Chris Clifford gave the first talk in a speaker series titled "Preparing the Mind for Awakening: Cultivating the Seven Factors of Awakening." In this talk, Chris explored the Buddha's teachings on Mindfulness in order to understand how this mental factor differs from ordinary untrained consciousness, and how it supports the unfolding of the Seven Factors of Awakening.

Chris Clifford gave the seventh talk in the eleven-week series "Ten Perfections." Four factors focus our resolve and strengthen our determination, namely discernment, truth, relinquishment and calmness.

Chris Clifford gave the fifth talk in a six-week series titled "Beautiful Mind-Five Faculties." She explained how wisdom grows as we gain insight into anicca, dukkha, and anatta, the Pali terms for impermanence, suffering, and "no self," respectively). This wisdom enhances our ability to respond wisely and with less suffering to moment-to-moment experience.

These seven qualities offer an effective framework for cultivating the mind, overcoming the hindrances, and balancing the energetic and calming forces that develop in meditation. When cultivated and balanced, the mind is ripe for awakening. This series will explore each factor to reveal its importance, function, and role in the process of awakening.

This is the first talk in a speaker series titled Eight-Fold Path of Awakening. Right Speech belongs to the ethical aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path. It includes abstaining from lying, devisive speech, harsh speech, and idle chatter. Can we stay mindful when we speak? What is our intention when we speak?

This series explores the Noble Eight-fold Path as a liberating practice. The Eight-fold Path is among the most practical and powerful core teachings of the Buddha. If offers practitioners a comprehensive approach for training the mind in the context of meditation, action, relationship, and life.

This talk was given as part of the series “Strengthening Mindfulness.” Buddhism is the study of the processes of the human mind and body, so we can discern what the patterns are that lead to more suffering and less suffering, respectively. For many of us, the so-called ‘afflictive emotions,’ such as anger, anxiety, despair and envy, are the most common experiences of suffering. However, in our practice, it is not our aim to get rid of these emotions. Rather, we are training ourselves to become aware of these emotions, for they are usually deeply ingrained habits reacting to what’s pleasant or unpleasant with clinging or aversion. This awareness then allows us to shift the way we respond to what’s happening in the present moment, so we can find peace and ease with things as they are.

This series expands on instructions offered in basic mindfulness courses, offers new depths of understanding, integrates the practice with life situations, and helps students establish a daily meditation practice. Mindfulness training is a practical tool that can support wisdom in any activity, and it is at the heart of Buddhist meditation leading to direct realization that frees the mind from suffering.