by Peter Carlson | Mar 14, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The presentation title of this talk is “Starving the Demons, Feeding the Angels”, as part of the Anapanasati Sutta focused on “calming the mind conditioners”. Peter mentioned that during the first years of his vipassana practice he was “warding off the demons” and then began “feeding the angels”, that is, the wholesome mind conditioners. This discussion covers the first of the Wholesome Cetasikas: Confidence, Mindfulness, Moral Shame, Fear of Blame, Non-Attachment, Non-Aversion and Equanimity. These mind conditioners combine with the Universal Cetasikas: Feelings, Perceptions, Contact, Volition, Concentration, Vitality and Attention in every moment of self-organizing processes. They are often combined with the Occasional Cetasikas: Bringing attention to a focal point, Sustaining attention, Determination, Energy, Enthusiasm and Zeal.
Peter reviewed these mind conditioning factors, emphasizing that the ability to mindfully note the presence of them clearly as details of perception increases the ability to deconstruct the Wrong View of an enduring and autonomous self; the practice of vipassana incorporates these conditioners at high levels of insight, manifesting as liberation from dukkha, distress and confusion.
This was followed by discussion regarding how to use mindfulness of breathing practice to facilitate this investigation.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: WHOLESOME-MIND-CONDITIONERS
Next week’s discussion will explore the “Beautiful Pairs” of cetasikas, which are not universal and manifest as the result of increasingly activating the Universal Wholesome Cetasikas to a high level of functioning. Peter regards them as the results of intensive and persistent application of mindfulness meditation, most likely experienced first on a one-week or longer residential retreat.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 1, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk explored the addictive aspects of contemporary consumer culture and what the principles and practices of the Four Noble Truths has to offer in addressing these problems, personally and socially. As a Certified Addictions Professional, Peter discussed addictive processes as manifestations of craving and clinging, the essential characteristic of the First and Second Noble Truths. During the discussion, Peter described the strongly irritating nervous energy that permeated his body for much of the prior 45 minute meditation as an example of being directly aware of dukkha, the urgent aversion to the experience and the practice of mindful discarding of any clinging to ending the sitting practice as a way to overcome distress and confusion, creating serenity and minimizing the likelihood of any maladaptive addictive avoidance. He also related mindfulness meditation as supporting the intention of the 11th Step of AA and other recovery movements.
This was followed by discussion of the issues of an addictive culture and appropriate self care. One participant quoted an excerpt from Refuge Recovery (a contemporary Buddhist alternative to 12 step groups) views about addiction that is similar to what the current discussion addressed.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: BUDDHISM AND ADDICTION NOTES
Next week’s talk will focus on how contemporary eating habits affect one’s personal well-being as well as how the increasingly destructive agribusiness practices are harming the environment. The emphasis of the talk will be on how the Four Noble Truths principles and practices can be applied to “wise eating”, having compassion for oneself as well as the environment.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 30, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the Tranquility Awakening Factor was described as the result of the application of Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Concentration and Energy/Right Effort Awakening Factors. The Pali term for this Factor is Passadhi Bojjhanga, and it so closely aligns with the Concentration Awakening Factor, Samadhi Bojjhanga, that Peter frequently refers to samadhi/passadhi as the foundation for vipassana practice. Tranquility is not sedation, but rather the absence of turbulence in the internal flow of consciousness. After the explanation, those attending discussed how to cultivate tranquility in daily life and the benefits of a serene lifestyle.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Awakening With Tranquility
Next week’s topic is the Concentration Awakening Factor.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 23, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talked emphasized Piti Bojjhanga, typically translated as the Rapture Awakening Factor. After describing the role that piti traditionally plays in the cultivation of jhana, (an exalted state of exclusive awareness), Peter suggested a more workable translation might be enthusiastic interest, a quality of attention that is actively engaged with investigating the emerging characteristics of subjective experience. Piti is the result of the application of the Awakening Factors of Mindfulness, Investigation and Energy (manifested as Right Effort, part of the Noble Eightfold Path), and serves as a quality of awareness that inspires further practice. The description was followed by general discussion of how joyful interest during meditation practice generalizes to joyful interest in life’s everyday characteristics.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: CULTIVATING JOYFUL INTEREST IN AWAKENING
Next week’s topic will be the Awakening Factor of Passadhi Bojjhanga, the Tranquility Awakening Factor.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 9, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Continuing the exploration of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, tonight’s topic is the Awakening Factor Dhamma Vicaya, Investigating Mental Phenomena. During the talk, Peter suggested the development of this Awakening Factor begins with the practice of vitakka/vicara, aiming attention at the breath sensations/sustaining attention for the duration of the breath sensations. As the topic was developed, the cooperation of the other Awakening Factors was described in developing mature awareness of how the process of “selfing” occurs and to realize anicca (impermanence), anatta, (non-self) and the distress and confusion that constitutes dukkha. This was followed by general group discussion of the benefits that result from cultivating Dhamma Vicaya.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion: INVESTIGATING MENTAL PHENOMENA
Next week’s topic will be the Awakening Factor Viriya, translated as Energy/Effort and Determination.
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