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The podcast Free Buddhist Audio is created by Dharmachakra. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
A fresh and engaging re-telling of Siddhartha Gautama's quest for Awakening. In particular, Vajragupta focuses on the moment of crisis when Gautama realises that the ascetic practices, and everything else he has tried, have got him no nearer Enlightenment. Sometimes it is in a moment of crisis that the ordinary mind gives up; it cracks and new light shines through. In Gautama's case, he suddenly remembers an incident from his childhood, sitting under a rose-apple tree. This talk was given at Croydon Buddhist Centre for Buddha Day, 2024. ***
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The Karaniya Metta Sutta ends with liberation from the wheel of samsara. But the spiritual life doesn't end there. Bodhinaga explores the goal of Buddhism in terms of metta and compassionate activity. This talk was given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2024. ***
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Taking the line ‘May the flames that transmute samsara into nirvana’ from the familiar Triratna Dedication ceremony as his starting point, Jnanadhara explores the transformative power of mindfulness. What exactly are those flames? How does mindfulness help us ‘transform, transmute, transfigure’ in the words of Bhante Sangharakshita? Taking a deep dive into the Tantric symbolism of Padmasambhava and drawing on poetry and his love of music and mantra, Jnanadhara presents us with an excellent grounding in how we might pass through the flames of transformation and live in a more sacramental world. Talk given as part of the Padmasambhava Day celebrations at the Dublin Buddhist Centre, 2024. ***
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In this talk Padmavajra explores 'the way of the ecstatic wanderers', the Mahasiddhas who are the early Buddhist Tantric adepts. He tells some stories, including stories about Sangharakshita and his encounters with a one-eyed Tantric in South India. He also evokes 'the mysterious home of the dakini' which takes us to the Land of the Five Jnanas. Finally, he makes a plea to take the magic power of Love out to others to heal the violence of this world. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2023. ***
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Here we have a talk given by Balajit in celebration of Padmasambhava Day at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2022. ***
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Vajratara provides an inspiring and thorough introduction to Padmasambhava's consort and great disciple, Yeshe Tsogyal. This talk was given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2008. ***
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How do we prepare ourselves to receive teachings? How do we prepare ourselves to meet reality? Maitrisingha explores the importance of humility, courage and spiritual friendship. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2023. ***
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Ksantikara delves us deeper into the mandala of the five Buddhas by. evoking the mystery, power and courage of the deep-green Buddha Amoghasiddhi. Ksantikara extols us to be brave enough to encounter the depths of our being. And from the depths to gather the power to act, to move towards enlightenment and set ourselves free. Given at London Buddhist Centre as part of the series The Symbolic World of the Five Buddha Mandala, 2019. ***
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Padmasagara gives a talk on the Buddha Amitabha, Avalokitesvara and the Bodhisattva vow. He shares three stories, each of them drawing out the boundless radiant love of Amitabha and the inconceivable nature of true compassion. Given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019, as part of the series Faces of Enlightenment. ***
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Allow life to flourish in the realm of Ratnasambhava. Garavavati explores the symbols, wisdom and transformational power of the yellow Buddha in the southern realm of the Five Buddha Mandala. This talk was given on London Buddhist Centre’s Winter Retreat, 2022. ***
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Akshobhya: Transforming Hatred Into the Mirror-Like Wisdom
Under hatred lies fear, under fear there is compassion. Vajrapriya shares something of the symbolism of Akshobhya and talks about how we bring the mirror-like wisdom into our daily lives. This talk was given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2019. ***
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A clear and passionate talk, looking at bodhicitta and its twin aspects of love and letting go: wisdom and compassion. Maitrisiddhi explores the role of paradox and how we need to 'hold two necessary ideas together' without polarising between them. Given at Taraloka Retreat Centre as part of the Taraloka & Tiratanaloka online Great Gathering weekend, for women training for ordination and Order Members, 2021. ***
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In his first talk on Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara Padmavajra speaks of Sangharakshita's evocation of the Bodhicitta. He goes on to talk about his discovery of the Bodhicarayavatara and what is known of the life of Shantideva. The main part of the talk is Padmavajra's discussion of some of the verses of the first chapter of the Bodhicaryavatara, especially of verse ten, in which the Bodhicitta is likened to the highly potent quicksilver elixir of the alchemist, capable of transforming the worst of things into the Bodhicitta. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre as part of the series Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara, 2020.
***
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Vessantara offers an introduction to the origin of the Bodhicitta in the brahma viharas, moves on from the blue sky to the refuges and an exploration of the view of scientific materialism. This talk was given in 2020 at Adhisthana as part of the series The Bodhicitta Practice which includes many led meditation practices.
***
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Balajit starts by exploring different perspectives on what is the body and how limited views can limit our practice. He shares his own journey of discovery around what the body is, particularly during his years living at Vajraloka Retreat Centre. The talk then looks at what it might mean for the body to be truly, profoundly and deeply at peace with itself. Given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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Singhashri reminds us of Bhante's emphasis on the development of the true individual, positive group and spiritual community. She then links an embodied and relational approach to our individual and collective going for refuge, encouraging us to explore how a direct experience of safety, dignity and belonging in the sangha might support collective awakening. She ends by sharing specific ways we may practice "somatic going for refuge" which she describes as not a new level of going for refuge, but rather a way of practicing that we can "needle through" our lives from provisional to cosmic going forth. This talk was given at the June 2024 Women's Area Order Weekend themed “I am because we are.” ***
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Here Ratnadharini takes us a little closer into the whole, often misunderstood area of karma in Buddhist thinking. She draws out the important details of the process that we call 'actions and consequences' - but her emphasis is always on putting what we learn into practice in real life, with other real people.
The fourth talk in a five-part series The Four Mind-Turning Reflections of the Tibetan tradition given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2005. ***
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Reflecting on her response to Bhante Sangharakshita’s death, Khemasuri celebrates the gratitude she feels for what she has learned in her Dharma practice, partciluarly the ability to open up and turn towards what is difficult in a very real way. This is a series of talks and practices from the Four Reminders Retreat at Taraloka Retreat Centre, November, 2018. ***
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The first of a series on the 4 reminders, given live at the North London Buddhist Centre, 12 Sept 2020. 1. Our life as a human being is a precious opportunity. 2. Everything changes, and death is inevitable, so don’t lose your opportunities. 3. You do make a difference, the way you live and act now will change the future for yourself and for the world. 4. Ordinary habitual or self-centred life is a trial for everyone, so live a meaningful life, take your opportunities, make a difference! Everyone can liberate themselves. What is so special about human awareness, and what particular advantages make it 'precious'? Ratnaprabha shows how we can see the huge value of what life is offering right now, and take this opportunity to commit to practice. Talk given at North London Buddhist Centre, 2020. ***
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The human body, at peace with itself, Is more precious than the rarest gem. Cherish your body - it is yours this time only. The human form is won with difficulty, It is easy to lose. All worldly things are brief, Like lightning in the sky; This life you must know As the tiny splash of a raindrop; A thing of beauty that disappears Even as it comes into being. Therefore set your goal; Make use of every day and night To achieve it. With these inspiring words as a starting point, Sanghagita explores the practice of The Four Reminders, the preliminary practice of the Mind Training. How would we act in every ordinary moment if we were Enlightened? How can we act to be more Enlightened? This powerful, pithy teaching tells us how to do just that.
Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2024. ***
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What does it take to create a context which allows people to experience meaning? Saddhanandi looks how sangha is created through meaningful, authentic friendships and communication. The talk includes references to her interviews about poetry with Sangharakshita. This talk was given at Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2023. ***
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“Happy indeed we live, friendly amid the haters. Among those who hate we dwell free from hate. Happy indeed we live, healthy amid the sick. Among those who are sick we dwell free from sickness. Happy indeed we live, content amid the greedy. Among those who are greedy we dwell free from greed.” (The Dhammapada, chapter 14, ‘Happiness’, verses 197-199). Ratnaghosha explores the Buddha’s vision of spiritual community as it is expressed in three verses of the Dhammapada. This is a comprehensive survey of the Buddha's teaching but is also replete with practical advice about how we might apply this to our lives today - and finishes on a very encouraging note. Talk given at the Dublin Buddhist Centre, 2024. ***
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In a life well lived there is a conscious search for meaning. Suryagupta reflects on the Buddha’s (and our own!) Noble Quest. This talk was given as a part of the LBC Winter Retreat 2023, following the Buddha's This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre as part of the series The Noble Quest, 2023.
***
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Jnanadhara explores the meaning of inspiration and its importance in the Dharmalife. He makes some general observations about the nature of inspiration, discusses the three kinds of faith, and concludes by talking about The Buddha as a source of inspiration. This talk was given at Adhisthana as part of the series Changemakers Weekend: Passing on the Flame, 2024. ***
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‘Just as I love and cherish my body, which is divided into many limbs, so I should love and cherish this whole world, which is divided into many beings.’ So says Shantideva in his famous ‘Guide to the Path of Awakening’. In this talk Vadanya will explore what Shantideva tells us about the wisdom teaching of ‘anatman’ – often translated as ‘no-self’ – and look at how this apparently negative doctrine opens up a positive and inspiring vision of connectedness. Given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2024. ***
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On a warm spring day, under the overhanging branches of the Sycamore tree in the Buddhist Centre garden, Parami richly evokes Gautama's quest, realisation, and their relevance for today's world. This talk was given on Buddha Day at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2010. ***
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Nagasiddhi traces the period after the Buddha’s going forth: as he masters meditation then turns towards extreme asceticism in his quest to overcome dukkha. Having taken himself to the brink of death, the Buddha-to-be finally realises that he must find his own ‘middle way’ to liberation. This talk is part of the series In the Footsteps of the Buddha given during a Buddhist Centre Online home retreat, 2021. This magical week-long retreat explores the images, myths and symbols of the Buddha’s journey to awakening using dharma talks, meditation, storytelling, puppetry and art. Visit 'In the Footsteps of the Buddha' for more resources from this retreat: https://thebuddhistcentre.com/footsteps ***
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Amitasuri explores what can happen when faced with well-being, illness, ageing and death, and looks at how the Dharma might influence our response. Amitasuri takes her Dharma practice to her work as a Buddhist Hospital Chaplain, where she supports health and well-being through pastoral, religious and spiritual care for staff, patients and their families in a number of hospitals in Greater Manchester. This talk was given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2015. ***
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After an account of the Buddha's life, Sangharakshita asks how, if at all, such a man can be defined or categorised. This talk was given in 1968 as part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism ***
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Kalyanaprabha shares some of her own recollections of Bhante Sangharakshita going back to their first encounter in 1984, stories both humorous and serious, evoking some of his unique qualities. Drawing on an unpublished fragment, ‘What I learned from my gurus’, she reminds us of some of the fundamental aspects of his teaching. This talk was given as part of a series entitled Triratna Day Weekend: Is a Guru Necessary? Given at Adhisthana for the Triratna Day celebrations, 2023. ***
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Ksantikara revisits Sangharakshita's classic 1970 lecture. In this energetic and playful talk Ksantikara adds his own reflections to Sangharakshita's original list of what a Guru is not (not the head of a religious group, not a teacher, not a father/mother substitute, not a problem solver) and explores the important of having people in our life to look up to and be in contact with. Ksantikara implores us to find a situation of Kalayana Mitrata (beautiful friendship) and to stay receptive to those more evolved than us. This talk was given at Adhisthana as part of the series Triratna Day Weekend: Is a Guru Necessary? 2023. ***
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Here is a strong, beautiful talk by Parami from the final day of the Triratna Buddhist Order's International Convention 2013 in India, bringing us back to the task in hand as members of the Order and as Buddhists: engaging with breaking the fetters and weakening the hold that self-clinging exerts upon our minds and our ways of seeing things. ***
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Here is a recently re-discovered little lost delight - Sangharakshita and Subhuti launching each other's books and clearly enjoying themselves. Sangharakshita's in fine humour - and it's great to hear him read and quote from the bible! Is that a twinkle in his voice?
Talk given at Triratna [FWBO] Day celebrations in 2001. ***
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Subhadramati explores integration as a process of meeting Mara in her life and in scenes in the life of the Buddha, and the fulfillment of integration during the Buddha's last days of exquisite love. This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2018. ***
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In this talk Alokadhara explores these beautiful verses which evoke the Buddha, his qualities and the profundity of his teaching. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2014. ***
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In an excellent and thorough introduction to the Jataka tales, Akashadevi explains the value of stories of the Buddha's past lives and how they originated. She tells the stories of the Hare in the Moon and the Monkey King. This talk was given at the West London Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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In a striking and inspiring talk, Paramananda tells the life story of the Buddha's disciple Kasyapa: the Buddha uniquely said that Kasyapa would have gained enlightenment even without his help. The crescendo is a mysterious transmission when the Buddha held up a lotus and Kasyapa smiled, regarded by Zen Buddhists as the start of their lineage. Paramananda discusses what 'transmission' could mean for us. This talk was given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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The most human thing to do is to keep being kind. Generosity helps you build connection and community. Danapriya explores the themes of generosity and abundance. Talk given at East Kent Buddhist Group, 2008. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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This talk is a commentary on, and a homage to, Sangharakshita's talk 'Buddhism, World Peace and Nuclear War'. This seminal talk applies not only to nuclear war, but any major difficulty the world faces. In this talk, Vajratara explores Sangharakshita's analysis of the problems we are facing as a society and the real solutions. Should we, as Buddhists, have a Buddhist response to any particular conflict? Is a better world possible, or should we resign ourselves to endless cycles of greed, hatred and delusion expressed here as war, here as environmental destruction, here as poverty, here as oppression? This talk was given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2023. ***
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In this talk Subhuti sets out a vision of the 'Power of the Dhamma' as a force within the nature of reality that leads to growth and development. This is the Dhamma Niyama, to reify it is a mistake, but to deny it leaves us with an impoverished sense of the nature of things. The new society is about allowing this order of things to manifest within us and on that basis have a transformative effect on society. This talk was given at Dharmapala College, 2010. ***
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War, destruction and conflict are on the increase in the world, as are conflicted and destructive individual lives. How do we live in a way that brings about a less conflicted world and a more creative, integrated way of being? Suryagupta explores this complex topic at London Buddhist Centre, 2016. ***
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Jnanasiddhi gave an inspiring and practical talk sharing her extensive understanding and experience of peace making. She illustrated different approaches of peacemaking in relation to the five aspects of the spiritual path. And focused on how we can create the conditions within ourselves - through our practice - to contribute to harmony with others. This talk was given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2023.
***
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Padmasagara explores the glimpses of the Buddha's liberating vision found in the Ariyapariyesana sutta, focusing on the Buddha's description of Reality in terms of pratitya samutpada (conditionality) and his response to Brahma Sahampati's request to teach the Dhamma. The talk also explores how we can begin to realise this vision for ourselves by responding to the Buddha's exhortation: 'let those who have ears release their faith'. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2019. ***
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In this talk, Vajratara takes us on a vivid journey starting with the Buddha's exploration of what is the noble quest, moving into personal examples of the ignoble and noble quests in her own life. Vajratara invites us to look at our own motivation, our own noble quest, how to establish a culture of the noble quest in such a way that invites more people to join us on that journey, both through our own practice and ways that our institutions can and have supported individuals' Ariyapariyesana. This talk was given on a Womens’ Area Order Weekend held at Adhisthana, December 2022. ***
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Dharmashalin gives the first of a two-part talk on the first two of the 4 Noble Truths, evoking the miraculous communication of the Buddha’s dharma. Talk given as part of Dharma Day 2023 at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre and marking the 25th anniversary of the opening of the current centre. ***
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Vajradevi ends a series of talks on the Satipatthana Sutta, looking at the Four Noble Truths, and focusing on the first two. Talk given at Shrewsbury Triratna Buddhist Centre, 2018. ***
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Tantric Buddhism is concerned with the direct experience of who we are and what we can become. Its aim is to help us realize our potential by transforming the energy locked in by old habits, fears, and views. This experience cannot be mediated by concepts; it needs to be evoked with the help of symbols. Subhadramati gave this talk at London Buddhist Centre, 2020. ***
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Don’t listen to this talk if you want a straightforward explanation of what a dakini may or may not be. In fact, what is prompting you to listen to a talk on the dakini in the first place? Vidyadaka talks around the theme in this rousing exploration of the dakini, the gestalt and the artist. Given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2022, as part of the series The Secret Refuges. ***
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Padmavajra evokes the spirit of Tantric Buddhism, which transforms the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha from abstract ideals into living qualities of our present experience. He explores the guru, the yidam and the dakini as Tantric embodiments of Enlightenment here and now, sharing stories from his own experience of practice. Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019, as part of the series Tantra Now! ***
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The Buddha lived 2,500 years ago, so how can we meet him and open ourselves to the inspiration and resources that come from him? Through imagination we can cultivate the capacity to meet the Buddha on an archetypal level. This can have a powerful effect, karmically speaking. We all have - and use - our imagination all the time, even if we don't realise it! We just need to learn how to 'use it' rather than having it 'use us' in a reactive way, i.e. instead of letting it be 'captured' by unhelpful, unskilful things, we can learn to let it be called to, seeded or sparked by the Buddha (and the Dharma). Imagination can be seen as a 'faculty' which we can cultivate. Satyalila offers inspiration and ideas for how to meet the Buddha through imagination. This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2019. ***
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Within the arena of the visual arts, the studios where renowned artists create their works have become the subject of intense interest and scrutiny. In Buddhism, there is a tradition of creating inspiring and beautiful spaces for spiritual practice. These sacred spaces and artists’ studios have become places of study, reflection and pilgrimage. Jnanadhara explores what these two kinds of spaces have in common. What can they tell us about the minds of the people who created them? What lessons can we learn from considering these questions that could help us live meaningful lives in today’s world? Talk given at the Dublin Buddhist Centre, 2023. ***
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Sangha is not just a cosy group of people, it is a context for transformation on the path to Awakening. Singhamati explores 10 points on how we can transform through the practice of sangha. Given in the context of Sangha Day at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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Speaking personally about stepping onto the Buddhist path, Padmavajra shares stories of spiritual friendship in the context of his own life and reflected in the work of Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation. The work, inspired by devotion to Manjusri, is one of the key texts in the development of the Tibetan Lam Rim teachings. And Gampopa, being one of the two principle disciples of the yogi Milarepa, presents both the monastic Lam Rim approach of Atisha and the Mahamudra meditation teachings of Milarepa himself.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2008, the third talk in an eight part series entitled Themes from Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation. ***
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Here Suryaka offers reflections on the third verse of Triratna’s Sevenfold Puja, Salutation, by exploring the range of possible responses we can have to Buddhism, from contentment with worldly life, to intellectual agreement with Buddhism, or to the wholesale devotion exemplified by Shantideva. This is the third talk in a series at the Manchester Buddhist Centre on the Sevenfold Puja, 2010. ***
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What is the central focus of our lives? Vajrashura shares a story from the Buddhist tradition where the monk Mahanama asks the Buddha; “What dwelling places (of the mind) shall we live in?” This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2018, as part of the series In Praise of the Three Jewels. ***
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Vishvapani explores the dynamic vision of Urgyen Sangharakshita in setting up a new Buddhist movement in the West, and asks how we might relate to him now. His central reference point in this provocative and moving talk is the Padmasambhava Abisheka - the initiation received by Sangharakshita in Kalimpong, India, in 1962 from the great Tibetan Lama, Kachu Rimpoche. The energy emanating from a simple shrine room–location of that significant meeting in Sangharakshita's life–reverberates through everything that came next, the bright and shadow sides. Voices and stories, told and untold, come echoing through as Vishvapani makes the case that a deeper examination of Sangharakshita's teaching and approach reveals a deeper rhythm to his life and work that is relevant to everyone practicing in Triratna today.
A talk given at Adhisthana on the men's UK & Ireland area Order weekend in November 2022. ***
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In this talk Suddhaka, based on Sangharakshita's 1969 talk 'Breaking through to Buddhahood', shares some of his experience as an Order Member to illustrate how we might move beyond our unhelpful psychological conditioning. This talk was given as part of the Brixton Sangha retreat, 2017. ***
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If we ignore the call of our higher potential, it often clamors louder! In this personal talk, Suryagupta, with characteristic ease and intelligence relates Sangharakshita’s Five Great Stages of the Path to her own journey so far. This talk was given on Dharma Day at London Buddhist Centre, 2015. ***
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How do we keep our meditation alive and fresh - especially over the long-term? Can we get lost and bogged down in our meditation and lose connection with creativity, play, and freshness? How do we go deeper? Responding to these questions, Vajragupta (m) looks at the Four Iddhipadas - the four 'powers' or 'means of accomplishment' taught by the Buddha. These are: desire, discernment, heart/mind, and resolve. They are both four ingredients of a creative meditation practice, and they also draw out the alchemical process of meditation, or how the transformative process of meditation works. This first talk explores how we need to stay connected to our deeper desires, yearnings, and spiritual longing - and how to hold this desire in a way that sustains our practice.
