by Peter Carlson | May 12, 2016 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk, the topic of “process addiction” was reviewed, qualifying addiction with 5 criteria: 1) often activated or contemplated, 2) increases in frequency and intensity over time, 3) becomes a lifestyle organizing function, 4) acted upon and defended despite the negative consequences, and 5) discomfort and confusion occurs when access is denied or prevented. This process can apply to many actions that could also be benign or even healthy, with criteria 4 being the determining factor.
This was related to the first and second Noble Truths, that is distress and the craving and clinging that causes distress. Addictive behaviors were characterized as maladaptive ways to cope with distress that don’t address the underlying patterns of feeling, thinking and behavior that Buddhist practices and principles address. The serenity and clarity that emerges from dedicated mindfulness of breathing and lovingkindness practices was compared to the 11th step of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is daily meditation and prayer for conscious contact with a higher power.
Peter referred to an article in The Lion’s Roar magazine (formerly Shambala Sun), written by Noah Levine, about attempts to create a parallel system to the 12 steps for those folks inclined towards Buddhist practice. The article is entitled “A Refuge From Addiction”. Here is the article posted on this site: A Refuge from Addiction
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: MINDFULNESS AND ADDICTIONS
Next week’s topic will be Mindfulness And Relationships
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 11, 2026 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this guided meditation, Peter provides suggestions for combining mindfulness of breathing meditation with a contemplation for cultivating an empathetic and compassionate relationship with oneself and others. This contemplation is intended to be associated with the Dharma talk of the same night entitled “Integrating Mindfulness With Compassion”, posted in the archive.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 11, 2026 | Listen to Dharma Talks
During this talk Peter describes his practice of combining mindfulness of breathing meditation with a lovingkindness mantra and then developing compassion from this process. He also suggests focusing attention on the center of the chest during the practice to enhance effective functioning of the vagus nerve, which integrates what happens in the torso with what the mind creates as a personality. This integrative process increases introspective sensitivity and supports the manifestation of compassion for oneself and others.
Prior to this talk, Peter provides a recording entitled “Contemplation Integrating Mindfulness With Compassion”, which can be accessed through the Audio page of this site.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Working With Compassion
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 27, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This training meditation cultivates clear awareness of the characteristics of desire: An initial pleasant feeling that, when not investigated wisely, quickly becomes craving and clinging–dukkha. During the recording there are intervals for cultivating mindfulness of breathing, then contemplating a state of mind that involves desire–a song melody, desired success in some project, etc., accompanied by investigation of how this experience changes the pattern of breathing, creates muscle tension and an insistent internal narrative that becomes enchanted with sustaining itself and the accompanying feeling. You are then invited to redirect attention back to the breath and investigate the changes in breathing patterns, muscle tension and the absence of a demanding narrative, along with the calmness and clarity that emerges with prolonged, alert attention to the sensation of breathing. This meditation is intended to accompany the talk entitled “The Unwholesomeness Of Desire, August 26, 2020”.
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by Peter Carlson | Mar 2, 2023 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This meditation provides training for cultivating persistent attention to breath sensations, ending with a contemplation of spaciousness.
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