by Peter Carlson | Apr 17, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
One time per month, Peter provides the opportunity for those participating in the meeting to ask questions about Buddhist concepts and meditation practice. He also provides a brief review of the relationship between each of the Four Noble Truths, emphasizing that different subjective experiences require different focusing on each of the Truths. During the meeting, Peter also provides comments about his understanding of emptiness, the absence of an enduring/autonomous self. He describes his experiences of awareness that is disinterested in defining bodily boundaries and is inclusive of the totality of sensory and cognitive “flow” without interest in differentiating objects within the flow experience. During the description, he recalls hearing Joseph Goldstein talk about the importance of “effortless effort”, and the benefits of just letting go of any resistance or attachment during the out-breath, when the mind is stable and tranquil. He also suggests that these qualities of awareness are not “created” by a meditator, that liberating states of mind are ever-present, and that cultivating the Seven Awakening Factors frees the mind from hindrances that obstruct direct awareness of emptiness.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 3, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter, a retired psychotherapist, describes the intersection between core Buddhist concepts and a well-researched contemporary psychotherapy approach called Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. He reviews the schema concept that categorizes various cognitive distortions and describes how Mindfulness of Feelings and Mindfulness of Mental Phenomena can be effectively applied to counter these distortions through the cultivation of Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena and Right Effort. He suggests that the “selfing story” represents various aspects of the Five Hindrances, and that countering the dysfunctional schemas creates a process that clarifies the mind for further spiritual development, towards Awakening.
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by Peter Carlson | Feb 27, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk provided by April reviews how skillful insights from Buddhist teachings as realized through dedicated meditation practice supports a healthy level of self-respect and self-compassion. The talk is followed by comments from those participating in the meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Non-Self – What’s Self-Love Got to Do with It
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by Peter Carlson | Feb 6, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focuses on the importance of intentions, which are present in every moment of consciousness, either wholesome or unwholesome. The ability to quickly and accurately note the formative function of intentions just as a moment of self-organization occurs is a key skill to cultivate on the path to Awakening. The concept of karma basically describes the latent capacity of memory, which is activated through the function of intentions. Preceding this talk, the “Guided Intention and Karma Contemplation” recording, which is posted in the Guided Meditation archive on this website, is intended to complement this presentation.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Working With Intentions and Karma
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:13 — 57.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 6, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation focuses attention on how to develop clear awareness of intentions, which organize and activate each moment of consciousness. It is intended to support the topic for the Dharma talk of the same evening, “Working With Intentions and Karma”.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:55 — 41.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 30, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, April describes the neurological and psychological research supporting the Buddhist concept of anatta, non-self, and how the flexibility provided by non-self facilitates the development of Right Action, supporting a virtuous lifestyle. Her review includes questions and comments from those participating in the meeting.
This document provides references to the research that April did to develop this talk: References for Dharma Talk on January 29 2025
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:40 — 59.2MB)