by Peter Carlson | Jan 2, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter follows a tradition in this community to provide opportunities for those who have recently completed a significant retreat experience to “think out loud” about the retreat. Much of what is experienced during a retreat is not fully integrated without the opportunity to describe the retreat’s routine and any important insights that occurred during the experience. This process supports integrating the practice insights into one’s lifestyle perceptions and meditative skills, as well as informing and inspiring others regarding the benefits of the immersive experience of participating in a residential retreat. This retreat follows on the Dharma talk entitled “Anapanasati 16 Steps Review” that Peter presented on December 11, 2024, just prior to the retreat. Peter quoted excerpts from Analayo’s translation of the Anapanasati Sutta and his book “Mindfulness of Breathing”, taking opportunities to describe how he realized some of the insights described during the retreat. He also described how his extensive self-retreat experience was challenged by recurring back problems, forcing the end of a planned 2 week retreat after 8 days.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:38 — 61.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Dec 12, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter responds to questions, for example, the difference between concentration and insight, and the relationship between breath awareness and body awareness while practicing mindfulness of breathing meditaiton.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:13 — 52.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Dec 5, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This Mindfulness of Breathing meditation is intended to support a Dharma talk entitled “Anapanasati 16 Step Review”. It provides a progression of practices beginning with persistent attention to mindfulness of breathing sensations through to the practice of “letting go”.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:05 — 41.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 29, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, which occurred on Thanksgiving Eve, Peter revises the holiday term Thanksgiving to emphasize the relationship between gratitude (thanks) and generosity (giving). During a guided contemplation entitled “Contemplating Thanks-Giving”, recorded prior to this talk and posted on the website, the characteristic physical and emotional elements of these two wholesome states of mind are described. Participants at the meeting are invited to share their personal experiences of both generosity and gratitude.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:34 — 45.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 29, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation revises the holiday of Thanksgiving through focusing on the interaction between gratitude (thanks) and generosity (giving), with emphasis on recognizing the physical and emotional components of gratitude. Participants are invited to reflect on times when they experienced gratitude as a result of another person’s generosity, or through recalling an event when witnessing beauty or some other outstandingly beneficial event. This contemplating is intended to complement the principles and practices described later in the meeting entitled “Thanks-Giving As A Contemplation”, also posted on the website.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:53 — 41.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 21, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this meeting, Peter answers questions about Buddhist concepts and provides suggestions regarding meditation practices.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:33 — 57.3MB)