by Peter Carlson | Nov 3, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Continuing the exploration of the Wholesome Mind Conditioners that began with last week’s posting “The Universal Wholesome Mind Conditioners”, the twelve following cetasikas were listed as cooperative pairs–cetasikas, reflected in the mind: Tranquility of cetasikas and mind, Lightness of cetasikas and mind, Pliancy of cetasikas and mind, Wieldiness of cetasikas and mind, Proficiency of cetasikas and mind and Uprightness of cetasikas and mind. These qualities of mental functioning develop with consistent practice of mindfulness of breathing, and become most effective when the mind is unaffected by the five hindrances. Their development is essential for the effective practice of vipassana, insight into how the mind creates a meaningful sense of selfhood.
After describing the pairs, the assembled students discussed them, seeking clarification regarding their functioning, which is to promote the process of awakening beyond the level of functioning termed “good mental health”
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: six-pairs-of-wholesome-cetasikas
Next week’s talk will describe how the Wholesome cetasikas foster the development of the Seven Awakening Factors: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Right Effort, Joy/Enthusiastic Interest, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity/Balance of Energy and Attention.
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 3, 2014 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This dhamma dialogue continues the exploration of the seven factors of awakening, focused on passadhi, tranquility. During the discussion, Peter explained the different categories where tranquility is placed in addition to a factor for awakening. It’s function of balancing the awakening factor of energy was emphasized, focused on the peaceful quality of the “flow” of energy through different self-states.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: AWAKENING WITH TRANQUILITY
Next week’s discussion will explore the awakening factor of concentration.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 2, 2014 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described how stimulation through the “sense bases” is transformed into the disruptive and energy draining process Buddhism calls panca nivarana, the Five Hindrances. He described the nature of sense desire as a hindrance, focusing on the activities of the amygdala (fear orientation) and nucleus accumbens (associated with addictive behavior) are examples of craving and clinging from a classical Buddhist perspective. Setting aside sense desire frees up the internal energy flows, cultivating joy, one of the awakening factors, establishing an internal source of happiness, rather than the false promise of the objects of sense desire. Next week’s discussion will explore the hindrance of aversion and ill-will.
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 8, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation focuses on cultivating a quality of attention that balances emotional energy and cognitive labeling. In the untrained mind, there can be either too much excitement or too much sedation, or too much identification or too much skepticism; equanimity creates the optimal levels of energy and attention that support the process of Awakening. During the training suggestions are provided in the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation that encourage the application of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort to foster the cultivation of equanimity.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 24, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation offers a different approach to cultivating Right Effort by suggesting that, while meditating, we can view the flow of experience as metabolic energy derived from food and oxygen, that feeds the brain’s activities. Rather than trying to “stop” unwholesome self-states, we can redirect the energy of attention away from the “weeds” (the Five Hindrances) towards nurturing the “flowers” (the Seven Awakening Factors), as if attention is water flowing through a hose. This guided meditation is intended to supplement the Dharma talk entitled “Reviewing Right Effort”, which was presented and recorded on June 23, 2022.
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