by Peter Carlson | Apr 5, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, reference was made to the April 2018 National Geographic Magazine dedicated to addressing racial bias. The talk occurred on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Two contemporary social science concepts were discussed: negativity bias and confirmation bias. Using the Four Noble Truths model, negativity bias was related to dukkha regarding aversion and ill-will, a manifestation of craving, and confirmation bias as the cognitive distortion of prejudice as a form of clinging. Prejudice was described in many forms: racism, homophobia, religious conflict, and even biased attitudes towards any group or person determined to be “different” culturally. Practicing the different elements of the Noble Eightfold Path were suggested as remedies for prejudicial views and actions.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindfulness and Prejudice
Next week’s talk will begin an ongoing series of explorations of the Satipatthana Sutta, translated as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which is a core teaching of Buddhist doctrine and meditative practices.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:50 — 113.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 29, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This posting focuses on the benefits of revising the wording of the traditional Five Precepts of Buddhism to more contemporary wording, with adaptations to emphasize the importance of a commitment to daily meditation practice and benevolent intention regarding the environment. The power of commitment was explained by Peter as being more action oriented than the term precept. The description was followed by general discussion of how important ethical guidelines are for developing the process of Awakening.
Here are the commitments Peter proposes for daily reflection and action: COMMITMENTS FOR AWAKENING
Here are the notes describing the power of commitment. These notes are adapted from a previous series of talks focused on the Four Noble Truths, so the introductory wording may be somewhat confusing: The Power Of Commitment
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:20 — 105.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 22, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk revisits the traditional “Three Refuges” of Buddhism:Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, from a more contemporary perspective, as the context of today’s culture is radically different than what was present during the preceding centuries in an Asian social setting. The intentions of this revisiting is to present the commitments in ways that apply to a secular consumer culture rather than the monastic setting that existed when the refuges were developed.
This talk was followed by general group discussion about the benefits of Buddhist practices in the stressful context of current culture.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: TAKING REFUGE
Next week’s talk will focus on a revisiting of the Five Precepts.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:29 — 119.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 22, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk on the last night of the retreat discussed how to integrate what was gained from the retreat into daily life routines, emphasizing daily meditation practice, participation in a sitting group when possible, and finding cues during the day to remind oneself to be mindful. This was accompanied by discussion of the suggestions.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: PRACTICING AWAKENING AT HOME
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:48 — 120.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 21, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described how the Seven Awakening Factors foster increasingly quick and accurate insights into how selfing operates. This process has two benefits: The first is psychological integration of the personality functions of the mind, and the second is the investigation of the arising and falling away of self-state formations. This insight begins to deconstruct the misperception that there is an enduring and autonomous self, and is followed by clear awareness of how previous experience (karmic mental conditioners) causes dukkha through craving and clinging. Relentless practice of mindful investigation reveals that there is unsurpassed ease and clarity when the mind lets go of craving and clinging completely (though momentarily) and experiences Nirvana, the unconditioned. This discussion was followed by questions and comments about the day’s practice experience and the evening’s topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: STAGES OF AWAKENING SELF STATE LIBERATION
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:21:24 — 149.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 20, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the focus is on the Sambojjhanga, the Seven Awakening Factors: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Right Effort/Persistence, Joy, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity/Balance. These qualities are operating in every moment of wholesome self-state organization, and become more and more potent when the Five Hindrances have been set aside in the mind’s functioning. Emphasis was placed on the Investigation of Mental Phenomena, as this manifests as the maturation of the initial meditation instruction to aim attention at the breath sensation (vitakka in Pali) and sustain that awareness through the whole of the in-breath (vicara in Pali). The collaberative functioning of the seven factors is essential in the practice of vipassana, which is the primary tool fostering the awakening process. This explanation was followed by discussion of the day’s practice and the information received during this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: BOJJHANGA-7 AWAKENING FACTORS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:25:35 — 156.7MB)
