by Peter Carlson | Nov 6, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a series of reviews presented by Allie Vaknin focusing on the paramis, those wholesome conditions of the mind that, when cultivated to their greatest potential, create the conditions for Awakening, the direct realization of Nirvana. Allie emphasizes the importance of direct subjective awareness of unwholesome conditions and the intentional “letting go” of the craving/clinging that creates the unwholesomeness. Her presentation is accompanied by various comments and questions by those attending the meeting.
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by Peter Carlson | Sep 11, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk, presented by Allie Vaknin, is the second of a series of reviews during which she focuses on the Perfection of what are called Paramis, qualities of consciousness that, when fulfilled in their potential, nurture the realization of Nirvana. Tonight’s talk focuses on the Parami of Sila, virtuous thoughts and deeds, reflected in what are called the Five Precepts.
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by Peter Carlson | Jun 26, 2025 | Listen to Dharma Talks
The Paramis are categories of intentionally cultivated virtuous mind-states that promote the process of Awakening. With this talk, Lezlie describes the Parami of Generosity, both materially and interpersonally being unselfish regarding others. She intends to periodically provide commentaries about the various Paramis, using “Creating a Life of Integrity–A Conversation With Joseph Goldstein”, by Gail Anderson Stark and Joseph Goldstein as her reference. The book describes a systematic, ongoing review and practice of the Paramis over nearly a year, and she is following that format, without actually talking with Goldstein, as Stark did.
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by Peter Carlson | Aug 17, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk explores the 10th Parami, upekkha, typically translated as equanimity, or neutrality. Peter describes an additional Buddhist term that applies to this Parami, tatramajjhattata, typically translated as “that quality of mind that is balanced in the middle“. The cultivation and perfection of equanimity is a crucial aspect for the process of awakening (it is one of the seven factors for awakening, and one of the four Divine Abidings, along with lovingkindness, compassion and sympathetic joy, as it represents the optimal balance of energy (not too much–agitation, or too little, sloth and torpor) and attention (not too attached, or too distracted), which must be dynamically managed with mindful investigation and the ability to redirect attention skillfully. This explanation of the balancing process that produces equanimity was followed by lively discussion among the participants about how the concepts can be realized through practice.
Here are the notes prepared for this discussion, including a graph representing the balancing elements: The Benefits Of Perfecting Equanimity
There will be further discussion of the Paramis focused on how they interact dynamically in ways the promote the process of awakening during a future talk.
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by Peter Carlson | Jul 27, 2017 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This week’s talk focused on the Parami of Determination (Adhitthana in Pali). The current English word determination can have two applications: the first is resolve or commitment and the second is the ability to be clear about what delineates an object (an example would be involve determining the total cost of an item). Peter used this opportunity to relate how determination supports the development of all the Paramis in specific ways. This was followed by discussion regarding how determination applies to everyday life from a Buddhist awakening perspective.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Benefits Of Perfecting Determination
Next week’s talk will be a review by a Sangha member who recently completed a 9 day retreat in the Goenka practices, combined with his report on a retreat this upcoming weekend involving Korean Zen practice.
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