This talk explores the common obstacles to practice the Five Hindrances of: restlessness, sleepiness, doubt, grasping and aversion. The Hindrances are discussed in the context of the Buddha’s central teaching on the Four Noble Truths.
Thich Nhat Hanh has written of how the encounter of Dharma and democracy will bring something new and exciting to the world. We explore 1. the beauty and dream of democracy and its resonance with the Dharma, 2. what currently needs attention in our would-be democracy and 3. a vision of how the connection of Dharma and democracy mature is vital for ourselves and our world.
Understanding how sense contact turns into mental proliferations and it's impact on our ability to be happy. This is important if we are to see through the veil that is constructed by such proliferations.