Dhamma Talks

Understanding the Five Aggregates

During this talk, Peter reviews another way mindfulness practice supports Awakening, contemplating the Five Aggregates of Clinging, part of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness.  The Five Aggregates represent a conceptual structure that helps understanding of Anatta,...

Understanding Skeptical Doubt

This talk continues reviewing the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse, focusing on the hindrance of Skeptical Doubt.  Peter describes the difference between beneficial introspective questioning and the "analysis paralysis" experienced when afflicted by Skeptical...

Peter Reviews April 2026 Retreat

During this talk, Peter describes how his recently completed 6 full days of self-retreat involved integrating Analayo's excellent "Mindfulness of Breathing" book with the meditative training protocol called vedanupassana as taught by S. N. Goenka.  Part of his...

Countering Restlessness And Worry

This presentation by Lezlie Laws continues a series of talks reviewing the elements of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse.  Restlessness and Worry, commonly known as one of the Five Hindrances, has two characteristics: restlessness,...

Countering Aversion and Ill-Will

This talk continues an ongoing review of the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse, focusing on the hindrance of Aversion and Ill-Will.  Allie Vaknin describes the characteristics of aversion in a way that is not only effective for spiritual development, but can be...

The Hindrance Of Sense Desire

During this talk, Susan Baxter continues the review by our teachers of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse.  After reviewing the overall structure of the Sutta, she focuses on the first of the Five Hindrances, Sense Desire, which...

Knowing The Mind

This talk, provided by Lezlie Laws, continues reviewing elements of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse, focusing in the Third Foundation, Mindfulness of the Mind.  Lezlie uses a Zen question to foster internal understanding of how the mind creates a self: ...

Guided Knowing The Mind Contemplation

During this meditation, Lezlie Laws provides suggestions that involve a useful question for exploring the nature of the mind--"What is this?".  The question curiosity regarding how the mind creates the experience of selfing and is intended to diminish the demands of...