by Peter Carlson | May 1, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Lili reviews how her studies and meditation practices have helped her effectively manage migraine headaches and the pain of sciatica. She invited participants to ask questions or share their experience regarding pain, and several people provided reports about how their meditation practice was helpful for managing incidental or chronic pain effectively.
There is an accompanying recording posted in the Audio page titled “Mindfulness Based Pain Management Contemplation” that is intended to support what is discussed during this Dharma talk.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:13 — 53.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 1, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation provides suggestions for integrating mindfulness, investigation and letting go of impulsive reactivity while practicing body scanning, in order to cultivate more equanimity regarding pain as well as intrusive/demanding uncomfortable thoughts and moods. it is intended to accompany the Dharma talk following the meditation titled “Mindfulness Based Pain Management”.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:54 — 41.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 24, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, April describes how important it is to integrate the benefits of formal mindfulness meditation with walking, particularly while outdoors in nature. She shares her own experience and insights that emerge in a variety of settings during normal daily routines from this practice and invites others participating in the meeting to share their insights as well.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Stillness in Motion – Google Slides (002)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:55 — 56.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 17, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
One time per month, Peter provides the opportunity for those participating in the meeting to ask questions about Buddhist concepts and meditation practice. He also provides a brief review of the relationship between each of the Four Noble Truths, emphasizing that different subjective experiences require different focusing on each of the Truths. During the meeting, Peter also provides comments about his understanding of emptiness, the absence of an enduring/autonomous self. He describes his experiences of awareness that is disinterested in defining bodily boundaries and is inclusive of the totality of sensory and cognitive “flow” without interest in differentiating objects within the flow experience. During the description, he recalls hearing Joseph Goldstein talk about the importance of “effortless effort”, and the benefits of just letting go of any resistance or attachment during the out-breath, when the mind is stable and tranquil. He also suggests that these qualities of awareness are not “created” by a meditator, that liberating states of mind are ever-present, and that cultivating the Seven Awakening Factors frees the mind from hindrances that obstruct direct awareness of emptiness.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:08 — 63.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 10, 2025 | News
During this talk, Lezlie Laws uses references to several books on contemplative stillness to develop greater conceptual understanding of the characteristic of the mind when unburdened by craving and clinging. She also shares the insights regarding stillness she realized while attending to the recent passing of her beloved dog Dash. This talk was preceded by a guided meditation entitled “Guided Stillness Contemplation”, which is posted within the Guided Meditation folder in the archives.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:31 — 61.8MB)