Dhamma Talks

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...

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...

The Commitments Of Mind Training

This talk reviews the training aphorism "Keep three points in mind", which emphasizes the cultivation of virtue  through the five precepts, the value of avoiding self defense or self gratification, and the importance of patience.  This included some discussion about...

Proficiency Of Mind Training

This talk covers four of the lojong mind training aphorisms, "All dharma has a single purpose", "Of the two judges, rely on the principal one", "Always have the support of a joyful mind", and "You are proficient if you can practice even when distracted".  Peter...