Dhamma Talks
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...
The Equanimity Awakening Factor July 3 2019
This topic reviews the fulfillment of the Seven Awakening Factors in the seventh of them, Upekkha Bojjhanga, the Equanimity Awakening Factor. Upekkha doesn't represent uncaring indifference but rather the ability to be aware of emotional responses to situations...
The Concentration Awakening Factor June 26 2019
The topic for this talk is Samadhi Bojjhanga, the Concentration Awakening Factor. During the talk, the progressive stages of developing mindfulness of breathing to high levels of concentration were reviewed. Peter described current debates about the difference...
The Tranquility Awakening Factor June 19 2019
During this discussion, emphasis was placed on how the Seven Awakening Factors are developed through the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation. Starting with the Awakening Factor of Mindfulness, Peter linked the other factors into the process of overcoming...
The Joy Awakening Factor June 12 2019
Piti Bojjhanga is the Pali term usually translated as the Joy Awakening Factor, the fourth of the Seven Awakening Factors. During this talk, Peter described the traditional rendering of joy as rapture, an exquisitely potent physical/mental experience, referring to...
The Energy Awakening Factor June 5 2019
This talk reviews one of the most important of the Seven Awakening Factors, Viriya (veer-yah). It is also found in several of the many categories of Buddhist psychology: as Right Effort, as one of the Five Powers (overcoming the Hindrances) and of the Five Faculties...
May 2019 Retreat Report May 29 2019
Retreats are expected to be tranquil, contemplative experiences, and, to a great extent, this is true. Peter has been on nearly 100 retreats of one week or more since 1982, and some of them were bound to be challenging. This retreat was one of them. The intention...
The Investigation Of Mental Phenomena May 8 2019
Dhamma Vicaya, the Investigation of Mental Phenomena, is the second of the 7 Factors of Awakening. Peter described the progressive development of vitakka (aiming attention at the sensations of breathing) and vicara (sustaining focused attention on these sensations),...
