by Peter Carlson | Mar 16, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is our custom to provide an opportunity for anyone who recently completed a significant retreat to reflect upon their experience, because “thinking out loud” about it helps integrate their insights. Lezlie has practiced Ashtanga Yoga for decades and is certified to teach yoga. She recently completed a one-week retreat that integrated yoga, longevity practices, and mindfulness meditation. She reviewed the characteristics of the site and organization of the retreat, which emphasized the importance of using breath awareness while practicing hatha yoga, as well as during other daily activities. She also reviewed Ashtanga Yoga, which uses “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” as a primary resource for study, and this discourse has significant parallels to the conceptual structures associated with Buddhism, Her review was followed by questions from those participating in the meeting.
The topic for next week’s talk will review the association between what is called “emotional intelligence”, (The ability to cultivate self-awareness and self-discipline to more fully realize one’s social, professional and spiritual development) and the application of mindfulness and Right Effort.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:19 — 62.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 18, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues reviewing the Four Noble Truths, beginning a series of talks focusing on the Fourth Noble Truth, emphasizing the first element of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Understanding. The talk begins with an overview of the conceptual benefits of the Dharma Wheel icon, emphasizing the dynamic interactions between the elements. The 8 elements of the Path are studied conceptually, but can only be realized through careful introspective investigation, discovering the impermanent and impersonal nature of subjective experience. Further discussion reviews how full realization of the integrated actions of the Noble Eightfold Path transforms Right Understanding into Right Knowledge, and Right Intention into Right Liberation, transforming the Eightfold Path into the Noble Tenfold Path. The recorded talk is longer than usual, as there were interesting questions to be explored during the discussion.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Right Understanding and the Noble Eightfold Path
The next talk will review Right Intention, the other element of the Wisdom aggregate within the Noble Eightfold Path.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:39 — 63.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 27, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Lezlie Laws initially provides an overview of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Mental Phenomena. She then describes how the Five Hindrances are recognized and effectively set aside. This talk also includes a period of time for questions to be discussed.
The focus for the next talk will be the next category of the Fourth Foundation, the Five Aggregates.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:03 — 63.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 12, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Allie Vaknin shares her research on a basic element of Buddhist doctrine, Right Intention. Part of the presentation involves questions and insights about this important part of the Noble Eightfold Path provided by those participating in the meeting.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:20 — 50.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jan 4, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter describes the challenges encountered in practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation for the cultivation of entry stages of jhana, a highly concentrated state of mind. This practice requires a careful balance of energy and tranquility applied through the persistent uninterrupted attention to a very subtle transition from sensational breath awareness to the mind-constructed phenomenon called a nimitta. He talks about how he overcame doubts and resistance during the retreat. This talk also includes questions from those participating in the meeting.
The next talk will begin a long series of discussions reviewing why meditation practice is important and the foundational concepts of the Four Noble Truths.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:28 — 56.3MB)
