by Peter Carlson | Aug 29, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Peter has decided to open one meeting each month to discussion in response to any questions or observations by the participants at that meeting, focusing on Dharma and practice oriented issues. Questions and comments focused on the importance that the practice of mindfulness of feelings, along with the role of concentration in the practice of vipassana, insight into the conditioned nature of experience. Peter shared some insights he experienced on a retreat that revealed the moment-by-moment arising and passing away of mental phenomena, and the powerful impact it has had on his dedication to daily, diligent mindfulness of breathing meditation.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:35 — 50.9MB)
by Mary Ann | Dec 3, 2011 | Listen to Dharma Talks, Study Resources
by Tommy Harrison
‘Tis the season. The season for generosity. A time of year that brings great joy for some, suffering for others, and a mix of both for many. All around us are examples of both wholesome generosity as well as actions fueled by greed. We get to see some of the best and worst of our fellow human beings and perhaps ourselves. This end of year holiday season has been a cause of personal suffering over the years. Nothing too major, but suffering all the same. It’s only been by turning into this suffering and investigating it that has allowed for a better understanding of what was arising and how to release it. It’s presented wonderful opportunities to pause and reflect on some of the Buddha’s teachings to guide us through the holiday season.
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by Peter Carlson | Jan 20, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The evening’s activities included a guided meditation posted below: “Looking Closer Meditation.mp3”, during which Peter provided suggestions supporting a more persistent and intimate awareness regarding the sensations of breathing.
During the talk following the guided meditation, Peter drew on a book entitled “Right Mindfulness” by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (available as a free .pdf download from: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/rightmindfulness.pdf ) to emphasize the importance of being “ardent, alert and mindful” regarding breath awareness. The word ardent means heartfelt, actively interested and engaged. The above quoted phrase is mentioned multiple times in the book, which draws from the Pali Canon as the reference. This investigating function supports increasing stability of attention and tranquility, setting the conditions for vipassana, investigation of self-state organizations. There are 8 stages mentioned in the commentaries to the suttas, and these were described during the talk. This was followed by general group discussion regarding the importance of persistent, intimate breath awareness.
Here are the notes prepared for the talk: STAGES OF BREATH AWARENESS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:13 — 115.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 6, 2011 | Intro to Buddhism & Meditation, Listen to Dharma Talks
This recording provides training in the practice of “body sweep” meditation, which Peter received training for during a retreat with S. N. Goenka’s assistant trainers. They call this practice vedanupassana, mindfulness of feelings, which is the second of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. This training, an hour of practice, provided prompts for aiming attention at a particular spot on the body and sustaining that attention to develop the Awakening Factors of Investigation of Phenomena, Energy, and, of course, Mindfulness. It requires a lot of preparation through developing concentration to the level of upacara samadhi, access concentration. It can be quite frustrating for a beginning meditator, as the power of investigation is initially quite weak; it’s important to recall that this is meant to cultivate investigation, and not a test of willpower.
by Peter Carlson | May 30, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Retreats are expected to be tranquil, contemplative experiences, and, to a great extent, this is true. Peter has been on nearly 100 retreats of one week or more since 1982, and some of them were bound to be challenging. This retreat was one of them. The intention was to use a two weeks self-retreat to practice cultivating samadhi using kasina practice, explanations of which are found in the extensive Visuddhimagga commentary, compiled centuries after the time of the Buddha.
The first week involved this practice, using an l.e.d. lighted 8 1/2 inch globe, placed lower than eye level about 6 feet away. The technique involves gazing at the object until a visual “overlay” becomes evident, at which time the eyes are closed and an attempt is made to maintain the image.
This practice was interrupted by significant problems regarding the installing of a new kitchen in Peter’s home (the meditation cottage is in the back yard of his home). After a week of solid cultivation of concentration difficulties arose with the contracted building company, whose management seems to be inconsiderate and greedy. During the talk, Peter described how his mindfulness practice, supported by cultivating calmness and serenity for a week, allowed him to transition into a “work retreat” mindset for the remaining week of the practice. He described a “sea anchor”, a device sailing ships used in storms to stay oriented into the wind and waves of the storm, with breath awareness as the anchor as the storm of emotions passed through. He also talked about how significantly cultivated meditation practice can produce very creative problem solving solutions as a benefit during difficult times, but an obstacle to deeply examining the impermanent and non-self aspects of life, the goal of serious meditation practice.
This was followed by discussion focused on how mindfulness practice can be applied to significant challenges in one’s life beneficially.
Next week’s talk will resume discussion of the discourse on mindfulness of breathing, the Anapanasati Sutta, with particular focus on viriya (vee-rih-yah), the energy awakening factor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:41 — 114.8MB)
