Dhamma Talks
Practicing Awakening At Home
This talk, on the last evening of the 2014 Deerhaven retreat, reviewed Buddhist concepts of a virtuous home life, from a contemporary perspective. Peter also reviewed which skillful means were practiced on the retreat and how important it is to maintain a regular...
Guided Gratitude Meditation
This recording contains a guided contemplation on the complexity and richness of life that is often overlooked, especially the day-to-day conveniences we take for granted, as well as the blessing of having found the Buddhist Path of Awakening.
Insights On The Path Of Awakening
In this talk, the progression from self-state integration is described, beginning with combining the Virtue aggregate and the Mental Training aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path. As the self-states no longer function with less internal and interpersonal conflict,...
Seven Awakening Factors 2014
During this talk, Peter explained how these seven factors, led by mindfulness, function. Initially, in their undeveloped, weakest form, they apply a counter to the action of the five hindrances. As the hindrances are set aside and the function of the mind becomes...
Cultivating Wise Attention
During this talk, Peter described the relationship between the various factors that support the development of yoniso manasikara, wise attention. Attention that is wise manifests as mindful, tranquil, equanimous, tranquil, agile, pliant wieldy, proficient and...
The Selfing Story
During this talk, Peter described Paticca Samupadda, usually translated as the principle of Dependent Origination. This is one of the core concepts of Buddhism, as it explains how the dynamics of self formation and dissolution operate. Emphasis was placed on...
Guided Head Body Scan
During this guided meditation practice, the participants were introduced to vedanupassana, the meditation practice taught by U Ba Khin and S. N. Goenka. More understood as body sweep or body scan, this involves a systematic, in-depth examination of whatever...
Sensitizing Breath Awareness
During this guided meditation, the participants were invited to "look closer, to feel the texture, the details of sensation" in the areas of breath awareness ranging from the outer upper lip, through the nasal passages, down into the upper soft palate and hard palate...
Four Elements And Breath Awareness
During this meditation training exercise, Peter encouraged concentrating attention on different areas of sensation varying from the upper lip, rim of the nostrils, the nasal septum and passages, the sinus cavities, back of the throat, soft palate/uvula, hard palate,...
Karma And The Five Hindrances
During this talk on the second night of the 2014 one week retreat, Peter talked of the contemporary views on karma, relating this to the characteristics of the five hindrances. Ways to use the skills developed during the retreat to set the hindrances aside were...
