by Peter Carlson | Feb 8, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focuses on the factors that produce dukkha–craving and clinging. Peter describes the traditional Buddhist terms for craving and clinging, along with how contemporary neurological research supports the validity of this understanding of the human condition. After his descriptions, participants in the group asked questions and shared observations about the topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Second Noble Truth
Next week’s talk will continue to review the Second Noble Truth, emphasizing the core Buddhist concept of paticca samuppada, translated as dependent origination, as a way to understand how the self is formed and how to change karmic influences in ways that support the realization of the Third Noble Truth, liberation from dukkha.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:38 — 58.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 1, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Lili, the mother of two young boys, reviews her Buddhist studies and practices for addressing the dukkha–distress and confusion–that occurs while parenting, along with effective ways of cultivating mindfulness, kindness, compassion, and patience during daily interactions with her boys. She describes the three different types of dukkha and the importance of compassionate self-care as the basis for effective interpersonal exchanges with the boys. She also explains mentalizing, which is the ability to infer a child’s emotional experience and then use informative words skillfully to help him or her understand their subjective experience and develop more ability to manage emotional and behavioral challenges.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: 2024 – 01 – 31 – MINDFUL PARENTING – Talk 01 (002)
Next week’s talk will be the first of two meetings reviewing the Second Noble Truth, the cause of dukkha. The first meeting will provide insights regarding the neurological and psychological components of craving and clinging, along with how mindfulness meditation practice creates a more integrated and wholesome personality structure. The second meeting will discuss how a wholesome personality structure supports the process of Awakening, leading to the realizations of the Third Noble Truth.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:35 — 53.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 25, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This presentation by April Koester, one of our cadre of teachers, begins an extensive review of the Four Noble Truths, focusing on the inevitability of dukkha, the physical and mental suffering that comes with being alive. During the talk, several participants share their questions and observations regarding this important and basic point of study and practice within all the Buddhist traditions.
Next week’s talk will focus on how the First Noble Truth applies to the experience of parenting, presented by Lili Fernandez, another one of our teachers, who has two young boys.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:19 — 52.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 18, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk presents a broad review of a core concept within all the Buddhist traditions, the Four Noble Truths. Peter talks about how the concepts of dukkha, craving and clinging, freedom from dukkha and the Noble Eightfold Path provide an an integrated way to understand the human condition, along with the ways and means to foster spiritual growth, a capacity that is sorely needed in these stressful times. Included are several questions and insights posed by the participants.
This overview is intended to begin a long series of more in-depth reviews that provide insights into each of the Four Noble Truths that will continue throughout the year. Next week’s talk will review the nature of dukkha, the primary focus of attention within the First Noble Truth.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS CONCEPT
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:18 — 30.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 11, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter provides a brief speculative review of Siddhartha Gautama’s life experience, before he became known as the Buddha. The intention here is to consider the sociocultural stresses of his time in comparison to the stresses of contemporary life. He lived in what were the most comfortable and hedonistic circumstances of the day, which pale in comparison to what conditions our self-identities and expectations currently. Despite all the lifestyle securities and comforts, he decided to dedicate his life to spiritual development rather than self-indulgence. How might this apply to our current life circumstances and motivations for spiritual development? This is followed by Peter’s description of what motivated his interest in Buddhist meditation when he began practicing and what continues to motivate him currently. Others present also contributed their motivations for meditating.
The topic for next week’s talk will be an overview of the Four Noble Truths, the core teaching within all the various Buddhist traditions. This will be an introduction to an extended exploration reviewing each of the Four Noble Truths over a series of talks throughout the year.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:19 — 54.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 4, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter describes the challenges encountered in practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation for the cultivation of entry stages of jhana, a highly concentrated state of mind. This practice requires a careful balance of energy and tranquility applied through the persistent uninterrupted attention to a very subtle transition from sensational breath awareness to the mind-constructed phenomenon called a nimitta. He talks about how he overcame doubts and resistance during the retreat. This talk also includes questions from those participating in the meeting.
The next talk will begin a long series of discussions reviewing why meditation practice is important and the foundational concepts of the Four Noble Truths.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:28 — 56.3MB)
