Dhamma Talks
Releasing Unrealistic Expectations
During this talk, the lojong commitment "Don't Put A Horse's Load On A Donkey" was reviewed. The emphasis of the commitment is to avoid idealizing expectations of self or others, that is, to avoid perfectionism. One of the benefits of being relieved of the stress...
The Benefits Of Gratitude
Since our meetings are on Wednesday nights, each year on the eve of Thanksgiving, the discussion is organized around the Buddhist view of gratitude. Peter emphasized the interaction between generosity and gratitude, using examples from his own practice experience...
Compassionate Relationship
This discussion began with a quote from the Upaddha Sutta: "...Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life..." because the emphasis for this week focuses on the lojong commitments regarding interpersonal...
Working With Unpredictability
This talk focuses on the lojong commitment "Don't Rely On Consistency", which emphasizes how social norms put pressure on individuals to conform, even when such conformity violates the Buddhist principle of benevolent intention. One example would be the pressure to...
Avoiding Toxic Ego Food
During this evening's discussion, modern neuroscientific research was reviewed which suggests that activated neural pathways become more richly connected when "fed" by increased blood flow. When unwholesome self-organizations are repeatedly enacted, the result is...
Turning Humiliation Into Humility
This talk addresses the problems of perfectionism, which often manifest as internal narratives that are shame-based. Various lojong mind training aphorisms were reviewed to clarify how the applications of the aphorisms can support transforming feelings of shame and...
Benefits Of Investigating Emotions
During this discussion, Peter related the lojong aphorism, "Work on the stronger disturbing emotions first," relating it to the second Foundation of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of feelings as feelings, not a self. The integrated operation of the lojong aphorisms was...
Lojong And Wholesome Speech
This week's discussion broached two aphorisms: Don't speak about others' defects, and Don't become preoccupied with the opinions, behaviors and motivations of others. These aphoristic commitments focus on activating Wholesome Speech, Action and Livelihood from the...
Balancing Emotions As Circumstances Change
The focus of this talk is how the Four Noble Truths are manifested while applying the lojong mind training aphorisms. Reviewing aphorisms discussed in previous meetings, Peter described how the cultivation of internally stable focus and emotional balance creates the...
Marywood Weekend Retreat Report
This retreat was themed around mindfulness of breathing practice with the intention to cultivate "a peaceful abiding", that is, a quality of awareness that is undisturbed by thoughts and unaffected by emotional urgency. Peter described the general format of the...
