by Peter Carlson | May 2, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This guided meditation provides suggestions for contemplating what are called the Four Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. These contemplations are embedded within the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse. Peter describes the subjective characteristics of each of the Elements and suggests different areas of the body to mindfully investigate their nature. This guided meditation is intended to accompany the Dharma talk entitled ” Working With The Four Elements Contemplation”, which explains how developing proficiency in this training exercise interrupts hindering internal chatter and supports differentiating the separate characteristics of physical sensational awareness and co-occurring fabricating function of the mind. This understanding increases one’s ability to “deconstruct” belief in an enduring/autonomous self.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:56 — 41.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 9, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk focuses on cultivating a deeper and more useful understanding of two important Buddhist concepts: Non-self and Emptiness. The concepts don’t translate well into English from the original Pali teachings, so Peter uses various contemporary scientific and psychological research results to clarify the terms. Non-self is a way to understand what contemporary neuroscience calls neuroplasticity, while Emptiness is better understood as the quality of attention that is not dominated by the urgent demands of craving and clinging–a maturation of the quietness and stability that can be associated with the development of neutral feeling towards equanimity.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Fullness or Emptiness
The focus of next week’s talk will be on the Second Foundation of Mindfulness, which focuses on understanding and working with pleasant, unpleasant and neutral feeling tones more skillfully.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:46 — 62.0MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jun 6, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
Reviewing and setting aside the five aggregates is described as the first of the contemplations found within the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. Lezlie provides quotes and comments that explain the characteristics of these obstacles to a mind that is alert and serene enough to support insights that liberate the mind from craving and clinging.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk, including references to useful books: Hindrances dharma talk
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 13, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
A subtitle for this talk might be “How What Is Seen Becomes The Self”. During the talk, Peter describes the functions of the mind that create a self out of what is seen, heard, smelled, tasted, touched and remembered through what are called “fetters”–the effect of craving and clinging that binds awareness into “myself”. The cultivation of mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena and Right Effort develops the ability to become clearly aware of this binding effect and gradually diminish the power of craving and clinging.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Understanding the Fetters
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:47 — 29.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 18, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a review by April of the Seven Awakening Factors, focusing on how Mindfulness supports the full development of Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity. The recording and notes from the previous presentation are found in the archives. This talk includes questions and comments from those attending the meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Orlando Insight Meditation The Seven Factors of Awakening part 2
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:31 — 56.3MB)
