This talk describes a way that Buddhist psychology explains human personality formation as an aggregation of five factors in order to “deconstruct” the belief that there is an enduring/autonomous self.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: REVIEWING THE FIVE AGGREGATES
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:13 — 23.1MB)
Allie Vaknin provides a review of the Joy Awakening Factor during this talk, clarifying the various ways that joy can arise as an internally generated phenomena, not dependent upon external circumstances.
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This talk provides a review of two of seven Awakening Factors, Tranquility and Concentration, which are so integrated in their functioning that their manifestation is called samatha (syah-mah-tah) in Pali. Peter Carlson provides a review of each of the two, including skillful means for cultivating them, both while meditating and in the context of lifestyle choices. Additional emphasis is provided to clarify the characteristics of concentration, as either the highly concentrated experience of jhana or the more inclusive but very stable kind of concentration important for vipassana practice and the full development of the Seven Awakening Factors.
This talk can be supplemented by the “Guided Tranquility and Concentration Contemplation” that preceded this talk and which is posted in the archives of this site.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Tranquility and Concentration
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:28 — 57.2MB)
This guided meditation combines the functions of Tranquility and Concentration, two of the seven Awakening Factors. This contemplation is intended to supplement the talk ” Tranquility and Insight”, presented the same evening and posted in the archives.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:57 — 41.1MB)
During this talk, Peter Carlson reviews Dhamma Vicaya Bojjhanga, the Investigation of Mental Phenomena Awakening Factor. This quality of investigative curiosity, in coordination with the Mindfulness and Energy Awakening Factors, provides a primary support for the development of the other four Awakening Factors. Peter describes how investigation builds from the simple practice of aiming attention at the sensation of breathing and maintaining this focused attention during the cycles of breathing in an breathing out.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: INVESTIGATING MENTAL PHENOMENA
There is a supplemental “Guided Investigation of Mental Phenomena Meditation” posted in the archives, recorded just prior to this talk.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:43 — 52.8MB)
During this talk, April Koester reviews the Viriya Bojjhanga, the Energy Awakening Factor, which manifests as the persistent application of Right Effort, enhancing the benevolent effects of the other six Awakening Factors.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:09 — 63.3MB)