00:18 Whenever I tell someone about my worries or problems I'll be told to think positive. Does positive thinking accord with the teaching of the buddha? 06:16 I've been practicing with the satipatana sutta, establishing mindfulness. Often I get confused with the words "externally and internally" parts of the awareness practice. Can you help please? 24:37 I'm working on opening, meeting and releasing with the sympathetic attitude. I've noticed some joy and yet in unexpected circumstances I've become defensive and angry and this leads to shame. What do you advise? 30:50 If I can't get to a center where there is a more authentically embodied practice, could I practice with traditions that are more disembodied? 33:20 You mentioned the Great Forty sutta (https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN117.html) regarding the basis of samadhi. Surely it needs the five precepts to be steadfast in right view etc? 37:44 As individuals we have creative potential, skills etc. Do we invite that unique particularity to manifest in our lives?

Precepts are a vehicle for happiness and comfort for the heart – supporting that which can be liberated.

We express the precepts through our external behaviours and internally by how we react to the world. Gaining internal support for coolness and richness to discover our proper centre.

Skilful use of fields – of precepts, skills, virtues, relaxing the sense of self and releasing the citta from it.

Training precepts provide ancient themes for spiritual development, establishing boundaries of restraint. They are guardians of the world creating happiness for yourself and others.

The cultivation of right view of understanding can pave the way to ultimate happiness.

Refuge is refuge in balance and harmony, what we have in common, rather than the individual. The precepts are a voluntary taking on of training rules for mindfulness.

A review of the retreat’s theme. An opportunity to bring ethical concepts, precepts, and concerns to the forefront and to understand and appreciate their heart feelings.