by Peter Carlson | Feb 20, 2025 | News
One meeting each month is intended to provide an opportunity for those attending to ask Peter questions about Buddhist concepts and meditation practice. He has been studying and practicing Buddhism for over 40 years, and enjoys the dialogue involved in these discussions. Among the topics discussed during this talk are the importance of intentions that are associated with the targeted focused attention on various meditation subjects, and the relationship between ethics and spiritual development.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:03 — 55.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 13, 2025 | News
During this talk, Allie Vaknin reviewed the three elements of Dukkha–embodied suffering, the suffering the mind creates, and the suffering due to the unpredictability of change. Her description is accompanied by various comments regarding current sociopolitical stresses described by those participating in the meeting.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:22 — 51.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 23, 2025 | News
During this talk, Lili reviews contemporary psychological and neurological understandings about habit formation and how Buddhist concepts and practices support the ability to be mindful of, investigate, and alter unwholesome thoughts and actions that are habitual while reinforcing more wholesome habits. Her comments were followed by questions posed by those participating in the meeting.
Here are notes prepared for the talk: Habits and the Dharma- notes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:05 — 54.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Dec 5, 2024 | News
This talk provides a review of the Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse, the focus of a recently-completed course Peter participated in that used Analayo’s “Mindfulness of Breathing”. The Anapanasati Sutta is one of the core teachings of Theravada Buddhism and the meetings of the course helped validate some meditative insights emerging from his practice. The 16 steps of the sutta are reviewed and related to an .mp3 recording of the “Guided 16 Step Anapanasati Contemplation” that Peter provided prior to this meeting–it is posted within the “Guided Meditation” page of the website.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: OVERVIEW OF THE ANAPANASATI SUTTA
Here is Analayo’s translation of the Anapanasati Sutta: Anapanasati Sutta translated by Analayo
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:10 — 55.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 31, 2024 | News
The Second Noble Truth describes attachment to views as a primary cause of dukkha, the experience of distress and confusion. During this talk, Peter extends this understanding to review how the current circumstances of life–political divisiveness, the relentless demands of consumerism, and the increasing disruption of earth’s atmosphere–are challenging our views regarding what is considered to be a life well-lived. He suggests how skillful application of the Four Noble Truths concepts and practices that focus on identifying and managing craving and clinging, the primary cause of unwholesome views, can foster effective adaptation to the changing values and beliefs of human culture.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Attachment to Views
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:12 — 53.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 24, 2024 | News
During this talk, Peter responded to various questions about mindfulness of breathing meditation practice, understanding how to cultivate insights regarding the self-creating process, and the body scanning practice taught by S. N. Goenka.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:49 — 56.6MB)
