by Peter Carlson | May 20, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Anatta is typically translated as Non-Self; during this talk, Peter provides an alternative meaning: The absence of an enduring and autonomous self. Another of the basic concepts of Buddhism, Anicca, the ever-changing nature of subjective experience, counters the illusion of an ongoing self (This topic is reviewed during the talk on May 5, 2021). Even though a superficial view of experience strongly suggests that there is a separate self, close analysis reveals that self-experience is deeply conditioned by largely unaware memories from earlier in one’s life. During the talk, Peter reviews contemporary psychological research, Attachment Theory, which strongly suggests that human personality dynamics emerge from the countless social exchanges we all experience from our earliest life experiences–this view suggests we are all “co-creating” each other throughout life, which counters the belief that we are autonomous beings. The talk further reviews various ways that mindfulness meditation can “deconstruct” the illusion of an enduring, autonomous self (For more support, go to the archived “Guided Anatta Meditation”, recorded and posted the same day as this talk). The presentation was followed by discussion among those participating in the Zoom meeting regarding this topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Characteristics
Next week’s talk will begin a comprehensive review of the Satipatthana Sutta, using Analayo’s authoritative text “Satipatthana–The Direct Path To Realization” as a primary source. His research finds the translation of Satipatthana to be “attending with mindfulness” rather than “the four foundations of mindfulness”. The review will selectively emphasize those parts of the discourse that seem most relevant to contemporary practices, supplemented with current psychological and neurological research which is supportive of the discourse.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:43 — 124.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 20, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This meditation offers suggestions to realize that our subjective experience of “selfing” is an ever-changing process that emerges from the interaction of our sensory system with memories that go back over a lifetime and which fabricate a view of an enduring and autonomous self. This meditation is meant to accompany the talk “Review Of Anatta”, recorded after the talk and posted the same day.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:59 — 82.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 13, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It has become a tradition for the Orlando Insight Meditation Group Sangha to provide an opportunity for a member to “think out loud” about their recent retreat experience. It is hoped that the review will provide the retreatant an opportunity to “connect the dots” regarding the retreat experience as well as providing insights and inspiration for others who contemplate a residential retreat. In this talk, Will Lindemann reviews a 7-day self-retreat he sat through at a local retreat center. He used the conceptual framework from the book “Satipatthana A Practice Guide”, by Analayo as the primary support for his practice. He describes his understanding and application of the “Seven Contemplations” model that Analayo describes that he studied and practiced with during the retreat. His review was followed by questions proposed by those attending the Zoom meeting.
Next week’s topic will be a review of Anatta, the Buddhist doctrine that deconstructs the view that there is an autonomous and enduring self; the review will include insights developed through current physical and psychological research that support the doctrine.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:05 — 99.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 6, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the second of three Dharma talks focusing on the Three Characteristics of Buddhism: Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta. The previous talk was on April 28 and focused on Dukkha, and this one focuses on Anicca, typically translated as impermanence. During the talk transitory nature of objective experience was reviewed as well as several approaches to developing direct awareness of this experience while practicing mindfulness meditation in various ways.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Three Characteristics Part 2
Next week’s talk will focus on reviewing Anatta, the absence of an enduring/autonomous self.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:02 — 115.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 6, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
On April 28, 2021, a guided meditation on Dukkha was recorded, intended to support the Dharma talk for that evening on the same subject. This guided meditation focuses on Anicca, the transitory nature of one’s subjective experience. it is intended to support the topic for the Dharma talk on the same topic. During the meditation, various techniques for training attention in order to be able to investigate the fluid and constantly changing experience we all live with, accompanied by suggestions to realize with dispassion and detachment the fabricated process of self-organization. The suggested practices include noting briefly what is immediately attended to in the mind, using body scan meditation practices and the approach of “Let it come, let it be, let it go”.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Three Characteristics Part 2
The focus for the next talk will be on the third core concept, anatta, the absence of an enduring/autonomous self.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:01 — 82.4MB)
