by Peter Carlson | Mar 8, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk explored the ways to use the routine, repetitive practice of aiming attention at the beginning of the inbreath (vitakka [wee-tah-kah] in Pali), and maintaining investigative awareness of the sensations noted during the duration of the inbreath (vicara [wee-chah-rah] in Pali), then repeating this for the outbreath. This practice cultivates stability of focus (samadhi [sah-mah-dee] in Pali) and tranquility (passadhi [pah-sah-dee] in Pali). These qualities of stable, calm attention to the emergence of mental phenomena is core to the practice of insight into the nature of experience (vipassana [vee-pah-sah-nah] in Pali). This was followed by discussion of the night’s topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Cultivating Samadhi And Passadhi
During this talk, reference was made to a guided meditation recorded earlier that day entitled “Investigating The Breath”, which is also part of this post.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20:54 — 148.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 5, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk was recorded at the end of the first full day of the retreat, and focuses on the Five Hindrances. Peter presented a graphic that presented the hindrances as dynamic polarities: too much conviction as opposed to too much skepticism, and too much energy as opposed to too much tranquility. The common antidote for these mental disturbances is stability of attention combined with active investigation, using mindfulness of breathing as a stabilizing and energizing point of reference. This was followed by discussion of the hindrances and overcoming them. The next night’s discussion focuses on “Cultivating A Focused And Tranquil Mind”.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE OUT OF BALANCE MIND
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:15:13 — 137.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 2, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter reviewed the traditional “3 Refuges” and “Five Precepts” practices at the beginning of retreats, then suggested a more contemporary rendering of the Refuges, followed by a handout with the Precepts rendered as commitments. Participants were also given a “certificate” dedication: “May The Merits Of This Practice Benefit Everyone I Meet”. This was followed by discussion regarding how to make best use of the retreat experience to follow over the next 6 days.
Here are files for the certificate and commitment handouts: To Cultivate More Clear Awareness and Benevolent Intention scanned merits slogan
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14:00 — 135.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 23, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is customary for retreatants to have an opportunity to “think out loud” about a recent retreat experience, as this helps integrate the deep learning that can occur during such an event and provides insight and inspiration for listeners regarding the benefits of retreat experience. There were 24 folks attending the retreat at the Deerhaven Retreat Center; 6 spoke during the evening. During the month of March, the recorded evening talks and some guided meditations from the retreat will be posted periodically on the site to supplement what was discussed this evening.
Please note that Peter will be attending a one month samadhi cultivating retreat at the Forest Refuge with Shaila Catherine and Sayadaw U Jagara in March. Meetings will occur as usual, with various senior members of the Sangha and invited guest speakers attending, but they will not be recorded and posted. He will report on his intensive retreat experience during the meeting on Wednesday, April 5.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:43 — 107.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 9, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This evening’s meeting focused on the crucial role cetana, the Pali word translated as intention or volition, plays in the ongoing process of self-state organization. Cetana is a “universal mind conditioner”, functioning in each moment of self-state organization to coordinate the various conditioning factors involved in the process. Intention operates through the each of the “six sense bases”, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, body sensations and cognitive processes. Using the concept developed in the book “The Mind Illuminated”, Peter described how intention shapes the perceptual processes in each of the sense bases; the most potent of the products of the various sense bases will be further processed by emotionally charged memory associations and will emerge into consciousness. The benefit of cultivating the intention to mindfully and persistently investigate the sensation of breathing is the manifestation of samadhi/passadhi, a flow of conscious awareness that is stable and tranquil. This unifies the sense bases and produces the conditions most effective for the practice of vipassana, that is, insight into the conditioned nature of personal experience, liberating the mind from distress and confusion.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE IMPORTANCE OF INTENTION
There will not be a posted dharma dialogue next week because of the one week residential meditation retreat. On February 22, participants in the retreat will review their retreat experiences for posting on the website.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:40 — 107.4MB)
