by Peter Carlson | Oct 8, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Universal Wholesome Cetasika of Upekkha (ooh-peh-kah),Equanimity, which provides balanced functioning in the mind that is free from dukkha, distress and confusion. The review emphasizes the balance of energy–avoiding too much excitement or too much tranquility–with attention, avoiding too much identification or too much skepticism–producing the quality of mind that supports the process of Awakening. Equanimity is also described as the factor that brings balance to lovingkindness, compassion and sympathetic joy. Peter relates upekkha to another important and synonymous concept, tatramajjhattata (tah-trah-muh-jah-tah-tah), which literally is translated as “that which is found in the middle”, emphasizing the development of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort to foster this balancing. There is an accompanying recording entitled “Guided Cultivating Equanimity Meditation” found in the archives of this site that suggests the practice of mindfulness of breathing for this cultivation. This description is followed by a question and answer period to clarify the concept and practice.
Here are the notes accompanying this talk, including a graphic illustrating the interactions between energy and cognition that are reviewed during the talk: Cultivating Equanimity
The topic for next week’s talk is the realization of the “Six Beautiful Pairs” of Wholesome Cetasikas.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:55 — 128.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 8, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation focuses on cultivating a quality of attention that balances emotional energy and cognitive labeling. In the untrained mind, there can be either too much excitement or too much sedation, or too much identification or too much skepticism; equanimity creates the optimal levels of energy and attention that support the process of Awakening. During the training suggestions are provided in the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation that encourage the application of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort to foster the cultivation of equanimity.
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 1, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews alobha (non-attachment) and adosa (non-aversion), two of the Universal Wholesome Cetasikas, categories of mind conditioning functions that participate in the shaping of each moment of self-experience that is free from dukkha–distress and confusion. During the talk Peter reviews each of these conditioning elements individually and then describes how they coordinate in their functioning. Non-Attachment is essential in the process of understanding anatta, the absence of an enduring, autonomous self, a concept that is a core element of Buddhist liberation philosophy. Non-Aversion is also recognizable as metta, lovingkindness, another key practice of Buddhist liberation philosophy. This description is followed by questions and comments by those participating in the Zoom meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Reviewing NonAttachment and NonAversion
Next week’s talk will focus on reviewing Equanimity
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:53 — 120.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 1, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This training meditation focuses on two of the Universal Wholesome Cetasikas, alobha (non-attachment) and adosa (non-aversion). The meditation suggests how to use mindful investigation of the breath sensations to develop enough sensitivity of insight to observe the ephemeral, dreamlike and transitory nature of internal narratives, the “selfing story”. This insight supports viewing the flow of subjective experience as an impersonal process, a natural phenomenon, not a self, and this skillful practice manifests as non-attachment. The same approach of using mindful awareness of uncomfortable and unpleasant subjective experience as ephemeral and transitory leads to a non-reactive characteristic of subjective experience, non-aversion. This meditation is meant to support the Dharma talk that was presented afterwards: “Reviewing Non-Attachment and Non-Aversion”.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:00 — 82.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 24, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the two Universal Wholesome Cetasikas that are always present in every moment of consciousness unaffected by dukkha/distress and confusion, hiri (moral shame) and ottappa (fear of consequences). Hiri functions as conscience and is associated with the Wisdom factor of Right Intention within the Noble Eightfold Path and manifests as Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. Ottappa represents clear awareness of the law of karma/cause and effect, in that one’s experiences are shaped by moral character and that there are immediate personal and social consequences as a result of actions taken. Each cetasika is reviewed in depth and the function of diligent mindfulness of breathing meditation practice to note the emergence of the moral characteristics of a moment of selfing and then practice either interrupting unwholesome self-states or facilitating wholesome self-states. This is followed by discussion among those participating in the Zoom meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Virtue Cetasikas
Next week’s topic will review the next two cetasikas, non-attachment and non-aversion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:32 — 109.0MB)
