by Peter Carlson | Apr 29, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is the first of three talks regarding the fundamental nature of personal experience: anicca, dukkha and anatta. The focus her is on three sub-categories of dukkha: Dukkha Dukkha (The distress associated with inhabiting a body), Sankhara Dukkha (The distress and confusion that comes from how the mind interprets experience) and Viparinama Dukkha (The distress and confusion that occurs as the result of circumstances changing beyond one’s control). The review also addresses the causes of dukkha–craving and clinging–as well as ways to use mindfulness of breathing to decrease reactivity to the craving associated with dukkha and detachment regarding the internal “selfing story” of clinging, There is an accompanying “Guided Dukkha Contemplation” posted the same day in the archives.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Three Characteristics Part 1
The next topic for review will be the characteristics of anicca, the transient nature of subjective experience.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:13 — 104.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 29, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation reviews the ways to identify the characteristics of Dukkha while practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation, with the intention to increase an understanding of how craving and clinging create the distress and confusion of Dukkha. It is meant to accompany the talk titled “Reviewing The Three Characteristics of Dukkha” presented on the same day.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:59 — 82.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 22, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews a self-retreat recently experienced by Peter, which was intended to last 2 weeks but was ended after one week due to excessive fatigue. Peter describes the typical retreat routine, comparing the structure to the one he has followed for several years, which establishes 14-15 hours a day of meditation practice. The pros and cons of his practice routine was reviewed and several supportive suggestions were offered for future reference.
Next week’s talk will provide a review of the Three Characteristics within Buddhist doctrine: anicca (the rapidly changing subjective characteristics of experience), dukkha (the distress and confusion that we are all subject to in life), and anatta (the absence of an enduring/autonomous self). The intention will be to focus on how to identify and work with these characteristics skillfully. The following week will begin an extensive review of modern understandings and applications of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, a core Buddhist teaching. These foundations are Mindfulness of the Body (the subjective experience of physical sensations), Mindfulness of Feelings (the affect/emotional qualities of subjective experience), Mindfulness of the Mind (the characteristic levels of consciousness/mood upon which experience is projected) and Mindfulness of Mental Phenomena (the conditioning factors of the mind, which shape internal narratives and actions).
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:56 — 113.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 1, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is meant to complement the talk on March 24, 2021 that focused on how the stress in 2020 from the pandemic created anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress or addiction problems for many people. The focus for this talk is on how mindfulness of breathing meditation can be helpful in coping with the above mentioned conditions. The presenter, Peter, has integrated mindfulness principles and practices into a 35-year career as a psychotherapist and addictions counselor.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindful Coping With Pandemic Distress
Here are notes to accompany the discussion of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, an effective way to address depression: FIVE SCHEMA DOMAINS
Peter will be on a self-retreat from April 2-16; the next talk will be on April 21 and will involve a review of his retreat experience with the hope it will be informative for others who consider attending a residential retreat. The Orlando Insight Meditation Group will produce a residential retreat at the Deerhaven Retreat Center in Lake County, at the southern border of the Ocala National Forest October 16-23, 2021, which will be led by Peter.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:01 — 89.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 25, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the stresses we all endured during 2020, and how they affected most people, as related to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and addiction. These disorders were reviewed during the talk, as Peter has been a mental health professional for over 35 years and has integrated his psychotherapy practice with Buddhism. These problems were associated with the First and Second Noble Truths, Dukkha and the Causes of Dukkha, identified as attachment to a view that life should be predictable and controllable, which was significantly affected by the societal disruption resulting from the pandemic and the political controversies. This was followed by discussion among those participating in the Zoom meeting, including an individual who was made severely ill by the COVID-19 virus. The talk next week will focus on the Third and Fourth Noble Truths, Liberation from Dukkha and the Noble Eightfold Path and will associate mindfulness meditation to addressing the mental health problems mentioned above.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhism and Mental Health
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:10:53 — 129.8MB)