by Peter Carlson | Nov 3, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Continuing the exploration of the Wholesome Mind Conditioners that began with last week’s posting “The Universal Wholesome Mind Conditioners”, the twelve following cetasikas were listed as cooperative pairs–cetasikas, reflected in the mind: Tranquility of cetasikas and mind, Lightness of cetasikas and mind, Pliancy of cetasikas and mind, Wieldiness of cetasikas and mind, Proficiency of cetasikas and mind and Uprightness of cetasikas and mind. These qualities of mental functioning develop with consistent practice of mindfulness of breathing, and become most effective when the mind is unaffected by the five hindrances. Their development is essential for the effective practice of vipassana, insight into how the mind creates a meaningful sense of selfhood.
After describing the pairs, the assembled students discussed them, seeking clarification regarding their functioning, which is to promote the process of awakening beyond the level of functioning termed “good mental health”
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: six-pairs-of-wholesome-cetasikas
Next week’s talk will describe how the Wholesome cetasikas foster the development of the Seven Awakening Factors: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Right Effort, Joy/Enthusiastic Interest, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity/Balance of Energy and Attention.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 30, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the exploration of the 52 cetasikas, categories that condition how the mind creates a self continues. The focus is the Universal Cetasikas, that is mind conditioning categories that occasionally coordinate with the Universal Cetasikas. These occasional cetasikas are vitakka, (aiming attention at a mind object), vicara, (sustained attention regarding a mind object), adhimokkha, (conviction or determination regarding a mind object’s formation), viriya (energy or persistence regarding the emerging mind object formation), piti, (enthusiasm regarding the emerging mind object formation) and chanda, (will to do, that is, the activating of the emerging mind object formation).
These mind conditioners co-operate with the Universal Cetasikas; these combinations are then aligned either with unwholesome cetasikas (producing dukkha, that is, confusion and distress) or wholesome cetasikas (producing liberation from dukkha).
Peter talked about how the simple practice of mindfulness of breathing supports liberation because mindfulness (a wholesome mind conditioner), when combined with vitakka, vicara and viriya supports deeper insights into how self-state organization is manifested, in the moment of becoming a self.
This was followed by discussion by the other meditators regarding how this understanding of self-organization processes is of benefit for dedicated meditators.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: the-occasional-cetasikas
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by Peter Carlson | Mar 19, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter reviewed the extensive research literature that supports contemporary understanding of self-organizing functions. Prior to this era, Buddhist concepts were derived from culturally determined mythology, which is hard for contemporary Westerners to believe and make best use of for spiritual development.
Next week’s discussion will focus on how the practice of mindfulness of breathing and lovingkindness meditation practices effectively change the structures of the brain described in this talk, enhancing self-awareness, self-regulation and social harmony.
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by Peter Carlson | Mar 27, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This meeting involved a review by some of the participants in the nine day retreat from March 13 to the 22nd. First Peter reviewed the structure of the course, which blended practices found in the Anapanasati Sutta (mindfulness of breathing discourse) and the vedanupassana (body sweep) practice that Peter was trained in by his first teacher Ruth Denison and several retreats during which he was trained in the tradition taught by S. N. Goenka. The benefit of the body sweep was explained as a way to cultivate the seven awakening factors, especially mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena, effort/persistence and concentration. the remaining three factors, joy, tranquility and equanimity, emerge more effectively as practice deepens.
Following this post, the dhamma talks recorded during the retreat will be posted as .mp3 files, along with some of the notes Peter referred to.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 11, 2014 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the second in a series of discussions regarding the seven factors of awakening, focused on dhamma vicaya bojjhanga, the investigation of mental phenomena factor of awakening. This factor is a core element of the practice of vipassana, operating in tandem with mindfulness, Right Effort and concentration. Peter described the maturing of investigation from the rudimentary mindfulness of breathing practice of vitakka and vicara, that is, aiming attention at the beginning of the in-breath and sustaining that attention for the duration of the in-breath, then repeating that procedure for the out-breath. This basic practice develops the ability to cultivate concentration and tranquility, setting the stage for the practice of vipassana. This description was followed by a brief guided meditation focusing on investigating the breath and noting any variations of attention that might occur. There was some discussion following this meditation to associate the investigation factor with truly understanding the Four Noble Truths.
Here are the notes accompanying this evenings dialogue: The Awakening Factor of Investigation of Mental Phenonemena Next week’s dialogue will continue exploring the awakening factors with a focus on the awakening factor of energy, that is, Right Effort.
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