Dhamma Talks
How To Not Take Moods Personally
This dialogue explores the Third Foundation of Mindfulness, cittanupassana, translated as mindfulness of the mind. After reading the content of the third foundation from Analayo's book on satipatthana, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Peter related this to what...
How Feeling Drives The Self
This is the second of two talks about the importance of the practice of mindfulness of feelings. During this talk, Peter reviewed paticca samuppada, usually translated as dependent origination. A new rendering of the term was explained, that is, contingent...
Mindfulness Of Feelings As Feelings
During this dialogue, Peter began to discuss the second Foundation of Mindfulness, vedanupassana (mindfulness of feelings). He talked of how feelings are not emotions as we might describe them in the West, but rather what in psychological terms is affect, the pull...
How Death Can Help Us Live More Fully
During this dialogue, Peter read the part of the Satipatthana Sutta called "the charnal ground contemplation". He then commented on how our culture is shielded from the experience of death and what happens to the body as it disintegrates, which was a common...
You Must Be Present To Win
The subtitle of this talk could be "The Four Elements Meditation". Several years ago, Peter found the title quote in a book by Jack Kornfield. In the book, he talked of visiting Las Vegas in his monastic robes and seeing "You Must Be Present To Win" signage above...
Staying Mindful In Regular Life
During this dialogue, Peter described the core Buddhist concept of sati-sampajanna, usually translated as mindful, clear comprehension. He quoted from the Satipatthana Sutta the stanzas associated with mindfulness of breathing, mindfulness of posture and mindfulness...
What Makes Something Or Some Place Sacred
After briefly setting the tone for the dialogue, Peter opened the group to discuss what sort of process is involved that makes something or some place sacred. Sangha members were also invited to contemplate how creating sacredness supports deepening one's spiritual...
Concentration And Insight
During this first of a series of talks exploring the Satipatthana Sutta, Peter talked of the mutually supportive functions of samadhi (concentration) and vipassana (insight). This was followed by a lively discussion regarding how different meditators cultivate these...
2014 One Week Retreat Review
Much of the transformation in the brain during a retreat occurs outside of conscious awareness. We've realized over the years of retreat experience that talking about it, "thinking out loud", with a group of well-informed people helps integrate the learning and...
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...
