by Peter Carlson | Nov 10, 2011 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is the custom of the Orlando Insight Meditation Group to dedicate a meeting after a significant retreat experience to the sharing of the insights gained by the yogis during the retreat. There were 21 people on the retreat, and several showed up to talk about it. The changes in the mind that occur during a retreat are deep and function outside of the aware verbalizing functions of the brain. Peter encourages yogis to talk in order to bring these deep changes more clearly into awareness, so they are more integrated and more accessible for future access. Also, those who were not at the retreat can benefit from hearing about the insights and benefits gained from the intense practice of meditation on retreat.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 6, 2011 | Listen to Dharma Talks
On this last night of the retreat, Peter provided several suggestions for continuing the practice of awakening after the retreat ends. The value of daily samadhi practice was emphasized as the foundation from which all insights and spiritual progress derives. During the discussion, yogis offered different ways of mindfully knowing the intrusive feelings that precipitate the emergence of a hindrance. Recognizing the reality of the three characteristics, impermanence, the dissatisfaction resulting from craving and clinging and the interdependence of life was also emphasized as a practical way to understand life’s challenges.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 6, 2011 | Listen to Dharma Talks
In this talk, Peter describes the progressive steps toward awakening that are accomplished through perfecting the Seven Factors of Awakening. The culmination of this perfection transforms the meditative mind from understanding the nature of the Four Noble Truths–from concept to realization. The nature of suffering is completely known, the experience of craving is seen clearly, the release from suffering becomes more and more complete, and Wisdom becomes completely known. This brings release, first from a psychological entrapment through to the final release, freedom from the illusion of a separate, enduring self–the experience of Nibbana.
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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.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 6, 2011 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the cumulative benefits of cultivating satta sambojjhanga, the seven wholesome mind states that are to be cultivated to move the mind toward awakening (Nibbana). Mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration and equanimity were described and their mutual influence explored.
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