Dhamma Talks
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),...
The Mindfulness Awakening Factor May 1 2019
This talk continues a long series of discussions of the Anapanasati Sutta, the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse. The focus here is sati bojjhangha, the rmindfulness awakening factor, considered to be a primary element of the Seven Awakening Factors, monitoring and...
Clear Direction Only Go Straight Just Do It
Robert Lockridge is the guest speaker for this evening. He is one of the guiding teachers of the Orlando Zen Center, which provides opportunities to practice Korean Zen as taught by Seung Sahn, who originated the Kwan Um School in the U. S. The title of the talk...
Anapanasati And Sambojjhanga April 17 2019
This talk begins a series of discussions exploring how increasingly skillful anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) enhances the potency of the satta sambojjhanga (the seven Awakening factors). These capabilities for spiritual development begin being applied to...
Anapanasati And Satipatthana April 10 2019
As exploration of the Anapanasati Sutta, the Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing is reaching its completion, a section is dedicated to relating advanced stages of subtlety and discipline in breath awareness to the satipatthana, the four foundations of mindfulness. ...
Anapanasati And The Three Characteristics April 3 2019
This talk focuses on the Fourth Tetrad of the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse. Peter emphasized how the first three tetrads cultivate sufficient stability and tranquility in the mind to support the practice of vipassana, the goal of which is to realize the Three...
Wholesome Mind Conditioners And Path Realization March 27 2019
This talk completes the exploration of the 52 cetasikas (cheh-tah-see-kahs) that cooperatively aggregate into the selfing process. The cetasikas are referred to in the Anapanasati Sutta in the sections focused on being "sensitive to and calming the mind...
Beautiful Pairs Of Mind Conditioners March 20 2019
This talk highlights the beneficial results of mindfulness of breathing meditation in terms of increasing the functionality of the cetasikas, translated as mind conditioners. The Wholesome Cetasikas, combined with the Universal and Occasional Cetasikas provide...
The Wholesome Mind Conditioners Part 1 March 13 2019
The presentation title of this talk is "Starving the Demons, Feeding the Angels", as part of the Anapanasati Sutta focused on "calming the mind conditioners". Peter mentioned that during the first years of his vipassana practice he was "warding off the demons" and...
