by Peter Carlson | May 2, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Mindfully contemplating the subjective experience of the Four Elements: Earth, Wind,Fire, and Water is mentioned in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse as part of the category “Mindfulness of the Body”. During the talk, Peter describes the characteristics of each Element, along with how they can be useful for interrupting internal “selfing stories”. This talk is meant to be accompanied by the recording in the archives entitled “Four Elements Contemplation”. Those present for the meeting shared their experiences during the meditation and sought clarification regarding the topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Working With the Four Elements Contemplations
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:46 — 53.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 2, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation provides suggestions for contemplating what are called the Four Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. These contemplations are embedded within the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse. Peter describes the subjective characteristics of each of the Elements and suggests different areas of the body to mindfully investigate their nature. This guided meditation is intended to accompany the Dharma talk entitled ” Working With The Four Elements Contemplation”, which explains how developing proficiency in this training exercise interrupts hindering internal chatter and supports differentiating the separate characteristics of physical sensational awareness and co-occurring fabricating function of the mind. This understanding increases one’s ability to “deconstruct” belief in an enduring/autonomous self.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 4, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The traditional rendering of samma ajiva in english is Right Livelihood; during this talk, Peter revises this part of the Noble Eightfold Path as Right Lifestyle, as life is more complex and more stressful psychologically in contemporary American culture. He describes the demands of work, finances, societal conflict, physical well-being, and environmental disruption through the way we live from waking to sleeping each day–our lifestyle patterns–and how the Four Noble Truth’s concepts and practices can be effectively applied to create a lifestyle that is more resilient, more serene, and more responsible. His presentation is followed by comments from those participating in the meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk, which include several relevant quotes from Theravada Buddhist suttas that support the cultivation of Right Lifestyle: Creating Right Lifestyle
The topic reviewed next week by Lezlie Laws will be the first aspect of the Mental Discipline Aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Effort.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:04 — 63.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 28, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a thorough review of the Four Noble Truths, focusing on the second attribute of the Fourth Truth, within the Virtue Aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path–Right Action. During the talk, Lili describes the characteristics of the Precepts, which are the ethical guidelines to be understood and acted upon to further the path of Awakening. This recording also includes additional questions and comments from thos3 attending related to the topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: RIGHT ACTION
The topic for next week’s talk will continue to review the Virtue Aggregate, focusing on Right Livelihood. In and effort to apply the principles of the Virtue Aggregate to contemporary life, the topic will be represented by an alternative term, “Right Lifestyle”, focusing on how a virtuous lifestyle addresses the complexities and challenges presented by health and well-being, global warming, and the iniquities of cultural imbalances.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:20 — 52.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 21, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter provides an overview of Sila, the Buddhist Virtue Aggregate, which is found within the Noble Eightfold Path, with an emphasis on the importance of mindfully recognizing the non-virtuous elements of contemporary cultural conditioning, which create disharmony and dysfunction with significant negative consequences for social cohesion and the environment, renouncing them, and instead orienting one’s thoughts and actions through the filter of Virtue–harmlessness, compassion, generosity and equanimity. He then focuses on Right Speech in the context of a person’s internal self-talk, as well as interpersonal communications. He adds another consideration he calls Right Listening, the ability to bring skillful attention and discipline to bear on the cognitive distortions that prevail in contemporary media and counter their effect on one’s clarity, purpose and peace of mind.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE VIRTUE OF RIGHT SPEECH The contents of these notes are more expansive and descriptive than the verbal recording of the talk.
Next week’s talk will focus on another function of the Virtue Aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path: Right Action.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:51 — 56.6MB)
