by Peter Carlson | Mar 28, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk completes the exploration of the 52 cetasikas (cheh-tah-see-kahs) that cooperatively aggregate into the selfing process. The cetasikas are referred to in the Anapanasati Sutta in the sections focused on being “sensitive to and calming the mind conditioners”. As the Wholesome Cetasikas mature with practice, the ability to be mindful of the emerging self-state potentials is enhanced (See “The Beautiful Pairs” posting of March 20). This higher level of functioning “revisits” the Virtue and Wisdom aggregates of the Noble Eightfold Path, making it less likely and eventually impossible for a person with those attainments to violate Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. The enactment of compassion and sympathetic joy are also realized. The final cetasika on the list is Realized Understanding, the integration of Right Understanding thoroughly into one’s life. This explanation was followed by discussion among those attending regarding the implications of the capacity of well-developed mindfulness of breathing for fulfilling the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE BEAUTIFUL OCCASIONALS
Next week’s talk will explore the practice of mindfulness of breathing for the discovery of the Three Characteristics: Impermanence, the inability of life to be reliably satisfactory and the absence of an enduring and autonomous self.
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by Peter Carlson | Feb 23, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Equanimity is the quality of present-moment awareness and behavior that is highly valued in all spiritual endeavors. Theravada Buddhism has developed an extensive analysis of equanimity to support the process of Awakening conceptually, and this talk reviews those concepts, using the Visuddhimagga, translated as “The Path of Purification”, as a guide. Two primary areas of practice that will be reviewed are associated with the cultivation of lovingkindness, compassion and sympathetic joy, along with the function of equanimity as one of the Seven Awakening Factors.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Cultivating Equanimity
Next week’s talk will “Go back to the basics” with a guided training meditation focusing on mindfulness of breathing meditation, followed by a Dharma talk that will provide an insightful review of how mindfulness of breathing meditation beneficially affects the neural structures of the brain and the function of that practice for advancing the process of Awakening.
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by Peter Carlson | Dec 5, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This Mindfulness of Breathing meditation is intended to support a Dharma talk entitled “Anapanasati 16 Step Review”. It provides a progression of practices beginning with persistent attention to mindfulness of breathing sensations through to the practice of “letting go”.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 18, 2019 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk begins a series of discussions exploring how increasingly skillful anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) enhances the potency of the satta sambojjhanga (the seven Awakening factors). These capabilities for spiritual development begin being applied to setting aside the Five Hindrances; as this is accomplished, the Awakening factors are then applied to experientially realizing the Four Noble Truths through the mindful investigation of anicca (impermanence), dukkha (the distress and confusion caused by craving and clinging) and anatta (the absence of an enduring and autonomous self). The Awakening factors were briefly reviewed; future talks will address each of them in particular as they cooperate in furthering the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Anapanasati And Satta Sambojjhanga
Next week’s talk will feature a guest speaker, Robert Lockridge, one of the founding teachers of the Orlando Zen Center, which practices in the Korean Zen tradition. The talk is entitled “The Practice of Clear Direction: Only Go Straight, Just Do It”. Robert’s talks have been well-received in the past as he emphasizes direct seeing and action through the Dharma. It will be recorded and posted.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 25, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This retreat was themed around mindfulness of breathing practice with the intention to cultivate “a peaceful abiding”, that is, a quality of awareness that is undisturbed by thoughts and unaffected by emotional urgency. Peter described the general format of the retreat and this was followed by reports and discussion from those who attended the retreat and were present for the talk.
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