by Peter Carlson | Mar 10, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
With apologies to the quality of the recording, this talk is one of a series which continues to address the theme “How Do You Want to Live?”, which was introduced during the Dharma talk on February 16, 2022 and is found in the archives. There is a review of the sociocultural impact of consumerism, which began in the late 19th century and is now the dominant driver of our lives, whether we are mindful of this issue or not. During the discussion, consumerism is related to the Four Noble Truths: 1) The distress and confusion we currently experience and the effects on the biosphere as a result of indiscriminate consumption, 2) The delusional craving and clinging characteristic of commercial advertising, 3) The opportunity that Buddhist principles and practices offers to provide alternatives to thoughtless and undisciplined consumption, and 4) the practices of the Noble Eightfold Path that will facilitate liberation from the distress and confusion of consumerism.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindful Coping With Consumerism
The topic for the next talk will be on how Mindfulness practices can be effectively applied to promote environmental responsibility.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:17 — 53.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Mar 19, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
It is customary for those who have been on a significant retreat to have the opportunity to “think out loud” about what they gained from the experience. Much of the learning and training is stored in the subconscious mind and having the opportunity to talk about it with people who understand the concepts and practices can help consolidate and integrate the insights and skills acquired. Additionally, this can be informative for those listening and perhaps inspire them to attend a retreat sometime themselves. The talks referred to by Peter are in the process of being uploaded to the site and will be found on the Audio Page in the 2020 folder.
Next week’s talk will continue to focus on the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse, perhaps the most informative and transformative teaching in the Buddhist traditions. The focus will be on integrating persistent breath awareness with whole body awareness, which can provide a useful reference point from which to investigate the transient and insubstantial nature of thoughts and moods.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:15 — 112.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Apr 28, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the characteristics of dukkha, traditionally translated to mean suffering or dissatisfaction. The Buddha is understood to have described his mission to be understanding the nature of dukkha and the ways and means for overcoming it. The three varieties of dukkha are described as well as ways skillful application of mindfulness, investigation and Right Effort will interrupt self-state organizations afflicted by dukkha. The review also provides descriptions of three stages to be cultivated for providing relief from dukkha: conceptual understanding, skillful awareness & discipline, and finally direct realization of liberation.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Reviewing the First Noble Truth
Here is the URL for a guided contemplation of dukkha found in the archives of this website: https://orlandoinsightmeditation.org/2020/07/guided-contemplation-of-dukkha/
The topic for next week’s review is the Second Noble Truth, the cause of dukkha.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:17 — 56.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 26, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a review of the Four Noble Truths with a focus on the first of the Virtue Aggregates contained within the Fourth Noble Truth, Right Speech. In addition to the traditional rendering of Right Speech, Peter adds his insights as a psychotherapist regarding how our internal “selfing story” has a defining function in one’s personality and view of the world. Suggestions are provided to foster mindful investigation of and effective transformation of self-talk to produce liberation from dukkha, that is, distress and confusion regarding oneself in relation to the world. This self-analysis is very important for successfully negotiating the significant impact of contemporary media and disinformation.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Reviewing Right Speech In These Trying Times
The topic for next week’s talk will focus on Right Action, the next of the three elements of the Virtue Aggregate, and will include comments that reflect contemporary views regarding how mindfulness, investigation and Right Effort can be applied to current life circumstances.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:37 — 56.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 24, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is part of a series reviewing the Four Noble Truths. Right Effort is an important element of the Noble Eightfold Path and can be understood as a process of channeling the energy of attention away from unwholesome self-states towards wholesome self-states. The cooperation among the first three of the Seven Awakening Factors–Mindfulness, Investigation of Mental Phenomena and Energy, as Right Effort–is essential for fulfilling one’s potential for Awakening, and this talk discusses their interactions. Various characteristics of Right Effort are also included in the review. There is a guided meditation posted in the Audio archives of this website entitled “Guided Channeling Right Effort Meditation”, which is intended to provide supplementary support for the contents of this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for the talk: Reviewing Right Effort
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:19 — 48.8MB)
