Dhamma Talks
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...
Five Aggregates
Continuing the exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, this talk describes the Buddhist concept of personality structure, pancakhanda, the five aggregates: form, feeling, perception/recognition, mental conditioners and the mind. Peter emphasized the usefulness of this...
Doubt as a hindrance
This is the last of the talks about the five hindrances in our series of dialogues reviewing the Satipatthana Sutta. Skeptical Doubt is perplexity and a lack of confidence as a condition of the mind. In the discussion, the role of the Five Powers was also reviewed.
Robert’s Zen Retreat
One of our more practiced Sangha members just completed a 20 day retreat in the Kwan Um school of Korean Zen in Providence, Rhode Island. It is our custom to set aside time for dialogue whenever someone has completed a significant retreat, as talking about the...
Restlessness and Worry
This recording describes the 4th of the 5 Hindrances, Restlessness and Worry. The discussion describes the results of too much energy in the mind and how this interferes with clearly knowing the true nature of the mind.
