by Peter Carlson | Apr 28, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews a just completed 12 day self-retreat that focused on cultivating strong and persistent levels of focused intention in order to realized the potential of experiencing nimitta, mental phenomena that emerge in consciousness when the mind is almost entirely free of distraction. Nimitta experience is preliminary to entering into jhana, highly purifying states of mind that are characteristic of the traditional Theravada Buddhist approach to Awakening. Peter provides a detailed description of the meditative procedures that produce these mental phenomena, which he was able to directly know during the retreat.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Peter’s April 2023 Retreat Report
A recording of the guided meditation that preceded this talk can be found in the Audio tab under the Guided Meditations tab, entitled “Guided Diligent Mindful Clear Comprehension Meditation”. The guided meditation is intended to provide additional support for understanding the practices described in this talk.
The focus for next week’s talk will be on the Second Noble Truth, the cause of dukkha, presented by Lili Fernandez.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:10 — 57.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 30, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Retreats are expected to be tranquil, contemplative experiences, and, to a great extent, this is true. Peter has been on nearly 100 retreats of one week or more since 1982, and some of them were bound to be challenging. This retreat was one of them. The intention was to use a two weeks self-retreat to practice cultivating samadhi using kasina practice, explanations of which are found in the extensive Visuddhimagga commentary, compiled centuries after the time of the Buddha.
The first week involved this practice, using an l.e.d. lighted 8 1/2 inch globe, placed lower than eye level about 6 feet away. The technique involves gazing at the object until a visual “overlay” becomes evident, at which time the eyes are closed and an attempt is made to maintain the image.
This practice was interrupted by significant problems regarding the installing of a new kitchen in Peter’s home (the meditation cottage is in the back yard of his home). After a week of solid cultivation of concentration difficulties arose with the contracted building company, whose management seems to be inconsiderate and greedy. During the talk, Peter described how his mindfulness practice, supported by cultivating calmness and serenity for a week, allowed him to transition into a “work retreat” mindset for the remaining week of the practice. He described a “sea anchor”, a device sailing ships used in storms to stay oriented into the wind and waves of the storm, with breath awareness as the anchor as the storm of emotions passed through. He also talked about how significantly cultivated meditation practice can produce very creative problem solving solutions as a benefit during difficult times, but an obstacle to deeply examining the impermanent and non-self aspects of life, the goal of serious meditation practice.
This was followed by discussion focused on how mindfulness practice can be applied to significant challenges in one’s life beneficially.
Next week’s talk will resume discussion of the discourse on mindfulness of breathing, the Anapanasati Sutta, with particular focus on viriya (vee-rih-yah), the energy awakening factor.
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by Peter Carlson | May 7, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the second of three planned reviews of the Five Hindrances, which are the initial focus for contemplation in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness Discourse. Peter described the Buddhist concepts of Thina/Middha (tee-nah/mih-dah), Sloth/Torpor and Uddhacca/Kukkucca (ooh-dah-chah/koo-koo-chah), Restlessness/Worry as imbalances of the energy systems of the body and mind. Sloth/Torpor is an overactive parasympathetic system, producing too much tranquility, causing dullness and the inability to be clearly aware to dominate consciousness. Restlessness/Worry is an overactive sympathetic system, creating agitation, anxiety and worrisome, repetitive thought processes to dominate consciousness. The primary antidotes for these two hindrances is satisampajanna (sah-tee-sahm-puh-jahn-yah), mindful clear comprehension, cultivated through persisting present-moment awareness of the process of breathing. Earlier in the meeting, Peter provided a guided meditation for the cultivation of satisampajanna with mindfulness of breathing meditation; the recording of that practice can be found on the Audio page of the website. It is interesting to notice that steadfast investigation of the process of breathing can be beneficial in calming an anxious mind and alerting a dull mind. Other tactics for overcoming these hindrances were also reviewed. The review was followed by questions and comments by those attending the Zoom meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this meeting: Notes For Overcoming Sloth and Restlessness May 6 2020
Next week’s topic will review the fifth hindrance, Skeptical Doubt.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14:40 — 136.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 26, 2013 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this second discussion of the seven awakening factors, more emphasis was placed on the integrative function of the factors and how this process transitions from personality integration to spiritual transcendence. As the “demons” of the hindrances are starved of attention, more free energy is channeled intentionally to nurturing the “angels” of loving-kindness, compassion, generosity, empathic joy and insights about the three characteristics of impermanence, non-self, and the inevitable results of craving and clinging, that is, distress. This talk also includes the enthusiastic question and answer session that followed.
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by Peter Carlson | Jan 1, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter reviewed his experience on the recently completed 2 week self retreat. Emphasis was placed on consistent breath awareness, using the notion of “channeling energy” to the breath, rather than trying to “make the internal narrative stop”. This channeling process was associated with the scientific evidence that the neurons that are most activated elicit the most glucose “fuel”, and that shifting the flow of this fuel to body awareness is comparable to directing the flow of watered fertilizer through the hose, being careful to only feed the flowers, vegetables and fruits rather than weeds (the five hindrances).
This channeling strategy also applies to the practice of vedanupassana, mindfulness of feelings, called ”body sweep” meditation. Peter explained that the body sweep, combined with mindfulness of breathing, cultivates the seven awakening factors, particularly mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena, energy/effort, and concentration. The emergence of the awakening factors of joy, tranquility and equanimity are manifestations of the process of awakening, enhancing the practice of vipassana, which is direct, clear awareness of impermanence, non-self, and the presence or absence of the dissatisfaction that arises due to craving and clinging.
Next week’s dhamma dialogue will begin a long series of discussions and trainings organized around the Anapanasati Sutta, the discourse describing the liberating capacity of mindfulness of breathing.
