Talks

On the Uposatha Tahn Pamutto reflects on the talk ‘Winter Camping’ by Ajahn Sona, which presented a variety of principles he was able to take with him while wandering. This becomes a reflection on the principle of training itself, and the way our ability to learn from experience and adapt to our weaknesses can make […]

Tahn Pamutto leads the Uposatha session remotely while travleing. Despite the lower quality, the talk is important and vital – an attempt to describe and point to the quality of Nibbāna alluded to in the Third Noble Truth. By turning towards and awakening to the quality of peace all around us, it becomes possible to

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment daylong retreat was a success with many friends taking the time to spend their Saturday together in dhamma practice. There were two talks and a Q & A session, of which the two talks were recorded from morning and afternoon.  These recordings can be found on the Innovative Dhamma youtube

On the Uposatha, Tahn Pamutto gives a reflection on the brahma-vihara of Mudita. This mind state translates as ‘Gladness’ or ‘Sympathetic Joy’, and is based on a deep joy and appreciation in good fortune, wholesomeness, and success. Often overlooked because it seems too simplistic or doesn’t directly combat ill-will like the other brahma-vihara’s, it is

On the Uposatha night, a sick Tahn Pamutto gives a reflection on how we can come to understand the ups and downs of life in a buddhist context. We do this by considering the four noble truths, and specifically cultivating the ‘duty’ to each of these truths. Suffering is to be understood, Craving is to

In this Uposatha talk, Tahn Pamutto provides encouragement in developing mindfulness, an essential component of the eightfold path, and describes the Buddha’s framework of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness which helps guide that effort and make it fruitful.

On the Uposatha, Tahn Pamutto offers a reflection on four streams of Puñña, or Merit: Dānā, Service, Instruction, and Bhāvana. Elaborating on each one, he describes how they get progressively more powerful and sublime until the final stream of merit, which culminates in nibbāna itself.

Our latest weeklong retreat has concluded in Shelburne, MA.  The retreat and visit of NYC resident Tahn Santi brought quite a surge of interest in the small gathering space, with 16 different friends visiting over the course of a few days.  But for the most part it was a quiet, in-house venture.  The evening sit

In this Uposatha reflection, Tahn Pamutto discusses the vital quality of Equanimity or Upekkha. This quality shows up in a number of lists of wholesome qualities to be cultivated, notably always at the end or as the culmination. By explaining the various ways the term is used, it’s possible to move towards a definition of

In this Uposatha reflection Tahn Pamutto goes up against the notion that you have to believe in Karma and Rebirth to be a Buddhist – where the idea comes from and what exactly the Buddha talks about as essential in the understanding of karma.