This talk was given at Croydon Buddhist Centre, 2022 as part of a series entitled The Alchemy of Meditation. ***
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This is a great introduction to the basic Buddhist methods of working with doubts based on unhelpful confusion, in meditation and in general practice. Padmadaka explores the relationship between doubt and suffering, and highlights the ways in which we can have and hold our genuine questionings, while working through the habits and tendencies that can hold us back in our lives.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2005. ***
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Dhivan discusses the Discourse on the Not-Self Characteristic or Anattalakkhana Sutta (also known as the Discourse to the Group of Five or Pañcavaggiya Sutta), believed to be the second discourse given by the Buddha. This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2017, as part of the series Discourses from the Pali Canon. ***
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Superficiality is acting from the surface of ourselves without thoroughness or care. We act from the intellect but not from our emotional depths. In this talk Akashamitra looks at how superficiality arises from an internally divided state of mind. He points the way to a more wholesome practise of the Dharma through a focus on personal transformation as the goal of everything we do. Talk given at London Buddhist Centre, 2019, as part of the series 'The Taste of Freedom' Revisited. ***
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Sangharakshita goes to Buddhafield! A first for him, and a first for the fabulous Buddhafield Festival that takes place each year at the height of the English summer. This talk was given in a tent in Devon - and the sounds of this great Dharma celebration are everywhere around as Sangharakshita marks his entry to the 'Dharma Parlour' with a rolling set of thoughts and reminiscences and encouragements to practice. We move from India at the time of the peaceful revolution of 'untouchable' caste Hindus, to the famed hot-tubs of the festival itself. And we are introduced to the first 'three fetters' from the Buddha's teaching, the breaking of which will set us free. This is classic Sangharakshita - plenty to challenge and plenty to talk about around the fire afterwards.
With an excellent and thoughtful introduction by Kamalashila.
Talk given at the Buddhafield Festival, Devon 2007.
***
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Devotion and prayer, ritual and freedom, engagement and tradition, Bodhidasa explores the fascinating meanings behind our common traditions in modern Buddhism - from tea and tim-tams to puja, chanting and offering. Sourcing the Pali canon, Bodhidasa discusses the Three Fetters, and the pitfalls of superficiality, habit and vagueness that can hinder our progress on the path. How do we relate to blessing and purity in the spiritual life? Through a sense of reverence and engagement with symbol, can we connect our lives to the transcendental?
Talk given at Sydney Buddhist Centre, 2015. ***
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Kamalashila describes the types of Shraddha (confidence, faith or esteem), and their place in Buddhist practice. Talk for Sangha Night at the West London Buddhist Centre, 2016. ***
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Saddhanandi riffs off a talk that Sangharakshita gave to the Buddhist Society in 1975 entitled 'Enlightenment as Experience and Non-Experience'. She reflects on the content as well as the context, just what was happening with these early lectures by Sangharakshita, just six years after the first ordinations. Given on retreat at Adhisthana, 2022. ***
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Vajragupta (m) explores the power of ideas to shape us, our lives and world, and even human history. As Buddhism comes to the West, is it taken on in a way that seems to fit with certain prevailing ideas and assumptions in our culture? What ideas and world-views lead to Enlightenment and the fullest expression of human potential, and what ideas and world-views may hinder? A talk fizzing with ideas to make you think and wonder… Part of the series What Is Nirvana and Do We Really Want to Get There? given at the Croydon Buddhist Centre, 2021. ***
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Vidyapala draws on various Pali suttas, and the Buddha's own life, to suggest ways we might move from suffering to faith in this talk given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2023. ***
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Drawing upon the myths in the life of the Buddha Satyapara explores the role the body plays when we take up Buddhist practice. She describes the Buddha as a child under a rose apple tree being deeply in touch with his surrounding and when calling upon the earth he gains confidence in his practice and overcomes his doubts. With these stories Satyapara invites us to trust our body. Given in Cambridge, UK, in the Young People's Evening, 2016. ***
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Bodhivajra talks about Enlightenment in a direct and very down-to-earth way, making the whole notion of Enlightenment more accessible, approachable, and relevant. Norwich Buddhist Centre, May 2015. ***
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Space, white light and the wisdom of the Dharmadhatu: Maitrivajri explores the qualities of Akasadatesvari. This talk was given on a retreat at Taraloka Retreat Centre on the Mandala of the Five Female Buddhas, 2016. ***
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Suryagupta concludes the five Buddha mandala with a talk on the historical Buddha and on Vairocana. In this talk Suryagupta weaves the story of the historical Buddha with themes from her own life and in doing so encourages us to honour the bigger questions of what it means to be alive. Using the Buddha as her example, Suryagupta invites us to step onto the path... and quest!
This talk was given at the London Buddhist Centre, 2019, as part of the series The Symbolic World of the Five Buddha Mandala. ***
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Dharmashalin explores the stupa, the different elements (earth, water, air, fire and space) and how we can work with them in our Dharma life. Dharmashalin gives several useful, funny and down-to-earth examples to help us pick the low hanging fruits in the spiritual life. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2022. ***
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Through the lense of Upaya 'the skilful means' of the Bodhisattva, Parami explores the seemingly contradictory themes of withdrawal and engagement on the Bodhisattva path. She demonstrates how they are synthesised by drawing on the last four stages of the spiral / transcendental path and how they culminate in the arising of the bodhicitta!
This talk was given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2023 ***
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What is a Pure Land? And how do you create one? What is the true meaning of the Buddhas skilful means. With characteristic aplomb Padmavajra unpacks the esoteric teachings of one of Buddhism's greatest Sutras.
This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre, 2015. ***
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Kalyanaprabha introduces us to the world of the Mahayana. Through the Sutra of the Golden Light, we discover what a sutra is and even why it is relevant to us today. This talk was given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2023. ***
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The Parables of the Rain Cloud, and the Parable of the Sun and Moon both tell us that spiritual development is an organic process of growth, and that the Dharma nourishes all impartially, though people follow different patterns of development.
Sangharakshita delivered this talk as part of the series Parables, Myths and Symbols of Mahayana Buddhism in the White Lotus Sutra, 1971. ***
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Vijayamala addresses the 2022 UK & IE Triratna Buddhist Order convention, exploring what breaking through and seeing the nature of reality means for us as an Order. The Buddha went forth to seek an end to suffering, to go beyond what binds us to the samsaric world. The theme of this event also encompasses ‘going beyond’ and the ways in which we are approaching that as an Order.
Part of the series Going Forth, Going Beyond: 2022 UK & Ireland Order Convention, 2022. ***
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Maitreyabandhu explores the path to insight in the context of Triratna's system of practice. He does this by exploring the three myths of self-development, self-surrender and self-discovery, as well as spiritual death and spiritual rebirth in the dharma life. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2019.
***
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In this first of four talks on 'The Cosmic Mythic Vision of the Mahayana' Jvalamalini explores the faculties of mythos and logos, how they're conditioned by historical context, a suggestion from neuroscience about how imaginal practice might work, and how the integrated Imagination perceives wisdom beyond words. Talk given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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Modern Dharma Challenges: Building Sangha in a rootless society with Subhuti. The third of three special evenings with Subhuti, the LBC's President and a renowned teacher of fifty years experience. What does a Buddhist life look like in practice? Where can we hope to get and what are the essential teachings that will get us there? Come along for meditation and a series of exciting new talks - a real highlight. Talk given at London Buddhist Centre, 2022. ***
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Paradigms are the shared ideas in the minds of society, the deepest set of views and beliefs about how the world works. Dhammadinna draws on the teachings of Sangharakshita and applies her lived experience in the Triratna Buddhist Order to explore the first verse of the Dasadhamma Sutta - I am no longer living according to worldly aims and values.
This is the second talk in a series of six entitled: The Order as Practice: Shifting Paradigms, given at Adhisthana, 2015, looking at how different the Spiritual Community is from our surrounding culture and how our Going for Refuge shifts paradigms. ***
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In a London basement, fifty-one years ago a new Buddhist Movement was forged. Founded on the active principle behind an often empty ritual of 'Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels', this Movement has become a dynamic worldwide community of Buddhist practitioners. Just how did Sangharakshita, through the Triratna Community and Order, transform the recitation of the words 'I go for Refuge...' into a path of deeper meaning and purpose? Bodhidasa borrows symbols from Western Magickal traditions and Catholicism to explore the power, resonance and wisdom of the Three Jewels.
This talk was given on Triratna Day at Sydney Buddhist Centre, 2019. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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"Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." In this talk, Viryadevi gives her take on what is asked of us when we commit to creating a buddhaland - a collective spiritual life together. Drawing on two of the myths that have shaped the life and imagination of the Order - the 1,000 Armed Alalokitesvara and Chapter 1 of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa - she asks whether things going wrong, either on an individual or personal level, have a place in our collective imagination. She also suggests ways that our relationship to our founding bodhisattva, Sangharakshita, could become more mature.
Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2018. ***
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At the Order Convention in 1989 Nagabodhi gave a talk: 'Living in Interesting Times' in which he explored some of the challenges facing our Order in the coming years as our internal and external conditions changed. He returned to the theme at an Order event in 2003, and then most recently with this talk given at the Order Convention in 2016: "Living in Interesting Times; Now it's Really Getting Interesting". As well as reviewing whether any of his predictions came true, Nagabodhi outlines some thoughts on what might be in store for us as the coming years unfold.
Talk given at the 2016 Order Convention at Adhisthana. ***
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In this 2007 talk, Sangharakshita helps celebrate the 40th anniversary of the FWBO (as well as the 60th anniversary of his own 'Going Forth'). With characteristic clarity and conviction, he shares his reflections on the history of the Movement and Order he founded, as well as some pertinent thoughts on the future. If you've never heard him before - and just to put this in context - the first talk we have in our archive by Sangharakshita was given in 1965! And here we are, 40+ years on and still going strong... Amazing!
Talk given at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, April 2007. ***
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Dharmadipa shares reflections on the third part of Dhardo Rimpoche's Motto ‘Radiate Love’. Beginning with the significance of the Metta Bhavana meditation practice, he explores the Bodhisattva Ideal, connecting teachings from the "Mind Training" tradition with Shunyata and the Mahayana Sutras. Finally Dharmadipa explores how the three parts of the Motto hang together and support each other.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2021. ***
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This is a fine talk by Dayanandi on the essential relationship between meditation and the proper seeing of Reality, here described as an opening into the beauty and truth and reality of life itself.
Given at the Taraloka/Tiratanaloka Great Gathering, 2000. ***
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Kamalashila, author of 'Buddhist Meditation: Tranquillity, Imagination, Insight', introduces the fifth perfection, dhyana, in a series at the West London Buddhist Centre, 2012. ***
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Bodhilila's first talk as part of the 'Poetics of Awakening' retreat. Looking at the symbolic and practical aspects of practice she considers how meditation itself is an expression of ourselves as a way to change through, moment by moment, being who we are in the light of the Dharma. An encouraging and inspiring approach to sitting aligned to the nature of things.
Get more resources on 'The Poetics of Awakening' Home Retreat with Paramananda and Bodhilila
Given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2022. ***
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Paramananda in this free-ranging talk, explains how the moon's soft light represents compassion, and recites three moon poems that evoke messages of self-knowledge and the regular tides or rhythms of being human. This talk was given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2016. ***
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How do you become a Bodhisattva? Upon the Awakening of the Bodhi Heart (Bodhichitt-otpada). In this lecture Sangharakshita defines the Bodhichitta, and describes how one can prepare for its arising through the observance of Shantideva's Supreme Worship and Vasubhandu's Four Factors. Talk given in 1969 as part of the series entitled: Aspects of the Bodhisattva Ideal ***
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Jvalamalini offers suggestions to bear in mind when reading the Bodhicaryavatara, and a few reflections from the text on how to regard self and others.
"In the same way that the hands and other limbs are loved because they form part of the body, why are embodied creatures not likewise loved because they form part of the universe?"
"‘If I give, what shall I enjoy?’ Such concern for one’s own welfare is fiendish. ‘If I enjoy, what shall I give?’ Such concern for the welfare of others is divine."
This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2016. ***
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"Taking this image of the human form the Bodhicitta transmutes it into the priceless image of the Jewel of the Conqueror. Grasp tightly this highly potent elixir, known as the Bodhicitta, which must be thoroughly worked."
In this talk on Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara Padmavajra speaks of Sangharakshita's evocation of the Bodhicitta. Here, he discusses some of the verses of the first chapter, especially of verse ten, in which the Bodhicitta is likened to the highly potent quicksilver elixir of the alchemist, capable of transforming the worst of things into the Bodhicitta. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, April 2020, as part of the series Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara. ***
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Parami offers a clear, insightful and practical guide to the classically challenging Wisdom chapter of the Bodhicaryavatara. She places the chapter in context of the Bodhisattva Path and. with consistent warmth and humour, illuminates this part of the text for those who have been struggling with it.
This talk was given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2022. ***
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Vajrapriya takes us into this radical and classic wisdom-text which goes to the heart of how to become free, and how to help the world become free. Enigmatic, speaking to our depths, undermining any fundamentalism or limiting views about ourselves, it asks us to dive deep into the nature of experience, looking, for ourselves, to see truly the way things are. This talk was recorded on the Four Sanghas Retreat Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2022. ***
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This is the culmination of Buddhist practice – but what is it and why is it so vitally needed in our lives and in the world? Subhadramati offers perspective, depth and encouragement on the Dharma path.
This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre, 2016. ***
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Vishvapani explores the dynamic vision of Urgyen Sangharakshita in setting up a new Buddhist movement in the West, and asks how we might relate to him now. Voices and stories, told and untold, come echoing through as Vishvapani makes the case that a deeper examination of Sangharakshita's teaching and approach reveals a deeper rhythm to his life and work that is relevant to everyone practicing in Triratna today.
A talk given at Adhisthana on the men's UK & Ireland Area Order weekend, November 2022. ***
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Advayasiddhi explores two chapters from Santideva's passionate and challenging text: The Bodhicaryavatara. Chapter 4 focuses on Vigilance Regarding the Awakening Mind, while Chapter 5 explores The Guarding of Awareness. This talk was recorded at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2022. ***
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We practice the Dharma so that we can transcend our self-clinging, thereby resolving our own suffering and contributing to the resolution of suffering in the world. This is the fundamental purpose of the Triratna Community.
Subhuti returns to Padmaloka after many years to delve into the fundamental principles behind Integration, Positive Emotion, Spiritual Receptivity, Spiritual Death, and Spiritual Rebirth, finding in each new and deeper significance. He invites his hearers to apply them deeply in their own lives.
This talk is part of a series The Five Aspects of the Dharma Life given on a retreat at Padmaloka Retreat Centre for men who have asked for ordination, 2013. ***
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The Buddha spoke to everybody, from homeless wanderers to kings. So when King Ajatassattu wants to go to war against the Vajjian people, he asks the Buddha's advice! In this engaging talk, Vajratara unpacks the Buddha's reply, as he explains the 'seven things' which should be in place in order for a society to prosper and not decline. How might this teaching be interpreted in modern day terms, and what can it tell us about how we can help the dharma spread through society as a whole? This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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From communist to Buddhist.... Vimalavajri talks of her personal involvement in the spheres of politics, feminism and Buddhism. Using Indra's net as a classic Buddhist image of interconnectedness, the talk explores what the dharma might have to say about social or political action, and asks what helps when we feel overwhelmed or stuck in ill-will. If we really see Indra's net, we will connect more deeply with life at all levels and our action will be more joyful and wholehearted. This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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Vajragupta (m) offers a Buddhist myth of the asuras, the Titan realm on the Wheel of Life, as a way of seeing and understanding the social and political times we are living through. In this myth, the Buddha appears in the realm of the asuras holding a sword. What does that symbolize? Vajragupta suggests it can be seen as a sword of fearlessness, a sword of truth and wisdom, a sword of justice, and the sword of the archetypal "king".
This talk was given at Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2022. ***
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What does it mean to be part of a Sangha? What does true harmony mean alongside the inevitability of conflict? Srivati addresses these questions with help from the monks at Kosambi, the six memorable qualities of a Bikkhu, and the seven knowledges of the stream entrant.
This talk is from the Dharmachakra Archives, given in 2002. ***
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Amoghavajra takes us back 2,500 years to the Kingdom of Magadha in Northern India to the birth of a boy called Kassapa. He grows up happily and as he gets older he becomes less and less worldly. Kassapa marries Bhadda who has equally renunciant tendancies. They both go forth together.
Kassapa meets the Buddha, becomes his disciple and gains Enlightenment. He is known as a superb meditator and was foremost among the bhikkus for practising austerities. According to Amoghavajra's story, one of the teachings that the Buddha gave to Kassapa was to attend to whatever gladdens the heart. So, Amoghavajra asks us, what is it that gladdens your heart? Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2010. ***
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Dhammamegha speaks about Sangha as Dharma practice and how spiritual community and friendship with the admirable are part of our heritage in Triratna.
Talk given on the Triratna International Gathering at Adhisthana, 2017. ***
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Dhivan offers this short discourse showing the Buddha addressing a group of people called the Kalamas, who have heard all too many religious teachers telling them what to think, even when it contradicts what the last teacher said. The Buddha instead advises them how to judge for themselves about religion. He also teaches them how to practice the brahma-vihara meditations, and to think for themselves how effective they are.
Talk given at Bristol Buddhist Centre as part of a series of four talks entitled Discourses from the Pali Canon, 2017. ***
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Friendships hold the sangha together, genuine personal connections, that support spiritual practice. Weaving in contemporary poetry with teachings from the Buddhist tradition, Ratnaprabha explores the nature of harmonious community by taking us through the Sangha Section of the TiratanaVandana.
A talk for Sangha Day given at the West London Buddhist Centre, Nov 2011. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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Through recounting the story of the Buddha’s Enlightenment and his subsequent communication about it, Ratnadeva traces the significance and depth of the Buddha’s teaching of karma, as well as addressing the complexities and common misconceptions that can often arise when we approach the topic.
This talk was given at Buddhafield, as part of the series Seeds of the Heart: Talks from the Dharma Parlour, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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How can we equip ourselves to co-operate in collective action and play? How do we work with negative emotions and polarized views? Many of us long to be in deeper communication and relationships with others, but in order to do that we need to create the necessary conditions for community to arise. Drawing on the Buddha’s teaching, as well as political and social thinkers, Dhammamegha looks at the tender and necessary ground for sustained action towards the deepening of our practice of community.
This talk was given in the Dharma Parlour tent at Buddhafield, as part of the series Seeds of the Heart: Talks from the Dharma Parlour, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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In this wide ranging talk, Amalayodhin gives an introduction to the history and symbol of the cremation grounds. Given on a summer men's Great Gathering at Padmaloka, the talk covers topics such as death, taking responsibility and avoiding blame and resentment. He draws out the necessity of seeking out those places that demand more of us then we can give in our current form, and in process break and reform as more potent, loving and effective beings.
Given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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Vidyasakhi vividly draws us into the magical world of the Eight Cremation Grounds where Padmasambhava tamed demons and engaged in his Bodhisattva training. Vidyasakhi is a musician and Padmasambhava practitioner with a background in storytelling. She has used these skills to dramatise The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava and is a very good guide into the symbolism of this sacred space.
This talk was given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2017. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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Surata wanders delightfully all over the subject of 'freedom' in the context of life in a Buddhist Order. He discusses freedom of mind, freedom of choice, freedom of heart, as well as the dangers of group behaviour in communities and the joys of sharing in an ideal. Personable and disarming as ever...
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2005 *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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Kusalasara explores the significance of the Dakinis - a strong symbol of freedom. This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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The Buddha said that just as the taste of the ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, so the Buddha's teaching has one taste, the taste of freedom. Liberation, freedom or emancipation are the essence of the Buddha's vision. In this wide ranging talk Padmavajra explains the conditions necessary to secure this heart's release. This talk is part of the series 'The Taste of Freedom' Revisited given at London Buddhist Centre, 2019. ***
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Spiritual freedom arises when your heart and mind is transformed. In order to live in a world that is harmonious, that’s loving, that’s enabling us to all fulfill our potential, then we all must be working for freedom in some way, working for our own and others, whoever they are. Suryagupta draws out the meaning of Freedom through the story of Nelson Mandela. A two-week seminar with the (then) brand new chair of the London Buddhist Centre, 2017. ***
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Maitreyabandhu draws out the deeper meaning and finer detail of five different poems, each around the theme of death with the final poem focusing on spiritual rebirth.
By discussing the background of the poems and poets, the intricacies of their structure, and bringing in a Buddhist interpretation of the themes raised in the poems, Maitreyabandhu shows us the importance and profundity of poetry and how it can help us to explore Dharmic themes more deeply. This talk was given Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the System of Dharma Training retreat, December 2018. ***
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Here and Now
Ratnaghosha explores the Buddha's teaching of Spiritual friendship being the whole of the spiritual life. The talk is wide ranging, going into what spiritual friendship is and also how Buddhism sees the nature of reality. This talk was given at Nottingham Buddhist Centre, 2016. ***
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Practice in the Modern World
Is work just a necessity or a source of fulfillment? Is a career a hindrance or a support to our happiness and unfoldment as individuals? Should we be aiming at getting the ‘right work/life balance’ or moving beyond such distinctions? Keturaja explores Buddhist teachings on right livelihood and reflects on their relevance for us today. This talk was given at Cambridge Buddhist Center, 2018. ***
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Letting In the Light
Kalyanamati explores six ways in which we can work with our energies in order to transform our emotional depths in line with our deepest vision. This talk was given at the East Anglian Men's Event at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2018. ***
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Spiritual Friendship in Action
Vidyadaka speaks here on the second part Dhardo Rimpoche's motto 'Cherish the Doctrine, Live United, Radiate Love' by exploring how we actually do this and drawing out deeper aspects of its meaning. Firstly, we need to live united with ourselves, then learn to live united with others, with our teachers and with reality. Covering themes such as the true individual, spiritual friendship, vertical communication, and renunciation, this talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2021. ***
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The Love of Power
Behind this title we find the first Buddhist ethical precept and Sangharakshita’s distinction between operating in the Love Mode and operating in the Power Mode. A beautiful and engaged talk, responsive to her audience, where Kulanandi draws inspiration from the book The Ten Pillars of Buddhism, by Sangharakshita.
