by Peter Carlson | Apr 27, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The focus of this talk continues to explore the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse, more specifically the First Foundation, Mindfulness of the Body. Sati Sampajanna (sah-tee sahm-pah-jahn-yah) is typically translated as Mindful Clear Comprehension, and is particularly focused on awareness of how we move through the day. This practice focuses on cultivating mindful awareness of the intentionality of everyday thoughts and behaviors. The relatively simple investigation of intentions associated with behavior trains the mind to be more alert and appropriately responsive the the intentionality accompanying each thought as regards Right Action, part of the Noble Eightfold Path.
The commentaries about sati sampajanna describe four considerations regarding this practice: suitability of purpose, suitability of means for achieving the intended purpose, mindfully monitoring the process of activating the suitable means and how this activity will be conducive to realizing the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Understanding Clear Comprehension
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 5, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk explores the current understanding of anxiety and how regular mindfulness meditation practices can foster relief. As a mental health professional, Peter included in the notes the various clinical diagnostic criteria and an overview of the various anxiety disorders. The cultivation of samadhi/passadhi (stable focus of attention/tranquility) was emphasized as a way to reduce heightened levels of anxiety generated by current cultural conditions. This quality of serene awareness provides a stable point of reference from which the cognitive distortions associated with anxiety can be investigated and successfully challenged. Increasing tranquility addresses the Buddhist craving aspect of anxiety, while mindful investigation disrupts the dysfunctional thought processes and addresses the element of the Buddhist perspective on clinging.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: ANXIETY AND THE DHARMA
The anticipated talk next week will involve a report from Mike Maldonado on the lovingkindness meditation retreat he is currently experiencing at the Southern Dharma Center in North Carolina. The anticipated talk the following week will focus on a specific anxiety disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and what mindfulness meditation can offer in providing relief from that highly disruptive condition.
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by Peter Carlson | May 19, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is customary to allow someone who has just completed a significant meditation retreat to review the experience during a meeting. Brian completed a one week retreat with Tara Brach, a well-respected author and teacher. After the review, there was a lively question and comments discussion.
Next week’s talk will be focused on “Mindfulness And Relationships”, beginning with a quote from the Buddha’s teaching on the fundamental importance of sangha, that is, interpersonal experience supported by mindfulness and lovingkindness practices.
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by Peter Carlson | Jan 21, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Since Peter plans to attend a retreat led by Steve Armstrong, and values the retreat experience, he described the life circumstances that prompted beginning to practice mindfulness meditation in 1982. He then described the various meditation practices in other faith traditions around the world, citing Daniel Goleman’s book, “The Meditative Mind”. Peter’s subjective experience regarding regular meditation practice and the benefits that build from repeated retreat experience were reviewed.
This was followed by the accounts of others attending the meeting regarding the benefits they experience as a result of meditation practice.
Here are the autobiographical notes prepared for the talk: WHY I MEDITATE
Since Peter is on retreat next week, the talk will be given by Daniel Goleman, a member of the teacher’s mentoring group. Daniel has been meditating for many years, and is also actively practicing hatha yoga. His topic will be the integration of mindfulness and yoga, and he will be assisted by Mitch Sullen.
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by Peter Carlson | Mar 28, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this dhamma talk, Peter described paticca sammupada, typically translated as dependent origination. Peter expressed a different view of this concept, calling the process contingent provisional emergence. This contemporary view applies understandings derived from complexity theory, which is a non-linear perspective on the incredible complexity of the mind’s ability to respond to sensory input. He described the links of associated factors in this process, with an emphasis on how important vedanupassana, mindfulness of feelings, the second of the four foundations of mindfulness, is for reconfiguring how the mind responds to each moment of self-state organization. This awareness requires the full functioning of the wholesome mind conditioners, through the practice of vipassana.The practice of vedanupassana will be cultivated later during the retreat through the training in body sweep meditation.
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