The Buddha famously said, "I teach dukkha [suffering or reactivity or a sense of unsatisfactoriness] and the cessation of dukkha.” We explore this core teaching as it is expressed in the Four Noble Truths and the teachings of the Two Arrows and Dependent Origination, including ways that it can be confusing. We suggest ways to understand and implement this teaching both in formal meditation and in everyday life. (See document 328 below, on "Four Meanings of Dukkha, and Contact to Grasping in the Dependent Origination Model.")

This talk explores an important topic that James has not spoken on before. We often think of practice as simply noticing our experience in the present moment. However, the Buddha explicitly pairs heedfulness (appamada) and wise attention (yoniso manasikara) as the two primary internal factors responsible for giving birth to the Noble Eightfold Path. This talk discusses how these two qualities are applied in our practice on and off the cushion.

Integrity (Sila in Pali) and Simplicity (usually translated as 'Renunciation', Nekkhama in Pali) are two practices in Buddhism that can support our journey to peace and freedom. This talk offers an exploration of some of the Buddha's teachings on these practices and the reasoning for their profound value.

One of the well known Buddhist lists is called the 'Paramis', or Perfections, which represent both qualities that the Buddha cultivated himself and also recommended that we cultivate on the road to freedom. The first one, considered a doorway to the rest, is generosity. This talk is a brief look at the ten Paramis and a deeper dive into the teaching on generosity.

The topic of this talk is Wise Concentration. What is it (as opposed to regular concentration, and how is it different from mindfulness); why did the Buddha teach it as an essential element on the path to freedom; and how do we practice it.

Wise Mindfulness is the 7th of 8 practices the Buddha offered to help us move toward peace and freedom. It involves non-judgmental clear seeing of present moment experience, along with awareness of awareness itself. This talk looks at this powerful practice and consider ways to bring it more fully into our lives.

Wise Effort is the 6th of 8 practices the Buddha offered to help us move toward peace and freedom. It involves understanding, discernment, and choice.This talk looks at this powerful teaching and considers ways to bring it more fully into our lives.

Wise Action and Wise Livelihood are important components to Buddhism: deliberately choosing actions and jobs rooted in non-harming. This talk explores the what, why, and how of these two steps on the Buddhist path.

The Buddha emphasized Wise Speech as an important part of the path to freedom. This talk takes a look at the what, why and how of Wise Speech.

The fourth Noble Truth is the Eight fold Path. The second of the paths is Wise Intention. In this talk Eve discusses Wise Intention.