Talk given at Stockholm Buddhist Centre, 2014. ***
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Buddhism and Nature
Vajragupta explores the Buddhist attitude to nature. We live in a time of threat to the ecosystem. How can human beings live with more love and appreciation of the natural world? What does Buddhism have to offer? Talk given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2011. ***
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Beauty As the Fourth Laksana
In this talk, Punyamala takes us through the rich mandala of practice we can follow by reflecting on the laksanas. She then describes the path of beauty and how we can move from contemplating mundane beauty to the beauty of the enlightened state.
This talk was given during the Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, December 2019. ***
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The Life of the Buddha
In this talk, Padmavajra explores the themes of beauty and love in the story of the life of the Buddha. He looks at the importance of nature, the arts, ethics, meditation and friendship in the journey to becoming one with Beauty. This talk was given at the Mid-Essex Buddhist Centre, 2019. ***
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Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre Dharma Day Festival, 2008. ***
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Parami focuses on the significance of the seven weeks after the Buddha’s enlightenment and draws out the relevance for us today. When we experience the freedom from something that has held us back the energy that is released is extraordinary and requires time for absorption. This talk was given on Buddha Day at North London Buddhist Centre, May 2018. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts
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In a talk for Buddha day, Ratnaprabha takes us through the realisations that came to the Buddha during his all night meditation under the Bodhi tree, culminating in the vision of the morning star, the Star of Healing. Its light was the first sight of the Awakened One, a light symbolising the illumination of awareness itself.
Talk given at the West London Buddhist Centre, 2014. ***
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Paramananda celebrates the Buddha's long struggle leading up to his Enlightenment. This talk was given in celebration of Buddha Day at West London Buddhist Centre, 2012. ***
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This talk, dedicated to the Cedar Tree outside Adhisthana, is a tribute to the Earth. Drawing out connections of Buddhism with Nature, Maitridevi explores the question about how Buddhism flourishes and thrives in a new culture. This is the first of two talks given on the Women's Area Order Weekend - A Love Song to the Earth - held at Adhisthana, March 2022. ***
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What the World Needs Now: Triratna's Gift is a day celebrating our Dharma community's contribution to the world. A vision of truth, communicated in a culture of kalyana mitrata (beautiful friendship) for the benefit of all.
For more inspiring Dharma from the day + access to live events year round on Buddhism, meditation, mindfulness and culture, visit:
thebuddhistcentre.com/triratna-gift ***
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Drawing on 40 years of experience as an Order Member, Surata confidently and uncompromisingly expounds his understanding of 'The Deepest Revolution', referring to both the Buddhist tradition and his own personal experience. Given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2018. ***
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Maitreyi explores why we have an Order and what's involved in becoming ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order. This is a talk given on a weekend retreat for women mitras at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2014. ***
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When we Go for Refuge, we can only Go for Refuge to that which is lokuttara - 'beyond the world'. In the third talk in this series, Satyaraja speaks of the need for a total orientation of our being towards Enlightenment through setting up conditions (pratitya samutpada), and the development of the Five Spiritual Faculties.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2021. ***
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This is a talk on creativity as a way of life, especially when that life is in flux and the ground of our being is shifting. Through her own poetry and reflections on writing and art, Srivati evokes an aesthetic path into the very heart of Reality.
Talk given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, Great Gathering 2000. ***
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Founded on the active principle behind an often empty ritual of 'Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels', this Movement has become a dynamic worldwide community of Buddhist practitioners. Just how did Sangharakshita, through the Triratna Community and Order, transform the recitation of the words 'I go for Refuge...' into a path of deeper meaning and purpose?
Bodhidasa borrows symbols from Western Magickal traditions and Catholicism to explore the power, resonance and wisdom of the Three Jewels. First delivered on Triratna Day 2019 at Sydney Buddhist Centre.
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Vajratara offers a provocative, fully engaged and fully engaging take on the Dharma and the challenges that face us on the Path. We approach the great figure of Padmasambhava - the 'Second Buddha' - through his famous meeting with the King of Tibet. There's plenty to consider in this thoughtful interpretation of the central story - with lots of light relief too, as the Refuges are explored with walk-ons from Nirvana (the band!), Samuel Johnson, Scrooge and the Beckhams.
Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007 ***
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The seven line prayer to Padmasambhava is a big feature in many teachings/ practices coming from the Tibetan tradition. Dharmashalin offers a taster of what it might mean for us and how we might relate to it.
Talk given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2019. ***
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Padmolka takes us through the first section of this inspiring text from The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava. We hear about the Great Guru subduing the demons of Tibet and the circumstances around the time when this teaching is given. Padmasambhava is asked for a short, practical teaching which can be learned by heart to help Queen Nang Chung to practice the Dharma and ultimately lead her to Buddhahood.
This talk was given at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2010. ***
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In this introduction to Padmasambhava, Vidyadaka guides us through the symbolism of Padmasambhava's appearance on a lotus, in the centre of Lake Dhanakosa. We hear about the qualities of the lake, the land of Uddiyana, King Indrabhuti's plight and uncover their deeper meanings and relevance to our own life. Vidyadaka also describes Padmasambhava, his own initial discovery of him and Bhante's first glimpse of the Great Guru in Darjeeling. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, January 2022.
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Sanghadevi looks at the relationship between Buddhist confession and forgiveness and the ability to see into the nature of reality.
Talk given at the Triratna [Western] Buddhist Order Women's Convention, 1999.
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In this talk Dassini looks at the individual nature of practising ethics, the need for metta in response to guilt, how to make a confession effective, and the Four Powers of Confession.
Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2018.
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The first talk in Padmavajra’s wonderful series on the Dhammapada, the most popular of early Buddhist texts. All of the Buddha's core teachings are here - held in heart and mind there's more than enough in the Dhammapada to take us as far in our practice as we can imagine, and then on beyond...
Talk recorded at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2007, as part of the series The Dhammapada - the Buddha's Way of Truth.
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What is it to have a Big Future, how do prevailing cultural values influence us and our engagement with the Dharma? One answer is to engage as wholeheartedly as we are able to with building Sangha and sharing our lives with others. If we are less self preoccupied and more concerned about others we will find personal happiness and be a force for good in the world.
Dharmashalin speaking at BigFutureBuddhaNow, the 7th annual BIG Young Buddhists weekend, 2014.
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In this talk Satyakirti explores a set of ways through which we can work with fear in our practice, particularly through love and friendship. Using the Angulimala Sutta as an example, he explains how even the greatest fears can be overcome, and how a Buddha is entirely free from fear.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2019, as part of the Sub35s Fearless Love retreat.
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Narottama delights with a very poetic and personal talk about how friendship is vital to our happiness and spiritual development as human beings.
Talk given at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, 2010.
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When we pay attention to our own experiences of suffering and joy, this can be a starting point to connecting in love with others. Dayajoti offers a personal entry into recognizing and practicing the Brahma Viharas - love, compassion, joy, equanimity.
Talk given during the setup for Buddhafield Festival on the theme 'Fire in the Heart', 2013.
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Suryagupta explores crisis and conflict in the life of the Buddha and what we can learn when responding to conflict in our own lives.
Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre, 2017.
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Satyapara leads us in an evocation of the alchemical Buddha drawing out the mythic dimension through receptivity and imagination.
Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2018.
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Here Padmavajra explores a great classic of Tibetan Buddhism – Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation'. The work, inspired by devotion to Manjusri, is one of the key texts in the development of the Tibetan Lam Rim teachings. And Gampopa, being one of the two principle disciples of the yogi Milarepa, presents both the monastic Lam Rim approach of Atisha and the Mahamudra meditation teachings of Milarepa himself.
This is the seventh talk in an eight part series entitled Themes from Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2008.
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After exploring the relationship between the transcendental (lokuttara) and historical time, Saccanama looks at the challenges facing us at this particular point in history. Individualism and materialism present challenges both to our society and to our practice of the Dharma. Put them together and we have a form of capitalism which is so dominant that it becomes impossible to imagine any other system. Set against this, the Dharma is always challenging.
This talk is part of the series Challenging Dharma for Challenging Times given at the Nottingham Buddhist Centre, 2020.
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Here Samantabhadri expertly and imaginatively tackles the theme of Wisdom, using the verses in the third section of Tsongkhapa's short text on the "Three Principal Aspects of the Path." Dharma themes of the laksanas, suffering, niyamas, self - and no-self - are interwoven with more personal reflections, and with thought-provoking quotations - ".... emptiness, activity and compassion are not three things, but one thing looked at from three different points of view...."
This is the third of three talks based on Tsongkhapa's text given on the UK Women's Order Mitra Event at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2009.
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This talk was given on a retreat for women mitras in the MidWest Region, 2019.
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Viveka explores the fourth tetrad of the Anapanasati Sutta: “inquiry into the experience of wisdom” particularly applying the contemplations of impermanence, fading away, cessation and relinquishment to the experience of mind and awareness itself.
This talk is part of the series Anapanasati Sutta: Instructions for Awakening given at Adhisthana, 2019.
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A personal talk where Punyamala shares her reflections on impermanence, particularly in the context of family life. Weaving in poetry and real life examples, Punyamala looks at the question of how to stay open in the midst of impermanence and death, without falling into despondency. Punyamala describes how she has sought to live a meaningful life, fully open to reality.
This talk was given on an ordination training retreat at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2019.
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Prakasha takes us through the verses on transference of merit and self surrender from Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara, and communicates the feeling of the complete letting go of a Bodhisattva. Talk given at Shrewsbury Triratna Buddhist Group, 2018.
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Karunagita introduces four types of letting go - of the weight of past harmful actions, holding our conditioning lightly, of expectations and of physical holding in the body - in this talk at Dhanakosa for the 2017 New Year women mitra retreat. The retreat theme was Padmasambhava’s advice to Queen Ngang Chung.
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Padmavajra offers a deep set of reflections on these aspects of the Spiritual Path using Sangharakshita's poem 'Advent'; the contemplation of impermanence, death and our lack of any 'self-lordship'; Lahiji's vision of 'the black light'; bewilderment; and the concept of becoming reborn in the Bodhisattva.
Talk given at Padmaloka Buddhist Centre, 2013, as part of a series of three talks entitled The Stages of the Path.
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Parami urges us to embrace loss, because it is inevitable, but equally so, don’t close yourself off to love. Accepting that everything that arises will pass, and yet everything that arises is precious that will give rise to a love that spreads throughout the cosmos.
Talk given at the Newcastle Buddhist Centre, 2021.
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Nagasiddhi takes us into the mind and heart of the new Buddha after his awakening – as he explores this new territory within, and with others he encounters setting out on the next stage of his journey into liberation.
Talk given as part of the series ‘In the Footsteps of the Buddha’ during the April 2021 home retreat from Rivendell Retreat Centre hosted by The Buddhist Centre Online.
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Dayajoti explores the hindrance of self-doubt, including seeing it as an expression of fundamental delusion, addressed by the clear seeing of reality.
This talk is part of the series Body of Bliss: Ways into Samādhi, hosted online by Buddhafield, 2021.
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There is no insight without compassion, and no compassion without insight. Ratnaghosha elucidates the path of transformation as one of expanding more and more into embodying love in all its forms.
This talk was given at the Mid Essex Buddhist Centre, 2021.
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Samantabhadri speaks on ritual and its place and potential within the Triratna Community. She explores ritual as personal experience and in relation to going beyond a fixed self, to the collective, to the imagination, to compassion and to our longing for the transcendental.
Samantabhadri, visiting from Taraloka Retreat Centre, gave this keynote talk at Nottingham Buddhist Centre, 2016.
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The Four Noble Truths contain the whole of the Buddha's teaching. They set out a clear and direct vision of the true nature of Reality. In this talk, Jnanadhara unfolds the meaning behind these seemingly simple four pithy teachings. With poetry and personal anecdotes, he draws us into the immense depth and mystery behind these teachings and shows us a glimpse of what the Buddha was communicating 2,500 years ago.
Given in the Dublin Buddhist Centre, January 2020.
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Do we reflect on the Bodhicitta? Is it optional, a mystical goal we can take or leave? How does it become a motivating force in our lives?
Sangharakshita has described the Bodhicitta as a myth or symbol that galvanises our energies, something that makes sense of our lives, something emotionally moving that stirs us on a deep level. How are we to connect with that myth? Vajratara takes us on a journey of a deepening engagement with the Bodhicitta, evoking the Bodhicitta through 3 myths.
Talk given on an ordination retreat at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, July 2021.
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Karunavajra gives a talk at the about Vajrasattva, and how he can help and inspire us in these times of transition. Vajrasattva is a beautiful Buddha figure embodying essential Dharma truths. He symbolises the teaching that we are in possession of enormous riches and we don’t realise it.
Given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre for Dharma Day, July 2021.
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Here Jnanavaca discusses how Tantric Buddhism is concerned with the direct experience of who we are and what we can become. Its aim is to help us realize our potential by transforming the energy locked in by old habits, fears, and views.
Talk given at London Buddhist Centre, 2020.
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A very intriguing trip by Satyanandi through the myriad worlds of consideration that arise when view, experience and reality meet. Her starting point is science and its various models for how the universe works - from mechanism to quantum physics. But soon we are in wider territory, looking at radical interconnectedness and the nature of mind as it meets the world.
Talk given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2005.
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What does Buddhism have to say about death and dying? How can this be applied to life? Prasannavira shares how he has been influenced by the Root Verses of the Six Bardos from the Bardo Thodol, the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Talk given at Windhorse:Evolution, once a large Buddhist team-based 'right livelihood' business based in the UK, 2013.
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The Buddha was a problem solver looking at suffering and the release from suffering. Here, Vijayasri introduces us to metta, the basic teaching of the Buddha, by exploring the first chapter of Living with Kindness by Sangharakshita. She considers the Karaniya Metta Sutta, looks at the work of Buddhaghosa, and investigates the ideas of metta as a strongly positive emotion, a rational emotion and as wisdom. The session finishes with some questions for reflection.
This talk was given at Croydon Buddhist Centre, 2017.
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Kamalashila explores the centrality of mindfulness to the Buddhist path. He discusses the concept of intoxication, with reference to the 5th Precept and the Sutra of Golden Light. Kamalashila then considers the four foundations of mindfulness from the Satipatthana Sutta and concludes that mindfulness is the basis of metta and allows us to embrace the realm of truth and beauty.
This talk was given at Croydon Buddhist Centre, 1996. This talk was made available by the Croydon Digital Archive Project, turning crumbling cassette tape recordings into digital format.
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Sahajatara gives an honest and enthusiastic exploration of the speech precepts. This talk is down-to-earth and with humour!
This talk was given on a retreat for Mitras at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2018 and is part of the series entitled Ethics: Resonating with Reality.
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Vimalasara gives a thorough talk on the third precept, exploring some of the issues we all need to reflect on if we are to live life more fully with simplicity, contentment and stillness. Relevant to modern day living, this talk also signposts some of the issues that women and queer people have to contend with when reflecting on this precept.
Talk given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2013.
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Buddhist generosity is ideally ongoing all the time, a simple application of our ethical principles - a flow of time, energy, money, and so on, in the direction of your heart-felt values. Giving is one of the key practices of a Buddhist, and one of the delights of the Spiritual Community. Ratnaghosha evokes how this is an area of activity that is crucial to an effective practice of the Dharma and the living of the Bodhisattva life.
This talk was given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2018.
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With his usual warmth, clarity and good humour, Prajnaketu explores the mental events of hatred and love with great detail and personal reflections.
“Not by hatred are hatreds ever pacified in the world, by love are they pacified, this is the eternal law.”
~ Dhammapada
In the presence of suffering or pain, our sense of self is often diminished as we come to realize our efforts to control our experience to avoid pain don’t work. On the contrary, wishing ourselves and others well in the ups and downs of life, one is practicing the softening of the barriers between self and other and filling that space with love.
This is one of several talks given during a retreat entitled Mind in Harmony at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2016.
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What are the particular challenges we face in the 21st Century? There are many, and Vajradevi focuses on the mind precepts and our use of technology. This talk is linked with Akuppa's talks on '21st Century Bodhisattva' and drawing on the book '21 Lessons for the 21st Century' by the historian Yuval Noah Harari. This talk was given as part of a series at Shrewbury Triratna Centre, 2019.
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Bodhisattvas work tirelessly and heroically to create a Buddhafield for the benefit of all beings. Padmavajra explores the opening verses of the Dhammapada and their far reaching implications including how we create not only our own happiness or suffering through our actions, but also how we create worlds, worlds of suffering or worlds conducive to human growth and even freedom. Talk given during the February Great Gathering weekend at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2020.
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Parami introduces our four-fold lineage and shows how the lineage of inspiration underpins them all. Now that Bhante has died our responsibility to keep this flame burning is more important than ever.
This talk is part of the series Talks from Women's Private Preceptors' Retreat given at Adhisthana, 2019.
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In the first weeks after his Enlightenment, the Buddha stayed alone near the Bodhi tree, assimilating his profound discovery and enjoying its bliss. But from the first moment he encountered another human being, the force of his compassion led him to revolt against the social hierarchies of his day. In this impassioned talk at the London Buddhist Centre's 2021 Buddha Day celebrations, Subhuti explores the nature of social conditioning. In doing so, he calls for greater efforts to understand differing experiences and an attempt to relate on the basis of the Buddha's radical vision for humankind.
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Vajragupta considers how the sangha reaches out into the world, looking at three areas: loving-kindness and common humanity, community and service, and wisdom in an age of information overload.
A talk given on an online weekend retreat with Croydon Buddhist Centre, 2020.
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Vidyatara shares her reflections on practice during a time of Lockdown as part of the Birmingham Buddhist Centre's year on the 8-fold path (2021). She particularly evokes and draws on the classic teaching of Bahiya and asks how to apply it to these conditions.
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Arthapriya explores the characteristics of a person who is a good communicator - having empathy for others, deeply listening, and drawing each other out into deeper presence with one another.
This is a talk given as part of the Year of Spiritual Community talks at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2014.
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In this moving and rousing talk, Dhammachari Amoghasiddhi illustrates how the Dhamma can radically transform people's lives, liberating them from a hellish existence, particularly in India. Using the examples of his own life, as well as the lives of Bhante Sangharakshita, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and others, he explains that if we want to live a meaningful life, we must open up to the suffering of others and do everything we can to help alleviate their suffering. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre on the Bodhisattva Ideal Retreat in July 2019.
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Is there an inner attitude we can adopt that will naturally lead to the creation of Sangha? Satyadhara poses this question - and addresses it - in his talk on the second Mainland Europe Young Buddhist Convention. He shares his personal experience of being in a small Sangha near Frankfurt in Germany, and draws upon Asangha’s Yogacharabhumi to explore the conditions necessary for building Sangha. Talk given on the second Mainland Europe Young Buddhist Convention in Valencia, Spain, in July 2018.
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Bhadra offers this insightful and thorough exploration of the Five Buddha Mandala through the lens of the gap between feeling and craving. Here we are able to transform the mental poisons (illustrated by the six realms) into the Wisdom of the each of the Five Buddhas.
Talk given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2017, the last in a series on the Wheel of Life.
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Vajrasattva is associated with purity and with the time of death. Aryajaya helps us to engage more deeply with the meaning and symbolism of Vajrasattva.
Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2017.
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Once again at the Centre of the Mandala, we meet Vairocana. How do we balance the teachings of effort and openness? One way is through the image of the Sun and relaxed being, the practice of the Dharma is simply to come back. Yet, of course, this requires effort.
Another question is the balance between practical and mythical approaches: Can we hold both at once? What do we give significance to? What do we make real ? Can we open to a world of richer and deeper meaning?
Vessantara gave this talk as part of the series The Mandala of the Five Buddhas at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2012 Winter Retreat.
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Vaddhaka can usually be relied on to give a pretty great talk - and this is no exception. Here we have a real treat - a terrific, energetic exploration of the green Buddha of the north: Amoghasiddhi (Dundubishvara), the Unobstructed One. This is kind of a multi-media affair - listen for the 13th Century Spanish processional music in honour of the Virgin, and a blast of Sibelius too! Marvellous.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter Retreat, 2001.
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Saddhaloka introduces us to Amitabha, the red Buddha of the West who represents and inspires the highest love of all...
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter Retreat, 1997.
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Kusalasara evokes the jeweled born Buddha of the South, Ratnasambhava – golden yellow in color bringing messages of generosity, abundance and beauty.
This talk is part of the series The Symbolic World of the Five Buddha Mandala given at the London Buddhist Centre's 2019 Winter Retreat.
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Settle back and touch base with this very enjoyable and, at times, inspiring talk by Saddharaja on the great blue Buddha of the eastern quarter of the mandala - the Unshakeable One, the Imperturbable Akshobya. This is particularly good because it departs from standard fare on the figure. We get a great reading from Wordsworth, a stimulating discussion of ethics and their relationship to issues of doubt and self-confidence, as well as a meeting with a wooly mammoth… Listen out too for a terrific story about standing inside a mountain which communicates something essential about the depth of presence and mystery Akshobya is all about.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter Retreat 2001.
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Imagine being with the Buddha, imagine the emotional effect of being that close to the Buddha. Bodhinaga draws out stories from the life of the Buddha that point to the importance of imagination as we engage with our aspiration for Enlightenment.
This talk is part of the series entitled Faces of Enlightenment given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019.
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What memories stay with you year after year? Which breath do you wish you could take again? Whose smile is the most beautiful? What is this love that you talk about?
Saraha returns to Birmingham to speak at Sangha Night, having taught the Dharma there previously for over a decade before moving to Ecodharma in Spain a few years ago. In this talk he speaks with his usual passion and inspiration, illuminating many questions for further reflection on what is of value in our lives. Talk given in 2019.
