A practical exploration of wise effort as a balanced, sustainable path: “not too tight and not too loose.” Gullu looks at the effort it takes to begin practice (and the conditions that can support and inspire that effort, including nibbidā and saṁvega), as well as how to cultivate the mind over time through the Four Wise Efforts, offered here with the acronym PACE: P — Preventing unwholesome states from arising A — Abandoning unwholesome states that have arisen C — Cultivating wholesome states E — Extending (sustaining) wholesome states

In this talk, Gullu reviews prior week's teachings on Wise Effort, including what supports initiating effort, the middle way between extremes, and the four wise efforts using the acronym PACE: (P)reventing unwholesome states from arising, (A)bandoning unwholesome states that have arisen, (C)ultivating wholesome states, and (E)xtending (sustaining) those wholesome states. He then briefly discusses the Seven Factors of Awakening (Satta Bojjhaṅgā)—mindfulness, investigation of dhammas, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity—emphasizing that energy naturally arises from Mindfulness and investigation. He concludes with a quick overview of the Four Bases of Power (Cattāro Iddhipādā): chanda, viriya, citta, and vīmaṃsā. Particular attention is given to viriya as the engine of awakening and to vīmaṃsā as the spirit of ongoing discernment and refinement in practice. NOTE: Group discussion has been removed.

After getting a sense of those present and a self-introduction, there is a guided meditation. We start with a few words on posture and invite a short period to connect with what is alive in one's practice. Then there are instructions for developing samadhi (concentration), followed by several short periods of guidance to cultivate awareness of the energy of the body, to tap into a sense of happiness and perhaps joy, and then a sense of peace. There is then a short period of mindfulness followed by a few minutes of reflection on (1) what is "calling" now in one's life and practice, and (2) how best one can connect formal meditation and daily life.

Donald explores some of the main themes of his March retreat, connecting these themes to general aspects of our practice. He shares some images of the Spirit Rock land, a group of turkeys, his place of practice and altar in his room, and the bench where he twice a day carried out a kind of ritual "talking to" his parents, who are deceased. He focuses on themes of listening for what calls one in one's practice and his main practices during the retreat: concentration practice, metta practice, the Tibetan practice of tummo (the inner fire) and the life of Milarepa, and awakened awareness. He concludes by speaking of some ways of keeping the retreat going in daily life, and, in preparation for the appearance of the Garbanzo Bean, Donald's clown personality, some on humor and spiritual practice. There is then discussion, including an appearance by Guru Garbanzo Bean responding to some questions, and closing in which we remember and honor Cyndy Gagne, a sangha member who recently passed.