by Peter Carlson | Dec 14, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described his intentions for his upcoming annual two-week self-retreat, organized around applying the concept and practices derived from reading (multiple times) “Stepping Out Of Self Deception-The Buddha’s Liberating Teaching Of No-Self” and “Awakening-A Paradigm Shift Of The Heart”, by Rodney Smith. The books develop a concept of two relationships to the universe, the horizontal (time-bound, afflicted by craving and clinging) and the vertical (timeless, limitless, unbound by craving and clinging). The vertical dimension is the eternal Now, the only moment of reality that is not inherently affected by craving and clinging, and can be realized through awareness of “stillness”, a quality of attention undisturbed by narrative, experienced holistically as “suchness”, an awareness described by and manifested by the Buddha. Peter’s intention is to cultivate samadhi/passadhi (stable attention/tranquility) including full sensational awareness of body sensations, sound, light, etc. and abide in that flow to investigate and understand the experience of stillness. This was followed by comments from those attending the meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk:OPENING TO STILLNESS
Here is the handout provided for those attending, illustrating an excerpt from the Numerical Discourses, Udana 8.1, and an adapted graphic illustrating the horizontal and vertical concepts from the book “Stepping Out Of Self Deception-The Buddha’s Liberating Teaching Of No-Self”: Opening To Stillness handout
The next posted talk will not be available until early January as a result of Peter’s retreat, during which there will be no dharma talks. It is hoped that all reading this posting will enjoy a safe and happy holiday season!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:21 — 117.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 6, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Patience is the ability to train the mind to be non-reactive enough over a period of time for effective, mindful investigation to function well. Most often, impatience is driven by urgency and attachment to an expected outcome, and is experienced as reactive impulsiveness. During this talk, using the Four Noble Truths model, Peter suggested different focal areas that might stimulate impatience along with how the cultivation of stable, serene attention (samadhi/passadhi) through mindfulness of breathing cultivates patience. The simple act of becoming mindful of the craving and clinging that accompanies an itch and learning to be patient with the experience of discomfort and urgency can provide the capability to be patient with other circumstances, such as being patient with a person’s behaviors or an unexpected turn of events that counter one’s plans.
During the discussion, the participants were invited to fill out a worksheet regarding how to recognize impatience and how to address the urgency of craving and clinging effectively. The insights derived from this exercise might inspire a person using the worksheet to contemplate for a period of time how often impatience affects daily experience and how to use mindfulness and renunciation strategies during the day to cultivate patience. Here is the worksheet: Patience Worksheet
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: The Benefits Of Perfecting Patience
Next week’s meeting will involve a guest speaker, Dr. Armando Garcia, a practicing Buddhist who has written a book entitled “Buddhism And Existentialism-Not Self, Nothingness, and Being”. Existentialism is a philosophy developed during the 20th century that emphasizes the fabricated nature of human experience and the responsibilities that emerge from that creative process. Buddhism has strong elements of existential considerations that predate by many centuries this philosophy. Dr. Garcia will talk about the congruence between Buddhist insights into reality and existential philosophy.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:08 — 117.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 5, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
We provide an opportunity for those in the Orlando Insight meditation community who have recently completed a residential meditation retreat a chance to “think out loud” about their experience. Research suggests that much of what happens on retreats impacts the mind’s function outside conscious awareness; talking about the retreat integrates the learned experience into conscious awareness, making it more accessible in an ongoing way. It also provides insights and inspiration for others, perhaps motivating commitments to attend a residential retreat.
Peter spent the last two weeks of 2016 meditating in the cottage in his back yard, which is where the Orlando Insight Meditation Group meets. During this retreat and his preceding retreat at the end of 2015, he used the 10 stage progression of practice described in “The Mind Illuminated”, and this provided the framework for this discussion.
Here are the notes prepared for the talk: Peters-2016-year-end-retreat-1 During the next few weeks, Peter will discuss in more depth the progression described in the book. It is hoped that this will provide support for those attending the upcoming one week Deerhaven retreat February 12-19, as well as for daily meditation practice. Peter is also recommending that those attending the retreat consider purchasing “The Mind Illuminated” as a preparatory reference tool.
Additionally, Peter created a cushioning arrangement for long sitting periods on the chairs provided for the retreat. Here are the notes and photos of the arrangement: CHAIR CUSHION DHARMA
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:38 — 109.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 27, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk begins an in-depth review of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse. Analayo’s book “Satipatthana–The Direct Path To Realization” will be a primary resource for the series, supplemented by observations drawn from contemporary neuroscientific and psychological research that validate what is in the sutta. This discussion focuses on the Definitions relating to what Analayo calls the satipatthana refrain—contemplation, diligence, clear awareness, mindfulness and freedom from distress and confusion regarding the world. These terms are repeated throughout the Sutta in each of the Four Foundations. There was discussion after the presentation regarding how to use the elements of the refrain to address sadness while meditating.
There is a guided meditation entitled “Guided Four Foundations Meditation” in the Archives that was presented previous to this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: What Is Satipatthana
Next week’s topic will be the importance of mindfulness of breathing to cultivate the four foundations.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:02 — 113.6MB)
