Our community finds value in providing opportunities for those among us who have recently experienced a significant retreat to “think out loud” about the experience.  The benefits of these reviews are associated with the support of informed listeners, along with information about retreat sites and teachers.  The descriptions of the experience might inspire those listening to commit to a retreat.  During this talk, Mike spoke about the teachers, Guy and Sally Armstrong and their suggestions and training to foster clear knowledge of awareness, a very subtle quality of the mind usefully developed on the path to Awakening.

the unfortunate humming sound during parts of the talk come from a neighbor mowing their yard.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Mike Maldonado 2025

During this talk, April describes how our inability to investigate and effectively manage our resistance to using mindfulness to beneficially apply the principles and practices from a Buddhist creates suffering, using various quotes from Buddhist teachings.  Her review is followed by questions and comments about this topic from those participating in the meeting.

Here are the notes prepared for the talk:  What You Resist Persists

During this talk, Allie Vaknin reviews Buddhist concepts regarding mortality, referring frequently to the Bardo, a descriptive term for the states of birth, death and rebirth from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective.  Her report is followed by comments from participants regarding their views of mortality, often referring to the impact after witnessing their witnessing of the death of loved ones.

During this meeting, Peter responds to questions posed by those participating, such as describing the “Middle Way” as a dynamic balancing of mental energy–not too energized or too tranquil–along with mental acuity–not too rigid or too “sloppy”.  He also commented on the benefits of deciding to cultivate equanimity when confronted with very noisy and variable social events.

During this talk, Lezlie reviews four key liberating functions in the mind: diligence, mindfulness. clearly knowing what is emerging into awareness, supported by the integrative and unifying function of concentration–the persistent operation of the three qualities already mentioned.  She describes how these qualities help her investigate and deny unwholesome views of herself and others left over from her childhood.  Her comments are followed by comments from others participating in the meeting.

During this talk, Peter reviews the characteristics of intention, suggesting that this function of the mind emerges from the complex interactions between various neurological networks in the brain, not attributable to the existence of a self.  This contemporary view of how intentions form and operate describes two functions of consciousness–cognitive intentions and behavioral intentions.  We can train to be able to mindfully monitor the emerging intentions associated with thoughts and beliefs, accompanied by the ability to mindfully attend to the intention to either act or not act on the cognitive manifestations, depending upon their ethical attributes or suitability in a situation.  This review includes quotes from Buddhist commentaries on the characteristics of cetana, the Pali word typically translated as intention or volition.

This talk was preceded by a supportive guided meditation: “Guided Contemplation of Intention”, which is posted in the Audio archive on this site.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Intention Creates the Self

The mindful investigation and effective management of intention is considered to be a primary goal of meditation practice, beginning with the intention to aim attention on the changing sensations occurring while practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation.  During this guided contemplation Peter suggests various ways to cultivate mindfulness of two ways that intention manifests, focused on cognitive processes and focused on behavior.

This meditation is intended to be supportive of the information that is provided during the Dharma talk that follows, titled “Intention Creates the Self”.

During this talk, Lili reviews how her studies and meditation practices have helped her effectively manage migraine headaches and the pain of sciatica.  She invited participants to ask questions or share their experience regarding pain, and several people provided reports about how their meditation practice was helpful for managing incidental or chronic pain effectively.

There is an accompanying recording posted in the Audio page titled “Mindfulness Based Pain Management Contemplation” that is intended to support what is discussed during this Dharma talk.

This guided meditation provides suggestions for integrating mindfulness, investigation and letting go of impulsive reactivity while practicing body scanning, in order to cultivate more equanimity regarding pain as well as intrusive/demanding uncomfortable thoughts and moods.  it is intended to accompany the Dharma talk following the meditation titled “Mindfulness Based Pain Management”.

During this talk, April describes how important it is to integrate the benefits of formal mindfulness meditation with walking, particularly while outdoors in nature.  She shares her own experience and insights that emerge in a variety of settings during normal daily routines from this practice and invites others participating in the meeting to share their insights as well.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Stillness in Motion – Google Slides (002)