by April Koester | Apr 27, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Lezlie Laws gives us background on the historical period that shaped the Buddha’s early life up to the point of his Enlightenment in 528 BCE. She reviews the predominant characteristics of what is now called the “Axial Age” and show how this unique time in history created a context for the Buddha to shun the political life that was planned for him and to take up the life of a “renouncer,” a spiritual seeker. By examining his early life, we see how his core teachings were taking form in his mind long before he became one of the most influential spiritual teachers of his age.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddha’s Early Life
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 6, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks, Study Resources
This talk focuses on reviewing some of my personal collection of Dharma books, divided into various categories. This recording provides my comments about the books, and the accompanying notes provide specific titles and suggestions for either purchasing copies or downloading free .pdf eBook copies from various sources. Progress on the path to Awakening requires both studying the books and diligently practicing the various meditative techniques, and i hope these offering are helpful for that integrative effort.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Studies Resources
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:33 — 54.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 30, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
A core concept within Buddhist psychology is sunnata, translated as emptiness; this talk reviews this often mystified and misunderstood aspect of Buddhist doctrine. Early Buddhist schools emphasized that sunnata is synonymous with anatta, the absence of an enduring/autonomous self. Later, the Mahayana teachers emphasized that sunnata applies to everything in the universe, building on the doctrine of interdependence. Contemporary psychological and sociological research has validated the concept of emptiness.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Understanding Buddhist Emptiness
The topic for next week’s talk will be focused on the general areas of research that suggest the benefits of Buddhist meditation practices in terms of mental health and other life skills, such as financial management, relationship enhancement, etc.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:05 — 55.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 23, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Buddhist underpinnings of the book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ”, by Daniel Goleman, who has practiced mindfulness meditation for over 50 years. Emotional intelligence, often termed as EQ, has been considered a more important characteristic of a successful personality than IQ. The five characteristics of EQ mentioned in the book are reviewed: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Social Skills, Empathy and Motivation, along with any correlations .associated with mindfulness of breathing meditation practice. The talk was followed by descriptions by some of the participants regarding how EQ applies to their lived experience.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence
The topic for next week’s talk will be sunnata (soon-yah-tah), translated as emptiness. This concept is typically misunderstood, and will be more thoroughly described and related to the effects of well-developed mindfulness meditation.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:06 — 54.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 16, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is our custom to provide an opportunity for anyone who recently completed a significant retreat to reflect upon their experience, because “thinking out loud” about it helps integrate their insights. Lezlie has practiced Ashtanga Yoga for decades and is certified to teach yoga. She recently completed a one-week retreat that integrated yoga, longevity practices, and mindfulness meditation. She reviewed the characteristics of the site and organization of the retreat, which emphasized the importance of using breath awareness while practicing hatha yoga, as well as during other daily activities. She also reviewed Ashtanga Yoga, which uses “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” as a primary resource for study, and this discourse has significant parallels to the conceptual structures associated with Buddhism, Her review was followed by questions from those participating in the meeting.
The topic for next week’s talk will review the association between what is called “emotional intelligence”, (The ability to cultivate self-awareness and self-discipline to more fully realize one’s social, professional and spiritual development) and the application of mindfulness and Right Effort.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:19 — 62.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 9, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focuses on reviewing the 16 stanzas of the Anapanasati Sutta, one of the core teachings of Buddhism. The stanzas are typically organized into four tetrads, which mirror the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, another key Buddhist discourse. The talk of March 1, 2023 reviewed how the practice of anapanasati, mindfulness of breathing meditation, restructures important neural pathways in the brain, supporting the process of Awakening, and this presentation is intended to complement that talk. There are several references within this talk from an important book on the subject: “Mindfulness of Breathing–a practice guide and translations” by Bhikkhu Analayo, a contemporary authority on this topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Anapanasati 16 Steps Review
Here is a translation of the Anapanasati Sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, another respected scholar/monk: Anapanasati-Thanissaru Bhikkhu
The talk planned for next week will provide an opportunity for another of our teachers, Lezlie Laws, to review a residential retreat she attended that integrated intensive hatha yoga practice with mindfulness of breathing meditation.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:29 — 59.9MB)
