by Peter Carlson | Jul 5, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is part of a series exploring the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, specifically the nature of the hindrance Restlessness and Worry. During the talk, the essential characteristics of the hindrance, that is, instability of focus caused by restlessness (related to craving for pleasantness and to avoid unpleasantness) and the repetitive nature of worrying (related to clinging to a repetitive thought of regret or anticipated disaster). Peter described how mindfulness of breathing meditation reduces the general level of restlessness in the mind, manifested as samadhi/passadhi (stability of focus/inner tranquility), which enables the ability to see worrisome thoughts as just phenomena of one’s personal history and not certainly a valid line of thought to pursue. This was followed by discussion by those present, who talked about their personal experiences regarding overcoming restlessness and worry.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: OVERCOMING RESTLESSNESS AND WORRY
Next week’s discussion will investigate the hindrance of Skeptical Doubt.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:39 — 107.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 28, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is a continuation of several focused on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse, in particular, the part of the Fourth Foundation describing how to identify and overcome the Five Hindrances. In this case, the hindrance is thina/middha, sloth and torpor. This quality of mind is overly sedated, drowsy and lacking in sufficient energy to investigate emerging self-state organizations. The antidote for sloth and torpor involves a more energetic application of the intention to bring focused attention to the breath sensations and maintain this focus persistently. When this strategy is insufficient, other useful remedies found in the traditional teachings were described. Peter emphasized that, when one participates in a retreat lasting at least a week, there comes a period of time when awareness “wakes up”, becoming more alert, manageable and sensitized to mental processes. This insight reveals how often our everyday consciousness is impaired by “subtle dullness”, such as when daydreaming. This was accompanied by discussion regarding how this hindrance affects various people attending the talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: OVERCOMING SLOTH AND TORPOR
The topic of next week’s talk will be overcoming restlessness and worry.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:57 — 111.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 21, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the second talk exploring the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, specifically focused on identifying and overcoming the Five Hindrances. The talk described how Byapada, (Aversion and Ill Will) come to be and how the practice of mindfulness of breathing, or, alternatively, metta (lovingkindness) practices counter the contraction and rigidity in the mind created by Byapada. This description was followed by general discussion of how to overcome Byapada.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: OVERCOMING AVERSION AND ILL
Next week’s discussion will focus on the overcoming the hindrance of Sloth and Torpor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:48 — 115.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 8, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The talk explored the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, with specific emphasis on being mindful of what triggers sense desire, how it operates in the brain and what can be done to overcome this hindrance to mental clarity and tranquility.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Overcoming Sense Desire
Next week’s talk will be given by Robert Lockridge from the Orlando Zen Center. Upon returning, Peter will continue exploring overcoming the hindrances, focusing on aversion and ill-will.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:18 — 115.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 31, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the first of a series of talks about panca nivarana, the five hindrances described in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. In this talk, Peter described how an initial stimulus is transformed into a hindrance through craving and clinging. A “seed moment” of stimulation is dynamically organized into a selfing process that hinders the creativity and adaptive capabilities of the mind. He described how the panca indriya, the five faculties of Buddhist psychology, provide a an influence that counters the hindrances. This was followed by discussion of how these concepts are realized through the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE FIVE HINDRANCES
The topic for next week’s discussion is the hindrance of sensual desire.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:16 — 108.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 24, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Third Foundation Of Mindfuilness is Cittanupassana, Mindfulness Of The Mind. During this talk, Peter explained how the traditional understandings of cittanupassana foster the process of Awakening. The mind is the receptive characteristic of human experience, and the “tone” of the mind can be affected by various conditions such as desire or aversion. The cultivation of mindfulness clarifies the reflective quality of awareness in ways that provide greater stress resilience and sets the conditions for the practice of vipassana, the function of which is to reveal directly the three characteristics of human reality: impermanence, the absence of an enduring and autonomous self and the distress and confusion that comes about due to craving and clinging. The participants in the meeting then discussed how they understand the nature and function of cittanupassana.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE NATURE OF THE MIND
Next week’s talk will begin the exploration of the Fourth Foundation Of Mindfulness, Dhammanupassana.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:01 — 113.6MB)
