by Peter Carlson | Jan 18, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk presents a broad review of a core concept within all the Buddhist traditions, the Four Noble Truths. Peter talks about how the concepts of dukkha, craving and clinging, freedom from dukkha and the Noble Eightfold Path provide an an integrated way to understand the human condition, along with the ways and means to foster spiritual growth, a capacity that is sorely needed in these stressful times. Included are several questions and insights posed by the participants.
This overview is intended to begin a long series of more in-depth reviews that provide insights into each of the Four Noble Truths that will continue throughout the year. Next week’s talk will review the nature of dukkha, the primary focus of attention within the First Noble Truth.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS CONCEPT
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by Peter Carlson | Jan 11, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter provides a brief speculative review of Siddhartha Gautama’s life experience, before he became known as the Buddha. The intention here is to consider the sociocultural stresses of his time in comparison to the stresses of contemporary life. He lived in what were the most comfortable and hedonistic circumstances of the day, which pale in comparison to what conditions our self-identities and expectations currently. Despite all the lifestyle securities and comforts, he decided to dedicate his life to spiritual development rather than self-indulgence. How might this apply to our current life circumstances and motivations for spiritual development? This is followed by Peter’s description of what motivated his interest in Buddhist meditation when he began practicing and what continues to motivate him currently. Others present also contributed their motivations for meditating.
The topic for next week’s talk will be an overview of the Four Noble Truths, the core teaching within all the various Buddhist traditions. This will be an introduction to an extended exploration reviewing each of the Four Noble Truths over a series of talks throughout the year.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:19 — 54.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 4, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter describes the challenges encountered in practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation for the cultivation of entry stages of jhana, a highly concentrated state of mind. This practice requires a careful balance of energy and tranquility applied through the persistent uninterrupted attention to a very subtle transition from sensational breath awareness to the mind-constructed phenomenon called a nimitta. He talks about how he overcame doubts and resistance during the retreat. This talk also includes questions from those participating in the meeting.
The next talk will begin a long series of discussions reviewing why meditation practice is important and the foundational concepts of the Four Noble Truths.
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by Peter Carlson | Dec 14, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk, presented by April Koester, focuses on a Tibetan term, shenpa, translated as attachment, but more provocatively termed hooked, made well-known by Pema Chodron, the American Buddhist teacher and author. An alternative rendering for \shenpa is craving and clinging, important concepts in Buddhism, representing how the experience of impulsive reactivity we all are subject to creates distress and confusion. April talks about how Chodron’s teaching was of great benefit to her when she was experiencing problems earlier in her life, along with suggestions regarding how to set aside the hook while meditating and during everyday life. Others in the meeting also share how they experience shenpa and their approach to setting craving and clinging aside.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 30, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk provides a brief overview of traditional American holidays from Halloween through New Year’s Eve, from their origins centuries ago up to how current consumerism and social conflict has created a stressful and potentially damaging series of events during the Fall and early Winter periods. The overview is followed by a review of a Buddhist “decision tree” process called “The Four Clear Comprehensions” that provides a way to integrate mindfulness and Right Effort to realize appropriate goals for gift giving that don’t disrupt the principles of Right Speech/Action/Livelihood. The review is followed by a dialogue between Peter and a few of the participants to illustrate how this decision-making process works.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk, which includes a description of The Four Clear Comprehensions: Giving Presence Over The Holidays
The talk for next week will provide a review of the basics of mindfulness practices.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:33 — 54.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 23, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Following a long-established custom, this meeting is focused on providing opportunities for those who attended the annual Deerhaven one-week residential retreat to review their experience. Due to the occurrence of the meeting on Thanksgiving Eve, only 3 of the 14 who attended the retreat are present to talk of their experiences and insights.
Next week’s talk will focus on bring Buddhist principles and practices to the holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:01 — 44.9MB)