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How might we respond, as Buddhists, to the emerging environmental crises facing the planet? Starting from where his earlier talk, "Saying Goodbye to the Earth," leaves off, Gunopeta explores the implications of what happens when we open our hearts to our deep emotional response to these crises. With the aid of guided meditation, poetry, ritual, and our felt connection to nature and the holiness of place, we can learn to "touch the Earth with love." From this, we enter into a relationship with the Earth out of which gratitude, a sense of responsibility, sympathetic joy, equanimity, and energy emerge in a positively reinforcing spiral, which in turn moves us to join with others in altruistic action on behalf of the Earth and all its beings. This talk was originally given as part of the on-line Touching the Earth retreat, sponsored by Aryaloka Buddhist Center and the Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Buddhist Center, November 2020.
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The Karaniya Metta sutta is the focus for Parami's exploration of working with anger, working with polarisation in our relationships and in the world. She uses the lesson of the extremes in this current moment in history as a launching pad for insight into the nature of love.
She gave this talk to the gathered Triratna Buddhist Community in Scotland at their New Year gathering online. It has the flavour of a call to practice and to give closer attention to how we relate with those we love and those we find challenging.
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In this talk, Satyakirti explores a set of ways through which we can work with fear in our practice, particularly through love and friendship. Using the Angulimala Sutta as an example, he explains how even the greatest fears can be overcome, and how a Buddha is entirely free from fear.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in December 2019 as part of the Sub35s 'Fearless Love' retreat.
This talk is part of the series Fearless Love.
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Amritamati talks about how we can practice simplicity in our lives: whatever our lifestyle is or whatever we want our lifestyle to be, from parenting to becoming a celibate 'Anagarika'. This talk was given on a weekend retreat at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre for women who are training for Ordination, 2014.
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Karunagita, author of A Path for Parents (Windhorse publications 2005), gave this talk at the first weekend retreat for mothers held at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2014. Here, she introduces the gifts of parenting, including the development of patience, maturity, opening to love and the development of wisdom through direct experience of the three laksanas, as well as the inherent challenges such as lack of time and how they can be approached.
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If a talk could ever be described as beautifully bracing, this is it! Amaragita brings a sharp-edged mind and a long-term perspective to the whole question of what practice is. As you might expect, she also brings humour, warmth and kindness too, qualities that more than balance out the penetrating clarity and sometimes challenging questioning underpinning this exploration of the possibility of practice - for all and especially for those raising families at any stage of life. Amaragita offers three principles for considering the possibilities of deepening into the Dharma in any situation, and they are are worth remembering - or as she says, remembering to remember! Great, gently radical words that are bold enough to imagine and even assume the possibility of a more compassionate future for all beings. Talk given as part of the 2015 Mothers Retreat at Taraloka Retreat Centre.
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The Imaginal Faculty....what is it and why does it matter in our spiritual lives? Taravandana offers a personal perspective on her journey and experience of it in her practice. She offers guidance and pointers on how to open up further to the Imaginal Faculty in our own practice. A talk given as part of a day for women training for ordination, Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2017.
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Here, Ratnaprabha discusses the value of using images and the imagination to become more emotionally involved in practice. Is an image of a Buddha or Bodhisattva used in meditation real or not?
Talk given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2015.
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A self-proclaimed 'doctrine follower', Nagasuri challenges herself to speak on the basis of her faith in the Buddha,and does so with moving eloquence. Personal, full of devotion, she shares over 30 years of being in contact with the Buddha and explains how the grace of the Buddha's blessings has opened her heart time and time again.
Talk given at the Women's International Order Convention 2011.
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In this talk Padmavajra contemplates Beauty in different areas of Dharma life, including the beauty of people, of ethics, of friendship, community and 'institutions', and of wisdom. He also looks at the relationship between metta, formless beauty and the yidam, as well as knowing what beauty really is and 'the pregnant man'. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the Spring Short Order retreat in March 2019.
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Starting with a story from the Rastrapalapariprccha-Sutra, Vajratara draws out the significance of Sangharakshita's paper on the Fourth Laksana. This is the path of beauty, from contemplation of ugliness to the gateway of liberation called 'the beautiful'. To be on the path of beauty, we don't merely enjoy beauty, we have to surrender ourselves to that beauty.
Talk given at Tiratnaloka Retreat Centre, 2019.
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How will you conceive of yourself as becoming like the Buddha? Saccanama explores the three myths of spiritual life, that of self-development, that of self-surrender, and that of self-discovery. Recorded at the Swedish Summer Retreat at Dharmagiri, July 2019.
This talk is part of the series ‘To Place the Heart Upon’ - Exploring Faith in Buddhism.
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Subhuti considers the significance of Sangha day falling on the cusp of winter, and the importance of the seasons in human life. He recalls the genesis of Sangha day from the time of the Buddha, and considers it's relevance for us here in the 21st century.
Ultimately Subhuti focus on the Sangha jewels itself; its vital importance for the individual practitioner and as a real sign of hope for this world.
Talk given for the Sangha Day Celebration at London Buddhist Centre, 2012.
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The social and political landscape is changing. Societies are, on the one hand, fragmenting whilst, on the other, unifying within a growing culture of consumerism and individualism. How can we create a community that is unified and diverse, exemplifying real values and being a force for good in the world? Suryagupta, current chair of the London Buddhist Centre, inspires us all to shine the light of the Dharma in the world.
This keynote talk was given to launch the year of study and practice at the London Buddhist Centre, 2019.
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Kuladharini explores what it's like to be an example of the fourth sight in the world, to be a visible embodiment of dharma practice. Using the metaphors of the begging bowl, robes and shaved head she shares three ways in which she has gone forth as a visible example of a dharma farer.
Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2009.
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'Serenity, freedom from disease, joy and long life, the happiness of an emperor, prosperity; these the patient person receives while continuing in cyclic existence.' Padmavajra's sixth talk on the Bodhicaryavatara explores Shantideva's thorough exploration of the perfection of patience. In this chapter, Shantideva brings our attention to the seriousness of the faults of hatred and anger. He shows how such states of mind arise and gives a number of ways in which patience can be cultivated in relation to the various sufferings inherent in life, especially towards those who cause us - or our nearest and dearest - harm. It is clear that the practice of patience requires tremendous faith, strength and vision if it is to be perfected.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2020.
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Padmasambhava is a potent symbol of transformation. Maitreyi shows us how evoke the help, energy and vision we need to change our lives.
Talk given part of the London Buddhist Centre's Padmasambhava Day Festival, 2019.
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After exploring the historical and mythical aspects of Padmasambhava, Prakasha offers insights into how the Tantric Guru of Tibet, Padmasambhava, is relevant to us, here, today, now.
This is the third in a series of talks give on Padmasambhava Day, 2019, for the Shrewsbury Triratna Buddhist Group.
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Buddhist ethics are not about conforming to a set of conventions, not about ‘being good’ in order to gain rewards. Instead, living ethically springs from the awareness that other people are no different from yourself. You can actively develop this awareness, through cultivating love, clarity and contentment, which can ultimately help us to come into greater harmony with all that lives. Arthapriya, a Public Preceptor who lives in Cambridge, takes a personal and Dharmic look at what it means to go beyond guilt. Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, January 2020.
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Subhadramati explores the nature of impermanence as part of the London Buddhist Centre's week-long exploration of Mind Reactive / Mind Creative for the 2018 Urban Retreat.
This talk is part of the series Mind Reactive / Mind Creative.
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In this talk, Padmavajra explores the Altruistic dimension of Going for Refuge - The Bodhisattva Ideal - through Bhante's poem 'The Guardian Wall'. He particularly explores the line in the poem: 'The loveliest Bodhisattvas are the anonymous' and what this means for somebody aspiring to practice the great ideal of the Bodhisattva. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the 'Bodhisattva Ideal' retreat in January 2020.
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Saddharaja explores self-sacrifice as a component of the Bodhisattva Ideal introduces Chapter 18 The Chapter on the Tigress. He goes on to explore compassion and altruism, and how we can develop these by letting go of attachment and hatred, and thereby gaining true freedom. The third of four talks given during the Open Retreat at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in October 2019.
This talk is part of the series The Sutra of Golden Light.
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Maitrivasin talks about awakening deep powerful energies that move us along the path to freedom. By engaging warrior energy to tackle the doubt or distractions of habitual ways we bring all of our volition on the side of positive growth and progress towards Enlightenment.
This talk is part of the series The Path of Awakening based on the Bodhicaryavatara given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre June, 2019.
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Candrika explores how we might work with the mythic dimension in our current situation of pandemic. There is so much going on in our local and global community. Candrika takes us through the wisdom and symbolism of the Five Buddha Mandala to help us make sense of the world, helping us to work with difficult feelings of fear, disruption, despair.
Talk given as part of the Glasgow Buddhist Centre, Scotland, April 2020.
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Here Akuppa explores the story of who you are and how you come to create the story of you. We need a different story. Living from a truer story of our luminosity and what happens when we come together on the basis of our luminous mind/heart.
This is Part 1 of two talks given by Akuppa to the Triratna Buddhist Community in Scotland online gathering in June 2020.
Listen to Part 2 of this series Transforming Self and World Part 2: Buddhist Politics
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Subhadassi talks about dharma practice in challenging times, drawing on poetry & literature (Pablo Neruda & Franz Kafka) and the Perfection of Wisdom Tradition (especially the Heart Sutra). We also bump into the householder Vimalakirti, Subhadassi's wife & children, the Diamond Sutra, Compassion, the Three Lakshanas & Hakuin along the way. Talk given for Brighton Buddhist Centre Dharma Day, July 2020.
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This is the seventh talk in an eight part series by Padmavajra exploring a great classic of Tibetan Buddhism – Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation'.
The work, inspired by devotion to Manjusri, is one of the key texts in the development of the Tibetan Lam Rim teachings. And Gampopa, being one of the two principle disciples of the yogi Milarepa, presents both the monastic Lam Rim approach of Atisha and the Mahamudra meditation teachings of Milarepa himself.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter 2008
This talk is part of the series Themes from Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation.
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Using verses from both the Dhammapada and the Bodhicaryavatara, Vairocana maps out the Buddhist practice of patience, from restraint to positive emotion.
This is the fourth talk in a series on the Six Paramitas at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre in the summer of 2012.
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Virya is the energetic counterpart to the patience of Ksanti; it is energy in pursuit of the good. Bodhinaga tells us how we can develop this noble vigour, which brings strength and courage like that of a virtuous knight. He guides us through counteracting the four 'enemies of virya' before introducing the Four Powers: ethical sources of energy to power the Dharma life. Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019.
This talk is part of the series The Path of Awakening.
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Viriya expresses itself in action, with attentiveness, care and enthusiasm. Saddhanandi shares from her personal training and experience as an artist to elucidate the meaning of Virya, drawing out the aspect of training the mind to develop positive mental states.
Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, GBC Rainy Season, March 2020.
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What is peace? And what does peace mean for Buddhists? Is it just the absence of war and conflict; guns and screaming? Or is it also the deep silence that arises when the mind and heart are in harmony - a positive state of mind that can be cultivated both personally and collectively, where good and evil don't exist as concepts? Parami explores these questions and more with great compassion and wisdom. Given by at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2011 in the series Buddhism and the Big Questions.
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How do we relate to the Buddha? Sangharakshita has emphasised the importance of connecting with him as a historical figure. Through personal example and stories Dharmashalin asks the question, do we even see the Buddha as a kind old man? Maybe that would be a good start…
Talk given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre (UK), 2014.
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How do we construct our world? Collective experiences impact on our personal views and experiences. Mahayana texts offer us the opportunity to interrupt our usual way of perceiving and thinking about the world. Suryagupta explores the extraordinary character, Vimalakirti, and his teaching of The Great Love – the love that is great compassion, the love that is never exhausted, the love that is giving, the love that is morality, the love that is tolerance, the love that is happiness.
From Dharma Night at the London Buddhist Centre, UK. Monday 19th June 2017.
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“The creative mind loves when there is no reason to love.” Sangharakshita
Viryajyoti gives the second talk in a series on Compassion for a Modern Word on a theme close to her heart. The Bodhisattva aim is to free all beings from suffering – what about here and now in the 21st century? What is radical kindness? What would it be like to be radically kind?
The Buddha represents the spiritual ideal of Buddhism and through his life and teaching he exemplified a path of increasing selflessness, loving-kindness and a deep desire to help people achieve liberation. So how do we follow the example of the Buddha in our own time? In this age of modernity, what would the total, radical response of a Buddha to the world look like? And is it still possible to be liberated from the world while choosing to work for its good?
Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2020.
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Vessantara shares reflections that emerged during his three year retreat, namely a poignant opportunity to let go of self reference and enjoy the simple awareness of the present moment.
This talk was given at the Triratna Buddhist Order European Order Gathering at Wymondham College August 25, 2012.
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Visuddhimati explores how we really need to know ourselves deeply and experientially to allow us to let go into the deep mystery at the heart of the mandala. She shares her reflections on initiation, spiritual death and rebirth, inspired by a Rilke poem. Using the structure of the Rilke poem she explores how engaging with images and allowing them to unfold their meaning within us, allows us to let go into wisdom. The mandala symbolism is explained with an emphasis on the significance of the circles of protection, including the circle of the 8 great cremation grounds which we may pass through on our journey into the heart of the mandala. Visuddhimati gives a personal account of the process of turning towards experience, making the darkness conscious in meditation, just sitting in the cremation grounds, and how this opens up the entrance to the bright clear light at the heart of the mandala. A talk given on the Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, March 2020.
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Drawing on his book on the Buddha, Vishvapani explores the connection between awareness of our immediate experience and seeing the true nature of existence.
Talk given at Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2018.
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Karunagita explores emptiness through Padmasambhava’s advice to Queen Ngang Chung: During the time of insight which is surrounded by a calm, gentle aura, openness and appearance are inseparable. The six senses come forth, though appearance and voidness are inseparable; this is the real foundation, without which no means exists.
Talk given at Dhanakosa Retreat Center, 2017.
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Nagabodhi offers his reflections on the Buddha’s enlightenment. What is it are we actually trying to achieve? How intensely are we cultivating and experiencing metta, friendship, kindness, compassion, patience and love?
This talk is part of the series The Bridge, the Path and the Goal given at Adhisthana, 2019.
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In this talk, Moksatara explores what karma really means and how we can work with this law of the universe to leave behind the 'snakes and ladders' game of repetitive ups and downs, moving instead on a liberating path of growth. By understanding the importance of conditionality and ethics, we can take charge of our lives and move in the direction we want to go.
Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, January 2020.
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Concise and essential, Satyaraja draws out practical and profound aspects of the four Brahmaviharas, considering them as both meditation practices and as realms that we can occupy. This is the second talk in a series of four talks on the topic of karuna, compassion.
From the series Brahmaviharas and the Awakening of the Bodhi Mind given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre Winter Retreat, 2016.
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A stirring and penetrating talk by Dhammadinna around the image that a Bodhisattva's compassion runs as deep as their very bones. Nagarjuna, Milarepa and others add their voices as Dhammadinna makes an emotionally resonant but clear-eyed attempt to lay out the ground of a practice that is moving towards the development of Bodhichitta. Why bother? she asks us, and shows how open-heartedness can respond realistically and well to suffering in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Talk given at the Triratna (Western) Buddhist Order Convention, 2009.
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Ratnaguna gives us ten pieces of advice from the Buddha that speak to the isolation we're experiencing whilst the world is in lockdown.
The talk was given via Zoom, following the temporary closure of Manchester Buddhist Centre due to the Coronavirus pandemic, April 3, 2020.
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Vilasamani gives an introduction to the twelve links on the wheel of life, specifying how the spiral path emerges from the gap between feeling and craving. Talk given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2016.
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Here we have Maitreyi talking about communicating through symbols, this time round through the hub of the wheel of life. Talk given at Mid Essex Buddhist Centre, February 2020.
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Vadanya launches a series of talks on three great Buddhist symbols that describe the way things are: the wheel of life, the spiral path, and the ultimate goal of Enlightenment. Together they form a guide to escape from the ultimate vicious circle into the complete freedom and fulfilment of Awakening.
Here, Vadanya explores on the wheel by describing the symbolism of each of the four concentric rings which make up this rich representation of samsara, the never-ending repetition of habitual patterns in which it feels our life is lived for us. The scenes described within the wheel help us to recognise the states of mind we inhabit and offer guidance towards healthier realms from which we can make real progress. Ultimately the aim is not to conquer the world but to go beyond it altogether, escaping the wheel and enter upon the spiral path, the threefold path of ethics, meditation and wisdom. Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2020.
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Instead of the traditional description of the Fourth Noble Truth - the Eightfold Path - Saccanama explores Sangha as a means to counter the individualism of our times. What exactly is the true meaning of Sangha? And how can the mysterious ‘third order of consciousness’ or Bodhicitta help us to transcend our preoccupation with ourselves? He looks at three stories from Buddhist tradition that explore the true meaning of Sangha - the Anuruddhas, the Pure Land and the passage from the Vimalakirti Nirdesa about the 500 Licchavi youths. Concluding the series as a whole, he shares some personal experiences of Sangha.
This talk is part of the series Challenging Dharma for Challenging Times given at Nottingham Buddhist Centre, 2020.
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Kalyana Mitrata is spiritual friendship, even 'the lovely intimacy', the need for close and supportive connections with others in treading the path. Ratnaprabha explores why the Buddha said spiritual friendship is 'the whole of the Buddhist Life'. Is it as important now as it was in the Buddha's time? Is a Kalyana Mitra the same thing as a guru or teacher? How can we make the intimate connections in our lives really stimulating and nourishing? How do we learn to communicate kindly and openly?
Talk given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2013.
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Vajratara introduces the theme of spiritual friendship or kalyana mitrata. What is spiritual friendship? How is it distinguished from ordinary friendship? How can we make friends? What is the difference between vertical and horizontal friendship? Using stories, personal anecdotes and images she introduces the overall theme to prepare for more talks in this series, which focusses on the tantric rites and friendship.
This talk is part of the series Spiritual Friendship and the Tantric Rites, given at a Tiratanaloka/ Buddhafield retreat for women who have asked for ordination within the Triratna Buddhist Order, 2019.
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Ratnaghosha reflects on how friendships and connections are woven into the tapestry of his life, how other people give our lives a sense of richness and abundance. In the sangha, people are passing on the Dharma through their relationships – living, breathing Dharma is passed on through spiritual friendship. The Buddha was the original spiritual friend, exemplifying for us that Enlightenment demands communication.
From a series of talks given during the Year of Kalyana Mitrata at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2013.
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Satyajyoti introduces the tantra: Buddhism to set life aflame through deep personal transformation of our direct experience. Out with abstractions and theory, it's time to act 'as if your turban was on fire!' In the words of Sangharakshita, 'making Buddhism respectable is the last thing we should do'. In her introductory talk, Satyajyoti outlines five key principles of Tantric Buddhism and explains the tantric equivalents of the three Buddhist refuges, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019.
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When we approach the Dharma and looking at Buddhism try to imagine the people from who it comes, the communities from which it arises. In the origins of Indian Tibetan Buddhism there isn’t a lot of material available, and there are lots of secrets!
Padmavajra rounds out a series of talks at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre (UK, 2017) on the Tantric Path with this thought-provoking investigation into the spiritual intimacies of Buddhist sangha.
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Moksatara introduces the dakini, the tantric embodiment of what's possible when all of our energy is completely engaged, alive and flowing. These beings of limitless space have complete freedom of mind, fierce energy and a full emotional engagement with life. In order to meet the dakinis we must travel to where they dwell: the cremation grounds, where bodies are taken to be burnt. The deepest, darkest energies to be transformed are associated with fear. By deliberately plunging into crucial situations which mirror these burning grounds, old ways are forced to change and we are compelled to grow. Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, November 2019.
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HHere Saddharaja describes the rainy season in India and its role in the origin of confession practice in Buddhism. He goes on to describe the different kinds of confession practice, their benefits and how they totally differ from confession in other religions. He also introduces the The Sutra of Golden Light's nexus, Chapter 3, The Chapter on Confession with it's great import and beauty. The second of four talks given during the Open Retreat at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in October 2019.
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The Buddha's Parinirvana marks the final passing of the Buddha two and a half millennia ago. It is an opportunity not just to contemplate on impermanence, but also to rejoice in the example of the Buddha’s life and in the precious opportunity our own lives present us with.
Dhammadinna delivers in this talk given at Parinirvana Festival at London Buddhist Centre, 2019.
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Vishvapani beautifully explores Sangharakshita's poem 'Padmaloka' in which he looks forward to his own death.
It's a poem about death, rebirth and nature, and Vishvapani connects it to other poetry which it echoes.
This talk was given a week after Sangharakshita's death in November 2018 at Cardiff Buddhist Centre.
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Punyamala explores the Buddhist teachings of impermanence and shares reflections on how to live with the fact of death, using her recent experience of death. This is the Second in a series of four talks given on the four reminders given at Taraloka Retreat Centre called Reflection: A Path of Wisdom.
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Saccanama offers this thought-provoking talk exploring insight into anatta. What happens when one loses control and renounces the self?
Recorded at the Swedish Summer Retreat at Dharmagiri Retreat Centre, July 2019.
This talk is part of the series ‘To Place the Heart Upon’ - Exploring Faith in Buddhism.
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When things go wrong in our life we can see them as an obstacle to an ideal spiritual life feel we should be leading. But there's another way of looking at difficulties, and instead of trying to get rid of difficulties, we could be welcoming them as opportunities.
Vajratara draws on the Tibetan Mind Training tradition, as well as the Pali Suttas to examine how we can make adversity our teacher and the ground in which wisdom and compassion can grow.
Given at Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2018.
