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)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 19, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation provides an experiential review of the characteristic elements found in the section of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness dedicated to contemplating what is regarded as a Buddhist theory of personality. it is intended to supplement the talk of October 18, 2022 titled “Reviewing the Five Aggregates of Clinging”.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:56 — 41.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 25, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk provides a view of a core Buddhist concept that describes how karma is formed that differs from the traditional Theravaden understanding–instead of the terminology of Dependent Origination, a case is made for an alternative rendering, Contingent Provisional Emergence, which includes more contemporary concepts and research regarding the formative drives that create our personality structures. This view complements comments from the previous meeting of August 17, 2022 regarding the Five Aggregates of Clinging, part of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Understanding Contingent Provisional Emergence
Next week’s talk will begin a review of the Seven Awakening Factors, qualities of attention that significantly develop liberation from distress and confusion in the mind, leading to a transformative understanding regarding our self-state organizations.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:14 — 59.7MB)
