by Peter Carlson | Mar 18, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter explained the value of each generation’s sincere investigation of what are called the Three Refuges: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha in the context of current societal conditioning. We do not live in a culture that largely supports monastic life, which was the case in India during the time of the historical Buddha and for many generations afterwards. Retreatants were given two documents that offer updated references to the Five Precepts, and integral part of committing to the ethical values of Buddhist life. Here are the documents provided: A NEW APPROACH TO FOSTERING BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES To Cultivate More Clear Awareness and Benevolent Intention
Retreatants were encouraged to contemplate these concepts and put them into practice during the retreat and afterwards to integrate them into their lifestyles. APOLOGIES FOR THE DIMINISHED QUALITY OF THIS RECORDING AND THE NEXT ONE. I HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH THE PRIMARY RECORDING DEVICE AND USED THE SECONDARY RECORDING; THE PRIMARY RECORDINGS RESUME FROM THE THIRD TALK THROUGH THE LAST RECORDING.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:49:48 — 201.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 18, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Panca Khandha, the Five Aggregates of Clinging, represents an important concept regarding how to “deconstruct” the view that there is an enduring and autonomous self. Investigating the presence and effect of the Five Aggregates is an important practice in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Mental Phenomena. Each of the Aggregates was reviewed as well as how each is integral to the view of the self. After Awakening, the Five Aggregates no longer involve clinging and this represents liberation from Dukkha, distress and confusion. Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE FIVE AGGREGATES OF CLINGING
This review was followed by a question and answer period to clarify practice points from the discussion and the day’s meditation practice.
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by Peter Carlson | Mar 17, 2020 | Classes, News
Sangha meetings are held every Wednesday evening from 7pm to 9pm and can be attended in person or via zoom.
The in person meetings are held at Peter Carlson’s home at 1818 Carrigan Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789. For those who haven’t been to the site, the house is the only one on the block with a sheet metal roof. Park on the street or in the driveway—please be considerate of the neighbor’s property. Walk to the left of the garage and through the gate in the chain link fence; the cottage in the back yard is where we meet.
We will meditate in silence from 7 to 7:45, then, after a break, the Dharma talk will begin.
There will be a small box near the front door for dana, the practice of donating to the teacher out of gratitude for the teaching. The contribution is not required, and the money will be used to maintain the building and pay for the Zoom subscription. There is a lending library of Dharma related books in the cottage that operates on a trust basis.
To attend meetings via zoom, use the information below:
Click here to join Zoom Meeting.
Meeting ID: 847 1472 3882
Passcode: 620329
Click here to add the zoom meeting information to your calendar:
by Peter Carlson | Mar 5, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is part of the review of part of the First Foundation of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of the Body, specifically sati sampajanna, mindful clear comprehension. Peter read quotes from the Satipatthana Sutta regarding how a meditator is to apply mindfulness in all postures and activities and then reviewed the Four Clear Comprehensions from the commentaries: (1) Worthy goal (2) Suitable means (3) Minding the domain (4) Inclining towards Awakening. This was presented as a useful protocol for mundane decision making as well as spiritual development (for more information on mundane decisions search “decision-making” on Wikipedia). This topic seems timely as we are confronted with several challenges currently such as the covid-19 (coronavirus) disease, the political choices of this year, as well as choices regarding lifestyle as current weather anomalies such as unusual heat, rain, or severe storms challenge our customary lifestyle routines. How can this decision making process be coordinated with mindfulness of breathing training to benefit how we live our daily life routines? This explanation was followed by discussion among those attending regarding how this might affect their lives.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindful Clear Comprehension
Next week Peter and a number of the members of our group will be on retreat, so there will be no dharma talk on Wednesday evening; folks are welcome to come to the site and meditate between 7-9 PM that day (please be sure to turn off the lights and close the fence gate upon leaving–we don’t want our puppy to roam about the neighborhood!). The dharma talks from the retreat will be recorded and posted through the Audio page on the website after the retreat. The topic for the next talk on March 18 will be a review of the retreat experience by those attending the retreat, a custom of our community.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:42 — 98.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 29, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the first of a long series of in-depth reviews of the Satipatthana Sutta, known as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse. Peter is using several of the books on this topic written by the German Theravadin Monk Analayo on the Sutta, including “Satipatthana-The Direct Path To Realization” and “Satipatthana Meditation-A Practice Guide”. Analayo is highly regarded as a scholar of Buddhism and is also a dedicated meditation practitioner, who is currently in residence at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. During this talk Peter described the history of the Satipatthana Sutta and important structural elements, required because the Discourse had to be memorized over many generations before it was written and preserved. Two categories described by Analayo were listed–Definitions and Refrains.
This was followed by discussion of the impact of the Sutta on the participants.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Satipatthana Via Analayo
Next week’s talk will begin the focus on the first of the Four Foundations, Kayanupassana, Mindfulness of the Body.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:13 — 99.3MB)