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A series of personal exchanges with Subhuti about the central issues of life. Subhuti is among the most prominent and experienced of Western Buddhists. He has spent the past forty-odd years practising the Buddha’s teachings and travelling the world helping make it possible for others to do the same.
Hosted by Subhadramati during his Presidential visit to the London Buddhist Centre, which he was instrumental in founding in 1978.
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Jnanavaca explores the myths and parables of the glorious White Lotus Sutra. This week he unpacks the wisdom of the parable of the Burning House. Includes some questions from the audience. Dharma Night at the London Buddhist Centre, April 6th 2015.
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After considering the history and the meaning of the title, Sangharakshita provides a summary of The White Lotus Sutra's dramatic structure, with brief explanations of the significance of certain details.
Talk given in 1971.
This talk is part of the series Parables, Myths and Symbols of Mahayana Buddhism in the White Lotus Sutra.
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Parami evokes the reality of interconnectedness in relation to the second Dasadhamma - My life is dependent on others. I am sustained by the gifts of others - She talks about how the experience of interconnectedness is supported by wisdom, and results in compassionate activity.
This talk is part of the series The Order as Practice: Shifting Paradigms given at Adhisthana, 2015.
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Ratnaguna shares with us his great love for the Vimalakirti Nirdesa, a Buddhist Mahayana text he's gone back to again and again and again since 1979. He explores how a Bodhisattva should regard living beings, or how they should develop the Great Love for them, according to the mysterious character Vimalakirti.
Talk given at Stockholm Buddhist Center, 27 May 2013.
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Drawing on Bhante's paper on the Ten Pillars from 1984, the Dhammapada and the Mind Turning teachings, Dhammadinna talks about the paradigm shift we make in our ethical practice from power mode to love mode, and the renunciation of power and blame through which we enter into experience of forgiveness and ksanti.
This talk is part of the series The Order as Practice: Shifting Paradigms.
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Here we have Dharmashalin exploring the question: Who is Milarepa and more importantly how is he relevant to us? He's an incredibly rich character, but what stands out first and foremost is the profound example of transformation, redemption even, that he found in the course of his life. This brings hope to all of us, he changed so we can change…
Talk given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2019.
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Saddhanandi is the Chair of Adhisthana and a preceptor. She was for many years the Chair of Taraloka retreat centre. She was a close friend of Bhante Sangharakshita and is noted for her warmth, friendliness and skills as a Dharma teacher. It is a real treat to have her at Sangha Night to share her thoughts on the Buddha Shakyamuni.
This talk is part of the series Buddhas and Bodhisattvas given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2019.
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Sanghamani with a great second talk from the 2019 Triratna International Gathering. Her theme on this Alchemy of the Dharma weekend is how we can transform ourselves in order to transform our communities. And she leads with fearlessness in discussing her own work and practice in this regard. As a fundraiser at the cutting edge of the practice of connection – trying to forge a sense of mutually vital relationship with strangers (who are not necessarily pleased to find you at their door!) – Sanghamani calls on her rich experience of helping people move beyond their own fear. She also shares some moving accounts of her own transformation from an isolated, angry, pained young adulthood into someone who has dedicated her life to a path of love and its exemplification. In this she stands before us as a “luminous pearl” of that commitment to live in harmony with others. Recorded at Adhisthana, August 2019.
This talk is part of the series Alchemy of the Dharma (Triratna International Gathering 2019).
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A wonderful first talk of the 2019 International Gathering, whose theme is 'Alchemy of the Dharma'. The utterly delightful Ratnaguna takes us through the true miracle of transforming ourselves via magic of a practice in which we also learn to let ourselves change. This is a beautiful, reflective, funny take on the challenges of the Dharma life. Ratnaguna's breadth of reference is itself a joy: taking in Greek philosophy, Hans Christian Andersen, and writings on the nearness of death to life in any moment. All pointing to, opening into, an experience of freedom and deep beauty. Listen out for his rendition of the Ugly Ducking song! Recorded at Adhisthana, August 2019.
This talk is part of the series Alchemy of the Dharma (Triratna International Gathering 2019).
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What is the Bodhicitta and how do we become receptive to it? Vajratara talks about the paradox behind the Bodhicitta: how it is an experience beyond any personal attainment, yet it arises in us. How can we hold both perspectives?
Using the framework of the '3 myths' of the Dharma life, Vajratara evokes the qualities and attitudes we develop to prepare ourselves for the Bodhicitta. A journey around the Suttas and Sutras, stories and poetry, evoking the development of the Bodhicitta.
Talk given at Tiratnaloka Retreat Centre (2018) for women who have asked for ordination and assumes some previous study on the Bodhicitta and Bodhisattva Path.
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In this talk, Sarvananda looks at how our engagement with the arts can help us move from literal mindedness to an imaginative engagement with Buddhist myth and symbol. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the 2019 East Anglian Men's Retreat.
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The Buddha said the world is on fire, fueled by our greed hatred and delusion. Jnanavaca explores how we can raise ourselves to meet the challenges faced by humankind on both an individual and global basis. Can Metta be cultivated so that in can burn brightly with the brilliant flames of peace?
Talk given at London Buddhist Centre, 2019. ***
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To succeed at anything, we need to think; to go about it in a way that's actually going to work. Vadanya examines different metaphors that help us to bring our reasoning and wisdom into action to make spiritual progress. He highlights the importance of creating the right conditions to grow and flourish, particularly the importance of spiritual friendship.
Part 5 in the 'Path to Awakening' Sangha night series at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019.
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The first of four talks given by Ratnaguna during the annual Padmaloka Open Retreat. The theme of the retreat was 'For Heroic Spirits Intended...' and was based around the Ratnaguna Samcayagatha-a profound Mahayana Sutra. A new translation by Sraddhapa of the text was used for the first time during the retreat. You can find this text at Sraddhapa's website where donations can be made to support this important translation work. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in 2018 as part of the series For Heroic Spirits Intended.
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How do we transcend conflicts and contradictions?
Vilasamani explores the conundrums of Buddhist practitioners in the Vimalakirti Sutra, and bring some of them up-to-date, in a talk to the West London Buddhist Centre Sangha night.
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Touching on the themes of righteous indignation, spiritual bypassing, empathy, non-violent communication, envy and exploring apology, confession and working with betrayal,Santavajri poses the question as to whether we can forgive ourselves and move towards unconditional love for all beings. An exploration of verses 4, 5 and 6 of the Eight Verses for Training the Mind. Talk given at the Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, December 2018 as of the series Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana.
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Amalaketu explores freedom through images and stories from the Chappanakopama Sutta, the discourse on the simile of the 6 animals, and shows how Buddhism is the way to ultimate liberation.
Talk given at the East Anglian Mens Retreat, Padmaloka May 2012.
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Suryagupta delivers a powerful, passionate account of the figure of the Dakini who represents perfect freedom.
London Buddhist Centre’s contemporary series on Sangharakshita’s classic 1979 lecture 'The Taste of Freedom'. ***
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Padmavajra visited the London Buddhist Centre to give a talk on Sangharakshita’s classic 1979 lecture 'The Taste of Freedom'.
Just as the mighty ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, even so the Dharma-vinaya (Buddhism) has but one taste, the taste of Freedom.
(from 'The Udana').
Talk given June 2019
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Sanghadevi offers this substantial and inspiring talk on the praises of Pingiya, from the chapter entitled The Way to the Beyond from the Sutta Nipata. This is the final talk in a series entitled The Buddha in the Pali Canon given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre (UK) 2015.
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Here we have Akuppa exploreing how someone practising the Dharma might respond if they found themselves in 'Hell and Other Ordinary Places' - including prison and public buses! One of a series of talks on the theme of 'A Force for Good in the World', given in the Dharma Parlour at the 2010 Buddhafield Festival in Somerset, UK.
There are also very worth sharing: Shambala Warrior verses written by Akuppa, 2005.
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How can Buddhists respond to the climate emergency? Vishvapani uses the Parable of the Burning House from the Lotus Sutra to suggest our responsibilities' and finds the values we need to guide us in the Five Precepts.
Given at Cardiff Buddhist Centre on Dharma Day, July 2019.
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Partisan politics, hurricanes and earthquakes, mass shootings, nuclear threats … our world at times feels like a living nightmare. How do we as Buddhists respond, individually and as a sangha? And how do we keep our sanity?
“Practice During Times of Chaos and Uncertainty” given by Sunada on Sangha Day at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, Newmarket, NH, November 2017. ***
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It's often very difficult to keep up with the challenges of a Buddhist practice. If we are truly to make progress in our Buddhist practice, we have to take into account our surroundings, our environment, where we live, where we work, where we socialize. Transforming our own lives and minds is at the core of our practice, but to do that effectively we also need to look at transforming, remaking, rebuilding the world and communities around us.
Taking inspiration from The Vimalakirti Nirdesa, Padmavajra offers instructions for how to create a Buddhaland. 1. Make yourself
2. Gather wisdom
3. Make friends
4. Make a world together
5. Revere the mystery
Talk given at London Buddhist Centre, 2017.
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Subhuti shares his reflections on Urgyen Sangharakshita in the days following his death and funeral ceremony. He explores the double response to Sangharakshita as an effective Dharma teacher and former of Sangha alongside the various difficulties and paradoxes in his life.
The two last papers Sangharakshita wrote, completed just over two weeks before he died, examine the three main paths of Buddhism, among other things, and thereby offer three different ways of understanding his own role as teacher. This helps us to understand both his human personality and his significance for us.
This talk is part of the series Who is Urgyen Sangharakshita?
Talk given at London Buddhist Centre, November 29, 2018. ***
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Here is a talk by Punyamala on Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche, (1910-1991) one of Sangharakshita’s main eight teachers. Forced to flee Tibet in 1959, Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche was an accomplished meditation teacher, scholar and holder of the Nyingma lineage, the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism. Punyamala offers a brief history of his life, his connection with Sangharakshita and a set of reflections on his teachings.
Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 29th August 2006, as part of a series on the Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order.
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Here's a forthright and passionate talk by Vajratara, taking as its starting point the great contemporary Tibetan teacher (sometimes also written 'Chatral Sangye Dorje') and his relationship to practice in Triratna, rooted in his giving of the Green Tara practice to Sangharakshita. The main focus, however, is the need to practice the Dharma for others as part of a meaningful community, and Vajratara argues her case with a balance of down-to-earth humour and uncompromising vision.
Talk given at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007 ***
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A lovely talk given by Nagabodhi on Triratna Day at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, with an introduction by Dayalocana. Here, Nagabodhi recounts his favorite memories of his time with Dhardo Rinpoche in Kalimpong, expresses his feelings about the strengthening power of stupa building for centers, and ties it all together with a reminder of the central role of sangha in the Triratna Community. Lovely introducation and conclusion by Dayalocana.
Talk given on Triratna Day, April 2014 at Aryaloka Buddhist Center. ***
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Part 5 in the Faces of Enlightenment Sangha night series at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre. Bodhinaga gives a talk on the Buddha Amitabha and the Metta Bhavana loving-kindness meditation. Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 21/05/19
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Our FBA Podcast this week is entitled Forgiveness and Happiness. Santavajri explores verses 4, 5 and 6 of the Eight Verses for Training the Mind. She begins with her realisation that a motivator for her spiritual practice has been a quest for happiness.
Touching on the themes of righteous indignation, spiritual bypassing, empathy, non-violent communication, envy, and exploring apology, confession and working with betrayal, Santavajri poses the question: can we forgive ourselves and move towards unconditional love for all beings?
Talk given at the Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, December 2018
This talk is part of the series Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana.
Here Padmavajra speaks about the stages of spiritual death and rebirth. How to prepare for them, how they can be seen in all the stages of the path, as well as where they lead.
Talk given on a Kula Gathering at Padmaloka, 2012. Subscribe to the FBA Podcast!
Check out this week’s FBA Podcast: What’s Race, Gender, Sexuality and Skin Color Got to Do with Non-Self by Vimalasara.
A timely and thought-provoking talk given at a People of Color (POC) day-long retreat at San Francisco’s East Bay Meditation Center 2019. The East Bay Meditation Center hosts teachers from all lineages to teach the Dharma to their POC, LGBTQI2, Differently Abled and Scent Free Communities.
Talk given February 2019 in San Francisco.
In today’s FBA Podcast this week: 21st Century Bodhisattva Saravantu explores the role of active engagement in the world’s problems, and the various pitfalls along the way, into which activists can so easily fall. This talk launches a series of talks entitled “The 21st Century Bodhisattva”, inspired by Akuppa’s module in the Dharma Training Course.
Enjoy our FBA Podcast this week: Communicating the Dharma Through the Arts – Show Don’t Tell by Sarvananda.
Be prepared for the unexpected in this very funny – and by turns wrongfooting – personal exploration of why the Arts are vital to the development of a genuine Buddhist community. Sarvananda discusses as background his attempts to find a synthesis between the Arts and spiritual life, leading to his current work as a successful playwright.
But it is in the three departures from a traditional Dharma talk that we glimpse something else – the crucial show-don’t-tell aspect of the title. Suffice to say, if you have not heard Stand-Up Tragedy, Dharma Ventriloquism, or a Ukulele Lady Visualisation before, best turn on your heart and your ears…
Our FBA Podcast this week is an important talk entitled Mindfulness and the Creative Disruption of Bias by Viveka.
Viveka explores the theme of racism from the perspective of the Dharma and what the Buddha had to say about complex conditionality. A timely look at understanding – and ultimately undoing – the patterns that lead to prejudice and bias, of all kinds.
Specifically, this talk investigates:
- Opening to the inter-personal, organizational, and societal conditioning that perpetuates racial bias.
- Understanding ‘implicit bias’, which is how thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions are influenced (largely unconsciously) by exposure to stereotypes and fears about targeted social groups.
- How can the mechanics of ‘implicit’ bias be disrupted by the power of mindfulness?
Talk given at San Francisco Buddhist Center, June 2016.
thebuddhistcentre.com/sanfrancisco
This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk on Radical Inclusivity by Singhashri.
What does Buddhism have to do with belonging? What does belonging have to do with Buddhism? We live in a pluralistic society, where many cultures coexist while maintaining their cultural differences. One of the main concerns of our day is how we continue to create a sense of belonging, amid so much difference. For Triratna, we might ask ourselves, how do we create spaces where all feel welcome, regardless of age, race, nationality, class, gender, sexual identity, physical ability and even religion? And as we deepen our commitment and involvement, how do we honour the unique experiences and gifts of each individual, while also seeking a ground of connection based on the Dharma? Sangharakshita has said:
The Dharma should be communicated to as many people as possible and this means communicating the Dharma in as many different ways as possible…Avalokitesvara has a thousand hands, and each of the thousand hands holds a different object. Similarly, Order members of particular temperaments have different talents, aptitudes, and capacities, and in making their respective contributions to the life and work of the Order they should allow – you should allow – those talents, aptitudes, and capacities full scope.
Join us in an exploration of what the Dharma might have to say about radical inclusivity.
This talk was given at the London Buddhist Centre’s Transforming Self and World group in April, 2017. The morning included a led meditation and enquiry, a main talk and discussion, and a closing meditation. To access the meditations, please visit Free Buddhist Audio.
Speaking in a marquee on the June 2012 Women’s National Order Weekend at Taraloka and in a landscape dedicated to the Five Jinas, Samantabhadri explores positive emotion in our system of practice. Her themes are: pliancy and loosening boundaries; the imagination; insight; our collective life; the shade and the light of our spiritual lives.
Delve into the fundamental principles behind Integration in Triratna’s System of Practice with this week’s FBA Podcastentitled The Five Aspects of Dharma Life - Integration by Subhuti. With integration we begin by taking fully responsibility for our karmic agency. This is the third talk in a series of eight from the System of Practice retreat at Padmaloka for men who have asked for Ordination. Subhuti invites his hearers to find new and deeper significance with the fundamental principles behind Integration, Positive Emotion, Spiritual Receptivity, Spiritual Death, and Spiritual Rebirth. This talk is part of the series The Five Aspects of the Dharma Life.
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Our FBA Podcast this week is a rousing, uncompromisingly radical talk from Maitriveer-Nagarjuna entitled The Lion’s Roar Of Doctor Ambedkar (with translation in Hindi).
Taking up the theme of the Convention, the great “Lion’s Roar” of the Buddha, Maitriveer-Nagarjuna evokes the fire that drove Doctor Bimrao Ambedkar to work tirelessly on behalf of the so-called Dalit “Untouchable” people in order to free them from the evils of the Hindu caste system. He reframes Doctor Ambedkar as a radical for the ages, of greater and broader relevance for a world where the forces that oppose liberation at all levels seem stronger than ever.
Listen and be inspired and uplifted! Jai Bhim!
This talk was given to start the 2018 Triratna Buddhist Order Convention at Bodhgaya in India and is part of the series The Lion’s Roar: Talks from the International Order Convention.
Our FBA Podcast this week is by Vajratara entitled Dr Ambedkar and His Importance For the Future of Buddhism.
Vajratara argues that Dr Ambedkar is not just relevant for India or for the oppressed, but essential for modern Buddhism all over the world, challenging us to move beyond a comfortable Buddhism that fits neatly into modern consumer society. The talk was given at a retreat at Rivendell for young people comparing the teachings of Dr Ambedkar and Sangharakshita, 2014.
In a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the mass conversion to Buddhism of Dr Ambedkar and thousands of his followers, Nagabodhi tells the story of Ambedkar and the role that Sangharakshita was to play in supporting the nascent Buddhist movement of ex-Untouchables.
This week’sFBA Podcast by Nagabodhi, Dr Ambedkar and Sangharakshita, was given at North London Buddhist Centre, 2016.
In this week’s FBA Podcast Subhuti offers The Significance of Dr Ambedkar In the West.
Speaking during a festival day in 2010 held to celebrate the life of Dr Ambedkar, Subhuti speaks about what significance Dr Ambedkar has outside India.
The main thrust of the talk is a list of three reasons why someone might convert to Buddhism, enumerated by Dr Ambedkar but applied to our situation in the West. Perhaps the most important is Dr Ambedkar’s insights into the need for society to be grounded in Ethics that are ‘sacred and universal,’ obviously he felt the Dhamma was the best expression of that.
The final section of the talk covers the importance of being engaged in wider society; this has topical relevance with the forthcoming General Election. Subhuti encourages to engage with the democratic process and make the Buddhist voice, calling for awareness and ethicality, be heard.
All bona fide Buddhism is Activism. We want to make the world better right? The issue is energy; how can we cultivate energy in pursuit of the good. In this week’s FBA Podcast, entitled The 4 Gifts, Padmavajra considers 5 fundamental aspects of Virya – known as Energy for Enlightenment.
Our FBA Podcast is by Padmasuri entitled The Buddha Was a Friend As We Can Be a Friend. The fourth and final in our series of talks to mark the Year of Kalyana Mitrata at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre.
In this weeks FBA Podcast we offer In Conversation with Subhuti. Suryagupta converses with Subhuti about his life and practice. Subhuti has been the President of the London Buddhist Centre for over 30 years and was part of the original team who built the LBC in the 1970s.
Our FBA Podcast this week is by Maitreyi entitled Spiritual Friendship and the Heart’s Release. Our teacher Sangharakshita has said: “It is in friendship (maitri) that we may find the emotional equivalent of the intellectual understanding of the doctrine of ‘no self’”. The gift of these teachings can help us move beyond self-clinging into a deeper and far more mysterious connection with one another; a Greater Love.
This was the keynote talk given at Taraloka for the 2018 Great Gathering (Order Members and GFR mitras).
This week’s FBA Podcast by Danadasa is entitled Faith and Wisdom. In this Buddhist path of transformation, how we relate to practice has a profound effect upon that which unfolds. How do we relate to the idea of path and goal? How do we relate to effort? How do we relate to not knowing? During this 4-week Sangha Night series, Danadasa will explore what is meant by a wise relationship to practice through the perspective of the 5 spiritual faculties, which are mindfulness, conviction, energy, meditation, and discernment.
This talk is part of the series The Five Spiritual Faculties.
This week’s FBA Podcast by Sangharakshita a is entitled The Conscious Evolution of Man: Right Effort. Discussing the evolution of consciousness, this lecture explains that at the stage of reflexive consciousness, deliberate effort is required for any further progress. Right Effort is fourfold: preventing and eradicating the unskilful, and cultivating and maintaining the skilful.
Talk given in 1968 as part of the series The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path.
This week’s FBA Podcast by Dayasagara is entitled Quietly Revering the Unfathomable – Reflections On Guhyaloka. In the sparkling and wonderful talk, Dayasagara evokes the magic and mystery around his ordination, his time in ‘the secret valley’, and his new Dharma name.
In this week’s FBA Podcast entitled Urban Metta Bodhilila talks about how city life offers constant opportunities for practising metta in quite challenging situations and can provide a crucible for our spiritual practice, particularly our ethical practice.
Our FBA Podcast, this week is called A Field of Kindness by Sona. A talk on kindness, the quality of caring and the Bodhisattva Ideal, given at the Stockholm Buddhist Center, on 5 September 2005.
Our FBA Podcast, this week is called The Richly Endowed Buddha of the Southern Realm by Dhammadinna.
Third in a series of talks given on the 2012 Triratna International Retreat. For more talks, videos, photos etc from the retreat see www.thebuddhistcentre.com and navigate to page ‘internationalretreat’
Our FBA Podcast, this week is called Self Compassion For the Sake of All Beings. Munisha gave this talk in English to a Swedish audience, 5th March 2016, Dhammagiri Retreat Center, Sweden.
Our FBA Podcast this week is entitled The Sevenfold Puja: Worship by Maniraja. The Sevenfold Puja – drawn from the Bodhicaryavatara – is the main devotional ceremony of the Triratna Buddhist Community.
