by Peter Carlson | Oct 8, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The focus of this talk is how the Four Noble Truths are manifested while applying the lojong mind training aphorisms. Reviewing aphorisms discussed in previous meetings, Peter described how the cultivation of internally stable focus and emotional balance creates the optimal “platform of awareness” for the practice of vipassana. Vipassana, in turn, reveals the physical, emotionally urgent driver of the internal narrative-the “selfing story”-and thi is the first Noble Truth, direct awareness of internal distress and confusion. This practice then reveals the “dreamlike” characteristics of the “selfing” process, distinguishing the difference between the internal narrative and the more fundamental experience of physical sensation, the craving and clinging characteristic of the second Noble Truth. The decrease potency of emotional reactivity provides detachment and relief from the distress and confusion, characteristic of the third Noble Truth, and the fourth Noble Truth, the Eightfold Path, provides the ways and means to accomplish this. This ability to combine clear awareness and benevolent intention fulfills the core teaching of lojong, tonglen, the Tibetan practice of compassion. Here are the notes prepared for the talk: Balancing The Changing Mind
Next week’s discussion will explore the importance of Right Speech in relationships.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 10, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk covers four of the lojong mind training aphorisms, “All dharma has a single purpose”, “Of the two judges, rely on the principal one”, “Always have the support of a joyful mind”, and “You are proficient if you can practice even when distracted”. Peter changed some of the wording of the aphorisms, to be more accessible to current language. During the explanation, the links between previously discussed lojong mind training aphorisms and the ones being discussed were reviewed.
The intention of these aphorisms is to foster continuing to integrate the lojong training into regular life routines, providing ways to access and assess capabilities to be mindfully engaged in whatever emerges into awareness, prepared to shift attention away from unwholesome self-state organization, guided by clear awareness (Right Understanding) and benevolent intention (Right Intention).
The explanations were followed by discussion about the meaning of the terms and how the aphorisms can be applied in normal life routines.
Here are the notes prepared for this night’s discussion: Proficiency of Training
Next week’s discussion will focus on the commitments to compassionate thoughts and actions that the aphorisms represent.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 30, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation is intended to provide practical support for integrating mindfulness of breathing practice with mindfulness of the body and mindfulness of feelings. The first two tetrads of the Anapanasati Sutta are directily related to cultivating mindfulness of the body and of feelings. Part of the practice of mindfulness of the body is the contemplation of the “four elements”: earth, air, fire and water (subjective sensations of hardness, movement, temperature and cohesion). Contemplating these clear sensational qualities provides a non-commentarial focus that fosters “calming the breath body” and “calming the mental formations”, important developments related to fulfilling the four foundations of mindfulness.
This recording is accompanied by another .mp3 posting of the talk following the meditation, which supports processing how mindfulness of breathing was experienced during the meditation.
Next Wednesday’s meeting will also involve a guided meditation which is intended to provide support for integrating the third and fourth tetrads of the Anapanasati Sutta with the cultivation of the third and fourth foundations of mindfulness.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 7, 2013 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this dialogue, Peter reviewed previous dialogues on The Power Of Commitment and the Five Precepts, hoping to foster a different perspective on the precepts. In the history of Buddhism, the precepts are worded as “abstentions”, that is, behaviors that are to be avoided. In this rendering, we are asked to consider positive aspects of them as commitments to manifest clear awareness (Right Understanding) and benevolent intentions (Right intentions). In the course of the dialogue, participants were urged to realize that regular meditation practice is essential for the cultivation of the virtues that the precepts represent. A one page summary reviewing the usefulness of working with the precepts as commitments is posted on the site for review. Next week, the dialogue will begin to explore the practice of Right Mindfulness, which include the four foundations of mindfulness (satipatthana).
See also accompanying text: A New Approach to Fostering Buddhist Principles
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 24, 2013 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this dialogue, the classical five precepts of Buddhist practice are reviewed, with an intention to explore their relevance in this culture, which is much more complex than that of the eras during which Buddhism was developed initially. The core of the precepts is a commitment to manifest benevolent intention and promote clear awareness during daily life routines.
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