by Peter Carlson | Jun 27, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The topic for this talk is Samadhi Bojjhanga, the Concentration Awakening Factor. During the talk, the progressive stages of developing mindfulness of breathing to high levels of concentration were reviewed. Peter described current debates about the difference between “Sutta Jhanas” and “Visuddhimagga Jhanas”, suggesting that the goal in cultivating jhana states is to heighten the coherence and potency of the Seven Awakening Factors towards Awakening, and that it is not necessary to master jhana practice to perfect the functioning of the Seven Awakening Factors. The compound word samadhi/passadhi (concentration/tranquility) was presented as a workable parallel to the traditional access concentration as the platform for cultivating vipassana. The developmental stages of samadhi are illustrated graphically in the accompanying notes prepared for the talk:
SAMADHI AWAKENING FACTOR
Here is another document downloaded from Leigh Brasington’s website providing an overview of the different approaches and understandings of jhana experience: Interpretations of the Jhanas
Next week’s discussion will address the Equanimity Awakening Factor.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 20, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this discussion, emphasis was placed on how the Seven Awakening Factors are developed through the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation. Starting with the Awakening Factor of Mindfulness, Peter linked the other factors into the process of overcoming the Five Hindrances, eventually maturing into the cultivation of the Awakening Factors to maximize the benefits from the practice of vipassana (vee-pah-sah-nah). Passadhi (pah-sah-dee) is typically translated as tranquility, and Peter suggested increased alertness regarding the experience of tranquility to avoid mistaking “subtle dullness”, a term developed by Culadasa in “The Mind Illuminated” as tranquility, manifesting a meditation that is “on cruise control”. Without diligence, cultivating tranquility during mindfulness of breathing can induce a state of calmness that lacks the investigative characteristics necessary for the practice of vipassana, which is necessary to realize the full potential of the Seven Awakening Factors. Peter also mentioned his preference to use the term samadhi/passadhi (concentration/tranquility) to describe the state of mind that is most supportive of vipassana practice. This explanation was followed by some clarifying discussions about practical applications of the information regarding tranquility.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE TRANQUILITY AWAKENING FACTOR
Next week’s talk will focus on samadhi, the concentration Awakening Factor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:08 — 91.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 13, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Piti Bojjhanga is the Pali term usually translated as the Joy Awakening Factor, the fourth of the Seven Awakening Factors. During this talk, Peter described the traditional rendering of joy as rapture, an exquisitely potent physical/mental experience, referring to his prior practice of what Culadasa calls “pleasure jhana” in his book “The Mind Illuminated”. Peter then suggested that the intensity of that feeling can be an obstacle to the practice of vipassana, insight into the fundamental characteristics of lived experience. An alternate understanding, suggested by Nina Van Gorkom in her book “Cetasikas” is that of a heightened and engaged interest in what is forming in the mind that supports the functioning of other Awakening Factors such as Investigation of Mental Phenomena and Energy/Right Effort. This was followed by discussion among those attending about the implications of this factor in the practice of anapanasati, mindfulness of breathing.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE JOY AWAKENING FACTOR
Next week’s focus is on the fifth Awakening Factor, Tranquility.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 6, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews one of the most important of the Seven Awakening Factors, Viriya (veer-yah). It is also found in several of the many categories of Buddhist psychology: as Right Effort, as one of the Five Powers (overcoming the Hindrances) and of the Five Faculties (empowering the other Awakening Factors). Peter used the term Energy/Effort in describing this quality, suggesting it manifests as the effort to channel the energy flowing through the mind. It combines with the Awakening Factors of Mindfulness and Investigation of Mental Phenomena to direct the energy of attention; this coordination produces the other Awakening Factors of Joy, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity (topics to be covered in future talks). He also described different levels of effort, using his terminology: Initiating Effort, Sustaining Effort and Fulfilling Effort, relating these three to mindfulness of breathing practice. He also included adhitthana, strong determination, as another level of applied effort. This was followed by discussion among those attending regarding the application of Energy/Effort.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: ENERGY AWAKENING FACTOR
Next week’s talk will focus on the Awakening Factor of Piti, usually translated as Joy
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:33 — 109.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 30, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Retreats are expected to be tranquil, contemplative experiences, and, to a great extent, this is true. Peter has been on nearly 100 retreats of one week or more since 1982, and some of them were bound to be challenging. This retreat was one of them. The intention was to use a two weeks self-retreat to practice cultivating samadhi using kasina practice, explanations of which are found in the extensive Visuddhimagga commentary, compiled centuries after the time of the Buddha.
The first week involved this practice, using an l.e.d. lighted 8 1/2 inch globe, placed lower than eye level about 6 feet away. The technique involves gazing at the object until a visual “overlay” becomes evident, at which time the eyes are closed and an attempt is made to maintain the image.
This practice was interrupted by significant problems regarding the installing of a new kitchen in Peter’s home (the meditation cottage is in the back yard of his home). After a week of solid cultivation of concentration difficulties arose with the contracted building company, whose management seems to be inconsiderate and greedy. During the talk, Peter described how his mindfulness practice, supported by cultivating calmness and serenity for a week, allowed him to transition into a “work retreat” mindset for the remaining week of the practice. He described a “sea anchor”, a device sailing ships used in storms to stay oriented into the wind and waves of the storm, with breath awareness as the anchor as the storm of emotions passed through. He also talked about how significantly cultivated meditation practice can produce very creative problem solving solutions as a benefit during difficult times, but an obstacle to deeply examining the impermanent and non-self aspects of life, the goal of serious meditation practice.
This was followed by discussion focused on how mindfulness practice can be applied to significant challenges in one’s life beneficially.
Next week’s talk will resume discussion of the discourse on mindfulness of breathing, the Anapanasati Sutta, with particular focus on viriya (vee-rih-yah), the energy awakening factor.
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by Peter Carlson | May 9, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Dhamma Vicaya, the Investigation of Mental Phenomena, is the second of the 7 Factors of Awakening. Peter described the progressive development of vitakka (aiming attention at the sensations of breathing) and vicara (sustaining focused attention on these sensations), combined with sati (mindfulness) and viriya (energy/persistent effort) into the capacity to maintain diligent awareness of the three characteristics of reality: anicca (impermanence), dukkha (the distress and confusion that is the consequence of craving and clinging) and anatta (the absence of an enduring and autonomous self). This alert and detached investigative process is vipassana, often translated as insight. Three meditation practices for cultivating dhamma vicaya were described: mindfulness of breathing, noting and body sweep. This description was followed by discussion by the attending group regarding the various practices.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Investigation of Mental Phenomena
There will be no posting of dharma talks for the next two weeks, as Peter will be on a self-retreat. He will report on the retreat experience on May 29.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:03 — 108.1MB)
