Dhamma Talks
Energy Awakening Factor
In this talk, the awakening factor of energy/effort is described. Peter talked of how the universe is essentially energy, and that the sense of separation that humans struggle with is a profound, fundamental error of thinking. He described that energy is distributed...
The Investigation Awakening Factor
This is the second in a series of discussions regarding the seven factors of awakening, focused on dhamma vicaya bojjhanga, the investigation of mental phenomena factor of awakening. This factor is a core element of the practice of vipassana, operating in tandem with...
Mindfulness As An Awakening Factor
During this dharma dialogue, the awakening factor of mindfulness was described. Peter referred to a Wikipedia definition of metacognition, a psychological term developed without reference to Buddhist psychology, that seems to be synonymous with mindfulness. The...
Cultivating The Awakening Factors
This is the first of several dialogues exploring the bojjhangas, the seven factors of awakening. During this talk, Peter describes the relationship between the awakening factors and the five powers. He also described the evolution of the factors through the process...
Cultivating Jhana
Peter described the characteristics of jhana from both the "sutta jhana" and "Visuddhimagga jhana" models. The benefits of jhana practice were reviewed, suggesting the real benefit of jhana practice is the cultivation of the seven Awakening Factors, which will be...
Cultivating Samadhi and Passadhi
This dialogue is the first of two explorations of samma samadhi, right concentration. Peter explained the terms samadhi and passadhi, and why he groups them together. Six considerations were illustrated to support the cultivation of samadhi-passadhi. The value of...
The Creation Of Selfing
During this talk, Peter described the core concept of paticcasamuppada, traditionally translated as "dependent origination". He has changed the translation to "contingent provisional emergence", and this talk explains his rationale for this innovation. The talk...
Sankhara the Self Maker
During this dhamma dialogue, Peter completed the exploration of the Five Aggregates, describing the function of sankhara, translated as the mind fabricator, the process of fabricating, and that which is fabricated. This concept is related to the paticcasamuppada,...
Domestic Vipassana Practice
While Peter's wife is away for a week, he decided to practice integrating mindfulness more thoroughly into daily life routines. The primary changes included more meditation periods and more reading about Buddhist practices; otherwise, the routines were the same as...
How Feeling And Perception Become Craving And Clinging
During this talk, Peter explained how feeling and perception function, transitional between raw sense data and higher cognitive processes. When the mind isn't well trained, feeling become craving and perception becomes clinging. There was a guided meditation to...
