by Peter Carlson | Mar 31, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk completes a series beginning February 16, 2022, which was titled “How Do You Want To Live?”, that encourages reevaluating lifestyle choices in response to the significant changes created by the pandemic, ecological disruption and other emerging disruptions in cultural norms. There is increasing concern about a lack of proactive individual approaches to physical health and well-being in the general population, creating an epidemic of obesity and other chronic health-related conditions. This is significantly stressing the health care system, including the medical, insurance and economic functions of society. Until individual Americans become more proactive regarding physical health through appropriate nutrition, exercise and other appropriate lifestyle changes, the negative effects will continue to become more culturally disruptive.
During this talk, the results of decades of neuroscientific results on the beneficial ways that regular mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation affects the body’s adaptation to chronic pain and illness are reviewed. Research also suggests that dedicated cultivation of mindfulness practices enhances immune responses and slows the degenerative affects of ageing. The creation of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), an 8-week training for patients with chronic pain or disabling medical conditioning has played a significant role in alleviating the suffering of those participating.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindfulness and a Healthy Body
The topic for the next discussion will be determined and posted prior to the meeting.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 2, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
At this point on inquiry during these talks, the Satipatthana Sutta emphasizes the “development to fulfillment” of those qualities of mental formations that complete the process of Awakening: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Effort, Joy/Enthusiastic Interest, Tranquility, Concentration/Stability of Attention, and Equanimity/Balance of Mental Factors.
This evening’s discussion emphasizes the cultivation of Sati, Mindfulness, regarded as “the chief minister of the kingdom, who monitors governance of the kingdom and reports to the king”. In this case, the king is vipassana, the intimate exploration of how the mind creates a self, in order to deconstruct that process, revealing the absence of an enduring and autonomous self.
This was followed by discussion regarding how mindfulness benefits daily life.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: CULTIVATING THE SEVEN AWAKENING FACTORS
Next week’s talk will focus on the second of the Awakening factors, Investigation of Mental Phenomena.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 14, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter describes how mindfulness meditation supports the development of “Emotional Intelligence”, which is the title of a book written by Daniel Goleman. Emotional intelligence provides internal resources such as self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation and empathy to foster social competency.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: MINDFULNESS AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Next week’s talk will focus on how mindfulness effectively addresses the range of anxiety from restless agitation to panic attacks.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 4, 2014 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this dharma dialogue, the awakening factor of mindfulness was described. Peter referred to a Wikipedia definition of metacognition, a psychological term developed without reference to Buddhist psychology, that seems to be synonymous with mindfulness. The neurological research describing which parts of the brain activated in the process of mindful awareness was described as well. Following this, there was a brief guided meditation to emphasize recognition of the present function of mindfulness of the body as a stable point of reference supporting vipassana practice.
Here is the .doc file of the notes prepared for this week’s discussion: SATI As A Factor For Awakening
Next week’s discussion will explore dhamma vicaya bojjhanga, the awakening factor for the investigation of mental phenomena.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 1, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation is intended to accompany the Dharma talk of the same evening entitled “Mindfulness of the Mind Review”, also recorded, posted and archived. During the meditation, various suggestions are provided to prompt investigation of various mind states mentioned in the Second Foundation of Mindfulness, part of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse.
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