Dhamma Talks
Buddhism And Voluntary Simplicity September 18 2019
During this talk, Peter described how his 1970's "flower child" interests in environmental health matured through the practice of Buddhist mindfulness meditation. A central focus of attention for the talk was "Voluntary Simplicity", a book he read by Duane Elgin in...
Dukkha And Consumerism September 11 2019
This talk continues the ongoing exploration of the distress and confusion prevalent in current American society, with a focus on consumerism. Peter described how exposure to commercial advertising even before we learn to read negatively influences our self-identity...
Clear Comprehension For Stress Management September 4 2019
Sati Sampajanna (Mindful Clear Comprehension) is a core concept and practice regarding mindfulness of the body in the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse. It may not be clearly understood that in the Buddhist commentaries on Sati...
Dukkha And Addiction August 28 2019
This discussion combines Peter's 33 year history as a mental health professional, certified as an addictions counselor, combined with 37 years practicing mindfulness meditation. Addiction is described as a behavioral disorder that may or may not include substance...
Dukkha As Depression August 21 2019
This talk describes how craving and clinging generate and sustain depressive thought processes. Peter has used Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy as part of his psychotherapy practice for over 30 years and uses a combination of classical Buddhist concepts and...
Dukkha As Anxiety August 14 2019
This talk focuses on the arguably epidemic levels of anxiety Americans experience in these stressful times and what mindfulness of breathing meditation can offer as a way to manage the increasingly complex and uncertain aspects of contemporary life. Peter has...
Dukkha As A Confused Mind August 7 2019
This talk is focused on the second of the two causes of dukkha which is clinging, upadana in Pali; last week's posting of July 31 was focused on the other cause of dukkha, craving, tanha in Pali. Peter described ego as a dynamic process of the brain during which...
Stress And The Dharma July 31 2019
This talk is the first of two addressing the problem of dukkha in current life. The first talk addresses craving, using the term distress to relate to subjective experience in this media-saturated consumer culture. Stress has two forms emotionally: distress refers...
Awakening Through Contemporary Stress July 24 2019
This talk is the first in a series that focuses on representing contemporary cultural distress as dukkha, the fundamental dissatisfaction we all experience. Peter reviewed the three forms of dukkha described by the Buddha: dukkha due to physical discomfort, dukkha...
Anapanasati Review July 10 2019
This talk is a final review of the series of discussions begun on January 10 of this year that focuses on the Anapanasati Sutta, the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse. The discussion used quotes from the Sutta to clarify points regarding the concepts and practices...
