by Peter Carlson | Nov 12, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews mudita, typically translated as sympathetic joy, and represents the ability to emotionally resonate with the happiness of other beings. Sympathetic joy is a manifestation of lovingkindness and is similar to compassion, as both are ways that the mind can respond skillfully and beneficially to the innate emotional resonance all humans share. Compassion resonates to the distress and confusion of others, while sympathetic joy resonates to the success and happiness of others. Peter reviews what are called the “far enemy” and “near enemy” of mudita, emphasizing the importance of persistent cultivation of mindfulness to monitor and balance the empathic attunement process that is manifested. The review is followed by discussion of the application of mudita among the participants. This discussion is intended to be accompanied by “Guided Enjoying the Happiness of Others Meditation”, recorded the same night.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Enjoying the Happiness of Others
Next week’s talk will focus on the mind conditioning factor of Wisdom, that is, a correct understanding of how the wholesome mind conditioning factors cooperate and integrate into daily life experience.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:23 — 75.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 12, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This meditation combines mindfulness of breathing meditation with focused attention on the area around the heart for contemplating the joyful feelings that can be realized in witnessing the happiness of others. Breath awareness stabilizes attention and sets aside the hindrances, while focused attention on the heart invites emotional awareness in the context of celebrating the joy and happiness of others. During the meditation you can recall experiences when you benefited from the generosity of others and then use that as a model for realizing the benefits of empathically resonating with the success and happiness of people or other beings such as pets. This meditation is intended to complement the talk entitled “Enjoying the Happiness of Others” recorded on November 11, 2020.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 5, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Wholesome Mind Conditioning function of karuna (kah-roo-nah), compassion, which is a manifestation of Right Intention from the Noble Eightfold Path. Peter reviews the universal human capacity for empathy, “hard-wired” into our nervous system, perhaps expressed through the function of the vagal nerve process, which connects the brain with the heart, lungs and intestines, suggesting the the experience of compassion is a process involving the entire torso as well as the brain. This innate empathy creates the group cohesion necessary for civilization to function effectively, which is greatly challenged during these trying times that involve the pandemic, political conflict and the disruptive societal impact of global warming. Different approaches to cultivating compassion are described involving the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana views. The review is followed by discussion among those participating regarding the cultivation of compassion. This talk is accompanied by a separately recorded “Guided Mindful Compassion Meditation” from the same night.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindful Compassion In Trying Times
The focus for next week’s talk will be the cultivating of Sympathetic Joy, another of the Wholesome Cetasikas.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:00 — 115.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 5, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This meditation focuses on combining mindfulness meditation with compassion meditation, suggesting that the effective experiencing and expressing of compassion requires using Right Mindfulness and Right Effort to create the subjective clarity and serenity that supports the emergence of compassion. The ability of a person to empathize with the distress and confusion of others is emphasized, and the inter-relatedness of all beings is also included in the contemplation. This meditation is intended to accompany the posting entitled “Mindful Compassion In Trying Times”, recorded November 4, 2020.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:21 — 83.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 30, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Wholesome Cetasikas “Right Action” and “Right Livelihood” in their classical rendering and then conjoins them into “Right Lifestyle” to reflect ways to be resilient to current stresses in these trying times. Contemporary lifestyles are deeply conditioned by indoctrination regarding consumerism and identification with roles and entitlements that are significantly challenged by the pandemic conditions and the ensuing unemployment and social disruption. The Four Noble Truths conceptual structure is reviewed as an effective resource for coping with the distress and confusion created by the pandemic, storms and fires created by global warming, as well as the current divisiveness in U.S. politics (the 2020 election is next week). There is an additional review of “The Four Clear Comprehensions”, part of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness commentaries that can be beneficially applied to decision making within the complexity of current life circumstances. This talk is meant to be accompanied by the “Guided Mindful Intention Meditation” posted on 10/29/20, which is intended to provide support for identifying and successfully adapting to lifestyle choices that are more adaptive to the changes required by current cultural stresses.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Right Lifestyle In Trying Times
Next week’s talk will focus on the importance of compassion in trying times.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:19 — 121.4MB)
