by Peter Carlson | Dec 7, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described lovingkindness as an expression of the Wisdom aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, Right Intention (which he renames Benevolent Intention). The four Divine Abidings were described: lovingkindness, compassion, empathetic joy/generosity and equanimity. The first three focus on overcoming greed and hatred, and the fourth, equanimity, aligns with insight practice (vipassana) to investigate and bring balance to the first three. Peter also read a translation of the Metta Sutta, then placed emphasis on current psychological research the indicates that the degree of kindness that a mother manifests towards her child brings great benefit to the development of a healthy personality structure. This was accompanied by an explanation of the psychological and neurological impact of sincere silent repetition of a metta mantra.
At the end of his explanations, he read an excerpt from an editorial article by the Dalai Lama published in the New York Times recently advocating the benefits of compassionate action in the midst of current cultural and environmental turmoil. This was followed by general discussion among those attending on the benefits of lovingkindness practice.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk, including the Metta Sutta, the metta mantra, and the NYT excerpt by the Dalai Lama.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 21, 2012 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this dialogue, Tim explored the importance of paticca sammupada, typically translated as dependent origination. This core concept of the Buddha’s teachings describes how karma (past experience) shapes our perceptions and responses in current events, followed by our behavioral responses. After the karmic influence is enacted, the result (called vipakka) goes back into our memory banks until new circumstances occur that have enough potency to re-enact the karma. During the dialogue, Peter commented on how the process changed toward alleviating suffering when mindfulness monitors the emergence of the karmic influence, determines whether it’s wholesome or unwholesome, and responds accordingly to discard the unwholesome and enact wholesome actions.
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by Peter Carlson | Dec 9, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the function of intention, which coordinates and initiates each moment of self-experience, whether wholesome or unwholesome. The ability to monitor and effectively manage intention to promote liberation from greed, hatred and ignorance is considered to be one of the most important goals to master on the path to Awakening. The talk reviews the concepts associated with intention as well as various ways to mindfully cultivate intentional awareness and action, primarily through mindfulness of breathing meditation, but also including various opportunities that might arise during daily routines.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Working With Intentions
The end of the old year and onset of the new year can be a time of personal renewal as the solstice, occurring on December 21, signifies the transition from the past to the future, so the focus for next week’s talk will be on how intentions guide our daily life decisions, with emphasis on cultivating a wholesome lifestyle in the midst of contemporary consumerist and internet-oriented cultural conditions.
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by Peter Carlson | Dec 2, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk introduces several new teachers who are either certified or entering certification training as Dharma teachers: Lezlie Laws, April Koester, Alli Vaknin and Lili Fernandez. Peter has been looking for additional teachers for our group for quite awhile and expresses gratitude for this opportunity to increase the benefits of Secular Buddhist concepts and practices in Central Florida. The expanded geographic and demographic advantages of additional teachers is described. Following this, each person is given the opportunity to describe her background and motivation for teaching the Dharma.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 21, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is customary for our Sangha meetings to provide an opportunity for someone who has participated in a recent residential retreat to “think out loud” about their experience. Much of the benefit of a retreat occurs outside of awareness, and an opportunity to talk about what happened during the retreat can bring new insights to them and integrate what has occurred into conscious awareness and therefore become more accessible for future spiritual development. Listening to a review can also be informative and inspiring for those in the meeting or reviewing this recording. During this talk, Andy, the founding teacher for the Lakeland Insight Meditation Group, recounts his experience at the Southern Dharma Center in North Carolina at a retreat led by Donald Rothberg, a well-respected author and teacher, whose training has been influenced by Theravaden and Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:06 — 45.9MB)
