by Peter Carlson | Oct 13, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Awakening Factors Joy and Tranquility. The understanding of the review is that the first three Awakening Factors, Mindfulness, Investigation Of Mental Phenomena and Energy/Effort/Persistence, which were reviewed during the talk of October 5, 2022, support the development of the remaining Awakening Factors. The traditional understanding of these two factors is reviewed, along with some of the contemporary research on the nervous system that validates Buddhist concepts. Their development creates the conditions in the mind that bring clarity and a quality of regulation to the actions of the sympathetic nervous system, which energizes the mind and body, expressed as the Awakening Factor of Joy. The parasympathetic nervous system calms the mind and body, and is the Awakening Factor of Tranquility. As the Awakening Factors mature, these two systems are dynamically integrated and balanced.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Seven Awakening Factors—Part 2
The focus of the next talk will be a review of the remaining Awakening Factors, Concentration/Unification and Equanimity/Balance, which function to coordinate and balance the other five Awakening Factors.
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 6, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Once the mind has settled because the Five Hindrances have been conditionally disabled, the full realization of Awakening becomes possible because of the effect of the Seven Awakening Factors: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Effort/ Persistence, Joy/Engaged Interest, Tranquility, Concentration/Unification and Equanimity/Balance. This talk focuses on a review of the first three of the factors, the coordinated and integrated development of which enables the realization of the remaining four factors. Upcoming talks will review the remaining factors.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE SEVEN FACTORS FOR AWAKENING Part One
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:37 — 57.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 22, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Six Beautiful Pairs of Wholesome Cetasikas represent the fulfillment of wholesomeness in the mind. The integrated and unified functions of the Universal, Particular and seven Wholesome mind conditioning factors manifests as 12 integrated characteristics–six factors being among various aggregations of the wholesome factors and six representing their beneficial effects on consciousness. The value of contemplating these mind conditioners comes from understanding the concepts involved, with emphasis on how to recognize them and unify their functioning to promote the process of Awakening. During the talk, the relationship between these conditioners and the Seven Awakening Factors is clarified.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: REVIEWING-SIX-BEAUTIFUL-PAIRS-OF-WHOLESOME-MIND-CONDITIONERS
The topic for the next talk will be a review of the remaining mind conditioning factors, which represent direct realization of various elements of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:18 — 47.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 15, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
There are 25 wholesome mind conditioners described in Buddhist psychology; this talk reviews the first 7 of these functions. They are present in each moment of consciousness, operating to free the mind from distress and confusion. The value in reviewing them comes from first being able to identify them conceptually, then to recognize their operation in consciousness. Ultimately, this awareness “deconstructs” the belief that there is an enduring, autonomous self–instead, there is direct realization that the self is fabricated through the interactions of various functions.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: WHOLESOME MIND CONDITIONERS, PART ONE
The focus of next week’s talk will be on the “Six Beautiful Pairs” of wholesome mind conditioners, which represent the beneficial effect of the conditioners reviewed during this talk.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 8, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the 14 Unwholesome Cetasikas, categories of mind conditioning functions that create dukkha, the distress and confusion that constitute the “default mode” of one’s personality. The core functions are ignorance regarding karma, desire for pleasurable experience and aversion to unpleasant experience. The talk begins with a quick review of the Universal and Particular Cetasikas (Reviewed during the talk of August 31, 2022), which are considered to be ethically malleable, that is, influenced by either Unwholesome or Wholesome Cetasikas. The Unwholesome Cetasikas are driven by basic instinctual drives that are poorly investigated and poorly regulated without the training supported by the 25 Wholesome Mind Conditioners, especially Mindfulness, which provides relief from dukkha. The Wholesome Mind Conditioners will be reviewed in upcoming talks.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Reviewing The Mind Conditioners–Part 2
The focus for the next talk will be on the first 7 of the 25 Wholesome Mind Conditioners.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:38 — 60.1MB)
