by Peter Carlson | Mar 26, 2020 | Compassionate Action, Intro to Buddhism & Meditation, Listen to Dharma Talks, News
This is the first attempt by Peter to facilitate a talk and discussion via Zoom and unfortunately he neglected to turn on either recording program so there is no recording of this talk; however, the training meditation was successfully recorded and is posted, even though there are intrusive sounds during the recording. This is a good example of how dukkha manifests as distress and confusion, as managing the Zoom program and both the recording devices represents confusion regarding the procedures; fortunately with minimal distress, as Peter practices turning humiliation into humility on a regular basis. Hopefully the next recorded meeting on April 1 will be successfully accomplished.
The talk was focused on how combining specific attention to the breath sensations can be integrated with peripheral awareness of other body sensations to provide a stabilizing platform from which to notice and let go of intrusive and disruptive internal narratives. This ability was related to the benefits of adapting to the increasingly stressful circumstances of the pandemic through the development of the Four Noble Truths.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Cultivating Breath Body Tranquility
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:51 — 83.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 7, 2020 | Compassionate Action, News
I have known Andy Quinn for 25 years or more; I introduced him to mindfulness of breathing meditation and he is now the founding teacher for the Lakeland Meditation Group. Andy has registered for a one month retreat later this year at the Forest Refuge, an important meditation center where I have practiced long retreats within before. He and his wife are putting a daughter through college and it is stretching their budget for him to go to this retreat. He created a GoFundMe page to support this spiritual practice and my wife Paula and I have contributed $100 to support his efforts–May the merits of his practice benefit everyone he meets! If you know Andy and want to contribute to his spiritual development and the advancement of the Lakeland Sangha, please consider a contribution. Here is the URL to the GoFundMe website: https://www.gofundme.com/f/andy-quinn-long-meditation-retreat-2020
I wish you well. Peter
by Mary Ann | Oct 15, 2017 | Compassionate Action
The Orlando Insight Meditation Group will be coordinating community service opportunities in the near future. This will be a fantastic way to be of service to those in need and enjoy fellowship with the Sangha. If you are interested, please contact Ryan Stanland by email or call 407-388-5098. Please provide your name, email address, phone number and general availability. Together we can select a service opportunity that best fits the group and spread loving kindness to those who most need it most.
by Peter Carlson | Oct 23, 2016 | Compassionate Action
The Orlando Insight Meditation Group is a non-profit corporation founded in the early 1990s with the intention to provide introductory and advanced meditation training for Central Florida. We have produced one-day, weekend, and one-week retreats since then, and we are diligent in keeping the costs as low as possible and providing partial and full scholarships for whomever committed to the retreat experience. The subsidy for keeping the costs low comes almost entirely from the income from introductory meditation courses, with the fee being $50 per 4 week course (scholarships offered there as well).
Our biggest expense is for one week-retreats. The fee for the retreat barely pays for our expenses at the retreat center for room and board. It costs approximately $500 to go to a retreat, and the OIMG expenses are around $450. The weekend retreats cost approximately $230, and OIMG expenses are around $200. We are committed to providing opportunities to benefit from the life-changing intensive training experienced and subsidies so that people who have limited financial resources can attend.
The teacher charges no fee for the teaching. Participants are given the opportunity to make voluntary contributions at the end of the retreat, as is the Buddhist custom.
If you are fortunate enough financially to be able to provide tax-deductible charitable contributions, this is the time of year to be contemplating that generosity. Should you choose to practice dana, the Buddhist word for generosity, you will be contributing to the well-being of others. Practicing mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation has a ripple effect, that is, those who commit to the Buddhist path of awakening aren’t the only ones benefitting; the social benefits extend the benefits of kindness, compassion, generosity and patience to all they encounter.
We hope you will find a way to contribute to our organization.
You can contribute online using your credit card or PayPal account here.
Checks or money orders should be made out to the Orlando Insight Meditation Group and sent to Tommy Harrison, 245 Stevenage Dr., Longwood, Florida, 32779.
In response to your generosity, you will receive a letter suitable for tax deduction purposes.
We wish you well,
Peter Carlson
by Peter Carlson | Jul 27, 2016 | Compassionate Action
The Fish Lake Sangha, a local Zen group in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, will initiate a series of memorial meetings this Sunday, the 31st, to commemorate those lost at the Pulse Nightclub. Here is the attached announcement providing more detailed information: 49 Day Ceremony Invitation
by Peter Carlson | Dec 6, 2015 | Compassionate Action
“These five are a person of integrity’s gifts. Which five? A person of integrity gives a gift with a sense of conviction. A person of integrity gives a gift attentively. A person of integrity gives a gift in season. A person of integrity gives a gift with an empathetic heart. A person of integrity gives a gift without adversely affecting himself or others.” AN 5.148
This quotation from the Buddha points to the value of dana, which is the Pali word for generosity.
Those of you who are reading this may not realize that the Orlando Insight Meditation Group was founded in the early 1990’s as a nonprofit corporation. It has been our intention all these years to provide instruction and training to those who are interested in exploring the path laid down 25 centuries ago by Siddhartha Gotama, who is commonly known as the Buddha, the Awakened One.
Nonprofit organizations such as ours rely on the generosity of the surrounding community for support. Since OIMG was founded, almost all the funding has been generated by the introductory courses we have provided. Donations from others is another source. All monies are dedicated to furthering the practice for people who want to attend retreats but don’t have the financial means to do so. As the number of retreats and need for scholarship has increased over the years, income from introductory courses and donations has not kept up.
Please consider helping us continue our tradition of providing scholarship on retreats. If you’ve been on retreat before, you know the benefit. OIMG welcomes donations from those who are reading this posting who would like to help others be able to go on retreat. Donations can be provided through the website as well as through checks payable to the Orlando Insight Meditation Group and sent to 245 Stevenage Dr., Longwood, Florida, 32779. OIMG is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and your donations are tax deductible.
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Thank you for your interest in the path of awakening. We wish you well.
–Peter Carlson and Tommy Harrison
