by Peter Carlson | Sep 27, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk begins several weeks of discussion regarding how the understanding and application of the Four Noble Truths can be of great benefit as we cope with these stressful times. Peter begins by suggesting significant differences between the relative simplicity of pre-industrial culture and the increasingly complex challenges of contemporary life. At the core of Buddhism is the path towards experiencing the Unconditioned, Nirvana; however, in this day and age, we benefit from first cultivating what we in the West call good mental health as a foundation from which total liberation can be approached.
This was followed by a review of the first three of the Four Noble Truths; next week’s discussion will review the fourth Noble Truth, the Noble Eightfold Path. The topics of the next several weeks’ discussions will be how the Four Noble Truths can be applied to contemporary cultural distresses related to multicultural tensions, consumerism, political conflict, the #meetoo phenomenon, along with various other relevant topics.
The recording is somewhat longer due to the engaged dialogue that developed after the explanatory remarks.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: MINDFUL ADAPTATION TO STRESSFUL TIMES
As mentioned above, next week’s topic will review the Noble Eightfold Path, which provides the concepts and practices that support the realization of the first three Noble Truths.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 20, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This post represents the summation of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, in reviewing the stanzas relating to the fulfillment of the Four Noble Truths. Each of the Truths is reviewed through three stages: conceptual understanding, experiential knowledge and integration into one’s life. Through the maturing development of the Four Foundations competencies, the personality view moves from conflicted self-state organizations through a more balanced and effectively integrated self-state organizing process. This sets the conditions for self-state liberation, represented by the “Noble Tenfold Path”, which revisits Right Understanding as Right Knowledge (Direct experience confirming the three characteristics: anicca, dukkha and anatta) and Right Intention as Liberating Insight. This attainment fosters the experience of Nirvana, the Unconditioned.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE TRUTHS OF AWAKENING
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 13, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Equanimity Awakening Factor and includes a summary regarding how the Seven Awakening Factors integrate and cooperate to further the process of liberating the mind from the distress and confusion that is the result of craving and clinging. The review was followed by general discussion regarding the benefits of cultivating samadhi/passadhi (concentration/tranquility) as a foundational goal of daily mindfulness meditation practice.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE MIDDLE WAY WITH EQUANIMITY
Next week’s talk will summarize the entirety of the Satipatthana Sutta with review of the final stanzas of the discourse, with emphasis on the realization of the Four Noble Truths.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 6, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Concentration Awakening Factor is also known as Right Concentration, a key element of the Noble Eightfold Path. Peter described how this Awakening Factor coordinates with the Mindfulness, Investigation Of Mental Phenomena and Effort (Right Effort) Awakening Factors, making the emergence of the Awakening Factors of Joy and Tranquility develop to maturity. Concentration manifests as Fixed Concentration and alternatively as Momentary Concentration, and the function of each was described. This explanation was followed by general discussion of how to cultivate this Awakening Factor and the benefits derived from that practice in daily life.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: CONCENTRATION AWAKENING FACTOR
Next week’s topic will be the Equanimity Awakening Factor, which functions to foster balance among the different factors.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 30, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the Tranquility Awakening Factor was described as the result of the application of Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Concentration and Energy/Right Effort Awakening Factors. The Pali term for this Factor is Passadhi Bojjhanga, and it so closely aligns with the Concentration Awakening Factor, Samadhi Bojjhanga, that Peter frequently refers to samadhi/passadhi as the foundation for vipassana practice. Tranquility is not sedation, but rather the absence of turbulence in the internal flow of consciousness. After the explanation, those attending discussed how to cultivate tranquility in daily life and the benefits of a serene lifestyle.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Awakening With Tranquility
Next week’s topic is the Concentration Awakening Factor.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 23, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talked emphasized Piti Bojjhanga, typically translated as the Rapture Awakening Factor. After describing the role that piti traditionally plays in the cultivation of jhana, (an exalted state of exclusive awareness), Peter suggested a more workable translation might be enthusiastic interest, a quality of attention that is actively engaged with investigating the emerging characteristics of subjective experience. Piti is the result of the application of the Awakening Factors of Mindfulness, Investigation and Energy (manifested as Right Effort, part of the Noble Eightfold Path), and serves as a quality of awareness that inspires further practice. The description was followed by general discussion of how joyful interest during meditation practice generalizes to joyful interest in life’s everyday characteristics.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: CULTIVATING JOYFUL INTEREST IN AWAKENING
Next week’s topic will be the Awakening Factor of Passadhi Bojjhanga, the Tranquility Awakening Factor.
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