by Peter Carlson | Jul 4, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a review of what are called the cetasikas, which operate like filters during the process of self-formation, producing either wholesome or unwholesome self-state organizations. The primary focus of attention and discussion during the talk are those cetasikas that form wholesome self-states. There is particular attention given to the “Six Beautiful Pairs” of cetasikas that operate to produce the extraordinary qualities of attention, such as tranquility, lightness, pliancy, wieldiness, proficiency and uprightness in the mind that can be developed through persistent and skillful mindfulness of breathing meditation practice.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Personality Theory Part Two
As was the case during the previous talk, here is a full listing of the 52 cetasikas: CETASIKAS POSTER
The talk next week will begin a two-part review of the Seven Awakening Factors
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 27, 2024 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Five Aggregates can be considered as perhaps the first personality theory in human history. During this talk and one the following week, Peter reviews the Mind Conditioning Factors Aggregate with a focus on the cetasikas, a comprehensive listing of the multitude of “filters” in the mind that work to create each moment of consciousness. The first review will provide insight regarding those cetasikas that occur in every moment of consciousness, along with those that create suffering.
The next talk will continue the review, focusing again on the universal cetasikas and those that nurture the process of Awakening.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Personality Theory–Part One
Here is one page document listing the cetasikas: CETASIKAS POSTER
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 8, 2022 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the 14 Unwholesome Cetasikas, categories of mind conditioning functions that create dukkha, the distress and confusion that constitute the “default mode” of one’s personality. The core functions are ignorance regarding karma, desire for pleasurable experience and aversion to unpleasant experience. The talk begins with a quick review of the Universal and Particular Cetasikas (Reviewed during the talk of August 31, 2022), which are considered to be ethically malleable, that is, influenced by either Unwholesome or Wholesome Cetasikas. The Unwholesome Cetasikas are driven by basic instinctual drives that are poorly investigated and poorly regulated without the training supported by the 25 Wholesome Mind Conditioners, especially Mindfulness, which provides relief from dukkha. The Wholesome Mind Conditioners will be reviewed in upcoming talks.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Reviewing The Mind Conditioners–Part 2
The focus for the next talk will be on the first 7 of the 25 Wholesome Mind Conditioners.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 19, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This Dharma talk is a continuation of reviews regarding the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, particularly focusing on the 4th of the 5 Aggregates, the Mind Conditioning Factors called Cetasikas. The talk provides a generalized view of how Buddhism describes those mental constituents that form a subjective experience of a self. The intention of this review is to create an understanding of the general characteristics of the several categories of cetasikas: Universal, Particular, Unwholesome and Wholesome. These categories will be reviewed in more detail over the course of several subsequent Dharma talks. During the talk, a chart of the cetasikas was provided during the Zoom meeting through screen sharing; here is that document for future reference: CETASIKAS POSTER
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Overview of the Mind Conditioning Factors
The focus for the next talk with be the Universal cetasikas.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:10 — 75.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Jul 30, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This is the first of a series of talks that explore the 52 cetasikas (cheh-tah-see-kahs), categories of factors that condition the self-formation process. The talk reviews the several sub-categories of these factors: Universal, Particular, Unwholesome and Wholesome. Peter states an intention to review the cetasikas more thoroughly over the course of the next several meetings, with an emphasis on how the concepts of mind conditioners can be more clearly observed and, in the case of the Wholesome mind conditioning factors, be applied practically and skillfully, rather than becoming intellectual points of interest. In this regard, it may be helpful to consider these factors as ways to understand the operation of karma. This talk was followed by discussion between Peter and one of the participants regarding how these issues apply to life experience.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: OVERVIEW OF CETASIKAS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:57 — 84.1MB)
