by Peter Carlson | Mar 19, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter reviewed the extensive research literature that supports contemporary understanding of self-organizing functions. Prior to this era, Buddhist concepts were derived from culturally determined mythology, which is hard for contemporary Westerners to believe and make best use of for spiritual development.
Next week’s discussion will focus on how the practice of mindfulness of breathing and lovingkindness meditation practices effectively change the structures of the brain described in this talk, enhancing self-awareness, self-regulation and social harmony.
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by Peter Carlson | Mar 10, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the development of meditation as an evolutionary process was reviewed. The first images of a person in a meditative position dates from about 5,000 years ago. The initial motivation likely was to find a way to appease the forces of nature, typically a god, to promote good fortune. The Buddha radically transformed this conceptual process towards personal responsibility rather than appeasement through the emphasis on ethical guidelines for relief from the stresses of life. In the current era, scientific empiricism has replaced the gods–not necessarily in an atheistic way, but to place responsibility for salvation in the hands of individuals, and, by extension, the dynamics of cultural values. Meditation practices foster the ability to be responsive in ethical ways to modern consumer culture. This talk prompted discussion about the personal implications of committing to regular meditation practice.
Next week the discussion will explore what modern research reveals about how the brain operates and how regular meditation practice changes the structure of the brain in ways that support a more personally, socially and ecologically responsible world citizen.
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by Peter Carlson | Mar 4, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is customary for the meeting after a major retreat experience to be dedicated to reviewing the retreat. The annual one week retreat at Deerhaven was reviewed, with Peter providing an outline of the retreat schedule and daily dhamma talk topics. This description was followed by lively accounts from 3 of the 14 participants about the insightful experiences they had during and after the retreat.
Here are the notes with a more complete review of the retreat schedule and the various topics and practices introduced for practice during the retreat: REVIEW NOTES FOR THE 2016 DEERHAVEN RETREAT
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by Peter Carlson | Feb 18, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter provided some background regarding the development of Buddhist precepts, in that in the Buddha’s time, ethical behavior involved following the dictates of one’s clan; the Buddha said that what makes a person “noble” involved an ethics supported by kindness, compassion, generosity and equanimity/tolerance. In current culture, the term “precept” doesn’t have the clarity or usefulness as an alternate term, “commitment”. Peter revised the “five precepts” into commitments that cover the same ethical concerns as the precepts, with additional focus on cultivating daily mindfulness practice and an increased sensitivity to how our behaviors impact the ecological balance of the biosphere.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: Revisiting Buddhist Precepts
Here is the handout presented that list the commitments suggested and a brief explanation of how each commitment is applied: COMMITMENTS FOR AWAKENING
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by Peter Carlson | Feb 11, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Peter participated in a one week retreat led by Steve Armstrong, a well-respected Buddhist teacher. During the retreat, he contracted a chest cold, having to spend most of the retreat and one week at home in bed recuperating. During this talk, he reviewed his experience of the three forms of Dukkha: that caused by physical circumstance, that caused by impermanence, and that caused by the conditioned response of the mind to the first two. The intention of the talk and ensuing dialogue was to foster concrete understanding of how Buddhist teachings and practice can be beneficially applied while ill, not with the intention to “fix” the illness, but to understand at a deeper level the body/mind experience of dukkha. Despite the physical misery, there was a quiet acceptance and equanimity about the disease process that consistent mindfulness of breathing provides us.
Here is the essay Peter prepared for this talk: MINDFUL MISERY
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by Peter Carlson | Jan 21, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Since Peter plans to attend a retreat led by Steve Armstrong, and values the retreat experience, he described the life circumstances that prompted beginning to practice mindfulness meditation in 1982. He then described the various meditation practices in other faith traditions around the world, citing Daniel Goleman’s book, “The Meditative Mind”. Peter’s subjective experience regarding regular meditation practice and the benefits that build from repeated retreat experience were reviewed.
This was followed by the accounts of others attending the meeting regarding the benefits they experience as a result of meditation practice.
Here are the autobiographical notes prepared for the talk: WHY I MEDITATE
Since Peter is on retreat next week, the talk will be given by Daniel Goleman, a member of the teacher’s mentoring group. Daniel has been meditating for many years, and is also actively practicing hatha yoga. His topic will be the integration of mindfulness and yoga, and he will be assisted by Mitch Sullen.
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