First talk of the retreat. The range of human experience includes choices based on greed, hatred and confusion or non green, non hatred and non confusion. There are many fortunate conditions that give someone faculties to hear to Dhamma, contemplate, practice a gradual path of awakening. Yet there are times when the path changes suddenly and we can feel groundless. Both the gradual and sudden aspects of the path are part of what we develop and realize as part of understanding the preciousness of our human birth.

Overview of the foundations of mindfulness. The hindrances are observed as part of the 4th foundation. Understanding the hindrances both in terms of how they need to be kept in balance as as expressions of development.

Using the aggregates and the sense bases to understand where, how, what and whereby "I" arises. The watching what happens when "I" dissolves.