Dhamma Talks
Reviewing Right Mindfulness
This talk is part of a series reviewing the Four Noble Truths by April Koester, specifically focused on Right Mindfulness. During the talk she reads sections of the Satipatthana Sutta, which translates as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness a key teaching within...
Peter Reviews December 2025 Self-Retreat
We provide an opportunity for those among us who have completed a significant retreat to "think out loud" about the experience, as this helps the person integrate the retreat more fully into their understanding of the Dharma. Additionally, the talk and questions from...
Perfecting Wisdom
During this talk, Allie Vaknin continues to review the Paramis, qualities of consciousness that, when perfected, support the realization of Nirvana, the Unconditioned. The topic focuses on the cultivation of the Parami of Wisdom from a Buddhist perspective.
How To Work With R.A.I.N.
R.A.I.N. (Recognize Accept Investigate Non-Identification) is an acronym which has been useful for meditators, and during this talk, Lezlie Laws provides a review of how two meditators can work as a team with this to understand how the mind can get trapped in an...
Guided Rain Contemplation
R.A.I.N. is described as a useful approach to cultivating insight. During this guided contemplation, Lezlie Laws provides suggestions for inner reflection that supports including R.A.I.N. in one's meditation practice. It is intended to support "Working With Rain",...
December 2025 Dharma Questions
During this talk, Peter responds to various questions regarding Buddhist concepts and coaching regarding meditation practice. One topic frequently questioned about involves his current meditation practice and intentions regarding his annual self-retreat.
Joy To Gratitude And Generosity
During this talk on Thanksgiving Eve, Peter describes how the cultivation of mindfulness of breathing meditation frees energy from being bound up by the Hindrances, creating the buoyantly engaged interest characteristic of the Awakening Factor of Joy, which provides...
Contemplating Joy, Gratitude, and Generosity
During a meeting on Thanksgiving Eve, Peter leads a guided contemplation describing the progression from mindfulness of breathing meditation to joy and then through gratitude to generosity. Concentrating the mind frees up energy normally bound up by the Hindrances,...
What Is RAIN?
During this talk, Lezlie Laws describes the acronym RAIN: Recognize, Accept, Investigate, Non-Self as a way to approach the challenges of everyday life. She is a proponent of spiritual journaling, and shares an excerpt from her personal journal entry to demonstrate...
Cultivating Right Effort
During this talk, April continues her review of the Noble Eightfold Path, focusing on Right Effort, describing the Four Noble Efforts and how to develop them skillfully. Her review includes questions and comments from those participating in the meeting. Here are the...
