by Peter Carlson | Nov 5, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this evening’s discussion, modern neuroscientific research was reviewed which suggests that activated neural pathways become more richly connected when “fed” by increased blood flow. When unwholesome self-organizations are repeatedly enacted, the result is toxic. A distinction was emphasized regarding external and internal “ego food”, that is, how modern entertainment and distractions provide external stimulation, while internal processes are either enhanced or depleted in their power by the amount of attention given to them in the mind. Peter read the excerpt from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness discourse that describes being aware of the transitory nature of self-organizations (fourth foundation, regarding the arising and passing of the five aggregates of clinging). These principles support the awareness qualities found in the lojong mind training commitments.
This review was followed by a lively discussion regarding the prevalence of external “junk food media” and how being mindful of how the internal processing of the stimulation can be used to practice tonglen, that is, the ability to transform internal processes with compassion.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: BENEVOLENT EGO FOOD
Next week’s discussion will focus on the lojong aphorism “Don’t rely on consistency.”
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by Peter Carlson | Oct 15, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This week’s discussion broached two aphorisms: Don’t speak about others’ defects, and Don’t become preoccupied with the opinions, behaviors and motivations of others. These aphoristic commitments focus on activating Wholesome Speech, Action and Livelihood from the Eightfold Path. Peter emphasized the practical steps for cultivating the mental clarity and constraint necessary to check one’s speech, avoiding anything that may create a sense of separation and diminishment of others, most exemplified by gossip. He also commented on the common human mistake of “mind reading”, that is, the inclination to jump to conclusions about what someone’s intentions are. This was followed by discussions among those present of examples of gossiping and mind reading, along with what benefits regular daily meditation and memorizing the aphorisms can bring to interrupting hurtful and thoughtless behaviors.
Here are the notes developed for the talk: AVOID FOCUSING ON THE DEFECTS OF OTHERS
Next week’s talk will focus on the benefits of intentionally investigating the emotionally charged self-states with mindfulness and equanimity.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 9, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is a continuation of a series of explorations of the psychological value of healthy relationships, from the perspective of psychotherapy and Buddhist mindfulness and lovingkindness practices. When a parent’s interactions with a young child are lacking sufficient clarity, consistency and kindness, the child’s personality development is adversely affected, leading to what has been called a “shame based personality”–defensive, reactive and emotionally isolated. The principles and practices of the Noble Eightfold Path were reviewed as ways and means for resolving internalized shame, providing forgiveness for oneself and promoting compassion for others.
The notes prepared for this presentation and discussion will be posted immediately after this posting.
Next week will begin discussion of Peter’s revisitation of lojong, the Tibetan Buddhist “Seven Point Mind Training”, with the intention to present the medieval Buddhist teachings in ways that are understandable and useful for modern American Buddhist practices.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 11, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, Peter provided an overview of the diagnostic categories related to anxiety, describing the common characteristics and symptoms of modern psychological understanding regarding anxiety disorders, which are at an epidemic level in this culture. This was followed by descriptions of how the cultivation of mindfulness and lovingkindness provide ways to alleviate or at least reduce anxiety. After the descriptions, those attending asked questions or made comments about the topic.
Next week’s discussion will focus on depression and how Buddhist practices can provide a buffer against depressive episodes.
Following this post is a document containing the notes Peter prepared for this talk. Part of the document provides a more in-depth description of significant anxiety disorders from a contemporary psychological perspective.
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by Peter Carlson | Apr 9, 2015 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk was recorded on April 8, 2015, and is the follow-up on the talk entitled “Anapanasati And Anicca April 1 2015. During this talk, Peter described how mindfulness of the arising and passing away of mental fabrications leads naturally to a sense of decreased “energy” or “thirst” regarding craving and clinging. Peter also emphasized how important samadhi/passadhi (concentration/tranquility) are to “draining away:” the potency of craving. This was followed by a lively discussion of how to cultivate dispassion. During next week’s talk, the topic of cessation will be explored as part of the Fourth Tetrad of the Anapanasati Sutta.
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