by Peter Carlson | Aug 15, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the characteristics of compassion from a Buddhist perspective, including the “near enemy” and “far enemy” of this manifestation of lovingkindness which is focused on relieving the mind from distress and confusion. Compassion is described as the combined effects of cultivating the “hardwired” experience of empathy, supported by mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena, and Right Effort, and associated with equanimity, which provides a balanced manifestation of this wholesome state of mind. Preceding this talk of August 14, 2024, Peter provides a guided meditation titled “Guided Compassion With Equanimity Contemplation”, the recording of which is posted within the Guided Meditations page of the website.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Integrating Compassion with Equanimity
The topic for the next meeting will provide a review regarding the integration of Sympathetic Joy with equanimity. Sympathetic Joy describes the empathetic enjoyment of the happiness and success of another, balanced by equanimity.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:28 — 59.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 15, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation provides support for identifying the characteristics of compassion as well as the “near enemy” and “far enemy” of this wholesome state of mind. The training also suggests how to use mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena, and Right Effort to cultivate the balancing effect of equanimity, which functions to purify the benevolent intentions associated with compassion.
This meditation was recorded just prior to the Dharma talk presented on August 14, 2024, with the intention to provide opportunities to train the mind to be more able to apply what is reviewed during the talk.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 8, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter reviews the characteristics of lovingkindness, one of the Four Divine Abidings within Buddhist doctrine. When lovingkindness is not clearly understood, one’s experience becomes contaminated by what are called either the “near enemy” or “far enemy”, both of which are manifestations of ignorance. The fourth of the Divine Abidings is equanimity, which is produced through the cultivation of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort, is explained during the talk. The review also includes a suggestion that the capacity for empathy, a fundamental characteristic of lovingkindness, is ‘hardwired” into our nervous systems, and that Benevolent Intention represents an evolutionary trend away from greed or hatred, emotionally potent instincts we all share, towards altruism and societal peace.
Previous to this talk, Peter provided a guided meditation titled “Integrating Lovingkindness With Equanimity”, which is intended to provide practical contemplative training that uses mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort to protect the flow of lovingkindness from becoming contaminated by the near enemy or far enemy states of mind. This has been posted and can be found in the archives of the website in the category of Guided Meditations
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Balancing Lovingkindness With Equanimity
The topics for the next two weeks focus first on the integration of equanimity with compassion, then next the integration of equanimity with sympathetic joy, the remaining elements of the Four Divine Abidings.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:16 — 55.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 8, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation provides the opportunity to monitor the cultivation of lovingkindness with equanimity, avoiding what are called the “near enemy” or “far enemy”, mental dysfunctions that interfere with the flow of benevolent intention. This integrative process is facilitated with the application of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena, and Right Effort, which function to purify the experience of lovingkindness. It is intended to be associated with a Dharma talk entitled “Integrating Equanimity With Equanimity”, provided during the meeting following this meditation that describes the characteristics of lovingkindness and the ways that the concept is clarified and made accessible skillfully.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:03 — 41.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 1, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Allie reviews the elements of the Noble Eightfold Path and then describes the transition of Right Understanding to Right Knowledge and Right Intention to Right Release, in effect changing the Eightfold Path to the Tenfold Path. Her comments are supplemented by Peter, who describes this direct subjective confirmation of the concepts within the Eightfold Path as the result of the perfection of the Seven Awakening Factors. Right Knowledge and Right Release can manifest ultimately as Nirvana, but each time the mind is momentarily freed from craving and clinging, the benefits of this Knowledge and Release bring momentary relief.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 25, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, participants got feedback from Peter regarding their meditation practice and understanding regarding Buddhist concepts. Peter intends to provide opportunities for these reviews on a monthly basis in the future.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:07 — 49.5MB)
