The introduction to the retreat with introductions, descriptions, taking refuges and precepts, and calling the devas. The Dhamma talk starts at 34 minutes. Tonight we are entering the sanctuary of this amazing forest and beautiful buildings where so many people have come to practice over these many years. We are also entering the sanctuary of physical safety and security to be here together with everyone keeping precepts and holding the intention to practice well. We can feel the presence of the devas. And, we are entering the internal sanctuary of the heart.

Morning Instruction and meditation: Seclusion, meditation and stillness are not about stopping thinking. These three help us to develop a wise relationship with thinking, which leads to peace. Please note, this instruction and guided meditation begins at 27:34, after an intro, refuges, and precepts.

Mindful reflection along with one's virtues such as observing the 5 precepts can lead to joy, happiness and fuel the path to freedom.

We begin by hearing from two members of the community about how they are experiencing and responding to what's happening in the larger society and world in our times. Donald then discusses how we might respond on the basis of our practice, identifying the three areas of training--in wisdom, meditation, and ethics. Guided by wisdom teachings, we can see the society and world as both manifesting greed, hatred, and delusion, and also awakened qualities. In our meditation, we can practice on many levels, including working with challenging emotions, seeing through social conditioning, and bringing mindfulness to our thoughts, emotions, and bodies. We focus especially on "ethical practice," re-framed as developing caring and compassionate responses. We briefly outline the five ethical precepts, and then focus especially on the guideline of non-harming, clarifying how this is understood both more individually and socially, identifying teachings from the Buddha, King Ashoka, and Thich Nhat Hanh. We ask what our practice of developing "caring and compassionate" responses might look like, bringing in also material from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including his nonviolence and understanding of interdependence, and Elie Wiesel, including his commitment always to speak up whenever there is suffering.

Booker uses her pragmatic voice to discuss the taboo Third Precept…the one about sex! Using the lay framework of the precepts that focus on cultivation instead of abstinence, she explores how to take responsibility in monogamous, ethical non-monogamous, and complex power dynamics.

Q1 In the case of someone who doesn't take the three refugees or five precepts but is a good person and does no harm, can they become an arahant? 02:35 Q2 Can you elaborate on your comment 'pain is impersonal'? 23:43 Q3 It's said it's needed to straighten one's view and establish one's virtue before cultivating santipatthana what are the signposts to look after? 30:47 Q4 when doing walking meditation my eyes tend to lock on to visual objects in front of me. And when sitting, even with the eyes closed, my eyes seem to strain and look internally and I feel tired and tense how do I de-focus my eyes? 34:54 Q5 during city meditation my body moves forwards and backwards. What should I do? 36:55 Q6 I've been going through my diaries in order to discard them. Some entries bring up things I forgot and some are strongly disturbing. I meditate on these but is it wise to carry on this process? I'm not ready to throw the diaries without going through them.

00:00 Q1 How does anapanasati fulfill satipatthana and how does satipatthana fulfill the bojjhanga? 05:27 Q2 Do we intentionally steady the sankhara or do they settle themselves? 14:59 Q3 How do I develop the maha-citta / the great heart? 22:40 Q4 When sitting inside and close the eyes I feel confined. However if I sit outside, I close my eyes and enjoy it. Am I attaching or not? 28:40 Q5 How can I use the sound of silence as my meditation object? 32:18 Q6 I feel a density or solidity in the head. How can I dissolve this? 49:57 Q7 Can you relate the breach of precepts to karma? 53:07 Q8 I am currently learning a type of QiGong which strictly prohibits eating meat and I feel better. But Buddhism allows me to eat meat. What should I do?