by Peter Carlson | Mar 20, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the focus is on the Sambojjhanga, the Seven Awakening Factors: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Right Effort/Persistence, Joy, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity/Balance. These qualities are operating in every moment of wholesome self-state organization, and become more and more potent when the Five Hindrances have been set aside in the mind’s functioning. Emphasis was placed on the Investigation of Mental Phenomena, as this manifests as the maturation of the initial meditation instruction to aim attention at the breath sensation (vitakka in Pali) and sustain that awareness through the whole of the in-breath (vicara in Pali). The collaberative functioning of the seven factors is essential in the practice of vipassana, which is the primary tool fostering the awakening process. This explanation was followed by discussion of the day’s practice and the information received during this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: BOJJHANGA-7 AWAKENING FACTORS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:25:35 — 156.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 19, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described dukkha as distress and confusion rather than the traditional term suffering, as he believes the alternate terms are more specifically targeted on craving (distress) and clinging (confusion), the causes of dukkha. The development of aiming and sustaining attention on breath awareness is the primary skill to be cultivated in this effort. He described the Five Hindrances in their characteristics, function and antidotes, with mindfulness of breathing leading the way. The result from setting aside the hindrances is the experience of Samma Samadhi, Right Concentration, an element of the Noble Eightfold Path. This was followed by a question and answer period to address the day’s experience and the topic of this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE-OUT-OF-BALANCE-MIND
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:12 — 145.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 19, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described the self as a process, selfing, a verb rather than a noun. During the talk, the Mind System Model developed by Culadasa in his book “The Mind Illuminated”, was drawn on to help understand how different functions in the brain operate autonomously as “sub-minds” in processing ongoing experience, producing the ongoing process of self-organization and self-dissolution that is blended into the stream of consciousness, experienced as “myself”. The process of Awakening involves the practice of vipassana to investigate this selfing dynamic and “deconstruct” the misperception of an enduring and autonomous self. This was followed by questions and discussion of the day’s meditation practice and the evening talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE SELFING PROCESS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20:11 — 146.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 18, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focused on a more in-depth exploration of Samma Samadhi, Right Concentration. Peter modified the understanding by including passadhi, tranquility, as characteristic of an effective balance of stable attention and internal calmness and non-reactivity. During the talk, this stage of practice was described as providing alternatives for developing the mind, either into jhana practice or vipassana practice. This was followed by a question and answer period to clarify the day’s practice and issues from the talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: SAMMA SAMADHI
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20:43 — 147.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 16, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described the traditional Three Refuges: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha from a contemporary perspective, as a commitment to cultivating the Path to Awakening. This included a contemporary view of the Five Precepts as well. These commitments are meant to provide an orientation to the intensive daily practice for a retreat, in this case lasting one week. The Dharma talks and notes for the retreat will be posted daily for the next week in the sequence of the retreat.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Opening Night Talk
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:45 — 60.0MB)
