by Peter Carlson | Nov 18, 2022 | 2022 Deerhaven, Listen to Dharma Talks
In following a long-established tradition, this meeting is dedicated to providing those who attended the recent one-week residential retreat to review their experience during the retreat. After such an event, it is difficult to be able to express the insights gained during such an immersive experience without the support of those who were at the event or have previously been on a retreat. Such a review helps to integrate the insights more fully into daily life, while also providing inspiration for those listening.
The focus of next week’s talk, which occurs on Thanksgiving Eve, provides an opportunity to express gratitude for the benefits that meditation practice provides for the quality of one’s life.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:07 — 52.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 27, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews a system developed over several centuries after the life of the Buddha that describes various levels of conscious awareness that can be experienced during the process of Awakening. The Progressions of Insight, as they are often called, begin with developing an ethically integrated lifestyle and the cultivation of the basic skills of mindfulness, investigation and Right Effort. As the development of the process matures, insights of an increasingly subtle and profound nature are experienced that validate the Buddhist foundational concepts of impermanence (anicca), the distress and confusion that results from craving and clinging (dukkha), and the absence of an enduring and autonomous self (anatta). The final goal of this progression is direct experience of Nirvana (the ultimately unconditioned state of mind).
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: STAGES OF AWAKENING
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 20, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the remaining two of the Seven Awakening Factors, Concentration/Unification and Equanimity/Balance. The first three factors, Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena and Energy/Effort/Persistence (In the form of Right Effort), monitor and regulate the other factors. The next two factors, Joy/Enthusiastic Engagement and Tranquility, provide appropriate interactions between emotions–the manifestation of mental energy without emotional turbulence. Concentration/Unification is reviewed to reflect the traditional cultivation of jhana states, along with more contemporary practices involving developing enough stability of attention to coordinate the Awakening Factors functions. Equanimity/Balance is reviewed to clarify how the coordinated actions of the factors are balanced and not subject to either desire, aversion or ignorance.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Seven Awakening Factors, Part 3
The next talk will review the Progressions of Insight, a conceptual structured description of what can be recognized subjectively as the mind becomes more Awakened, leading ultimately to the experience of Nirvana.
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 13, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Awakening Factors Joy and Tranquility. The understanding of the review is that the first three Awakening Factors, Mindfulness, Investigation Of Mental Phenomena and Energy/Effort/Persistence, which were reviewed during the talk of October 5, 2022, support the development of the remaining Awakening Factors. The traditional understanding of these two factors is reviewed, along with some of the contemporary research on the nervous system that validates Buddhist concepts. Their development creates the conditions in the mind that bring clarity and a quality of regulation to the actions of the sympathetic nervous system, which energizes the mind and body, expressed as the Awakening Factor of Joy. The parasympathetic nervous system calms the mind and body, and is the Awakening Factor of Tranquility. As the Awakening Factors mature, these two systems are dynamically integrated and balanced.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Seven Awakening Factors—Part 2
The focus of the next talk will be a review of the remaining Awakening Factors, Concentration/Unification and Equanimity/Balance, which function to coordinate and balance the other five Awakening Factors.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:48 — 54.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 6, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Once the mind has settled because the Five Hindrances have been conditionally disabled, the full realization of Awakening becomes possible because of the effect of the Seven Awakening Factors: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Effort/ Persistence, Joy/Engaged Interest, Tranquility, Concentration/Unification and Equanimity/Balance. This talk focuses on a review of the first three of the factors, the coordinated and integrated development of which enables the realization of the remaining four factors. Upcoming talks will review the remaining factors.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE SEVEN FACTORS FOR AWAKENING Part One
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:37 — 57.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 22, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Six Beautiful Pairs of Wholesome Cetasikas represent the fulfillment of wholesomeness in the mind. The integrated and unified functions of the Universal, Particular and seven Wholesome mind conditioning factors manifests as 12 integrated characteristics–six factors being among various aggregations of the wholesome factors and six representing their beneficial effects on consciousness. The value of contemplating these mind conditioners comes from understanding the concepts involved, with emphasis on how to recognize them and unify their functioning to promote the process of Awakening. During the talk, the relationship between these conditioners and the Seven Awakening Factors is clarified.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: REVIEWING-SIX-BEAUTIFUL-PAIRS-OF-WHOLESOME-MIND-CONDITIONERS
The topic for the next talk will be a review of the remaining mind conditioning factors, which represent direct realization of various elements of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:18 — 47.9MB)
