Intensive Book Study Group led by Peter Carlson

by April Koester | Sep 11, 2025 | News

Proposed Topic for the October 2025 Study Group

As many of you know, we have enjoyed the benefits of an ongoing series of 8-week Dharma study groups for several years, and it is time to organize the next one.  There have been several requests for a repeat of an excellent book, “Stepping Out of Self-deception”, by Rodney Smith, so we will again focus on it.  During previous study groups, I have described the book as a series of chapters that invite repeated interested contemplation and discussion, so it is worth revisiting, even for those who have previously read it.  I know of two well-respected committed meditators who gave themselves a year to read, contemplate, and discuss the contents.

For those of you who were in the most recent series of meetings, I regret not giving you “first dibs” on this series, as my email group addresses were lost when I had to transfer everything to the new computer, so this is a general announcement rather than in the past about the next series, which I plan to start on the weekend of October 11, ending the weekend of November 29.  There are two options, Saturday or Sunday, from 3-4:30 PM, through Zoom meetings.  The number of participants in each group is capped at 7, so if you want to participate, let me know which day you prefer via email, but understand that if attendance is low, the meetings will only occur on one of those days, and you may have to be more flexible if necessary.  Don’t assume that because you were in the recent groups, that you are automatically in one of the next groups also—you must confirm the commitment via email, and include your phone number.  I will respond to your email confirming your participation and send a document with more specific information about the group process and discussion trajectory.

My plan is to have a “mini-consultation” with every participant during each meeting.  Circumstances may not allow that, but I will do my best to speak with each person.  We can talk about a concept from the book or your meditation practice.  I strongly encourage each person to commit to 45 minutes of meditation every day during the course—if that is challenging for you, that can be a fruitful opportunity to develop consistency of practice.  Real success integrates the concepts we read or hear about with the direct experiential confirmation available through dedicated meditation practice.

As in previous groups, the fee for the series is recommended to be $160, payable to OIMG, either through the website or via check sent to me, Peter Carlson, 1818 Carrigan Avenue, Winter Park, FL, 32789.  If you don’t have $160, pay what you can afford, knowing that this contribution is a core funding project for our Sangha’s activities.  I am offering my facilitation services freely, as has been the case for a few years now.  

Please contact me with any questions and email your commitments with your phone number ASAP in order to enroll even if I already have that information; I need the email address and phone number in case we need to reschedule a meeting.

 I look forward to getting started with the meetings and I wish you well.  Peter

For more information call 407 339-5444 or email peter@orlandoinsightmeditation.org

Intensive Book Study Group led by Peter Carlson

by April Koester | Apr 17, 2025 | News

I have decided that the recommended reading for the next intensive study group is “The Issue at Hand—Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice” by Gil Fronsdal.  The book can be bought through Amazon or downloaded for free through this URL:  https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/the-issue-at-hand/.  The book is not very long and is divided into small chapters, but what the author writes is very congruent with my views about the Dharma and meditation practice.  I think it will be fun and quite beneficial to have a series of discussions regarding what you are reading and how it applies to your meditation practice.  As usual for this series, I encourage you to commit to daily meditation practice of at least 45 minutes—if that is hard for you, let’s talk about it!  I hope to have individual interviews with each participant during every meeting, with time for general comments and questions between the interviews.

The format for the series of meetings is well-established:  8 weekly meetings on Saturday or Sunday afternoons from 3-4:30.  I suggest a voluntary donation to the Orlando Insight Meditation Group of $160, paid either through the OIMG website or by sending a check made out to the Orlando Insight Meditation Group, sent to Peter Carlson, 1818 Carrigan Avenue, Winter Park, FL, 32789.  If that is not affordable, please donate as much as you can, as this is the primary source of income for OIMG.  I am not asking for any personal donation to me for the series.

Please respond to peter@orlandoinsightmeditation.org, as I would like the meetings to begin the weekend after the one-day retreat on May 10, which means the first meeting weekend would be May 17/18, and the last meeting July 5/6.  The preferred number of participants in each group is 7, with the expectation that some folks will occasionally have other commitments and will miss a meeting.  Please let me know which day you prefer but be willing to attend on a different day if that seems valuable for the group dynamics.  We will not schedule the first meeting until I decide we have an appropriate number of participants; if there are not enough commitments, the meetings will occur on either Saturday or Sunday

Please contact me with any questions and email your commitments with your phone number ASAP in order to enroll even if I already have that information; I need the email address and phone number in case we need to reschedule a meeting.  I wish you well.  Peter

For more information call 407 339-5444 or email peter@orlandoinsightmeditation.org

The Contemplation of Stillness

by Peter Carlson | Apr 10, 2025 | News

During this talk, Lezlie Laws uses references to several books on contemplative stillness to develop greater conceptual understanding of the characteristic of the mind when unburdened by craving and clinging.  She also shares the insights regarding stillness she realized while attending to the recent passing of her beloved dog Dash.  This talk was preceded by a guided meditation entitled “Guided Stillness Contemplation”, which is posted within the Guided Meditation folder in the archives.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:31 — 61.8MB)

Guided Stillness Contemplation

by Peter Carlson | Apr 10, 2025 | News

Lezlie Laws provides useful suggestions for cultivating insights regarding stillness, a stable and non-reactive characteristic of the mind during meditation practice.  This recording is intended to provide support for discussion of stillness during the Dharma talk that followed this meditation titled “The Contemplation of Stillness”.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:10 — 41.3MB)