by Peter Carlson | May 30, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Retreats are expected to be tranquil, contemplative experiences, and, to a great extent, this is true. Peter has been on nearly 100 retreats of one week or more since 1982, and some of them were bound to be challenging. This retreat was one of them. The intention was to use a two weeks self-retreat to practice cultivating samadhi using kasina practice, explanations of which are found in the extensive Visuddhimagga commentary, compiled centuries after the time of the Buddha.
The first week involved this practice, using an l.e.d. lighted 8 1/2 inch globe, placed lower than eye level about 6 feet away. The technique involves gazing at the object until a visual “overlay” becomes evident, at which time the eyes are closed and an attempt is made to maintain the image.
This practice was interrupted by significant problems regarding the installing of a new kitchen in Peter’s home (the meditation cottage is in the back yard of his home). After a week of solid cultivation of concentration difficulties arose with the contracted building company, whose management seems to be inconsiderate and greedy. During the talk, Peter described how his mindfulness practice, supported by cultivating calmness and serenity for a week, allowed him to transition into a “work retreat” mindset for the remaining week of the practice. He described a “sea anchor”, a device sailing ships used in storms to stay oriented into the wind and waves of the storm, with breath awareness as the anchor as the storm of emotions passed through. He also talked about how significantly cultivated meditation practice can produce very creative problem solving solutions as a benefit during difficult times, but an obstacle to deeply examining the impermanent and non-self aspects of life, the goal of serious meditation practice.
This was followed by discussion focused on how mindfulness practice can be applied to significant challenges in one’s life beneficially.
Next week’s talk will resume discussion of the discourse on mindfulness of breathing, the Anapanasati Sutta, with particular focus on viriya (vee-rih-yah), the energy awakening factor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:41 — 114.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 9, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Dhamma Vicaya, the Investigation of Mental Phenomena, is the second of the 7 Factors of Awakening. Peter described the progressive development of vitakka (aiming attention at the sensations of breathing) and vicara (sustaining focused attention on these sensations), combined with sati (mindfulness) and viriya (energy/persistent effort) into the capacity to maintain diligent awareness of the three characteristics of reality: anicca (impermanence), dukkha (the distress and confusion that is the consequence of craving and clinging) and anatta (the absence of an enduring and autonomous self). This alert and detached investigative process is vipassana, often translated as insight. Three meditation practices for cultivating dhamma vicaya were described: mindfulness of breathing, noting and body sweep. This description was followed by discussion by the attending group regarding the various practices.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Investigation of Mental Phenomena
There will be no posting of dharma talks for the next two weeks, as Peter will be on a self-retreat. He will report on the retreat experience on May 29.
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by Peter Carlson | May 2, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a long series of discussions of the Anapanasati Sutta, the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse. The focus here is sati bojjhangha, the rmindfulness awakening factor, considered to be a primary element of the Seven Awakening Factors, monitoring and coordinating their function towards Awakening. Peter described the various ways sati is described: the four foundations of mindfulness, right mindfulness, the power of mindfulness to overcome the hindrances and to foster the development of wholesome self-state organizing processes. This was followed by a question and answer period to clarify the functions of mindfulness.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE MINDFULNESS AWAKENING FACTOR
Next week’s topic is Dhamma Vicaya Bojjhanga, the Investigation of Mental Phenomena Awakening Factor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:55 — 113.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 25, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Robert Lockridge is the guest speaker for this evening. He is one of the guiding teachers of the Orlando Zen Center, which provides opportunities to practice Korean Zen as taught by Seung Sahn, who originated the Kwan Um School in the U. S. The title of the talk reflects basic principles and practices of Zen Buddhism, organized around questions such as “How do I determine what is the true direction of my life? Robert talked about Kong-An (Better known as Koan) practice, which is the presentation of a “question” to a student by a master in order to initiate an internal, often non-verbal investigation and response from the student to promote deeper understanding of the Dharma.
Next week’s talk will involve an in-depth exploration of Mindfulness as the premiere of the Seven Awakening Factors.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 18, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk begins a series of discussions exploring how increasingly skillful anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) enhances the potency of the satta sambojjhanga (the seven Awakening factors). These capabilities for spiritual development begin being applied to setting aside the Five Hindrances; as this is accomplished, the Awakening factors are then applied to experientially realizing the Four Noble Truths through the mindful investigation of anicca (impermanence), dukkha (the distress and confusion caused by craving and clinging) and anatta (the absence of an enduring and autonomous self). The Awakening factors were briefly reviewed; future talks will address each of them in particular as they cooperate in furthering the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Anapanasati And Satta Sambojjhanga
Next week’s talk will feature a guest speaker, Robert Lockridge, one of the founding teachers of the Orlando Zen Center, which practices in the Korean Zen tradition. The talk is entitled “The Practice of Clear Direction: Only Go Straight, Just Do It”. Robert’s talks have been well-received in the past as he emphasizes direct seeing and action through the Dharma. It will be recorded and posted.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:27 — 107.0MB)
