by Peter Carlson | Oct 5, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk by Peter Carlson thoroughly summarizes the last verse of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse, which describes how the Four Noble Truths are transformed by the effective coordinated functioning of the Seven Awakening Factors from a conceptual understanding to direct knowledge of the transient and impersonal nature of subjective experience. Within the Wisdom Aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Understanding is directly realized, becoming Right Knowledge and Right Intention is directly realized, becoming Right Release; in this way, the Noble Eightfold Path becomes the Noble Tenfold Path. The talk also includes a review of the concept of Nirvana, which, in the Theravaden Buddhist tradition, must be experienced 4 times to achieve full Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Realizing the Noble Eightfold Path
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:14 — 58.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 28, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Lezlie Laws reviews the seventh Awakening Factor, Equanimity, beginning with a very well-written essay by her describing the poise and dedication of a hawk living in New York City and raising chicks in the middle of the busy metropolis. She speaks of how viewing a video about this hawk stirred her emotionally and connects the theme of the story and her experience with the Awakening Factor of Equanimity. This is followed by her review of the traditional characteristics of the Equanimity Awakening Factor, which functions to bring balance to the other six factors and, therefore to the Awakening mind. Several participants in the meeting then talk about their understanding of how the story and Equanimity applies to her or his life experience.
The topic for the next talk will summarize the fulfillment in the development of the elements found within the Four Foundations of Mindfulness through an explanation of how the Noble Eightfold Path becomes realized as the Noble Tenfold Path.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:05 — 59.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 21, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is customary for our Sangha meetings to provide an opportunity for someone who has participated in a recent residential retreat to “think out loud” about their experience. Much of the benefit of a retreat occurs outside of awareness, and an opportunity to talk about what happened during the retreat can bring new insights to them and integrate what has occurred into conscious awareness and therefore become more accessible for future spiritual development. Listening to a review can also be informative and inspiring for those in the meeting or reviewing this recording. During this talk, Andy, the founding teacher for the Lakeland Insight Meditation Group, recounts his experience at the Southern Dharma Center in North Carolina at a retreat led by Donald Rothberg, a well-respected author and teacher, whose training has been influenced by Theravaden and Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:06 — 45.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 15, 2023 | News
Allie Vaknin provides a review of the Joy Awakening Factor during this talk, clarifying the various ways that joy can arise as an internally generated phenomena, not dependent upon external circumstances.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:58 — 56.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 15, 2023 | News
This talk provides a review of two of seven Awakening Factors, Tranquility and Concentration, which are so integrated in their functioning that their manifestation is called samatha (syah-mah-tah) in Pali. Peter Carlson provides a review of each of the two, including skillful means for cultivating them, both while meditating and in the context of lifestyle choices. Additional emphasis is provided to clarify the characteristics of concentration, as either the highly concentrated experience of jhana or the more inclusive but very stable kind of concentration important for vipassana practice and the full development of the Seven Awakening Factors.
This talk can be supplemented by the “Guided Tranquility and Concentration Contemplation” that preceded this talk and which is posted in the archives of this site.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Tranquility and Concentration
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:28 — 57.2MB)
