Dhamma Talks
2019 Deerhaven 5th Night Dep Origination
Dependent Origination is a key concept of Buddhism. In Pali, it is paticca samuppada. The Buddha's most senior teacher, Sariputta, said that understanding paticca samuppada fully is required for Awakening. Peter explained his preferred rendering of this concept,...
2019 Deerhaven 4th Night Bojjhanga
The term Bojjhanga literally means "those factors that foster Awakening". They are called "The Seven Awakening Factors": Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy/Right Effort, Joy, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity. Peter described the cultivation of these factors...
2019 Deerhaven 3rd Night Aggregates
The Five Aggregates of Clinging are an important Buddhist concept that is useful in "deconstructing" the notion of an enduring autonomous self. Peter reviewed a classic Buddhist simile, that of a chariot. The term "chariot" is a useful concept in the construction...
2019 Deerhaven 2nd Night Hindrances
This talk reviewed the nature of the Five Hindrances: How they are triggered, the characteristics of each, how they can be set aside and how the re-emergence of them can be limited. Humans were described as "energy transforming organisms" and the hindrances represent...
2019 Deerhaven Retreat 1st Night
This first night's talk focuses on a traditional introduction to Buddhist retreats: Taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Peter described the Buddha as being the potential for Awakening from dukkha, the distress and confusion caused by craving and...
Deerhaven 2019 Retreat Review October 30 2019
It is our custom to offer opportunities for Sangha members who have just completed a significant meditation retreat to "think out loud" about their experience as it is believed that this helps clarify and integrate what they gained from the retreat; it may also...
The Dharma And The Environment October 16 2019
This is the last of a series of talks about how current cultural stress affects us and what the principles and practices of Buddhism have to offer in reducing the dukkha of a particular topic. In this case it is the distress and confusion around how the environment...
The Dharma And Political Conflict October 9 2019
The theme of previous talks has been reviewing how Buddhist principles and practices can be beneficially applied to the extraordinary stresses of contemporary life. The current political conflict in the U.S. warrants a review of how mindfulness can bring clear...
Wholesome Speech In Trying Times October 2 2019
The essence of social cohesion is manifested through interpersonal communication. The impact of the ever-present media of this era causes distress and confusion among individuals as cultural leaders and those who comment on them exaggerate and distort what is...
The Dharma Of Commitment September 25 2019
The real benefits of mindfulness meditation are only realized through commitment; first to daily, diligent mindfulness of breathing (or lovingkindness) meditation, and then to the commitment to integrate the training results of such disciplined practice into daily...
