by Peter Carlson | Jul 4, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a review of what are called the cetasikas, which operate like filters during the process of self-formation, producing either wholesome or unwholesome self-state organizations. The primary focus of attention and discussion during the talk are those cetasikas that form wholesome self-states. There is particular attention given to the “Six Beautiful Pairs” of cetasikas that operate to produce the extraordinary qualities of attention, such as tranquility, lightness, pliancy, wieldiness, proficiency and uprightness in the mind that can be developed through persistent and skillful mindfulness of breathing meditation practice.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Personality Theory Part Two
As was the case during the previous talk, here is a full listing of the 52 cetasikas: CETASIKAS POSTER
The talk next week will begin a two-part review of the Seven Awakening Factors
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:58 — 61.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Dec 12, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter responds to questions, for example, the difference between concentration and insight, and the relationship between breath awareness and body awareness while practicing mindfulness of breathing meditaiton.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:13 — 52.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 25, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks, News
This guided meditation provides suggestions for recognizing the subjective characteristics of empathy with support from mindfulness of breathing for a non-reactive perspective of the experience. It is intended to provide practice support for the Dharma talk that followed: “Empathy And Compassion”, posted on this website.
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by Peter Carlson | Nov 27, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During a meeting on Thanksgiving Eve, Peter leads a guided contemplation describing the progression from mindfulness of breathing meditation to joy and then through gratitude to generosity. Concentrating the mind frees up energy normally bound up by the Hindrances, and when that energy is available, the experience of joy occurs. Joy provides the heart/mind conditions for nurturing gratitude, which leads to generosity. This contemplation precedes a Dharma talk presented by Peter that describes the various conditioning factors of the mind that make manifest joy, gratitude and generosity.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:58 — 41.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 27, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk on Thanksgiving Eve, Peter describes how the cultivation of mindfulness of breathing meditation frees energy from being bound up by the Hindrances, creating the buoyantly engaged interest characteristic of the Awakening Factor of Joy, which provides the foundation for the experience of gratitude. Gratitude often involves a reciprocal interpersonal manifestation of generosity. He describes how different areas of brain/body interactions create the subjective experience of joy, gratitude and generosity. The explanation is followed by questions and comments from those participating in the meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Thoughts On Gratitude
This talk was preceded by a guided meditation: Contemplating Joy, Gratitude, and Generosity, which is posted in the guided meditation archive of the website.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:11 — 56.9MB)