This talk is the second in the series on the Puja, given Manchester Buddhist Centre.
Can ritual help us put the conditions in place through which bodhicitta may arise? In this week’s FBA Podcast Using Ritual to Cultivate Bodhicitta Vijayasri explores our reactions to the idea of ritual and how rituals can become meaningless. We then look at the concept of ritual as “entering into a realm of the imagination where we encounter Buddhas and Bodhisattvas”.
This talk was given at the Croydon Buddhist Centre in April 2016 as part of our regular Saturday morning sangha class, the first in the theme of “Transforming Self and World”, in which ritual was explored as a method of putting conditions in place through which bodhicitta may arise.
This week’s FBA Podcast is the first talk in a sparkling, wide-ranging, thoroughly comprehensive ten talk series by Padmavajra on ‘The Diamond Sutra’ entitled Taking Mind to its Limits. We are taken through the work stage by stage, and here we begin with the opening scenes and the text itself as a revelation of Reality…
Talks given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004
This talk is part of the series The Diamond Sutra – Taking Mind to its Limits.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Bhadra introduces the archetypal magician, Padmasambhava, in a talk called The Art of Ritual and Descent, given at a day for men in Bristol, UK. He uses episodes from the magician’s life to illustrate how engaging the imagination through ritual and being willing to make the journey of descent are key elements of a fruitful practice.
Our FBA Podcast this week is entitled The Disappearing Buddha by Sangharakshita. The Buddha adopted the appearance and speech of his different audiences, and gave discourses on the Dharma which instructed, inspired, fired, and delighted. Then he would just disappear and leave them wondering, ‘Who is the Buddha?’ Talk given in 1994.
Our FBA Podcast this week is called Bright Blue Sky, Deep Blue Sea by Suryadarshini.
Amitabha is one of the most well-known archetypal Buddhas, whose qualities of love and compassion attract myriad practitioners and devotees.
Suryadarshini shares her personal connections with Amitabha, from superheroes to phoenixes, and also explores traditional symbols and imagery of the red Buddha of the West.
Our FBA Podcast this week is by Kulaprabha entitled Her Two Hands Are the Two Truths. This is the second in a four-part series by Kulaprabha on Nagarjuna’s ‘Lines Written to Tara.’
Our FBA Podcast this week is a cracking and wonderfully detailed talk called Vajrapani – Energy Unlimited by Vessantara, author of ‘Meeting the Buddhas’. He is the ideal person to introduce us to the complex and fascinating Tantric figure of Vajrapani – ‘Lord of Secrets’, embodiment of ”virya’ (Energy in Pursuit of the Good). Vessantara’s style is familiar and well-earthed, and therefore eminently well suited to material that bristles with electricity and is not always so easy to communicate. We get the origin and development of the Tantra itself, as well as of this key figure who meets the impermanent nature of Reality head-on and embodies the tremendous possibilities of change. Look out too for a great introduction about darts…!
Our FBA Podcast this week is a talk by Padmavajra entitled The Motive. This is the first talk in an eight part series by Padmavajra exploring a great classic of Tibetan Buddhism – Gampopa’s ‘Jewel Ornament of Liberation’.
The work, inspired by devotion to Manjusri, is one of the key texts in the development of the Tibetan Lam Rim teachings. And Gampopa, being one of the two principle disciples of the yogi Milarepa, presents both the monastic Lam Rim approach of Atisha and the Mahamudra meditation teachings of Milarepa himself.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter 2008
This talk is part of the series Themes from Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation.
Our FBA Podcast this week is a talk by Mahamati entitled Actualizing the 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara. The third of four talks given on the Padmaloka May National Order weekend- Mahamati talks on actualizing the myth of the Order- symbolised in the 1000 armed Avalokiteshvara.
Our FBA Podcast this week is a talk by Vajratara entitled The Power of the Archetypal Realm given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre on 29th May 2007 as part of a series of talks on Buddhist Symbols.
Our FBA Podcast this week is a talk by Padmavajra entitled The Bodhicitta – A supra-personal spiritual force.
This is the second in a series of five talks given on a Going for Refuge retreat at Padmaloka called Living From The Bodhicitta.
Padmavajra explores some aspects of Sangharakshita’s insights into the Bodhicitta, as well as how we might live a life devoted to living from the Bodhicitta.
Our FBA Podcast this week is a talk by Ratnaprabha entitled Sowing Seeds In the Soil of the Mind – The Alaya.
The alaya, or storehouse consciousness, is the Buddhist equivalent of the unconscious mind. It is like a garden, in which every experience and action sows a seed which may later sprout and create our unfolding life. This talk describes how this relates to the six sense awarenesses, the mind as a sense, and the contaminated mind which reads everything in terms of self and not self. Mindfulness finds a creative path between leaving the alaya on autopilot, and allowing the contaminated mind to interfere and fill the garden with weeds and rubbish.
Our FBA Podcast this week is called Mind and Mental Events by Subhuti.
These five omnipresent mental events (sarvatragas) constitute the basic mechanics of the mind; if you are conscious, they are present.
1. Feeling-tone (vedana)
2. Recognition (or conceptualisation) (samjna)
3. Directionality of mind (cetana)
4. Contact (sparsa)
5. Egocentric demanding (manaskara)
From this we can conclude that:
1. All our experience is feeling-toned. The more conscious we are of this, the less we will react and be driven by our likes and dislikes.
2. We are always interpreting our experience with varying degrees of accuracy and depth. We can make an ongoing effort to raise the level of our experience.
3. The mind is always moving towards things. We can use cetana skilfully to move in the direction of Going for Refuge by practising the precepts etc. But we need to want to go in that direction.
This talk is part of the series Mind and Mental Events (Subhuti 2001).
Our FBA Podcast this week is calledThe Buddha Beyond Siddhartha by Dassini.
The first half of the talk looks at the Buddha’s early life and his battle with and the defeat of Mara. Then Dassini looks at the traditional Buddhist concept of time, and the division of time into Kalpas, inconceivably lengthy periods of time.
The talk concludes by looking at the Dharma niyama, the order of conditionality through which the attainment of Enlightenment is possible.
Please not that as this talk progresses there is some sound disturbance that gets louder as the talk goes on. Apologies for this.
Our FBA Podcast this week is calledAnapanasati – Contemplation of Feelings given by Guhyavajra during the 2016 Anapanasati retreat at Padmaloka.
The Anapanasati meditation practice and Four Foundations of Mindfulness are woven into a system of practice which when developed and cultivated is of great fruit and great benefit.
Based on the Buddha’s principal discourse on the subject found in the Anapanasati sutta of the Pali Canon, we explore our human experience rooted in the six senses; from the perspective of body, feeling and mind in the context of mindfulness with breathing.
This talk is part of the series Anapanasati.
Our FBA Podcast this week is calledThe Sangha Context of the Anapanasati Teaching, a talk given by Shubha at the London Buddhist Centre’s Women’s Night Class, Nov 21st 2013.
Drawing out the full sutra where the Anapanasati teaching is given speaks to the sangha context as a condition for insight.
Our FBA Podcast this week is called Inquisitive Mind, Thinking and Awakening. Here Yashobodhi talks about the relationship between thinking and insight. As long as we have a brain, we will have thoughts. Some of these thoughts are helpful. Some not so much. Becoming aware of thoughts is a good start. Whatever next?
Our FBA Podcast this week is called From View to No View by Jnanavaca on views and the need for a positive emotional engagement with those views. London Buddhist Centre in 2007
Our FBA Podcast this week is called Training in the Six Paramitas: Shila – The Essence of Ethics by Padmavajra. This is the fifth talk in a six-part series by Padmavajra exploring the Perfection of Wisdom and specifically the practice of the Six Perfections. The usual order of the practices is reversed, so here we turn to the key issue of “Ethics”.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004 as part of the series Training in the Six Paramitas.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Working with Energy In the Bodhicaryavatara, Suryamati explores the theme of Virya (energy) in Santideva’s Bodhicaryavatara. Talk given at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre on 29th April 2008. Part of a series on Great Buddhist Texts.
Our FBA Podcast today is brought to you by Vaddhaka entitled The Evolution of the Bodhisattva Ideal. In this elegant description of the evolution of the Bodhisattva Ideal Vaddhaka draws on his extensive reading and study, and picks out Jan Nattier’s writing in particular. Given at Sangha Night at Stockholms Buddhistcenter, 8 March 2010.
Our FBA Podcast this week is by Sangharakshita from 1971. The Myth of the Return Journey has a theme which resonates with many similar stories in world literature. Here its important elements are related to the personal quest for meaning.
This talk is part of the series Parables, Myths and Symbols of Mahayana Buddhism in the White Lotus Sutra.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, The Bodhisattva’s Practice – Six Perfections, Ratnaghosha, just back from four weeks of solitary retreat, explores the Six Perfections and how we practice them.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk by Saccanama called Faith: the Key to the Mystery of Life. Saccanama speaks with passion, clarity and intelligence, weaving ideas with personal examples in this high quality talk.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk by Ratnaprabha called Likes and Dislikes. On the Wheel of Life, the whole person is symbolised by a boat with passengers, the five skandhas. Ratnaprabha focuses especially on our habit energies, and our habitual preferences. Are we ruled by our likes and dislikes? Is there a creative response? How to the five Buddhas fit in?
This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk by Subhuti called Beyond Karma – The Dharma Niyama. In this, the final installment of Subhuti’s three-part Ramble around Reality we go beyond the realm of Karma as we glimpse the glory of the Dharma Niyama.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a wonderful Interview with Parami, Tiratna’s International Order Convener. Karunagita invites Parami to share snapshots from her decades in Triratna, starting with ordaining seven Mexican women the week before and going back through time and locations, roles, challenges, delights and contributions, including Spain to Glasgow and London in the late 1970s.
Recorded at the NLBC monthly women’s class in May 2017.
This week’s FBA Podcast, is a new talk on Writing As Spiritual Practice. Drawing on her experience as a poet, Varasahaya discusses creativity, imagination, and the writing process as a spiritual practice. She reads some of her poems, and explains the process by which they came to birth, and what she learnt about letting go of self as she grappled with writing. An excellent and very accessible talk given to Sangha night at the West London Buddhist Centre.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Shifting to Indras Net, Parami evokes the reality of interconnectedness in relation to the second Dasadhamma – My life is dependent on others. I am sustained by the gifts of others – She talks about how the experience of interconnectedness is supported by wisdom, and results in compassionate activity. This talk is part of the series The Order as Practice: Shifting Paradigms.
This week’s FBA Podcast, Letting Go of What Isn’t There is a gentle and insightful talk by Dhammarati on the Anapanasati Sutta given at the LBC’s Dharma Day festival on July 12th 2009.
This week’s FBA Podcast, Spiritual Death and Radical Transformation is a rousing talk by Maitreyabandhu that goes into where Buddhism begins: with ourselves as we are and with the awake Buddha. But we don’t really know either ourselves or the Buddha. He emphasises that we don’t know because we so easily assume we know, or fix or lessen the goal. So what do we do? There are three approaches we need to balance and four things we have to do, to close the gap between the awake Buddha and us who are as yet unawake. Given at Sangha Night, 13 May 2013.
This week’s FBA Podcast is by Triratna’s International Order Convenor, Parami, speaking on one of her favorite topics: The Group and the Spiritual Community. Parami has lived and worked within Triratna for many years of her life. Sangha is very important to her and her years of experience will help us to get a clearer idea of what makes a spiritual community, rather than a positive group.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Three Ways to Insight – Working with the 3 Prajnas Subhuti considers afresh this traditional teaching of cultivating insight through hearing, reflecting and meditating.
This week’s FBA Podcast is entitled The Meaning of Spiritual Community Revisited by Mahamati. One of the talks given at Padmaloka during the 2016 ‘Urgyen’ retreat.
The retreat was part of the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the founding of Padmaloka, and aimed to explore the life and teachings of our founder Urgyen Sangharakshita.
This week’s FBA Podcast is entitled The Buddhas Noble Quest by Dhivan.
In this talk given at a Sangha evening at Bristol Buddhist Centre, Dhivan considers what we can learn from the story of the noble quest of the Buddha. This story is recounted in the Discourse on the Noble Quest (Ariyapariyesana-sutta) in the Middle-length Discourses (Majjhima-nikaya). In it we can almost believe we are hearing a memory of the Buddhas own words, as he recounts his going forth, his study under great meditation teachers, his eventually leaving them, his austerities, and finally his awakening. Dhivan draws out some of the continuing significance of the story of the noble quest, as a kind of blueprint for the model of the Dharma life as heroic self-development.
This week’s FBA Podcast is entitled The Importance of Mindfulness by Kamalashila.
In this talk from September 1996, Kamalashila explores the centrality of mindfulness to the Buddhist path. He discuses the concept of intoxication, with reference to the 5th Precept and the Sutra of Golden Light. Kamalashila then considers the four foundations of mindfulness from the the Satipatthana Sutta and concludes that mindfulness is the basis of metta and allows us to embrace the realm of truth and beauty.
Croydon has been home to FWBO or Triratna Buddhist communities and centres since 1968. Many early talks by well known speakers were recorded, both at Aryatara, since 1979, and at the new Croydon Centre from 1981. These are now being transferred from their crumbling cassettes to digital format, as part of the Croydon Digital Archive Project, and are being made available to everyone.
This talk is in good condition but starts and ends abruptly.
This week’s FBA Podcast is entitled Sangharakshita, the Unenlightened Englishman by Ratnaprabha. A 1989 film on Sangharakshita was embarrassingly titled The Enlightened Englishman. He may not be enlightened, but he has had a fascinating life and a very positive influence on a huge number of people. This talk gives an account of his life, work and teachings, including personal reminiscences. It introduce a series on Sangharakshita. This talk is part of the series Sangharakshita and his approach to Buddhism.
This week’s FBA Podcast FBA Podcast is part four of a series of talks on the Triratna Vandana by Subhuti entitled Sangha Vandana. The most striking point from this talk is the importance of taking the Sangha refuge as the possibility of an Ideal Society. It is so easy to get dis-illusioned with people and groups. Yet human relationships are such an integral part of our lives we need some vision that more is possible – the arya sangha exemplify this as they relate to each other on the basis of metta as opposed to self grasping and egoistic desire.
This week’s FBA Podcast FBA Podcast is a fabulous talk by Jnanavaca called The Wisdom of Words. The spiritual community, the Sangha, is the ideal context in which we can practise the Dharma. It is also a force for good in the world and an ideal in its own right. But how is the Sangha sustained? Continuing our exploration of ‘The Four Sangharavastus’ (or Means of Unification of the Sangha). Jnanavaca launches the year with a keynote talk on the second of these, Kindly Speech.
…There is poetry as soon as we realize there is nothing… Continuing the series celebrating the unique contribution of Urgyen Sangharakshita to modern Buddhism, Akasamitra explores his key teaching of Mind Reactive – Mind Creative in this week’s FBA Podcast.
Our FBA Podcast this week is by Parami, entitled The Path to Buddhist Engagement. This talk was given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre on Triratna Night, 27 June 2016, during Buddhist Action Month – BAM!
In our FBA Podcast this week is by Mahasiddhi, entitled: Maitri, Friendship and Meaning – Being a Buddhist Chaplain In a Non-Buddhist Setting. As part of taking the Dharma into the world, Mahasiddhi talks about his experience as a Buddhist Chaplain and how the Dharma supports and informs his practice with mainly non-Buddhist patients. Mahasiddhi has been practising chaplaincy for nearly four years starting as a volunteer then for nearly past two years has been the Buddhist Chaplain at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
In our FBA Podcast this week is by Vajratara, entitled: Kshanti (Patience): A Response to the Modern World. This talk was given in Sheffield at a unique time in British politics. A few days before, the UK had voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. At a time of political turmoil with reported hate crimes increasing by 57% since the referendum, Vajratara asks how can we have a Buddhist response to political change? How can we respond particularly to the rise of ‘ugly’ nationalism and hate crimes? Does kshanti mean doing nothing, or can it lead to more creative action?
In our FBA Podcast this week we hear from Ratnaprabha on Gender and Sexuality In Buddhism. In this very rich and well researched talk at the Stockholms Buddhistcenter (13 June 2011) Ratnaprabha traces the view of gender and sexuality in Buddhism. He addresses these topics in an open and inquiring way, not afraid of treading on ground that many others shy away from; and he raises many new questions. Rich food for further thought.
In our FBA Podcast today, Prasadachitta delivers a beautiful set of reflections on his personal practice in Whirlpools and Clear Water. This talk by Prasadachitta is like a beautiful stillness amid the whirl of a full Order Convention. His conversational style gradually brings forth the depth of reflection behind it. And the integrity of his personal practice bubbles easily to the surface when, with humility and good humour, he shares his own experience of working across two very human tendencies that have a bearing on friendship. ??
His evocation of the river – now full of whirlpools as it flows through the Neurotaloka, now becalmed as eddies meet and resolve themselves – and his inclusion of poems from Kathleen Raine and Naomi Shihab Nye make this a genuinely lyric talk. Like a closely observed discourse on consciousness meeting Walt Whitman and finding things, in the end, go along just fine…??
With an introduction by Danadasa. Con traduccion en Espanol.??Recorded outdoors at Chintamani Retreat Centre, Mexico, as part of the 2015 Triratna Buddhist Order Pan-American Convention.
In our FBA Podcast today, The Muni and the Moonlight, Vajrasara reflects on the Buddha, his victory over pleasure and pain, and how we might bring him alive in our lives. Talk given May 2011 at Bristol Buddhist Centre.
Our FBA Podcast this week is a delightful talk in which Sangharakshita looks at his own poem ‘Sripada’, the translation of which gives the title:Footsteps of Delight. Evoking the more mythical side of his own spiritual quest, he challenges us in ours with an often good humoured look at what it is to Go for Refuge to the Buddha and his teaching in the context of vibrant spiritual community. With concluding remarks by Dharmachari Kulananda. Talk given in 2001.
Our FBA Podcast this week is a dynamic talk by Vadanya calledIs the Buddha Dead for Us?. In this talk on the Buddha’s parinirvana, Vadanya explores how we can use our imagination to have a real living connection with the Buddha, and how we can make our own future potential for enlightenment a source of strength and guidance in our present lives. Talk given at a Men’s Event, Padmaloka Retreat Centre, October 2011.
In this week’s FBA Podcast entitled Reverencing the Buddha – I Bow to No One Dead Or Alive Mahamani gives an incredibly passionate talk on reverencing the Buddha. Drawing on her own experiences of struggling to understand the place of ritual in Buddhism, Mahamani guides us on her own path to finally bowing before the Buddha.
In this week’s FBA Podcast Padmavajra describes how we practice the Dharma so as to create Love, respect and unity within our community and the wider world. Creating Love, Respect and Unity given at the Mens Event titled Beyond Isolation, Building the Buddha Land.
The wonderful Dhammadinna brings us this week’s FBA Podcast entitled Seven Point Mind Training. This is the first of seven talks in a series based on Atisha’s famous ‘The Seven Points of Mind Training’, and influenced both by Chekawa’s commentary and Langri Tangpa’s ‘Eight Verses for Training the Mind’. This talk was given on April 7th, 2008 and is part of the series Seven Point Mind Training.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk by Maitreyabandhu entitledSpiritual Death and Radical Transformation. In this rousing talk Maitreyabandhu goes into where Buddhism begins: with ourselves as we are and with the awake Buddha. But we don’t really know either ourselves or the Buddha. He emphasises that we don’t know because we so easily assume we know, or fix or lessen the goal. So what do we do? There are three approaches we need to balance and four things we have to do, to close the gap between the awake Buddha and us who are as yet unawake. Given at LBC Sangha Night, 13 May 2013.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk by Vessantara entitledThe Empty Boat. Early navigators were able to traverse vast distances using intuitive messages from the sun, wind, stars. Going for refuge is kind of a journey that needs ongoing mindfulness, a vision of the goal The second in a series of four talks by Vessantara exploring Going for Refuge is an accessible talk on the Insight aspect. From the four-part series, Aspects of Going for Refuge, given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre in early 2016.
Parami delivers this week’s FBA Podcast entitledLiving In The Greater Mandala. She brings this theme alive in the most human, poetic, and inspired of ways.
Her range is broad as she evokes the mandala itself, and the profound, playful path of the Bodhisattva. Calling forth Rumi and Hafiz, the great Buddhist Perfection of Wisdom texts, Keats, Yeats, Robert Hass, and Kenneth White, she illustrates what it looks and feels like to live dedicated to the wellbeing of all as the most natural thing in the world.
As always with Parami, her great experience shines through in this talk – a terrific encouragement to anyone thinking of integrating this perspective of joy into the challenge of everyday life…
Recorded in Adelaide, Australia, October 2015 for the 2015 Triratna International Urban Retreat.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk given by Vajrapriya entitledDescend with the View, Ascend with the Conduct. Vajrapriya makes the link between this saying, and Sangharakshita’s explanation of the Noble Eightfold Path as a path of Vision and Transformation; talks about what it means to ascend with the view; and to descend with the conduct; and explores the signs that we’re not keeping these two directions of practice in balance.
We are delighted to bring in Jnanavaca for today’s FBA Podcast entitled The Texture of Reality. In this talk, he explores the notions of conditioned and unconditioned reality, and the relationship between the two.
Vajratara headlines our FBA Podcast for today with a talk entitled Metta and the Path of Insight. Given on a Young Womens’ Weekend at Taraloka, she discusses how the practice of metta can be more than just the simple cultivation of loving-kindness and positive emotion, and how it can also be a window into deeper truths about the nature of reality.
