by Peter Carlson | Sep 6, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Concentration Awakening Factor is also known as Right Concentration, a key element of the Noble Eightfold Path. Peter described how this Awakening Factor coordinates with the Mindfulness, Investigation Of Mental Phenomena and Effort (Right Effort) Awakening Factors, making the emergence of the Awakening Factors of Joy and Tranquility develop to maturity. Concentration manifests as Fixed Concentration and alternatively as Momentary Concentration, and the function of each was described. This explanation was followed by general discussion of how to cultivate this Awakening Factor and the benefits derived from that practice in daily life.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: CONCENTRATION AWAKENING FACTOR
Next week’s topic will be the Equanimity Awakening Factor, which functions to foster balance among the different factors.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 30, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the Tranquility Awakening Factor was described as the result of the application of Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Concentration and Energy/Right Effort Awakening Factors. The Pali term for this Factor is Passadhi Bojjhanga, and it so closely aligns with the Concentration Awakening Factor, Samadhi Bojjhanga, that Peter frequently refers to samadhi/passadhi as the foundation for vipassana practice. Tranquility is not sedation, but rather the absence of turbulence in the internal flow of consciousness. After the explanation, those attending discussed how to cultivate tranquility in daily life and the benefits of a serene lifestyle.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Awakening With Tranquility
Next week’s topic is the Concentration Awakening Factor.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 23, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talked emphasized Piti Bojjhanga, typically translated as the Rapture Awakening Factor. After describing the role that piti traditionally plays in the cultivation of jhana, (an exalted state of exclusive awareness), Peter suggested a more workable translation might be enthusiastic interest, a quality of attention that is actively engaged with investigating the emerging characteristics of subjective experience. Piti is the result of the application of the Awakening Factors of Mindfulness, Investigation and Energy (manifested as Right Effort, part of the Noble Eightfold Path), and serves as a quality of awareness that inspires further practice. The description was followed by general discussion of how joyful interest during meditation practice generalizes to joyful interest in life’s everyday characteristics.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: CULTIVATING JOYFUL INTEREST IN AWAKENING
Next week’s topic will be the Awakening Factor of Passadhi Bojjhanga, the Tranquility Awakening Factor.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 26, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focuses on “deconstructing” the misconception of an enduring and autonomous self, exploring the process through which the raw data of sensory stimulation is transformed by mind conditioners into what the Buddha called “The tyranny of I, Me and Mine”. A fetter is the action of craving and clinging related to the emerging internal narrative in the creation of the self. Peter then suggested how mindfulness meditation fosters the ability to see how the processes operate rather than attaching a self to the content of each moment of subjective experience. This explanation was followed by discussion among those present regarding how they might use this information to understand Buddhist practices more beneficially.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE SIX SENSE BASES AND THE FETTERS
Next week’s discussion will begin identifying the Seven Awakening Factors and how to cultivate them, key skills for advancing the process of Awakening.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 8, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The talk explored the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, with specific emphasis on being mindful of what triggers sense desire, how it operates in the brain and what can be done to overcome this hindrance to mental clarity and tranquility.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Overcoming Sense Desire
Next week’s talk will be given by Robert Lockridge from the Orlando Zen Center. Upon returning, Peter will continue exploring overcoming the hindrances, focusing on aversion and ill-will.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:18 — 115.9MB)
