by Peter Carlson | Dec 3, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the key Buddhist concept of paticca sammuppada, typically translated as dependent origination. During the talk, Peter explains an alternative understanding he developed, contingent provisional emergence, using terms that are hopefully more useful for contemporary Buddhist practitioners. Paticca sammuppada has 12 elements, which are individually reviewed during the talk, emphasizing their non-linear, co-creative function in creating on a moment-by-moment basis the subjective self we all experience. Specific focus is placed on the interactions between feeling and craving/clinging as the target for wise attention in order to change one’s karma, bringing relief from dukkha–distress and confusion. This review is followed by comments from those participating in the Zoom meeting. There is an accompanying guided meditation for this talk: “Guided Changing Your Mind Meditation”, posted in the archive.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Contingent Provisional Emergence
The focus for next week’s talk is a review of the process of Awakening.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:06 — 126.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Dec 3, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation is intended to cultivate mindfulness of feelings in order to make manifest the potential of the key Buddhist concept of paticca sammuppada, translated as dependent origination. This concept describes how a person’s karma is organized in ways that liberate the mind from craving and clinging. A variety of useful targets of attention while practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation are offered during the recording that support this goal. It is intended to complement the Dharma talk entitled ” How To Change Your Mind”, recorded after to this recording on December 2, 2020.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:56 — 82.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 26, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Each year, when the Orlando Insight Meditation Group meets on Thanksgiving Eve, the topic for review and discussion is gratitude. After a brief review of how Buddhism regards the issue of gratitude, the psychologically beneficial cultivation of a daily gratitude inventory is also described. Following this, Peter describes his gratitude for how dedication to Buddhist principles and processes have benefited his life for over 3 decades, along with his discovery of how intricately beautiful and wondrous life can be when enhanced by the cultivation of mindfulness. This was followed by the shared experience of gratitude expressed by all of those attending the meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Contemplating Gratitude
Next week’s talk will focus on a review of a core concept of Buddhism, Dependent Origination, which explains how each moment of self-creation is formed and then dissolved into the next moment of self-creation. This provides a way to understand the concept of karma, that is, the way that we can create a future self that is less afflicted with distress and confusion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:23 — 106.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 26, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation focuses on the benefits of a contemplative review of aspects of Buddhist principles and practices, reflecting gratitude for the teachings, and how these practices cultivate a mind open to appreciating daily life experiences.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:00 — 82.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 19, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the final item on the list of the 52 cetasikas, the categories of factors that condition the process of self-organization in the mind, focusing on Panna (pahn-yah), the Wisdom cetasika. Wisdom is the manifestation of the holistic coordination and integration of a large number of other cetasikas, which are enumerated in the attached notes as well as being verbally reviewed during the talk. The review is intended to describe how the various mind conditioning factors interact to structure the sense of self and the important role highly developed insightful awareness plays in creating the conditions that mature from conceptual understanding of Wisdom to actual realization of the three characteristics: Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta. The fundamental importance of Panna is reviewed as an element of the Noble Eightfold Path, a key element of the Buddhist way to spiritual Awakening. An accompanying recording “Guided Cultivating Wisdom Meditation”, presented earlier in the evening, is intended to supplement this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this review: Realizing Wisdom
It is customary for our group to dedicate Thanksgiving Eve, which this year is November 25, to a review of the nature of gratitude as an important realization on the path to Awakening, and which is appropriate as the theme for Thanksgiving.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:39 — 107.4MB)