From a landmark talk of the same name, our FBA Podcast today is from Parami entitled The Lineage of Inspriation. Here Parami speaks about the lineage of inspiration, one of the four lineages Sangharakshita has handed on to the Triratna Order and movement; lineages of teachings, practices, institutions and inspiration. She evokes the importance of the lineage of inspiration in this burning world, and talks about her own sources of inspiration since she came into contact with the movement in 1977, sharing quotes from a number of Bhante’s early talks which had a profound impact on her.
OurFBA Podcast today is from Ratnaguna entitled From Karma Niyama to Dharma Niyama, a talk given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre on a Day for Men in Training for Ordination, 13 March 2016.
In today’sFBA Podcast Shifting to Indras Net Parami evokes the reality of interconnectedness in relation to the second Dasadhamma – My life is dependent on others. I am sustained by the gifts of others – She talks about how the experience of interconnectedness is supported by wisdom, and results in compassionate activity. This is the fourth talk of The Order as Practice – Shifting Paradigms retreat.
In today’s FBA Podcast Beyond Heaven and Hell Vajrasara shares her ideas for managing the highs and lows of the 8 Worldly Winds. Talk given October 2011 at Bristol Buddhist Centre.
Today’s FBA Podcast is entitled Wayfinding by Vessantara. A rich talk using the metaphor of wayfinding to navigate our way across the sea of suffering to the safe refuge of the Buddha Dharma. The first of 4 talks exploring Going For Refuge given on Sangha Night at Cambridge Buddhist Center.
Today’s FBA Podcast is possibly one of Padmavjra’s best talks given at Padmaloka. Compassion. This. Given during the October Men’s event 2012.
Today’s FBA Podcast is so provocative we don’t even need a description. Who Hates the Metta Bhavana? by Jnanavaca. Week two of a five week seminar on the Metta Bhavana practice at the London Buddhist Center.
In today’s FBA Podcast, Evolution, Capitalism and the Buddha Vaddhaka argues that capitalist economics is based upon a narrow evolutionary view associated with social Darwinism and a distorted interpretation of the survival of the fittest. So the question is then: Can modern approaches to evolution help to develop a new approach to economics more in line with buddhist values?
Stockholm Sweden, 22 of February 2016
Today’s FBA Podcast recounts the harrowing and revelatory tale of Kisa Gotami in a talk entitled “A Life-Changing Encounter” by Jvalamalini.
In the story, Kisa Gotami’s grief for her dead child is completely transformed after her contact with the Buddha through the experience of compassion and insight, leading her to a life of spiritual commitment and renunciation.
Part of a series from Cambridge Buddhist Centre on the Six Distinctive Emphases of the Triratna Buddhist Community, today’s FBA Podcast from Aryajaya is entitled “Commitment is Key“. Here she discusses Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels, a thread that runs through all Buddhist traditions but which is drawn out strongly as a central principle in the Triratna tradition.
Today’s FBA Podcast is entitled “The Way to the Beyond” by Vimalavajri. Here she offers some reflections on how the Mahaparinibbana Sutta gives us glimpses of awakening by looking at three topics: Ananda’s request for last instructions, the Buddha’s comforting of Ananda’s grief, and the mystery of the Parinirvana itself.
Continuing with our journey through the Five Buddha Mandala, we find ourselves at the centre with Vairocana. Today’s FBA Podcast is entitled Sitting At the Centre of the Mandala by Vessantara.
How do we balance the teachings of effort and openness? One way is through the image of the sun and relaxed being. The practice of the Dharma is simply to come back. Yet of course this requires effort.
Another question is the balance between practical and mythical approaches : can we hold both at once? What do we give significance to? what do we make real ? can we open to a world of richer and deeper meaning?
This is the eleventh and last talk of Padmaloka’s 2012 Winter Retreat and is part of the series The Mandala of the Five Buddhas.
Continuing around the mandala, we now enter the realm of story and imagination with a journey to the northern realm. In today’s FBA Podcast we move around to the North to meet Amoghasiddhi: Courage and Creativity. Amoghasiddhi is also connected with Spiritual Rebirth, we hear how this relates to insight, becoming more than we are, and the way in which we draw up courage and creativity to transform ourselves and maybe make a difference in the world. This talk is part of the series The Mandala of the Five Buddhas.
Continuing around the mandala, in today’s FBA Podcast we meet Amitabha in a talk by Padmasuri simply called Amitabha.
Continuing around the mandala, we enter the realm of Ratnasambhava, the golden Buddha of the South. In “A Personal Take On Upekkha, this weeks FBA Podcastby Ratnavandana.
Continuing the series of personal talks on each of the Brahma Viharas from the 2015 Rainy Season Retreat, Ratnavandana shares an intensely honest, psychologically intimate, beautifully forensic history of her personal relationship to the practice of upekkha (equanimity) throughout her spiritual life. We hear about ways to assess what is going on in the subtler realms of our experience – and how to look to move beyond them so we too can live like a river…
Having now entered the mandala, we begin in the East with Akshobya on the theme of Integration with “The Five Aspects of Dharma Life – Integration”, this weeks by FBA Podcast. Subhuti delves into the fundamental principles behind Integration and invites his hearers to apply them deeply in their own lives. We begin by taking fully responsibility for our karmic agency. This talk is part of the series The Five Aspects of the Dharma Life.
For the next month or so we’ll be entering the mandala with a variety of talks and reflections from members of the Triratna Buddhist Order. We’ll begin at the beginning with “Entering the Mandala” by Vessantara for the first FBA Podcast in this series. Vessantara introduces Mandalas, in terms of personal, symbolic and specifically buddhist representations. He then invites us to enter the Mandala as a initiatory voyage of discovery and development, making reference to the System of Practice and the need to balance effort with openness. This talk is part of the series The Mandala of the Five Buddhas.
Today’s FBA Podcast is entitled “Sanghakaya and the Heart’s Release” by Maitreyi. She describes having somewhat of an epiphany on first hearing the term ‘Sanghakaya’ in a talk by Subhuti in India. It seemed to give expression to a whole direction and momentum of her life and practice, while simultaneously both deepening and opening out the mystery of the enlightened mind, expanding beyond any sense of individual consciousness or attainment. This talk is about the Sangha Jewel and it’s place in the spiritual life, given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre on Triratna Night, 14 December 2015.
Today’s FBA Podcast is a tribute to our teacher, Bhante Sangharakshita, given by Parami entitled “Revisiting the New Society”, the third talk of The Order as Practice – Shifting Paradigms retreat. Parami talks about the first verse of the Dasadhamma Sutta – “I am no longer living according to worldly aims and values.” She revisits Bhantes vision of the New Society, sharing her inspiration and love for the radical and transformative power of the Dharma.
Today’s FBA Podcast is a tribute to our teacher, Bhante Sangharakshita, given by Padmavajra entitled “Glimpses of the Mythic Life of Sangharakshita”.
Urgyen Sangharakshita, the founder of the Western Buddhist Order, is many things to many people. Yet all inspiration and controversies aside, he is first and foremost a follower of the Buddha’s way and his own evocations of his personal practice give many clues as to the nature of a committed Dharma life. Here Padmavajra, one of his closest disciples, offers his own perspective on Sangharakshita as a practitioner with a rich sense of the mythic context pervading all his thinking about the Buddha and his teaching.
Talk given in 2008.
We’ve been inspired to share writings and poems by Bhante Sangharakshita this month. Our FBA Podcast today, “Sangharakshita – Facing Mount Kanchenjunga”, is a delightful talk from 1991. Sangharakshita starts by reading an extract from the new volume of his autobiography, Facing Mount Kanchenjunga. He follows this by talking about and reading eight poems that he composed in Kalimpong which give a real feel for his appreciation of the place but also for his worries about the effect of logging in the mountains.
The talk was given on November 28, 1991, in Croydon Buddhist Centre as part of the book launch for his autobiography.
Croydon has been home to FWBO or Triratna Buddhist communities and centres since 1968. Many early talks by well known speakers were recorded, both at Aryatara, since 1979, and at the new Croydon Centre from 1981. These are now being transferred from their crumbling cassettes to digital format, as part of the Croydon Digital Archive Project, and are being made available to everyone.
We’ve been inspired to share poems by Bhante Sangharakshita this month. Our FBA Podcast today is an unusual, early, talk from Sankharakshita which will be new to most people. “Sangharakshita – Reading Poems About Friendship”. Bhante was invited by the Croydon Arts Centre, in 1990, to choose, discuss and read poems about friendship. His selection ranges from the Epic of Gilgamesh to 20th century poets and clearly shows Sangharakshitas love of poetry and his desire to share this with other people.
The tape begins with an introduction by Dharmaruci, includes the Pearl Fishers friendship duet sung by Jussi Bjorling and Robert Merril and concludes with a personal reflection on Sangharakshita by Nagabhodi, as a book launch for A Taste of Freedom.
Croydon has been home to FWBO or Triratna Buddhist communities and centres since 1968. Many early talks by well known speakers were recorded, both at Aryatara, since 1979, and at the new Croydon Centre from 1981. These are now being transferred from their crumbling cassettes to digital format, as part of the Croydon Digital Archive Project, and are being made available to everyone.
The tape quality reflects its age, the sound is slightly distorted, but clear, during the readings and more distorted during the duet.
This week’s FBA Podcast features Ratnaghosha in a talk entitled “An Ever Widening Circle”. Given as the key note talk at Sangha Day at the Cambridge Buddhist Center, launching the Year of Spiritual Community for 2014 and laying out a vision for the Sangha.
This week’s FBA Podcast features Vajratara in a talk entitled “Buddhism and the Modern World”. Given on a retreat for young women training for Ordination, Vajratara describes the topical issues of the time and asks what the Buddhist response is. The refugee crisis, the rise of Jeremy Corbyn, the effects of neo liberal capitalism and environmental denigration; all point to a change in the way we see each other and the world. We live at a time where the world is opening to a new way of living. This new way of living is indicated both by the Buddha and, in modern times, by Sangharakshita.
This week’s FBA Podcast features Jnanavaca in a talk entitled “Mind Over Matter”. Most people think of science as insisting that only dead matter really exists as a substrate of everything in the universe, and that mind is something that does not have the same reality as matter. However modern physics shows that matter itself is not made up of definite things, and that it may even be influenced by being observed by a conscious mind. Jnanavaca describes evidence from the double slit experiment, and draws lessons for seeing through the illusion of personal separateness and discovering the imperative of kindness.
In the final installment of our long-running series on the Six Emphases of Triratna, this week’s FBA Podcast features Padmakumara in a talk entitled “What is Triratna Buddhism?”.
Padmakumara wraps it all up neatly with his own perspectives on what Triratna’s approach to Buddhist principle and practice is.
In his typical engaging speaking style, Padmavajra illuminates the Triratna emphasis on spiritual friendship in this week’s FBA Podcast, with “Triratna Emphases – Spiritual Friendship”.
Wrapping up the last of the Six Emphases of Triratna that we’ve been featuring over many weeks, Padmavajra gives a through overview of the importance of companions on the Buddhist path.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Dayabhadra is the distinguished speaker with “Triratna Emphases – The Arts”.
Dayabhadra gives us a comprehensive look at the importance of the arts in the spiritual life, one of the Six Emphases of the Triratna Buddhist Community.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Subhuti gives a very comprehensive introduction to one of the Six Emphases of the Triratna Buddhist Community with “The History of and Value in Team-Based Right Livelihood”.
Subhuti gives a rousing talk on some of the history behind team-based Right Livelihood within the Triratna Buddhist Movement. He then goes on to explain why it is so important; because it represents an opportunity to live a ‘full’ Buddhist life for ourselves and present society with an alternative to consumerism and the myth of progress through buying a bigger TV.
This week’s FBA Podcast features a talk by Manjuvajra on one of the Six Emphases of the Triratna Buddhist Community - “The Triratna Emphasis on a Unified Order”.
Here, Manjuvajra highlights the fact that involvement and membership of the Triratna Buddhist Order is open to all, irrespective of gender, colour, sexual orientation, lifestyle, or any other personal characteristic.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Dhammarati gives an excellent talk on one of the Six Emphases of the Triratna Buddhist Community with “The Triratna Emphasis on Going for Refuge”.
In this talk Dhammarati explores Going for Refuge and its central emphasis in the Triratna Buddhist Order, bringing in the story of his own spiritual journey as an example of finding one’s unique response. He also looks to historical sources to identify some of the ways we can deepen our connection practically and experientially.
Talk given on the Men’s Going for Refuge Retreat at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, 2013
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Manuvajra discusses critical ecumenicism – one of the Six Emphases of the Triratna Buddhist Community – with “The Ecumenical Emphasis in Triratna”.
In principle, and in contrast with other approaches to contemporary Buddhism, any approach to the Dharma that conduces to a deepening of spiritual practice is valued in the Triratna context with a critical eye towards what constitutes fundamental Buddhism, and what works in practice.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Sangharakshita gives a full introduction to the Six Emphases of the Triratna Buddhist Community with “Forty Years On – The Six Emphases of the FWBO”.
Marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Triratna Buddhist Community (formerly the Western Buddhist Order), he has some great reminisences about the early days, and is on top form as he considers the uniting factors of this diverse group of people who are engaged with the project of discovering Buddhism all over again for the modern world.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “The Individual and Community” Dhammarati explores the central importance the Triratna Buddhist Order places on communication and connection as a means of personal transformation and the basis from which we influence the world. This gives us the significance of the Triranta Buddhist Order as a community of individuals trying to change themselves and have a positive impact on society making them a nucleus of a new society.
Talk given at the Dharmapala College seminar on the New Society, 2010.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Revering and Relying Upon the Dharma” Subhuti reflects on his recent conversations with Bhante which gave rise to his article: ‘Revering and Relying upon the Dharma: Sangharakshita’s approach to Right View’.
A talk given at the Triratna Buddhist Order Combined European Order Weekend at Wymondham College 21 August 2010.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a tender and moving talk by Paramananda entitled “The Nature of Transformation”. Transformation is basically allowing the protective shell of self to dissipate. This shell only falls away if you come into relationship with your real, impermanent, fragile, vulnerable nature and soften into that or open up to that.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Discipleship”by Dhammadinna. This talk was given at the Triratna Buddhist Order December 2014 Women’s UK and Ireland Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana on 6 December 2014.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “The Diamond Sutra”, is a talk given my Sangharakshita in 1969. If one does not want to ‘get caught in the grip of reality’, one should leave this great text alone! The Perfection of Wisdom Discourse that ‘Cuts Like a Diamond’…
N.B. Reference for this lecture: Buddhist Wisdom Books, translated by E. Conze. (Allen & Unwin, 1958)
This week’s FBA Podcast, is brought to us by Padmavajra called “Padmasambhava and the Magic Of Compassion”. Padmavajra is an ideal person to introduce Padmasamabhava, the great Tantric guru of Tibet. He is both a devotee and a good storyteller – a winning combination as we are brought into vivifying contact with the origins and mysteries of this central Vajrayana figure.
Please note, there is some audio skipping on this recording for a couple of minutes at around the 45 minute point. Oddly, the sense can still be followed.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2006
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Breaking the Bonds of Selfhood Through Serving the Dhamma (with translation in Hindi)” by Parami. Here is a strong, beautiful talk by Parami from the final day of the Triratna Buddhist Order’s International Convention 2013 in India, bringing us back to the task in hand as members of the Order and as Buddhists: engaging with breaking the fetters and weakening the hold that self-clinging exerts upon our minds and our ways of seeing things.
Parami brings alive the possibilities in notions about how collective practice manifests (Order chapters, the Bodhisattva Ideal at ordination, ‘sanghakaya’) but grounds the whole thing movingly in her evident love of the Order and her inspiration at being gathered with so many sisters and brothers under one sky.
Talk given at Bodh Gaya, International Order Convention, February, 2013.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Yidams” is a talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre in 2007 by Padmavajra. As we approach the full moon of July, Buddhists around the world will be celebrating Dharma Day, the marking of the Buddha’s first teaching. We decided to fast forward several hundred years after the Buddha’s lifetime to introduce a host of Bodhisattva’s who emerged to help spread the Dharma throughout the world. Beginning with this full talk, we will follow over the next few weeks with talks, mantras and more in our Dharmabytes Podcast to introduce Tara, Manjusri, Vajrapani, Ksitigarbha, Avalokitesvara and Padmasambhava.
‘The dharma changes lives, it has changed our own and it can change others.’ This week’s FBA Podcast is a talk by Dharmashalin he called: “Reaching Out – Communicating the Dharma From Our Appreciation, Courage and Conviction.” Buddhism is a communication, the Buddha, gained Awakening and shared his experience with others which has led us to be here today. This is the origins of Outreach, taking the Dharma to others.
I have started working for the Birmingham Buddhist Centre to do just that, continuing a strong tradition here of taking the Dharma out. But, that communication needs to be grounded in our own awareness and appreciation of what we have benefitted from.
We can all cultivate this awareness and in fact any time we take the risk to tell others about our values – that is a moment of outreach. All of us associated with the Centre can do this, and together we can help spread the Dharma more and more widely.
This week’s FBA Podcast entitled “Buddhism and the Language of Myth” is part of the series Ritual and Devotion in Buddhism by Sangharakshita. Buddhism is the most rational of religions. But it appeals no less to the heart than to the head, using the language of myth to do so. Examples are four ‘myths’ from the Buddha’s biography, here correlated with four of Jung’s archetypes.
This week’sFBA Podcast entitled “Here Be Dragons: Pitfalls, Disasters and Dead-Ends on the Spiritual Quest” by Vessantara. A hugely enjoyable piece – and something a little bit different from the average Dharma talk. For here we have the Buddhist path laid out in terms of Arthurian legend and the Quest for the Holy Grail. Knights, chivalry, adventures and disasters – it’s all here. And, of course, true wisdom where the gallant, sometimes errant, hero least expects to find it. Just like in a story…
Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Men’s National Order Weekend, August 2002
This week’sFBA Podcast entitled “The Heroic Ideal in Buddhism” is a 1969 talk by Sangharakshita. Buddhism is sometimes seen as weak or negative. Using examples from the Pali Canon and Mahayana texts, this lecture shows that, on the contrary, heroic and positive qualities are essential in the Buddhist spiritual aspirant’s quest for Enlightenment.
In this week’sFBA Podcast, “Walking On Lotuses”, Punyamala offers a personal talk on receptivity on the anniversary of her seven year review as a private preceptor. To learn more about joining the Triratna Buddhist Order, see The Buddhist Centre Online.
This talk was given by Punyamala on the Triratna Buddhist Order European Order Gathering at Wymondham College August 26 2012. The theme of the gathering was Spiritual Receptivity.
In this week’sFBA Podcast, “Parables From the White Lotus Sutra – the Burning House”, Jnanavaca kicks off a new seminar series exploring the myths and parables of the glorious White Lotus Sutra. In this talk he unpacks the wisdom of the parable of the Burning House. Dharma Night at the LBC, April 6th 2015
How do we know? This week’s FBA Podcast is the first of three rambles from Subhuti, entitled “Knowledge of Reality – Ramble One”. Subhuti draws inspiration from Europe’s first Buddhist, Schopenhauer, and India’s ancient Yogachara. With immaculate clarity Subhuti takes us deep into the nature of mind and beyond. Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre in October 2014.
This week’sFBA Podcast, “Sowing Seeds In the Soil of the Mind – The Alaya” by Ratnaprabha.
The alaya or storehouse consciousness is the Buddhist equivalent of the unconscious mind. It is like a garden, in which every experience and action sows a seed which may later sprout and create our unfolding life. This talk describes how this relates to the six sense awarenesses, the mind as a sense, and the contaminated mind which reads everything in terms of self and not self. Mindfulness finds a creative path between leaving the alaya on autopilot, and allowing the contaminated mind to interfere and fill the garden with weeds and rubbish.
This week’sFBA Podcast is a talk from Vadanya entitled “Stirring the Depths.” From the depths of ourselves to the depths of the universe, Vadanya reminds us that to be fulfilled we need to live a life in harmony with the nature of reality Using images, mantra, mythic stories to bring us into the depths of our experience, this beautiful talk was given on a men’s ordination training retreat at Padmaloka.
This week’sFBA Podcast is a talk from Parami on “Buddha Day (2012).” Celebrating the Buddha’s Enlightenment on the full moon day in May, Parami delivers an inspiring talk marking this occasion at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre.
We’ve all read the words of the Buddha – but what did he SOUND like? What might it have been like to actually hear him…? In ourFBA Podcast: this week, Ratnaguna gives us a beautifully imaginative and well-researched evovation of the Buddha entitled:“The Voice of the Buddha.” Talk given on the 2012 Triratna International Retreat, under the overall theme ‘Imagining the Buddha.’
Dhammarati brings us this week’sFBA Podcast entitled: “The Triratna Emphasis On Going For Refuge.” Dhammarati explores Going for Refuge and its central emphasis in the Triratna Buddhist Order here, bringing in the story of his own spiritual journey as an example of finding one’s unique response. He also looks to historical sources to identify some of the ways we can deepen our connection practically and experientially. Talk given on the Men’s Going for Refuge Retreat at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, 2013, Part 1 of a 4-part series.
Dharmashalin brings us this week’s FBA Podcast: “An Introduction to the Triratna Community.” A broad overview of the conditions and history behind the Triratna Buddhist Community, comes with a healthy side order of questions about narrative and how we tell stories.
We are delighted to share this week’s FBA Podcast entitled, “Introduction to the Brahma Viharas.” Here, Ratnavandana beautifully introduces the Brahma Viharas as an integrated set of practices flowing from metta – loving kindness. Her central image is that of a tree, deep rooted and spreading its canopy wide as she evokes a profound, personal connection to the cultivation of the sublime abodes – loving kindness, compassion, joy with others, and equanimity.
