Unshakeable peace is not found in agreeable external conditions. It is cultivated as an internal ground. It is the resilience needed to fully show up in the world in the midst of agreeable and disagreeable external conditions. This talk will be an exploration into learning how to find and trust our internal peace.

When external conditions begin to fluctuate and spin at a fast pace, we need to know how to ground and stabilize ourselves internally. This is what the four foundations of mindfulness are pointing towards. Knowing how to establish mindfulness is an empowerment. It creates agency in oneself and allows us to move through challenging situations with strength and integrity.

Intention is present in every experience, response or action. Cultivating Right Intention in the context of contemporary society can often seem self-indulgent. The constant demands of being a householder can also over shadow intention and make it harder to recognize the expectations, assumptions, desires, beliefs, and/or energy (in other words- the intentions) behind our actions. Intention is part of the unconditional and thus, a necessary aspect of awakening.

Stillness is an ever present phenomenon and yet it seems so elusive in urban (also referred to as householder or lay) practice. Within the context of contemporary society, cultivating stillness can seem self-indulgent. Our demanding can sometimes make it harder to recognize it, but stillness is part of the unconditional and thus, a necessary aspect of awakening. This talk will explore how urban practitioners can learn to cultivate stillness in the midst of movement and chaos.