Dhamma Talks
Four Noble Truths And Political Conflict October 10 2018
A significant area of stress in contemporary civic life is political conflict. This is not an easy topic to deal with, and has no "solution" as political matters are complex and are continuously evolving. The intention of this discussion is to foster ways of...
The Eightfold Path And Cultural Stress October 3 2018
This is the second of a series of talks that explore how to apply the principles and practices of the Four Noble Truths to the extraordinary cultural stresses we experience these days. The specific focus of this talk is a review of the Noble Eightfold Path. Here are...
Mindful Adaptation To Stressful Times September 26 2018
This talk begins several weeks of discussion regarding how the understanding and application of the Four Noble Truths can be of great benefit as we cope with these stressful times. Peter begins by suggesting significant differences between the relative simplicity of...
Awakening The Four Noble Truths September 19 2018
This post represents the summation of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, in reviewing the stanzas relating to the fulfillment of the Four Noble Truths. Each of the Truths is reviewed through three stages: conceptual understanding,...
Awakening With Equanimity September 12 2018
This talk reviews the Equanimity Awakening Factor and includes a summary regarding how the Seven Awakening Factors integrate and cooperate to further the process of liberating the mind from the distress and confusion that is the result of craving and clinging. The...
The Concentration Awakening Factor September 5 2018
The Concentration Awakening Factor is also known as Right Concentration, a key element of the Noble Eightfold Path. Peter described how this Awakening Factor coordinates with the Mindfulness, Investigation Of Mental Phenomena and Effort (Right Effort) Awakening...
Awakening With Tranquility August 29 2018
During this talk, the Tranquility Awakening Factor was described as the result of the application of Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Concentration and Energy/Right Effort Awakening Factors. The Pali term for this Factor is Passadhi Bojjhanga, and it...
Cultivating Joyful Interest In Awakening August 22 2018
This talked emphasized Piti Bojjhanga, typically translated as the Rapture Awakening Factor. After describing the role that piti traditionally plays in the cultivation of jhana, (an exalted state of exclusive awareness), Peter suggested a more workable translation...
Transforming Energy Into Awakening August 15 2018
This talk explores Viriya Bojjhanga, translated as the Energy Awakening Factor. Peter quoted Daniel Siegel's suggestion that "the mind... regulates the flow of energy and information", that is, we are energy transforming organisms. In Buddhist psychology, energy is...
Investigating Mental Phenomena August 8 2018
Continuing the exploration of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, tonight's topic is the Awakening Factor Dhamma Vicaya, Investigating Mental Phenomena. During the talk, Peter suggested the development of this Awakening Factor begins with the practice of...
