by Peter Carlson | Feb 6, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the first of two talks on the primary causes of Dukkha, tanha (craving) and upadana (clinging). Tanha is typically translated as thirst, an unquenchable desire, either for pleasant feeling to persist or for unpleasant feeling to be eliminated. Peter talked about craving in the context of addiction, derived from his training as a Certified Addictions Professional, using neurological research results to describe how craving operates in the brain. This was followed by description of how the regular practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation alters the structure of the brain to reduce the urgency of craving, regardless as to whether it is involved in an addictive process or simply applies to everyday emotional reactivity to environmentally stressful circumstances. This explanation was followed by lively and extensive discussion among the participants regarding this topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: WORKING WITH CRAVING
Next week’s topical focus will involve upadana, the tendency of the mind to become attached to a particular thought or belief in maladaptive ways.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:10:41 — 129.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 5, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Wholesome Mind Conditioning function of karuna (kah-roo-nah), compassion, which is a manifestation of Right Intention from the Noble Eightfold Path. Peter reviews the universal human capacity for empathy, “hard-wired” into our nervous system, perhaps expressed through the function of the vagal nerve process, which connects the brain with the heart, lungs and intestines, suggesting the the experience of compassion is a process involving the entire torso as well as the brain. This innate empathy creates the group cohesion necessary for civilization to function effectively, which is greatly challenged during these trying times that involve the pandemic, political conflict and the disruptive societal impact of global warming. Different approaches to cultivating compassion are described involving the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana views. The review is followed by discussion among those participating regarding the cultivation of compassion. This talk is accompanied by a separately recorded “Guided Mindful Compassion Meditation” from the same night.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindful Compassion In Trying Times
The focus for next week’s talk will be the cultivating of Sympathetic Joy, another of the Wholesome Cetasikas.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:00 — 115.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 27, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is the third in a series that review what are termed the “Divine Abidings”. The first talk is entitled “Reviewing the Brahma Viharas”, and the second “Manifesting Equanimity”–both can be found in the archive. Lovingkindness is an over-arching contemplation, as the contemplations focusing on Compassion and Sympathetic Joy emerge from the cultivation of Lovingkindness. During the talk, the traditional understandings of this practice are reviewed, with additional support from contemporary research commentaries regarding the neurological underpinnings of the contemplation, which changes the way the brain and body function, particularly the beneficial effects of the practice that enhances what is called “vagal tone”, a high level of functioning for the important neural link between the heart and the brain. The emotional potency of sincere repetition of the lovingkindness mantra is also described.
There is an accompanying “Guided Lovingkindness Contemplation” found in the archives.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Cultivating Lovingkindness
The topic for next week’s review will focus on cultivating Compassion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:10 — 60.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 19, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described the self as a process, selfing, a verb rather than a noun. During the talk, the Mind System Model developed by Culadasa in his book “The Mind Illuminated”, was drawn on to help understand how different functions in the brain operate autonomously as “sub-minds” in processing ongoing experience, producing the ongoing process of self-organization and self-dissolution that is blended into the stream of consciousness, experienced as “myself”. The process of Awakening involves the practice of vipassana to investigate this selfing dynamic and “deconstruct” the misperception of an enduring and autonomous self. This was followed by questions and discussion of the day’s meditation practice and the evening talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE SELFING PROCESS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20:11 — 146.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 11, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the meditation practices represented in the Visuddhimagga, the common reference source for Theravada Buddhists. This approach to meditation is intended to lead to the extraordinary levels of consciousness called jhana, and which are only found in Theravada Buddhism. During the talk, the progression of practicing meditation from using intensive investigation of breath sensations to overcome the five hindrances, through what is called access concentration and on to the four jhanas of form. These four progressions of concentrated attention are described, related to the teachings and the personal experience of the presenter, Peter. The description also includes comments that assess the relationship between the high levels of concentration required in this practice to other systems developed by Buddhist teachers termed dry vipassana; these practices were described in recent previous talks. This was followed by opportunities for those participating to add comments or ask questions.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Review of Classic Theravada Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation Additionally, here is a document downloaded in preparation for this talk and which is referred to at the end of the talk: VIPASSANA AND JHANA
There is a guided meditation entitled “Guided Exclusive Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation” recorded the same night at this talk, which can be found in the archives.
The topic for next week will be a review of the ways the structure and functioning of the brain are changed by dedicated mindfulness of breathing meditation as discovered by contemporary neuroscientific researchers.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:14 — 113.9MB)
