This talk continues a series of reviews presented by Allie Vaknin focusing on the paramis, those wholesome conditions of the mind that, when cultivated to their greatest potential, create the conditions for Awakening, the direct realization of Nirvana.  Allie emphasizes the importance of direct subjective awareness of unwholesome conditions and the intentional “letting go” of the craving/clinging that creates the unwholesomeness.  Her presentation is accompanied by various comments and questions by those attending the meeting.

Each generation must understand the principles found in the Noble Eightfold Path in the context of the culture of that time.  During this talk, April Koester continues to review the Virtue component of the path, specifically how current developments such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the pressures of contemporary life can be associated with Right Livelihood.  The talk follows up on her previously posted talks on Right Speech and Right Action that were recently recorded.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  RIGHT LIVELIHOOD DHARMA TALK – Google Docs

During this talk, Lezlie Laws continues her review of the Five Hindrances, emphasizing how various teachers such as Joseph Goldstein, Shaila Catherine, and Gil Fronsdal approach effectively setting them aside.

It is our custom to provide an opportunity for someone who has recently completed a significant retreat to “think out loud” about the experience, as sharing important insights helps that person integrate what was learned and informs those listening about the benefits of the immersive training experience.  Mitch attended a BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) retreat at the Shelbourne Falls retreat center in Massachusetts, following the teachings of S. N. Goenka, an internationally important teacher of mindfulness meditation.  Mitch provides a review of how the retreat operates as well as how it has benefited his own practice.  His comments were followed by questions and comments from those attending.

During this talk, Allie provides a review of the Five Clinging Aggregates–form, feeling, perception, mental conditioning factors, and consciousness–as a way to understand how personality operates from a Buddhist perspective.  She relates this self-creating process to another fundamental Buddhist concept, Dependent Origination, which provides us with a way to understand how to reduce and eventually disregard craving and clinging–the aggregates continue to interact and create personality but without distress and confusion.

This talk continues to review how contemporary neuroscientific research supports the validity of important Buddhist concepts and practices, focusing on the first three of the Four Noble Truths.  Peter refers to a previous talk titled “Neuroplasticity and Non-Self”, posted September 4, 2025 as a precursor to this review.  A future talk will focus on reviewing how neuroscientific research validates the fourth Noble Truth, the Noble Eightfold Path, which provides the ethical and functional training necessary for realizing the potential for liberating the mind from distress and confusion, the focus of the Third Noble Truth.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Neuroscience and the Four Noble Truths

During this talk, Lezlie reviews the characteristics and effects of the five hindrances–desire, aversion, sloth and torpor, restlessness and doubt–and several approaches to setting them aside.  She intends to devote future talks to these different meditative skills, as described in “Unhindered” by Gil Fronsdal and “Beyond Distraction” by Shaila Catherine, among others.

During this talk, April describes real life occurrences to emphasize the unwholesome consequences of actions shaped by what are called “the three poisons”, greed, hatred and delusion. She associates this with the uncertainties associated with the current actions being taken through the medium of Artificial Intelligence.  She then reviews the relevant ethical values that shape Right Action, one of the virtues to be developed through practicing and applying the Four Noble Truths.

This talk, presented by Allie Vaknin, is the second of a series of reviews during which she focuses on the Perfection of what are called Paramis, qualities of consciousness that, when fulfilled in their potential, nurture the realization of Nirvana.  Tonight’s talk focuses on the Parami of Sila, virtuous thoughts and deeds, reflected in what are called the Five Precepts.

During this talk, Peter describes his research and contemplation regarding how contemporary neuroscientific research can increase understanding of anatta, the principle that asserts the absence of an enduring and autonomous self.  He explains the processes of neuroplasticity and long-term potentiation during the interactions between various networks of neuronal connection as supportive of insights regarding the insubstantiality of subjective experience–there is no “control center”, no self to defend or gratify.  He reports that this presentation provides an overview of the impersonal interactions among the neuronal networks and anticipates future Dharma talks that correlate the neural networks with important Buddhist concepts and practices.  These efforts are intended to further Western understanding of ancient Dharma teachings away from abstract philosophical underpinnings and towards a more scientific understanding of anatta and sunnata.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  NEUROPLASTICITY AND ANATTA