Dhamma Talks
Deerhaven 2015 Post Retreat Reviews
This meeting involved a review by some of the participants in the nine day retreat from March 13 to the 22nd. First Peter reviewed the structure of the course, which blended practices found in the Anapanasati Sutta (mindfulness of breathing discourse) and the...
Beautiful Pairs Of Mind Conditioners
During this dhamma dialogue, Peter completed the review of the 52 cetasikas (mind conditioners), in order to clarify the meaning of "calming the mind conditioners" in the Anapanasati Sutta (Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse). The focus was on the "six beautiful...
Universal Wholesome Mind Conditioners
This is the first of two discussions about the wholesome cetasikas, the mind conditioners that foster the process of awakening. The seven factors are confidence, mindfulness, wholesome conscience, fear of consequences (respect for karma), non-attachment, non-aversion...
The Unwholesome Mind Conditioners
This talk continues the exploration of the section of the Anapanasati Sutta that refers to "...sensitive to the mind conditioners...calming the mind conditioners". The focus of tonight's discussion are the 14 unwholesome mind conditioners. During the dialogues,...
Universal and Occasional Mind Conditioners
This talk continues the exploration of the Anapanasati Sutta. The topic this week is "...sensitive to the mind fabrications...calming the mind fabrications", regarding the cetasikas, the categorically listed functions of the mind. Specific attention was given to the...
Calming the Mind Fabricators
During this dhamma dialogue, Peter explored the transition from cultivating a calm and stable focus of attention to the practice of vipassana, insight into the conditioned nature of subjective reality. He described the meanings of kamma (karma in Sanskrit), sankhara,...
Breathing Joy Into Life
This week's discussion focused on the stanzas in the Anapanasati Sutta related to the cultivation of piti and sukha, Pali words often translated as rapture and pleasure. During the talk, Peter related the commentaries that describe piti dramatically, associated with...
Calming The Breath Body
During this dhamma dialogue, the exploration of the Anapanasati Sutta was continued, with a focus on the stanzas: "...He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to the entire body.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to the entire body.' He trains...
Acquiring Breath Awareness
During this dhamma dialogue, Peter fostered discussion of the preceding guided "acquiring breath awareness" meditition practice, posted just prior to this posting. He explained the importance of the practice of vitakka and vicara, that is intentionally bring focus to...
Guided Acquiring The Breath Meditation
This is a guided meditation that supports the practice of mindfulness of breathing, particularly the "mindful of the long...and short...) stanzas at the beginning of the instructions for anapanasati practice. The recording of a guided 45 minute meditation on...
