body scanning practice to open to experiencing the absence of an enduring/autonomous self.
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During this talk, Peter focuses on the relationship between the Buddhist concept of Voidness (Sunnata) and neuroplasticity, the inherent complex and impersonal way the function of the brain creates a person’s self experience. Using an excerpt from “Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree–the Buddha’s Teaching on Voidness”, by Buddhadasa, he reviews how important the cultivation of a virtuous life is for supporting the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Because Of Voidness Awakening Can Occur
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During this Dharma talk, Peter describes the intersection between empathy and compassion. Empathy is hardwired into our bodies and can be misunderstood and produce regrettable self-states and behaviors when not monitored by mindfulness. He describes how we are all subjected to marketing tactics based on studies of empathy to negatively affect ourselves and others. Skillful investigation and Right Effort can effectively transform empathy to compassion, foremost for oneself, as well as others.
Here are the notes associated with this topic: Empathy and Compassion
A meditation entitled “Guided Empathy Contemplation” preceded this talk, and it is posted in the Guided Meditation page. It is intended to provide training to promote the ability to effectively monitor empathetic responses we experience.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:35 — 62.8MB)