by Peter Carlson | Jul 10, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This Meditation trains the mind to move investigating attention mindfully and systematically throughout the body, sensitive to subtle body vibrations similar to the experience of one’s leg “going to sleep”, but much milder in sensation. The goal of this training is to cultivate a whole body “vibrational” awareness that supports stabilizing attention and the process of vipassana, insight into the transitory and non-self characteristics of experience.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 6, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This meditation focuses on the fourth of the seven Awakening Factors, Piti, often translated as joy or rapture; I prefer to use the term enthusiastic interest. Joy becomes more apparent and useful with the support of the first three factors, mindfulness, investigation and energy/Right Effort, so these factors are encouraged for practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation. It is suggested to be alert for differences in consciousness between the heaviness of sloth and torpor and the buoyancy of simple breath awareness; this buoyancy is piti, and it becomes more recognizable as the hindrances are set aside. Several supportive suggestions for contemplation are mentioned during the meditation. The intention of this guided meditation is to enhance the understanding and application of the Joy Awakening Factor in the accompanying talk, Awakening With Joy.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 6, 2020 | News
Piti (pee-tee) is the fourth of the seven Awakening Factors, and is typically translated as joy or rapture; another rendering is engaged enthusiastic interest regarding whatever is emerging into conscious awareness. This characteristic of human experience is a normal part of human subjective experience but clear, vivid awareness of piti is obstructed and distorted by the five hindrances, particularly evident with sloth/torpor and skeptical doubt, but also adversely affected by the other hindrances, sense desire, aversion/ill-will and restlessness/worry. Peter talks about how classical Buddhism describes piti as an ecstatic state only fully realized when experiencing jhana, states of the mind accomplished through extensive training of attention on an exclusive object like breath sensations. This sort of awareness is not easily accessed and contemporary commentaries suggest that piti can be understood and brought to the practice of vipassana (vee-pah-suh-nah), insight into the basic characteristics of experience, anicca (ah-nee-chah), impermanence, dukkha (do-kah), basic unsatisfactoriness and anatta (ah-nah-tah), the absence of and enduring/autonomous self. Clear awareness of these three characteristics liberates the mind from dukkha, the primary goal of Buddhist training. As applied in the practice of vipassana piti is an engaged interest in how the mind is forming meaning and creating a self; this interest is crucial for maintaining the persistence of investigation and mental discipline required for the liberation process. This explanation is followed by brief discussion for clarification among the participants.
Here are the notes prepared for the is talk: The-Joy-Of-Awakening
Next week’s topic will be the Tranquility Awakening Factor
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:06 — 100.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 26, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk Peter reviews Viriya, the Energy Awakening Factor, which, when combined with the Mindfulness and Investigation of Mental Phenomena Awakening Factors, coordinates and empowers the remaining 4 Awakening Factors. Peter talked of the manifestation of Viriya as Right Effort in the Noble Eightfold Path, with four attributes: to deny unwholesome states, support the arising of wholesome states, enabling wholesome states to reach fulfillment and prevent the future arising of unwholesome states. His review was followed by discussion of how participants can further understand and contemplate this quality of attention.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Energy Awakening Factor
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:02 — 86.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 26, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This contemplation focuses attention on how the energy of attention is managed in the mind’s creation of a self. During the meditation, Peter suggests how mindfulness and investigation are associated with the energy awakening factor to reduce the likelihood that attention will be captured by any of the five hindrances, then applied to activate the remaining Awakening Factors, Joy, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:58 — 82.3MB)
