by Peter Carlson | Jul 29, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a review of the Five Hindrances, focusing on the way the instinctual nature of restlessness and agitation can be associated with an internal narrative that reinforces and amplifies this restlessness to the state clinically described as anxiety, which is often experienced during these trying times of pandemic and extreme global weather events. The characteristic of restlessness can also be investigated mindfully as a component of the other four hindrances. Various antidotes for restlessness and anxiety are described, with an emphasis on the benefits of simply dedicating attention persistently to investigating the neutral feeling tones while practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation, both formally and, during the day, informally. There is a guided meditation posted in the archives of this site entitled “Guided Restlessness and Worry Contemplation” that is intended to supplement the information heard during this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Setting Aside Restlessness and Worry
The topic for next week’s talk is a review of the fifth hindrance, Skeptical Doubt.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:34 — 118.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 29, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This training meditation focuses on the hindrance of Restlessness and Worry, with suggestions regarding how to discern the difference between restlessness as a feeling and worry as a narrative. Being able to disregard the narrative and use mindfulness of breathing practices to reduce the restlessness in order to set aside the hindrance is an important goal in the practice of liberating the mind from dukkha. it is also suggested to investigate the role restlessness as a feeling has in the experience of the other hindrances. This guided meditation is intended to accompany the Dharma talk of the same meeting: “Setting Aside Restlessness and Worry”, which is also posted on this site.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:06 — 82.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 22, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is a review regarding how to identify the characteristics of thina-middha, the hindrance of sloth and torpor, one of the contemplations in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. This quality of diminished alertness and attention is in contrast to the fourth of the five hindrances, restlessness and worry, the topic of the next talk. Sloth and torpor represent an overactive parasympathetic nervous system in the body, while restlessness and worry represent an overactive sympathetic nervous system function. Various lifestyle issues that contribute to this hindrance are reviewed as well as ways to use diligent, mindful and clear knowledge of the flow of subjective experience to set its influence aside. It is intended to be accompanied by “Guided Sloth And Torpor Contemplation”, recorded just prior to this talk on July 21, 2021, posted in the archives.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Setting Aside Dullness In The Mind
The topic for next week’s review is the hindrance Restlessness And Worry.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:16 — 101.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 22, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation focuses on recognizing the characteristics of the hindrance Sloth and Torpor, as well as various ways to set aside the sluggishness and non-responsiveness of the mind while meditating. It is intended to accompany the Dharma talk of the same evening, July 21, 2021 entitled “Setting Aside Sloth And Torpor”.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:58 — 82.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 15, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is a review of the second of the Five Hindrances listed among the contemplations of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. During the talk, the characteristics of aversion (rejection and withdrawal in the mind from unpleasant feelings) and Ill-will (a characteristic aggression that often accompanies aversion) are described. Various forms of this hindrance, such as overt reactions (perhaps scratching an itch) or covert reactions (for example, passive-aggressive behavior) are reviewed. Neurological underpinnings of the subjective experience of this hindrance are also reviewed. Suggestions are offered as antidotes for this hindrance. The talk is followed by comments from those participating in the Zoom meeting.
This talk can be supplemented with the “Guided Aversion and Ill-Will Meditation” posted on the same day and stored in the archive.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Setting Aside Aversion And Ill Will
The topic for next week’s talk will be on the hindrance of Sloth and Torpor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:20 — 119.6MB)
