by Peter Carlson | Mar 21, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter provides an overview of Sila, the Buddhist Virtue Aggregate, which is found within the Noble Eightfold Path, with an emphasis on the importance of mindfully recognizing the non-virtuous elements of contemporary cultural conditioning, which create disharmony and dysfunction with significant negative consequences for social cohesion and the environment, renouncing them, and instead orienting one’s thoughts and actions through the filter of Virtue–harmlessness, compassion, generosity and equanimity. He then focuses on Right Speech in the context of a person’s internal self-talk, as well as interpersonal communications. He adds another consideration he calls Right Listening, the ability to bring skillful attention and discipline to bear on the cognitive distortions that prevail in contemporary media and counter their effect on one’s clarity, purpose and peace of mind.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE VIRTUE OF RIGHT SPEECH The contents of these notes are more expansive and descriptive than the verbal recording of the talk.
Next week’s talk will focus on another function of the Virtue Aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path: Right Action.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:51 — 56.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 14, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk by Allie Vaknin continues an ongoing review of the Four Noble Truths, specifically focusing on a function of the Wisdom Aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Intention. Allie describes different manifestations of Right Intention: Renunciation of unwholesomeness, Kindness, and Compassion. This recording includes several comments and questions posed by those participating in the group.
Next week’s talk will begin a review of the Virtue Aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path, during which Peter will focus on Right Speech, including the value of bringing Right Intention to our internal self-talk as well as what we say interpersonally.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:01 — 59.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 7, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, April continues the ongoing review of the Noble Eightfold Path by sharing her research about the Wisdom Aggregate, specifically Samma Ditthi, translated as Right View or Right Understanding. This part of the Path provides the conceptual basis for understanding the law of Karma–cause and effect. Her presentation includes several questions and comments from others participating in the meeting.
Next week’s talk will review the other half of the Wisdom Aggregate. Right Intention.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:36 — 60.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 29, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues an ongoing review of the Four Noble Truths, with emphasis on the Fourth Noble Truth, the Noble Eightfold Path. This overview describes the general structure of the Path categories, which represent the ways and means for realizing the spiritual aspirations developed in the first three Noble Truths. Peter describes a more contemporary view of Buddhist teachings called Secular Buddhism, which avoids ritualistic practices and integrates modern neuroscientific and psychological research that validates some basic concepts found within the original teachings that have great significance during these trying sociocultural and ecological times.
There will be an extensive and more detailed review of the eight subcategories of the Noble Eightfold Path over the next several meetings. Here are the notes prepared for this talk: OVERVIEW OF THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
The focus for next week’s talk will be a review of Right Understanding, the first subcategory of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:06 — 52.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 22, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Allie Vaknin provides insights regarding the four stages of Nirvana experience: Stream Entry, Once-Returner, Non-returner, and Arahant. The recording includes comments from various participants in the meeting.
Next week’s talk will provide an overview of the Fourth Noble Truth, The Noble Eightfold Path; subsequent talks will address each element of the Noble Eightfold Path in more depth.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:49 — 52.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 15, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the second presentation regarding the processes that create dukkha. The talk recorded on February 14, 2024 reviewed the characteristics of craving and clinging. This talk provides a review of a key concept of Buddhist psychology, paticca samuppada, translated as dependent origination. Peter explains how ignorance and unwholesome karmic influences generate craving and clinging with an extensive description of the 12 links of what he calls contingent provisional emergence, a more contemporary understanding of paticca samuppada. The talk includes ways to investigate the dependent origination link called “feeling” in ways that produce wholesome karmic results. The review is followed by several follow-up questions from those participating in the talk.
It is recommended that those listening to the talk read the extensive notes and graphic illustration that accompanies the talk: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR KARMA
This talk was preceded by this recording: “Guided Dependent Origination Contemplation”, which is posted in the archives for this site.
The next scheduled Dharma talk will provide a review of the Third Noble Truth, liberation from dukkha.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:46 — 63.0MB)
