by Peter Carlson | Dec 13, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the second of two consecutive talks exploring how the Buddhist concept of rebirth can be applied to the necessity for individuals and cultures to “reinvent” personal and societal identities while adapting to the radically transformative and stressful conditions of the current era. Peter reviewed the various interlocking conditions of the environment, politics/governance, workplace transformation and other circumstances that humanity will be confronted with over the next several generations. The cultivation of mindfulness, kindness and compassion will support the personal adaptations necessary to grow past a consumerist value system and to overcome the increasing sociocultural divisiveness that are evident in current worldwide greed, hatred and ignorance. As history demonstrates, the changes that individuals experience will also affect larger sociocultural norms that are more suitable for future generations.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: A Different View Of Rebirth Part 2
Peter will be on his annual two-week end of year retreat self-retreat in the cottage where the Sangha meets to meditate, so there will be no postings until after the first Wednesday of 2019, January 2nd. The topic for that talk will be a review of the retreat experience. Whenever there has been a significant retreat for members of the Sangha, they are offered the opportunity to “think out loud” about the experience, as this recounting tends to clarify and integrate whatever learning may have occurred during the retreat. It is also hoped that others will be inspired to go to a residential retreat through this sort of event.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:15 — 103.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 29, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter described two applications of generosity: material and relational. Different ascending levels of generosity were also explored: miserly, giving-to-get and selfless, along with how the development of mindfulness and lovingkindness naturally advances the level of generosity. The following discussion used a worksheet to list valued possessions and then to investigate how contemplating giving them away would reveal the level of craving and clinging that could be discovered and released through the practice of generosity.
This was followed by a discussion of the worksheet with particular focus on how attached the self can be to objects that have little material value, but the memories associated with them become self-defining and therefore hard to relinquish. Please consider using the worksheet to explore how attachment inflates the sense of self and diminishes the ability to be generous.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Benefits Of Generosity Generosity Worksheet
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:33 — 107.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 1, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk explored the addictive aspects of contemporary consumer culture and what the principles and practices of the Four Noble Truths has to offer in addressing these problems, personally and socially. As a Certified Addictions Professional, Peter discussed addictive processes as manifestations of craving and clinging, the essential characteristic of the First and Second Noble Truths. During the discussion, Peter described the strongly irritating nervous energy that permeated his body for much of the prior 45 minute meditation as an example of being directly aware of dukkha, the urgent aversion to the experience and the practice of mindful discarding of any clinging to ending the sitting practice as a way to overcome distress and confusion, creating serenity and minimizing the likelihood of any maladaptive addictive avoidance. He also related mindfulness meditation as supporting the intention of the 11th Step of AA and other recovery movements.
This was followed by discussion of the issues of an addictive culture and appropriate self care. One participant quoted an excerpt from Refuge Recovery (a contemporary Buddhist alternative to 12 step groups) views about addiction that is similar to what the current discussion addressed.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: BUDDHISM AND ADDICTION NOTES
Next week’s talk will focus on how contemporary eating habits affect one’s personal well-being as well as how the increasingly destructive agribusiness practices are harming the environment. The emphasis of the talk will be on how the Four Noble Truths principles and practices can be applied to “wise eating”, having compassion for oneself as well as the environment.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 20, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This post represents the summation of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, in reviewing the stanzas relating to the fulfillment of the Four Noble Truths. Each of the Truths is reviewed through three stages: conceptual understanding, experiential knowledge and integration into one’s life. Through the maturing development of the Four Foundations competencies, the personality view moves from conflicted self-state organizations through a more balanced and effectively integrated self-state organizing process. This sets the conditions for self-state liberation, represented by the “Noble Tenfold Path”, which revisits Right Understanding as Right Knowledge (Direct experience confirming the three characteristics: anicca, dukkha and anatta) and Right Intention as Liberating Insight. This attainment fosters the experience of Nirvana, the Unconditioned.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE TRUTHS OF AWAKENING
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:12 — 112.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 13, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Equanimity Awakening Factor and includes a summary regarding how the Seven Awakening Factors integrate and cooperate to further the process of liberating the mind from the distress and confusion that is the result of craving and clinging. The review was followed by general discussion regarding the benefits of cultivating samadhi/passadhi (concentration/tranquility) as a foundational goal of daily mindfulness meditation practice.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE MIDDLE WAY WITH EQUANIMITY
Next week’s talk will summarize the entirety of the Satipatthana Sutta with review of the final stanzas of the discourse, with emphasis on the realization of the Four Noble Truths.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:20 — 105.0MB)
