by Peter Carlson | Dec 19, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focused on recognizing and overcoming the Five Hindrances: sense desire, aversion/ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry and skeptical doubt. The main strategy for this is persistently aiming attention at the onset of breathing in, sustaining attention to the sensations associated with that process, and repeating the same practice with exhalations. When the mind wanders, simply noting this and immediately returning attention to the breath sensations. This approach will, with enough practice, set aside the intrusive effects of the hindrances, setting the stage for the next level of practice, cultivating samadhi/passadhi, that is, stability of attention/internal serenity.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: FREEING THE MIND FROM HINDRANCES
by Peter Carlson | Dec 18, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This was the introductory talk for the annual one week retreat. Traditionally, Buddhist retreats begin with “Taking refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha” and “The Five Precepts”. Peter described the intention of “taking refuge” and “the precepts” through a document provided for all the retreatants: COMMITMENTS FOR AWAKENING These commitments restate the intentions from a more contemporary perspective: commitments to persistently cultivate mindful awareness from waking to sleeping; to be mindful of the emergence of desire, the emergence of aversion, the emergence of speech (including internal narratives), the emergence of interpersonal dynamics, and the emergence of interactions with the environment.
These commitments are intended to foster the process of awakening, which was described as a dynamic awareness, not a state of being.
by Peter Carlson | Dec 15, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk summarizes the series of of explorations of Buddhist psychology with discussion about what are called “The Progressions of Insight”, which describe observable mental experiences that show progress in the the process of liberation from distress and confusion, known as dukkha. The process culminates with the experience of nirvana, the unconditioned flow of experience. This talk was followed by discussion about how these progressive insights can be realized through meditation practice integrated into daily life routines.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: THE AWAKENING PROCESS
Peter will be on retreat for the rest of December, so the next meeting will be January 4, 2017, at which time he will review what was beneficial for the awakening process. During the time he on retreat, the recorded Dharma talks from the weeklong retreat in February of 2016 will be posted in sequential order.
May everyone enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday season.
by Peter Carlson | Dec 8, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the last talk that focuses on the mind conditioners called the cetasikas. The Topic is the last of the cetasikas, Right Understanding, frequently termed Wisdom. The previous wholesome cetasikas were briefly reviewed to provide a conceptual context for understanding how wisdom matures as the wholesome mind conditioners are diligently practiced. During the talk, Peter described a commentarial consideration, that the Noble Eightfold Path begins with conceptual understanding, then, through diligent meditation practice and integration into daily life routines, matures into what is termed the Noble Tenfold Path, adding Right Insight and Right Liberation. This increased ability to cultivate wholesome self-state organizations makes the concepts real, that is, there is direct experiential awareness of the validity of the concepts. This is the process of Awakening. The explanation was followed by discussion during which the ways the people in the meeting realized “small “a” awakening, a gradual liberation from dukkha, that is, distress and confusion.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: the-realization-of-the-wisdom-cetasika
Next week’s discussion will explore the process of Awakening, referring to what are called “The contemplations of insight”. That meeting will be the last of the calendar year, as Peter will begin his annual year-end 2 week self-retreat on December 16.
by Peter Carlson | Dec 1, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focused on the mind conditioners associated with virtue, that is, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Compassion and Sympathetic Joy. The maturing of the wholesome cetasikas presents the virtues of the Noble Eightfold Path as being organized through the shift from being virtuous “because I’m supposed to” towards virtue manifesting “effortlessly” and authentically. As the wholesome functions of the mind become more effective, the natural expression of compassion and sympathetic joy/generosity emerges, associated with Right Speech, Action and Livelihood. The explanation was followed by interested participation by those at the meeting in reflecting on how these manifestations are realized through regular, diligent mindfulness meditation practice.
Next week’s talk will finalize the discussion of the cetasikas with a review of Right Understanding. The approach will be similar in describing the association between increasing the functionality of the wholesome cetasikas to make Right Understanding realized, that is, to be understood experientially as well as conceptually–an important realization on the path towards Awakening.