by Peter Carlson | Jul 8, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation provides supportive comments for identifying the characteristics of the hindrance of sense desire, kamacchanda in Pali, and how to interrupt the development of the hindrance. It is intended to complement the Dharma talk of July 7, 2021, entitled “Setting Aside Sense Desire”, focused on reviewing the first of the Five Hindrances in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:57 — 82.3MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 15, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is a review of the second of the Five Hindrances listed among the contemplations of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. During the talk, the characteristics of aversion (rejection and withdrawal in the mind from unpleasant feelings) and Ill-will (a characteristic aggression that often accompanies aversion) are described. Various forms of this hindrance, such as overt reactions (perhaps scratching an itch) or covert reactions (for example, passive-aggressive behavior) are reviewed. Neurological underpinnings of the subjective experience of this hindrance are also reviewed. Suggestions are offered as antidotes for this hindrance. The talk is followed by comments from those participating in the Zoom meeting.
This talk can be supplemented with the “Guided Aversion and Ill-Will Meditation” posted on the same day and stored in the archive.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Setting Aside Aversion And Ill Will
The topic for next week’s talk will be on the hindrance of Sloth and Torpor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:20 — 119.6MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 22, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk is a review regarding how to identify the characteristics of thina-middha, the hindrance of sloth and torpor, one of the contemplations in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. This quality of diminished alertness and attention is in contrast to the fourth of the five hindrances, restlessness and worry, the topic of the next talk. Sloth and torpor represent an overactive parasympathetic nervous system in the body, while restlessness and worry represent an overactive sympathetic nervous system function. Various lifestyle issues that contribute to this hindrance are reviewed as well as ways to use diligent, mindful and clear knowledge of the flow of subjective experience to set its influence aside. It is intended to be accompanied by “Guided Sloth And Torpor Contemplation”, recorded just prior to this talk on July 21, 2021, posted in the archives.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Setting Aside Dullness In The Mind
The topic for next week’s review is the hindrance Restlessness And Worry.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:16 — 101.2MB)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 5, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the characteristics of the fifth of the Five Hindrances, Skeptical Doubt: doubt, uncertainty regarding action, along with hesitation and conflicted thoughts. The talk also reviews the potential influence of skeptical doubt in reference to the other hindrances: doubt about the negative consequences of Sense Desire, about the harm of resistance and hostility that comes from Aversion and Ill-will, regarding the loss of mental clarity associated with Sloth and Torpor, or the disruption that results from Restlessness and Worry. The talk includes various suggestions for setting aside Skeptical Doubt. There is an accompanying recording posted: “Guided Skeptical Doubt Contemplation”, found in the archives.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Setting Aside Skeptical Doubt
The topic for next week is an overview of the next contemplation in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, the Five Aggregates of Clinging.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:56 — 98.8MB)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 13, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation focuses on how to cultivate mindful awareness of each of the five aggregates mentioned in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. It is intended to accompany the Dharma talk recorded the same evening entitled “Understanding The Five Aggregates”, which can be found in the archives of this site.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:09 — 82.7MB)
