Dhamma Talks
A Peaceful Abiding On Retreat 2011
This talk on the third night of the retreat describes the integration of conviction and skepticism, and energy and tranquility, monitored by mindfulness, producing equanimity and a peaceful mind.
Releasing From Hindrances
On this second night of the retreat, pancanivarana, the five hindrances, were described; their causes and their antidotes.
2011 Taking Refuge On Retreat
This the first of a series of nightly talks given by Peter at Deerhaven, during the yearly one week retreat. This talk describes the Three Refuges of Buddhism: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Basic instruction for mindfulness of breathing is provided with a guided...
Awakening With Tranquility And Insight
This discussion summarizes the Satipatthana Sutta, focusing on how Mindfulness and the other Awakening Factors affects awareness of the Four Noble Truths, enhancing mental clarity and emotional balance. The relationship between tranquility and insight was associated...
Awakening With Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity
This discussion begins a two-part exploration of the remaining three Factors of Awakening. The three factors were described and the ways of cultivating them were explained. Next week's talk will relate the Seven Factors of Awakening to the practice of jhana and...
Awakening Joy
This dialogue describes piti (joy) and sukkha (happiness) as the result of increasing concentration, due to the setting aside of the hindrances. Once the energy of consciousness isn't "dumped" into the hindrances, the mind naturally becomes buoyant, resilient and...
Awakening Investigation and Effort
Continuing the ongoing discussion of the Seven Factors of Awakening, this week the focus is on two of them: dhamma vicaya (Investigation of mind states) and viriya (Energy, or Right Effort). Peter pointed out that investigation, effort and joy are energizing factors,...
Mindful Awakening
This is the second in a series on the Seven Factors of Awakening, focused on mindfulness. The discussion reviews the classical commentaries on the nature and purpose of mindfulness, as well as the ways mindfulness can be cultivated through sitting practice and...
7 Awakening Factors
This dialogue begins an exploration of how to use wholesome mind conditioners to increase spiritual development. Using computer folders and files as metaphors, Peter explains the dynamics of identifying and enhancing the mind's ability to more clearly understand the...
Sense Bases and Fetters
This week we talked about how Buddhism considers the processing of the senses through the conditioning factors of the mind. When the mind experiences the same patterns of resistance, craving and confusion repeatedly, they become deep-seated fetters, or binders to...
