by Peter Carlson | Aug 16, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk explores Viriya Bojjhanga, translated as the Energy Awakening Factor. Peter quoted Daniel Siegel’s suggestion that “the mind… regulates the flow of energy and information”, that is, we are energy transforming organisms. In Buddhist psychology, energy is related to Right Effort of the Eightfold Path, among other beneficial categories. He suggested that the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation channels energy away from unwholesome self-organizing processes and builds neural networks that are wholesome and mindfully channeling the energy of attention through the Seven Awakening Factors. This was followed by general group discussion of how the practice of channeling energy through mindful Right Effort brings benefit.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Transforming Energy Into Awakening
Next week’s topic will focus on the Awakening Factor of Joy/Enthusiastic Interest.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 9, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Continuing the exploration of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, tonight’s topic is the Awakening Factor Dhamma Vicaya, Investigating Mental Phenomena. During the talk, Peter suggested the development of this Awakening Factor begins with the practice of vitakka/vicara, aiming attention at the breath sensations/sustaining attention for the duration of the breath sensations. As the topic was developed, the cooperation of the other Awakening Factors was described in developing mature awareness of how the process of “selfing” occurs and to realize anicca (impermanence), anatta, (non-self) and the distress and confusion that constitutes dukkha. This was followed by general group discussion of the benefits that result from cultivating Dhamma Vicaya.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: INVESTIGATING MENTAL PHENOMENA
Next week’s topic will be the Awakening Factor Viriya, translated as Energy/Effort and Determination.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 2, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
At this point on inquiry during these talks, the Satipatthana Sutta emphasizes the “development to fulfillment” of those qualities of mental formations that complete the process of Awakening: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Effort, Joy/Enthusiastic Interest, Tranquility, Concentration/Stability of Attention, and Equanimity/Balance of Mental Factors.
This evening’s discussion emphasizes the cultivation of Sati, Mindfulness, regarded as “the chief minister of the kingdom, who monitors governance of the kingdom and reports to the king”. In this case, the king is vipassana, the intimate exploration of how the mind creates a self, in order to deconstruct that process, revealing the absence of an enduring and autonomous self.
This was followed by discussion regarding how mindfulness benefits daily life.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: CULTIVATING THE SEVEN AWAKENING FACTORS
Next week’s talk will focus on the second of the Awakening factors, Investigation of Mental Phenomena.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 26, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focuses on “deconstructing” the misconception of an enduring and autonomous self, exploring the process through which the raw data of sensory stimulation is transformed by mind conditioners into what the Buddha called “The tyranny of I, Me and Mine”. A fetter is the action of craving and clinging related to the emerging internal narrative in the creation of the self. Peter then suggested how mindfulness meditation fosters the ability to see how the processes operate rather than attaching a self to the content of each moment of subjective experience. This explanation was followed by discussion among those present regarding how they might use this information to understand Buddhist practices more beneficially.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE SIX SENSE BASES AND THE FETTERS
Next week’s discussion will begin identifying the Seven Awakening Factors and how to cultivate them, key skills for advancing the process of Awakening.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 19, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
As exploring the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness continues, the importance of understanding how the Five Aggregates functions in organizing an experience of “selfing” conceptually integrates with the ability to mindfully investigate the experience of form, feelings, perceptions, mind conditioners and consciousness as mental phenomena without identifying with their interactive functioning as a self that is autonomous and enduring. During the talk, the 52 mental conditioners called cetasikas were described categorically as Universal, Occasional, Unwholesome and Wholesome (with the addition of feelings and perceptions on the list). Peter used the example of jealousy (listed as envy among the cetasikas) as a category that all people experience, then talking about the jealousy experienced as a memory of a favored sibling getting the “best” piece of cake as an explicit and personalized manifestation of craving and clinging to clarify how to investigate mind conditioners through vipassana practice.
This was followed by discussion of how mindful and non-attached investigation of the presence or absence of awareness of one of the five aggregates affects one’s lived experience in the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: UNDERSTANDING THE FIVE AGGREGATES
Here is the cetasikas poster that is posted in the meditation room that was referred to in the talk: CETASIKAS POSTER
Next week’s talk will explore how mindfulness of the “six sense bases” furthers the process of Awakening.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 12, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the last of a series of talks focusing on how to identify and overcome the five hindrances. Skeptical doubt is the quality of indecisiveness regarding whether one’s understanding and practice of Buddhism is accurate or actually working. The antidote for skeptical doubt is confidence tempered by investigation of how the mind is creating subjective reality. This confidence is fostered by study of Buddhist teachings and commentaries, but must be confirmed by one’s own direct experience, otherwise the confidence may be due to craving and clinging to erroneous perceptions and beliefs. Rigorous daily practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation provides the necessary elements of internal inquiry to overcome doubt.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: OVERCOMING SKEPTICAL DOUBT
Next week’s talk will focus on what the teachings of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness provide for understanding the Five Aggregates that provide a functional selfing process.
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