by Peter Carlson | Jan 12, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter provided the participants with a worksheet: MOTIVATIONS FOR MEDITATION. On this sheet, folks were invited to note three considerations: the benefits of meditation, ways to reinforce commitments to daily meditation practice, and ways to integrate those benefits into daily life routines. Peter then talked of his experience in regards to these considerations: PETER’S MOTIVATIONS FOR MEDITATION. This was accompanied by discussions among the participants regarding these topics. You are invited to download the worksheet and create your own notes, perhaps discussing them with other like-minded people (See comments on “accountability partner’s” in Peter’s Motivations document).
Next week’s discussion will address the fundamentals of mindfulness of breathing practice, including some of the suggestions offered in the book “The Mind Illuminated”, along with Peter’s practice experience during 35 years of practice.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:54 — 115.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 8, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation focuses on cultivating a quality of attention that balances emotional energy and cognitive labeling. In the untrained mind, there can be either too much excitement or too much sedation, or too much identification or too much skepticism; equanimity creates the optimal levels of energy and attention that support the process of Awakening. During the training suggestions are provided in the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation that encourage the application of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort to foster the cultivation of equanimity.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:00 — 82.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 8, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Universal Wholesome Cetasika of Upekkha (ooh-peh-kah),Equanimity, which provides balanced functioning in the mind that is free from dukkha, distress and confusion. The review emphasizes the balance of energy–avoiding too much excitement or too much tranquility–with attention, avoiding too much identification or too much skepticism–producing the quality of mind that supports the process of Awakening. Equanimity is also described as the factor that brings balance to lovingkindness, compassion and sympathetic joy. Peter relates upekkha to another important and synonymous concept, tatramajjhattata (tah-trah-muh-jah-tah-tah), which literally is translated as “that which is found in the middle”, emphasizing the development of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort to foster this balancing. There is an accompanying recording entitled “Guided Cultivating Equanimity Meditation” found in the archives of this site that suggests the practice of mindfulness of breathing for this cultivation. This description is followed by a question and answer period to clarify the concept and practice.
Here are the notes accompanying this talk, including a graphic illustrating the interactions between energy and cognition that are reviewed during the talk: Cultivating Equanimity
The topic for next week’s talk is the realization of the “Six Beautiful Pairs” of Wholesome Cetasikas.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:55 — 128.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 24, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the second of a series entitled “How Do You Want to Live Your Life?”, with a focus on disorders of mood–anxiety and depression–which are increasing as a percentage of people are stressed by the multiple disruptions in normal life over the last several years. Peter’s 30+ year career as a mindfulness-based psychotherapist brings his experience to the descriptions of how the body and mind are affected, followed by discussion regarding how regular mindfulness of breathing meditation practice can overcome these dysfunctional ways of living.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindful Coping with Distress and Confusion
The focus for the next talk will describe how contemporary consumer culture creates a variety of “addictions”, both substance related as well as behavioral. The talk will also describe how the principles and practices of Buddhism can effectively address these issues.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:06 — 60.5MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 3, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
In this talk, part of the series “How Do You Want To Live?”, the focus is on how prevalent addiction is in American culture, especially if “behavioral addictions” involving the internet, gambling, overeating, etc., are included. During the talk, the correlation between the Buddhist craving and clinging concept and contemporary scientific understanding of how the brain operates “addictively” is emphasized, and how the effects that practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation can be of great benefit in overcoming addiction. The 11th step of the recovery oriented 12 steps, such as found in Alcoholics Anonymous, involving daily meditation and prayer, is correlated with basic mindfulness meditation practices.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: BUDDHISM AND ADDICTION NOTES
The focus for the next talk will focus on any broadly unbeneficial effects of consumerism as a follow-up to this talk, and how Buddhist principles and practices can contribute to building a more adaptive and spiritual lifestyle.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:24 — 47.1MB)
