by April Koester | Mar 30, 2026 | Classes, News, Study Resources
Proposal for September 2026 Study Group
From Peter Carlson:
Hi Fellow Travelers—I’ve decided that the next study group will continue to focus on Pema Chodron’s work, using “The Places That Scare You—A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times”. As I have said previously, we live in trying times, and I anticipate the cultivation of kindness and compassion will be very useful for keeping our balance going forward, with the cultural and environmental stressors that are occurring.
The book provides a structure for developing the theme of the study of compassion for oneself and others. Even if you participated in the previous group that used Chodron’s “Start Where You Are—A Guide to Compassionate Living”, the cultivation of mindfulness and compassion is a central theme of Buddhist study and practice, which I found to be worth revisiting. I look forward to conversations organized roughly through this format: The first two meetings will focus on chapters with an emphasis on cultivating an unhindered and tranquil mind. The next two meetings will focus on chapters that emphasize the cultivation of lovingkindness and compassion, and the remaining four meetings will focus on other chapters of the book that emphasize integrating these capabilities into your life, particularly bringing compassion to the way we cope with the challenges of contemporary life. The Lojong training points listed at the end of the book support this integration.
The format of the series is as it has been previously. I want folks to commit to daily meditation practice of 45 minutes, as one of the most valuable aspects of Buddhism is the emphasis on the direct experience of meditation. If you ever learned how to play a musical instrument, you understand the value of practice, even if the results are not up to the standard you set. If you struggle with the 45 minute goal, developing this capability might be the most beneficial and compassionate outcome for you aside from the contents of the book. I want to have a dialogue with every person participating in the group during each meeting focused on integrating the contents of the book with your meditation experience—sort of like a music coach. I have practiced and taught meditation for over half my life and I can help you develop these important skills. I might spend more time in one discussion during a meeting because I think the topic will benefit everyone participating but generally, I have been able to talk with everyone during each meeting.
I plan for the first Zoom meeting to be the weekend of September 26-27, and the last of the 8 meetings is scheduled for November 14-15. As previously, one can choose either a Saturday or Sunday group, and the Zoom meetings will be from 3-4:30 PM. I will not expect any payment but request a donation to the Orlando Insight Meditation Group of $160. OIMG is a nonprofit organization, and the money will be used to further develop access to Secular Buddhist concepts and practices going forward.
Here’s how to commit to the meetings: Email your commitment to peter@orlandoinsightmeditation.org along with your phone number, indicating your preference for either Saturday or Sunday; if you are open to either day, let me know, as this flexibility will help me organize the attendance. I will limit the number of participants in each group to 7, so space is limited, therefore hesitation about committing could prevent your participation. I will email a more detailed prospectus for the series of meetings to the participants about a week before the first weekend of the meetings.
I wish you well. Peter
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 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. Peter is offering facilitation services freely, as has been the case for a few years now. Participants can make their payment after receiving confirmation from Peter about their application.
Thank you for your interest. We wish you well.
by Peter Carlson | Apr 6, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks, Study Resources
This talk focuses on reviewing some of my personal collection of Dharma books, divided into various categories. This recording provides my comments about the books, and the accompanying notes provide specific titles and suggestions for either purchasing copies or downloading free .pdf eBook copies from various sources. Progress on the path to Awakening requires both studying the books and diligently practicing the various meditative techniques, and i hope these offering are helpful for that integrative effort.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Studies Resources
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:33 — 54.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 23, 2020 | Study Resources
This contemplation focuses on cultivating awareness of anicca (ah-nee-chah), the transitory and unstable characteristic of subjective experience. Everything in the universe is in flux–even mountains are impermanent, as evidenced by the Appalachian mountains, which are believed to once have been as tall as the Himalayas! However, our immediate personal experience is always changing, even when we want it to be stable. This Buddhist meditation focuses on the ephemeral, ever-changing nature of the mind and the constituent elements that are reflected in consciousness. During this meditation, you are invited to consider the various suggestions for practice as a “sampler” of various ways to contemplate anicca, the goal of which is to deconstruct the misconception that there is an enduring and autonomous self. See if your attention becomes sufficiently unburdened by craving and clinging to the various thoughts and emotions that arise and pass away during the meditation so that the occurrence of a thought is seen as a fleeting construct, less seemingly self-defining and controlling of behavior. In future meditations, consider applying one of the suggestions persistently to soak further into the process of transition that is always occurring.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:58 — 82.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 18, 2017 | Study Resources
By Peter Carlson
I’ve been studying and practicing Buddhist mindfulness meditation for 35 years, with an emphasis on how modern scientific research supports the concepts and practices of traditional Buddhism. Because of this interest, I bought “The Mind Illuminated-A Completed Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom And Brain Science”. It was written collaboratively by Culadasa (John Yates, PhD.), Matthew Immergut, PhD. And Jeremy Graves, and published in 2015.
I’ve used it as a guide for my two-week self-retreats in 2015 and 2016, and I recommend it for anyone who wants to develop mindfulness significantly in his or her life. The book describes ten stages of progression towards Awakening, from the basics of how to establish a committed daily meditation practice to the potential experience of Nirvana, the total liberation of the mind from distress and confusion about life.
Each chapter provides practical instruction on how to cultivate stronger and more pervasive levels of focal stability and tranquility, alternating with what are called “interludes”, which provide conceptual support for the various practical applications and what happens in the mind during the different stages.
As a long time committed meditation practitioner and teacher, I confidently recommend using this book as a personal guideline for meditation practice. This recommendation is based on my own experience accumulated over the decades of practice; I find the book validates and clarifies what I have discovered in the traditional Buddhist teachings and the contemporary commentary on mindfulness and neuroscientific research.
If you use the link on our website to go to Amazon, a portion of the sale price will be donated to the Orlando Insight Meditation Group as part of Amazon’s commitment to support nonprofit organizations.
by Peter Carlson | Jul 29, 2016 | Study Resources
Regretably, we are having some technical software problems, so there’s no .mp3 post for this talk. We are taking steps to fix the problems, so hopefully the posts will resume as usual next week. Here are the notes Peter prepared for the talk: NEGOTIATING A MIDDLE WAY The gist of the talk presented some of the principles of Right Speech in the context of modern strategies for interpersonal conflict resolution.
by Peter Carlson | Jul 23, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks, Study Resources
During the second talk about the Tibetan Buddhist training called Lojong, the first 8 training aphorisms were described. Peter reported the classical rendering of the aphorism, then his contemporary understanding of the practice. The core of Lojong training involves the ability to recognize the origination of dissatisfaction and transform the experience into compassionate awareness through the application of Tonglen, another Tibetan word translated as “Sending and Taking”. The ultimate goal of the practice is to bring compassionate intentions to bear during every experience.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk. Due to an oversight, the notes reflect 9 training points; number 8, regarding integrating the slogans into daily life routines, has been added: Training For Realizing Relative Bodhicitta
Next week’s talk will continue exploring the Lojong teachings and will emphasize opportunities to turn obstacles into opportunities for awakening compassion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB)