by Peter Carlson | Oct 16, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the benefits of coordinating the previously reviewed Universal Wholesome Cetasikas, resulting in the manifestation of the Six Beautiful Pairs: tranquility of mind and mental factors, lightness of mind and mental factors, pliancy of mind and mental factors, wieldiness of mind and mental factors, proficiency of mind and mental factors and uprightness of mind and mental factors. The “mind” reflects the reflective capacity of consciousness and “mental factors” represent those categories of mind conditioning factors called cetasikas; when these are skillfully coordinated, one’s consciousness operates at a higher level of clarity, discipline and accuracy in the process of Awakening. Each of these cetasikas is reviewed individually, with Peter describing the classical Buddhist rendering as well as his personal experience of them, typically fully realized during a residential retreat. This talk is meant to be accompanied by the recording of the guided meditation presented before this meeting entitled “Guided Alerting The Mind Meditation”, which can be found in the website archives.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: SIX PAIRS OF WHOLESOME CETASIKAS
Next week’s talk will focus on the Wholesome Cetasikas of Right Speech, Right Action and Right Mindfulness as they can be understood and applied in the context of current cultural distress and confusion resulting from the pandemic, political turmoil and environmental dysfunction.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:06 — 122.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Oct 30, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Wholesome Cetasikas “Right Action” and “Right Livelihood” in their classical rendering and then conjoins them into “Right Lifestyle” to reflect ways to be resilient to current stresses in these trying times. Contemporary lifestyles are deeply conditioned by indoctrination regarding consumerism and identification with roles and entitlements that are significantly challenged by the pandemic conditions and the ensuing unemployment and social disruption. The Four Noble Truths conceptual structure is reviewed as an effective resource for coping with the distress and confusion created by the pandemic, storms and fires created by global warming, as well as the current divisiveness in U.S. politics (the 2020 election is next week). There is an additional review of “The Four Clear Comprehensions”, part of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness commentaries that can be beneficially applied to decision making within the complexity of current life circumstances. This talk is meant to be accompanied by the “Guided Mindful Intention Meditation” posted on 10/29/20, which is intended to provide support for identifying and successfully adapting to lifestyle choices that are more adaptive to the changes required by current cultural stresses.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Right Lifestyle In Trying Times
Next week’s talk will focus on the importance of compassion in trying times.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:19 — 121.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 12, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews mudita, typically translated as sympathetic joy, and represents the ability to emotionally resonate with the happiness of other beings. Sympathetic joy is a manifestation of lovingkindness and is similar to compassion, as both are ways that the mind can respond skillfully and beneficially to the innate emotional resonance all humans share. Compassion resonates to the distress and confusion of others, while sympathetic joy resonates to the success and happiness of others. Peter reviews what are called the “far enemy” and “near enemy” of mudita, emphasizing the importance of persistent cultivation of mindfulness to monitor and balance the empathic attunement process that is manifested. The review is followed by discussion of the application of mudita among the participants. This discussion is intended to be accompanied by “Guided Enjoying the Happiness of Others Meditation”, recorded the same night.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Enjoying the Happiness of Others
Next week’s talk will focus on the mind conditioning factor of Wisdom, that is, a correct understanding of how the wholesome mind conditioning factors cooperate and integrate into daily life experience.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:23 — 75.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Nov 26, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Each year, when the Orlando Insight Meditation Group meets on Thanksgiving Eve, the topic for review and discussion is gratitude. After a brief review of how Buddhism regards the issue of gratitude, the psychologically beneficial cultivation of a daily gratitude inventory is also described. Following this, Peter describes his gratitude for how dedication to Buddhist principles and processes have benefited his life for over 3 decades, along with his discovery of how intricately beautiful and wondrous life can be when enhanced by the cultivation of mindfulness. This was followed by the shared experience of gratitude expressed by all of those attending the meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Contemplating Gratitude
Next week’s talk will focus on a review of a core concept of Buddhism, Dependent Origination, which explains how each moment of self-creation is formed and then dissolved into the next moment of self-creation. This provides a way to understand the concept of karma, that is, the way that we can create a future self that is less afflicted with distress and confusion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:23 — 106.9MB)
by Peter Carlson | Dec 10, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the Seven Awakening Factors: Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, Energy/Effort, Joy/Enthusiastic Interest, Tranquility, Concentration/Stability of Attention and Equipoise/Balance of Factors. Each factor is briefly reviewed, describing its characteristics and function. The intention originally was to include a review of the Progressions of Insight, a Theravadin system for identifying states of mind that are increasingly subtle, oriented toward realizing directly the characteristics of impermanence (anicca), the absence of an enduring/autonomous self (anatta), and the distress and confusion that results from the mind’s subjugation by craving and clinging (dukkha). Regrettably, due to the complexity of the reviews, there was insufficient time to adequately review the Progressions of Insight. You are invited to download and review the extensive notes regarding the Seven Awakening Factors and the Progressions of Insight prepared for this talk in order to more fully comprehend these important concepts that allow the mind to be liberated, with the potential for realizing the ultimate attainment, Nirvana.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Cultivating The Factors For Awakening
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:31 — 110.8MB)
