by Peter Carlson | Apr 4, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focuses on the Fourth Tetrad of the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse. Peter emphasized how the first three tetrads cultivate sufficient stability and tranquility in the mind to support the practice of vipassana, the goal of which is to realize the Three Characteristics, anicca (Inconstancy), dukkha (Dispassion) and anatta (Cessation). This practice can be realized on a mundane level, achieving mental clarity, emotional tranquility and behavioral effectiveness, as well as on the supramundane level through the experience of Relinquishment (the fourth characteristic mentioned in the Fourth Tetrad), that is, experiential realization of the Unconditioned, Nirvana. This explanation was followed by discussion regarding how mindfulness of breathing can be applied in the practice of vipassana.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Anapanasati and the Three Characteristics
Next week’s talk will focus on the next section of the Anapanasati Sutta regarding the application of anapanasati to the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:33 — 118.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 28, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk completes the exploration of the 52 cetasikas (cheh-tah-see-kahs) that cooperatively aggregate into the selfing process. The cetasikas are referred to in the Anapanasati Sutta in the sections focused on being “sensitive to and calming the mind conditioners”. As the Wholesome Cetasikas mature with practice, the ability to be mindful of the emerging self-state potentials is enhanced (See “The Beautiful Pairs” posting of March 20). This higher level of functioning “revisits” the Virtue and Wisdom aggregates of the Noble Eightfold Path, making it less likely and eventually impossible for a person with those attainments to violate Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. The enactment of compassion and sympathetic joy are also realized. The final cetasika on the list is Realized Understanding, the integration of Right Understanding thoroughly into one’s life. This explanation was followed by discussion among those attending regarding the implications of the capacity of well-developed mindfulness of breathing for fulfilling the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE BEAUTIFUL OCCASIONALS
Next week’s talk will explore the practice of mindfulness of breathing for the discovery of the Three Characteristics: Impermanence, the inability of life to be reliably satisfactory and the absence of an enduring and autonomous self.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:06 — 119.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 21, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk highlights the beneficial results of mindfulness of breathing meditation in terms of increasing the functionality of the cetasikas, translated as mind conditioners. The Wholesome Cetasikas, combined with the Universal and Occasional Cetasikas provide support for the manifestation of what are called the Six Beautiful Pairs as the interaction of the above-mentioned mind conditioners are reflected in consciousness. For example, the first pairing is Tranquility of Mind Conditioners and Tranquility of Consciousness. Peter reviewed the pairs, adding material downloaded from Shaila Catherine’s “Wisdom Wide And Deep” that expresses traditional commentaries on these mind conditioners. Peter suggested that during a one week residential retreat, participants can become aware of an increasing degree of functioning of attention and heightened sensitivity to what arises in consciousness through diligent and persistent practice of mindfulness of breathing–the Six Beautiful Pairs.
This talk includes extensive exploratory discussion among those attending to clarify the concepts and associated meditation practices that manifest these mind conditioners.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Six Beautiful Pairs
Next week’s talk will focus on the remaining six mind conditioners.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:25 — 125.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 14, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The presentation title of this talk is “Starving the Demons, Feeding the Angels”, as part of the Anapanasati Sutta focused on “calming the mind conditioners”. Peter mentioned that during the first years of his vipassana practice he was “warding off the demons” and then began “feeding the angels”, that is, the wholesome mind conditioners. This discussion covers the first of the Wholesome Cetasikas: Confidence, Mindfulness, Moral Shame, Fear of Blame, Non-Attachment, Non-Aversion and Equanimity. These mind conditioners combine with the Universal Cetasikas: Feelings, Perceptions, Contact, Volition, Concentration, Vitality and Attention in every moment of self-organizing processes. They are often combined with the Occasional Cetasikas: Bringing attention to a focal point, Sustaining attention, Determination, Energy, Enthusiasm and Zeal.
Peter reviewed these mind conditioning factors, emphasizing that the ability to mindfully note the presence of them clearly as details of perception increases the ability to deconstruct the Wrong View of an enduring and autonomous self; the practice of vipassana incorporates these conditioners at high levels of insight, manifesting as liberation from dukkha, distress and confusion.
This was followed by discussion regarding how to use mindfulness of breathing practice to facilitate this investigation.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: WHOLESOME-MIND-CONDITIONERS
Next week’s discussion will explore the “Beautiful Pairs” of cetasikas, which are not universal and manifest as the result of increasingly activating the Universal Wholesome Cetasikas to a high level of functioning. Peter regards them as the results of intensive and persistent application of mindfulness meditation, most likely experienced first on a one-week or longer residential retreat.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:36 — 120.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 7, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Our community has a tradition allowing folks who attended a significant retreat to “think out loud” about the experience among others who have some idea of the issues discussed, in order to consolidate and clarify the benefits gained and to share their insights with others who have not been on retreat, perhaps inspiring them to consider a retreat. Eight of the thirty-five who attended the retreat were at this meeting and reported their insights and how this has affected their daily life since the retreat.
The retreat was organized thematically around two suttas of the Pali Canon. Here are the copies the retreatants worked with: Two Sorts of Thinking MN 19 The Relaxation of Thoughts Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta
The retreat experience was very much appreciated by all who attended. Shaila commented during the retreat on the sincere and well-informed commitments of those participating in the retreat. Additionally, Peter reported arrangements have been made for the next retreat at the Franciscan Center in Tampa to be led by Shaila Catherine from December 7-13, 2020. The theme of the retreat is yet to be determined.
Next week’s discussion will resume investigation of the Anapanasati Sutta, the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse. The focus will be on the section of the Sutta that regards “calming the mind conditioners”, and will specifically explore the Universal Wholesome Cetasikas, those conditioners that coordinate to form every moment of consciousness that is liberated from dukkha, that is, distress and confusion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:40 — 116.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 21, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Every moment that the mind is afflicted with dukkha some combination of Unwholesome Mind Conditioners is cooperating to produce distress (emotional upheaval–from desire to hatred) and confusion (not understanding impermanence and the absence of an enduring and autonomous self as a result of craving and clinging). This discussion describes the elements of the Unwholesome Mind Conditioners in more detail. Mindfulness of breathing meditation cultivates the Wholesome Mind Conditioners that manifest through vipassana practice and counter the frequency, severity and endurance of dukkha. This was followed by discussion to clarify how mindfulness of breathing practice actually contradicts the activation of dukkha.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE-UNWHOLESOME-MIND-CONDITIONERS
There will not be a posting of next week’s meeting on February 27th, as Peter and the recording equipment will be at a one week retreat with Shaila Catherine in Tampa with many of the local Sangha. A senior member of the Orlando Zen Center, Robert Lockridge, will give a talk entitled “Dae ja, Dae bi (Great Love, Great Compassion)-Zen and the Bodhisattva Ideal”.
The week following that, on March 6, those who attended the Shaila Catherine retreat will have an opportunity to “think out loud” about the benefits of the retreat, the topic of which is overcoming distraction.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:53 — 111.5MB)
