Dhamma Talks
Cultivating A Focused And Tranquil Mind
This talk explored the ways to use the routine, repetitive practice of aiming attention at the beginning of the inbreath (vitakka [wee-tah-kah] in Pali), and maintaining investigative awareness of the sensations noted during the duration of the inbreath (vicara...
The Out Of Balance Mind
This talk was recorded at the end of the first full day of the retreat, and focuses on the Five Hindrances. Peter presented a graphic that presented the hindrances as dynamic polarities: too much conviction as opposed to too much skepticism, and too much energy as...
Deerhaven 2017 First Night
During this talk, Peter reviewed the traditional "3 Refuges" and "Five Precepts" practices at the beginning of retreats, then suggested a more contemporary rendering of the Refuges, followed by a handout with the Precepts rendered as commitments. Participants were...
2017 Deerhaven Retreat Review
It is customary for retreatants to have an opportunity to "think out loud" about a recent retreat experience, as this helps integrate the deep learning that can occur during such an event and provides insight and inspiration for listeners regarding the benefits of...
The Importance Of Intention
This evening's meeting focused on the crucial role cetana, the Pali word translated as intention or volition, plays in the ongoing process of self-state organization. Cetana is a "universal mind conditioner", functioning in each moment of self-state organization to...
Transforming Sensations Into A Self
This talk continues to explore the suggestions offered in "The Mind Illuminated" that help understand how prior experience makes meaning of raw sensational data. Peter first quotes part of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness that focuses on what Thanissaro calls...
Understanding How The Mind Works
This talk continues to explore practical suggestions from the book "The Mind Illuminated". The current focus is on the concepts of "Focused Attention", "Peripheral Awareness", "Strong Distraction", "Strong Dullness", "Subtle Distraction" and "Subtle Dullness". ...
Stages Of Breath Awareness
The evening's activities included a guided meditation posted below: "Looking Closer Meditation.mp3", during which Peter provided suggestions supporting a more persistent and intimate awareness regarding the sensations of breathing. During the talk following the guided...
Why We Meditate
During this talk, Peter provided the participants with a worksheet: MOTIVATIONS FOR MEDITATION. On this sheet, folks were invited to note three considerations: the benefits of meditation, ways to reinforce commitments to daily meditation practice, and ways to...
Peter’s 2016 Year End Retreat Review
We provide an opportunity for those in the Orlando Insight meditation community who have recently completed a residential meditation retreat a chance to "think out loud" about their experience. Research suggests that much of what happens on retreats impacts the...
