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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by Peter Carlson | Nov 5, 2011 | Intro to Buddhism & Meditation, Listen to Dharma Talks
During the 2011 one week retreat, Peter provided a guided meditation providing support for integrating mindfulness of breathing meditation with mindfulness flavor, sound and other sense modes, then noting feelings as urgencies, either pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. Then there was instruction on how to note different mind states, and finally, the arising and passing away of thoughts and images.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 3, 2011 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter describes controversies and agreements about the role jhana practice has is cultivating vipassana practice. He explains the progression from “acquiring the nimitta” (a noticeable sensation of touch or light arising from one-pointed concentration on the touch sensation at the nostrils) to the extraordinary state of mind called jhana. The value of the increased mental acuity from jhana practice to the onset of vipassana practice was explained, compared to the advantages of beginning vipassana practice without first entering jhana (called “dry vipassana).
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