Dhamma Talks

Reviewing The Six Sense Bases

A subtitle for this talk might be "How What Is Seen Becomes The Self".  During the talk, Peter describes the functions of the mind that create a self out of what is seen, heard, smelled, tasted, touched and remembered through what are called "fetters"--the effect of...

Lezlie Laws’ Five Hindrances Review

Reviewing and setting aside the five aggregates is described as the first of the contemplations found within the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness.  Lezlie provides quotes and comments that explain the characteristics of these obstacles to a mind that is alert and...

Reviewing Mindfulness of the Mind

The Third Foundation of Mindfulness focuses attention on investigating the characteristics of a person's consciousness--alert or dull, filled with desire or free from desire, among other categories.  During this talk, Peter reviews the various categories, supplemented...

Skillfully Managing Feelings

Mindfulness of Feelings is the Second Foundation of Mindfulness, and during this talk, Peter provides a review of the various categories of feelings, which are not emotions, but rather the impulsive reactivity we all experience that precedes craving and clinging....

Emptiness or Fullness?

This talk focuses on cultivating a deeper and more useful understanding of two important Buddhist concepts: Non-self and Emptiness.  The concepts don't translate well into English from the original Pali teachings, so Peter uses various contemporary scientific and...

Guided Four Elements Contemplation

This guided meditation provides suggestions for contemplating what are called the Four Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water.  These contemplations are embedded within the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse.  Peter describes the subjective characteristics of...

Short Moments, Many Times A Day

Short Moments, Many Times a Day. In this meeting of our sangha, we learn a variety of ways to incorporate moments of meditation throughout the day.  This is not a substitute for our daily sitting practice, but a way to extend that practice throughout our daily...