Ratnavandana also leads a guided meditation on cultivating a connection to the Brahma Viharas.
This talk was given as part of the 2015 Rainy Season Retreat at Bristol Buddhist Centre. The full archive of this retreat is available on The Buddhist Center Online.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Eros and Beauty – Beauty As Refuge,” Subhadramati continues the series exploring the place of Eros and Beauty in the Buddhist life by drawing out the experience of poetry and connecting with strangers. 26th January 2015, London Buddhist Center
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Vadanya shares much to reflect on in the “Sutra of Golden Light.” This is the first of two talks given during the Men`s Event in November 2009 on the theme of the Sutra of Golden Light. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Center, 2009
The Pure Land Sutras are described as practices, not texts to be read and understood, but rather engaged with as if a piece of music, inviting us to awaken our imagination. Ratnaguna gives us a in depth look at the beauty in the Sukhavati Sutras in this week’s FBA Podcast: “Adventures In the Pure Land – Beauty.” This is the 2nd talk in a series of four talks inspired by the Pure Land Sutras at Triratna Night at Manchester Buddhist Centre. February 9th 2015
This week’s FBA Podcast is a gem from Vajratara entitled: “The Buddha, The Bodhicitta and Bhante.” Vajratara introduces the Bodhicitta in an easily accessible format: what, why and how. She starts with the symbolism of the Buddha’s own Bodhisattva vow at the time of Dipankara, the previous Buddha. She also draws out Sangharakshita s unique understanding of the Bodhicitta and how that has shaped the Triratna Order and Movement.
Given at Tiratanaloka on a retreat for women training for Ordination.
Does Buddhism have anything to say about the recent attacks in Paris? What about liberal democracy; does Buddhism agree? Our FBA Podcast this week, “The Diamond Throne” explores these very questions. With characteristic intelligence and sensitivity, Chairman of the Centre Jnanavaca launches 2015 by exploring such issues via the vision of the Vajrasana – the diamond throne.
Our FBA Podcast this week is entitled “Building the Buddhaland”. Here Dayamala discusses the various aspects of the Buddhaland and how we, as Buddhist practitioners, can hope to take part in the building of it.
Our FBA Podcast this week is “Adventures in the Pure Land – Happiness”. Here Ratnaguna begins a series of four special talks at Manchester Buddhist Centre on the Pure Land sutras, with an exploration on the theme of Happiness.
Our FBA Podcast this week is entitled “Death and the Self, and the Buddha’s Unanswered Questions”. Here Vaddhaka delves into the Buddha’s unanswered questions; questions that Vacchagotta, Malunkyaputta and others asked him. Among them: ‘What happens to a Buddha after death?’ And what happens at our own death; what did the Buddha really say; and why did the renowned Buddhist scholar Paul Williams convert from Buddhism to Roman Catholicism?
Our FBA Podcast this week is entitled “Bodhicitta and Spiritual Death” by Vijayamala, a talk given as part of the Understanding, Exploring and Realising Spiritual Death retreat, led by Kamalashila and Vijayamala, at Adhisthana Dec 2014.
Our FBA Podcast this week is entitled “The Mystery of Exchanging Self and Other”. This is the fifth in a series of six talks given by Padmavajra, based on verses from Shantideva’s ‘Guide to The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’, otherwise known as ‘The Bodhicaryavatara’. Talks given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, on the Winter Retreat, December 2011 – January 2012.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Awareness Is Revolutionary”, by Sona, takes a sharp look at Buddhism and secular mindfulness. Calling on his many years experience working with Breathworks, Sona explores how we use the Buddha’s teaching and mindfulness to alleviate pain and suffering.
In this wide-ranging FBA Podcast entitled “Understanding Money, Understanding Ourselves”, Siddhisambhava encourages us to talk about money more and suggests reasons why we often find that so hard to do. She outlines the Buddha’s approach to money and encourages us become clearer and more confident in it.
In this week’s FBA Podcast Subhuti gives a rousing talk on “The History of and Value in Team-Based Right Livelihood” within the Triratna Buddhist Movement. He then goes on to explain why it is so important; because it represents an opportunity to live a ‘full’ Buddhist life for ourselves and present society with an alternative to consumerism
In this week’s FBA Podcast Saddharaja discusses “Meaningful Work and Values” in light of his own experience in a Right Livelihood business. He posits that most people in the modern world might find meaning in their work, and explores how Buddhists can make meaningful work a spiritual practice.
In this week’s FBA Podcast Guhyavajra explores “Ethics as Insight Practice”. Ethics is as an important stage in the path leading to wisdom, but how are ethics and insight interrelated?
This week’s FBA Podcast entitled “The Texture of Reality”, is an early lecture from Sangharakshita on Insight, recorded in 1966, dealing with the three marks (lakshanas) of conditioned existence and their transcendence via the three liberations (vimokshas).
This week’s FBA Podcast entitled “Meeting the Suffering of the World”, by Maitrisara, was the last in a series of talks at Dharmapala College celebrating “40 Years of the New Society”. Here Maitrisara takes on the topic of compassion in action.
A robust talk for this week’s FBA Podcast entitled “A Challenge to the Modern World”, by Sagaraghosa, critiquing structural elements of our society from a Buddhist standpoint, and exploring what we can do to bring about a society more in line with Reality.
Grounding his talk in the Kosambiya and Anuruddha suttas in this week’s FBA Podcast entitled “Why We Need the New Society”, Vajragupta guides us through how we can create the conditions for the seeds of selflessness to grow and develop in the framework of the New Society as described by Sangharakshita: communities, centres and working together.
in this week’s FBA Podcast, Padmavajra, one of Sangharakshita’s closest disciples, offers his own perspective on Sangharakshita as a practitioner with a rich sense of the mythic context pervading all his thinking about the Buddha and his teaching, in a talk entitled “Glimpses of the Mythic Life of Sangharakshita”.
in this week’s FBA Podcast, Vidyadevi remembers her time working with Sangharakshita to edit books based on his lectures and seminars. Entitled “Simple Gifts”, it’s a reflection on friendship with her spiritual teacher.
Given during the Rainy Season Retreat at Manchester Buddhist Centre in February 2014.
Achala responds to the question, “Who is Sangharakshita?” in this week’s FBA Podcast, drawing from his own experiences and those of others. He looks at Sangharakshita’s significance as a spiritual teacher, his qualities and his life.
This talk was given at Nottingham Buddhist centre in April 2014.
Vajratara brings us this week’s FBA Podcast entitled: “From the Bodhicaryavatara.” The Mahayana emphasizes the great goal of the spiritual life – the immeasurable energy, wisdom and compassion. This is what life is about, this is what the path of the spiritual practitioner is all about. Vajratara explores Santideva’s Bodhicaryavatara at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre on 18th March 2008. Part of a series on Great Buddhist Texts.
Vessantara leads us on a journey to discover “Spiritual Receptivity” for this week’s FBA Podcast. This is the first in a thoroughly engaging set of talks and led meditations. From beginning to end, we get to experience the full flavor of the retreat that these segments were recorded from, held at Adhisthana in 2014. Vessantara deftly weaves Spiritual Receptivity together with the greater mandala of the Triratna System of Practice, bringing in aspects of each of the stages of the system and helping to put receptivity in the context of the spiritual life as a whole.
Talks given at Adhisthana, February 2014
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Great Faith, Great Wisdom,” by Ratnaguna, is from the 2014 Men’s Order Convention.
This week’s FBA Podcast, is another brilliant talk from the European Combined Order Convention. In “Wow! Opening to Insight,” Viveka gives us much to reflect upon in our practice in a world that needs our presence. Are we ready to awaken to all sorts of astonishing things? What do you know from direct experience? What we see is pratitya-samutpada, which isn’t a view, but rather a description of how things are. In the lasagnas we see that all of our conditions are a proximate cause for insight arising – just be curious…and have a look!
We need to be more unconditionally loving as a community in order to support the arising of insight.
This week’s FBA Podcast, is entitled “Singing the Song of the Order,” by Jnanacandra. One of two talks on more devotional approaches to Insight, given at the European Combined Order Convention held at Wymondham College on 24 August 2014.
The theme of the convention was “The Bodhisattva’s Reply: Triratna Paths to Insight”.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Radical Change – Learning to Be Free ,” is a talk by Sona given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre in April 2012. He explores how we can make real, even radical, changes to our lives through waking up to life with awareness.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Padmasambhava’s Advice to the Three Fortunate Women,” comes to us from Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2010. Padmolka looks at the first section of Padmasambhava’s Advice to The Three Fortunate Women from The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava. She begins by saying a bit about Padmasambhava subduing the demons of Tibet and the circumstances around the time when this teaching is given.
Padmasambhava is asked for a short, practical teaching which can be learned by heart to help Queen Nang Chung to practice the Dharma and ultimately lead her to Buddhahood. She then goes through the verse, pulling out it’s themes and meaning.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a quite unusual and unexpectedly intimate talk from Sangharakshita, “Dreams and Rebirth.” Given at the wonderful old converted church that is now the resplendent Sheffield Buddhist Centre in the UK. Some lovely, evocative accounts from his personal dreamlife – tales of mediaeval monks! – and a significant and highly personal exploration of the whole area of Buddhist views on rebirth and re-becoming. Much food for thought here from a wholly atmospheric and clearly enjoyable occasion. Talk given at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2008
This week’s FBA Podcast, “The Mandala of the Buddha,” is a talk given by Kamalashila on the 2012 Triratna International Retreat, in which he explores the ‘Mandala of the Buddha’ – some of the Buddha’s many qualities which, perhaps, gave rise to the later Mahayana ‘Mandala of the Five Buddhas’.
Vajratara delivers our FBA Podcast this week, “Energy, the Tantric Precepts and Enlightenment.” An exploration of what energy means in the spiritual life and how to work with it, especially referencing Sangharakshita’s ‘Tantric’ version of the Five Precepts. Given at the 2011 National Young Triratna Buddhists Weekend retreat exploring the theme of ‘Energy for Enlightenment’. See www.buddhismtoday.co.uk for more young Buddhists’ events.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Eight Step Recovery” Vimalasara speaks on the importance of loving oneself as a part of recovery from addiction as an introduction to her new book, co-authored with Paramabandhu, entitled ‘Eight Step Recovery – Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction’. She goes on to discuss the life conditions that she and Paramabandhu have emerged from, and how those energies came together and inspired the writing of the book. Outlining the eight steps, Vimalasara demonstrates that, while the book was mainly written for those in recovery, it is in some way for everyone. The talk is followed by a question and answer session.
Words are not adequate to describe things as they are, and yet Ratnaguna does a remarkable job! This week’s FBA Podcast, “The Buddhas Two Great Gifts to the World” Ratnaguna explores the gifts of discourse and practice. This talk was given to to promote a new buddhist centre in Stockholm.
This week’s FBA Podcast is entitled: “Make Yourself An Island.” Reflecting on her favourite lines from the Paranibbana Sutta, Jvalamalini explores how to become an island in the midst of the eight worldly winds, especially how to steer through praise and blame, and fame and infamy by developing true individuality, and spiritual receptivity.
This week’s FBA Podcast was given at the London Buddhist Centre’s Dharma Day celebration, July 2014. “Dharma and Nature” by Dhivan, author of “This Being, That Becomes”. The word Dharma means many things, including “nature” – referring to how things work, the true nature of things. We also use the word to refer to the whole interconnected living world. The meanings of the world only partly overlap, which gives us the starting point for this precise, thoughtful, evocative Dharma talk.
This week’s FBA Podcast comes to us from Amalaketu entitled “A Hopeful Buddhist Response to Environmental Crisis”. How, as Buddhists, can we respond appropriately to the current environmental crisis. Talk given on Sangha Night at Norwich Buddhist Centre on 1st July 2014.
We are pleased to share the three keynote talks from last month’s International Retreat. Our third FBA Podcast in the series is “Altruism, Actually – Getting Out and Doing It”. Mokshini introduces us to Buddhist Action Month and asks us to consider how our actions have consequences and how we practise the precepts as consumers.
Talk given at the Triratna International Retreat 2014 held at Adhisthana on 26th May 2014.
We are pleased to share the three keynote talks from last month’s International Retreat. Our second FBA Podcast in the series is “Going Beyond Capitalism – A Buddhist Perspective”. Vaddhaka inspires Triratna Buddhists to learn more about economics and challenge the Neo-liberal economists notion that individual greed will lead to everyone benefiting. He encourages us to embrace Sangharakshitas vision of a New Society as an alternative way of being for the world.
Talk given at the Triratna International Retreat 2014 held at Adhisthana on May 25th 2014.
We are pleased to share the three keynote talks from last month’s International Retreat. Our first FBA Podcast in the series is “The Bodhisattvas Reply”. Inspired by a poem from Sangharakshita entitled The Bodhisattvas Reply, Vajragupta outlines ways in which Western religious groups have historically approached engagement with social issues. Vajragupta suggests three ways in which we can work together to transform ourselves and so create a better world.
Talk given at the Triratna International Retreat 2014 held at Adhisthana on 24 May 2014.
We are pleased to share a talk by Parami for our FBA Podcast today, “Buddhanussati: What Would the Buddha Do Now?” given at Manchester Buddhist Centre on 12th January 2009.
In our FBA Podcast today, “The Broken Mandala,”, Maitreyabandhu talks about how we need a central mythic thread in our lives, and how without this the mandala of our life is either broken, destructive or chaotic. This personal, inner mandala is mirrored by the public outer world around us. Humanly and spiritually we live in a broken mandala. How do we make sense of our lives? What is our deeper priority? What can we base our mandala around that will lead to true happiness?
The talk was given at Nottingham Buddhist centre on 9th April 2014.
In our FBA Podcast today, “Forces That Shape the Mind,”, Manjuvajra continues with his thoughts on ‘Evolution and the meaning of life’. Individuals enter this path of a higher evolution by consciously cooperating with the evolutionary process to refine their self consciousness: to purifying the mind as a basis for the next evolutionary step. To purify the mind we must know the mind, so in this talk we explore an analysis of the mind that sheds light on the practical needs of the purification process which is itself achieved through the practice of ethics, mindfulness and meditation. This is the third talk in a series given at the Bristol Buddhist Centre.
In our FBA Podcast today, “Milarepa and the Yak Horn Story,”, Yashobodhi tells the story of Milarepa’s attempt to tackle his disciple Rechungpa’s pride by singing to him from inside a Yak horn.
In our FBA Podcast today, “The Motive (Remixed),”, Padmavajra explores a great classic of Tibetan Buddhism – Gampopa’s ‘Jewel Ornament of Liberation’. The work, inspired by devotion to Manjusri, is one of the key texts in the development of the Tibetan Lam Rim teachings. And Gampopa, being one of the two principle disciples of the yogi Milarepa, presents both the monastic Lam Rim approach of Atisha and the Mahamudra meditation teachings of Milarepa himself.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter 2008 This talk is part of the series Themes from Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation.
In our FBA Podcast today, “Zen Master Hakuin”, Jyotipakshini delivers a wonderful overview of Hakuin’s early life and what led him to becoming a monk. She shares his strengthss and the characteristic aspects of his personality, his determination and intense dedication, as well as his highly critical nature, his struggles and setbacks. We also hear a little about the two schools of Zen and about koan practice, as well as Hakuin’s later life as a prolific teacher and reformer of the Rinzai school.
Talk given at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre in July 2011.
In celebration of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, our FBA Podcast today is titled “Heart of Darkness” from the London Buddhist Centre’s Buddha Day Festival a few years back. Inspiring stuff, despite it’s title! An honest, heartfelt talk from the author, “Meaning in Life”.
In this week’s FBA Podcast we hear a talk given by Nagabodhi on Triratna Day 2014. Here, in “Dhardo Rinpoche, Stupa Building and Sangha” Nagabodhi recounts his favorite memories of his time with Dhardo Rinpoche in Kalimpong, expresses his feelings about the strengthening power of stupa building for centers, and ties it all together with a reminder of the central role of sangha in the Triratna Community.??Talk given on Triratna Day 2014 at Aryaloka Buddhist Center with an introduction by Aryaloka’s Chairperson, Dayalocana.
In this week’s FBA Podcast Dhammarati delivers “A System of Training.” Here Dhammarati explores the FWBO’s system of practice itself -its background in practice, its relationship to tradition, and its implications for the very nature of spiritual life. An encouraging, grounded, flexible take on the rigorous, meaningful, and rewarding challenges of a lifetime of working with the mind and the heart. Talk given at the national Order weekend, February 2008
In this week’s FBA Podcast we hear from Parami in the LBC series: “Women Elders of the Triratna Buddhist Community” Parami, ordained in 1980, and one of our International Order Conveners, gives a talk about her spiritual life.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “How the Buddha Taught Mindfulness,” Ratnpaprabha explains this practice and understanding of the Sutta of ‘Being mindful of the in- and out-breaths’ (Anapanasati). He talks about how mindfulness connects with body-awareness, how t takes you into rapture and happiness, and thus into ‘sensitivity to the whole mind. He also explores how one calms and focuses the mind in mindfulness meditation, and how this can lead to ‘gladdening’, ‘concentrating’ and ‘liberating’, and finally to full Insight.
Our FBA Podcast this week, “Metta Blazing Like the Sun,” is Vajratara’s talk from the young people’s retreat at Adhisthana – ‘the big one’. Starting with a world on fire, Vajratara strips down what metta actually means in our experience: an awareness that discerns what is positive and stops it slipping from our minds. This is the seed of liberation, the cry of sunyata ‘unconditioned and unconfined’. Metta as a special quality of awareness radiating into four directions: our environment, our selves, others and Reality.
Our FBA Podcast this week, “Remembering the Bodhichitta In Everyday Life ,” is a talk from the recent Tonglen Retreat for Triratna Order Members by Yashobodhi. In this dynamic talk, Yashobodhi shares her personal connection to the ton glen practice, the seven point mind training and about practising tonglen in each moment.
Our FBA Podcast this week, “Bhante – Poetry, Myth And Imagination,” is a talk by Dhammadinna given on the Rainy Season Retreat at Manchester Buddhist Centre on Wednesday 19th February 2014. Dhammadinna speaks about Sangharakshita and his emphasis on Imagination as a key to the spiritual life.
In our FBA Podcast this week, “Make It So – Imagining The Buddha,” Suriyavamsa looks at the role of imagination in the way we shape our everyday world and how we can use this to bring the Buddha to life in our spiritual practice.
In our FBA Podcast this week, “Entering The Realm Of Perfect Wisdom,” Santavajri shares her connection with the Heart Sutra at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre. Talk given on 5th May 2008. Part of a series on Great Buddhist Texts.
Our FBA Podcast this week, “Dharmic Receptivity,” launch of the London Buddhist Center theme for the year by Jnanavaca. Talk given at the LBC’s Dharma Night Class, Monday January 20th 2014
Vessantara has been on a three year long retreat and as he emerges he has many insights to share. Our FBA Podcast this week is filled with deep reflections marked by clarity and a brilliance we are excited to make available. In “Karma, Rebirth and the Deep Boundless Dharma,” Vessantara offers a concise explanation of karma as he explores the concepts of rebirth. Given at the Triratna Buddhist Order UK and Ireland Men’s Order Weekend at Adhisthana on 1 February 2014.
Our FBA Podcast this week, “Freedom of Heart,” a talk by Dhivan as part of the International Urban Retreat, the theme of which is metta ‘blazing like the sun’.
We are delighted to bring you “The Power of Love” in this week’s FBA Podcast. Padmavajra begins this talk with the chanting of The Karaniya Metta Sutta, in order to invoke ‘the blessing power of loving kindness’, which according to the sutta needs to be wielded at all times. He explores all of the stages of the metta bhavana (development of loving-kindness practice), as well as showing how metta can lead to wisdom and liberation, at the same time saying: we practice the metta bhavana to love others, Enlightenment is incidental!
In our FBA Podcast this week, Parami offers a delightful retrospect while looking forward in “Business As Usual – Adhisthana and the Bodhichitta.” Reflecting on the history of the Order, Bhante’s teachings, listening to the Dharma, developing our system of practice, and gathering together in large numbers. Inspiring as ever, Parami seeds the conversation about ‘commonality of practice’ as we move forward into a new era.
From the UK and Ireland Area Order weekend for women at Adhisthana on 7th December 2013.
This week for our FBA Podcast we offer a key in accessing the potentiality of consciousness in: “Consciousness Unfolds”. In this first talk from a series of three, Subhuti continues his well-known Rambles Around Reality at the LBC, this time enquiring into the nature of consciousness from the point of view of Urgyen Sangharakshita’s particular presentation of the Dharma.
This week’sFBA Podcast“Spiritual Transmission and Lineage” is a detailed, intimate and heartfelt talk from Saddhanandi looking at the relationship between a Dharma follower and her/his teacher. The talk takes as its lead-off point, David Smith’s criticisms of the FWBO as lacking relationship with a ‘vertical dimension’ in its systems of practice. It’s a sympathetic and open response, but one that is also happy to have confidence in an inside experience of practice that arrives at different conclusions. Saddhanandi revisits Sangharakshita’s own take on the problems faced by practitioners in a contemporary spiritual community, and, with the help of a good sprinkling of quotes and stories from other traditions, she explores the nature of the Sangha as the possible ground for insight itself to arise.
Please note, this talk has variable sound quality throughout.
Talk given at the Tiratna [Western] Buddhist Order Women’s Convention, Wymondham 2007
We are graced with Dhammadinna’s wisdom in this week’sFBA Podcast“The Richly Endowed Buddha of the Southern Realm” Third in a series of talks given on the 2012 Triratna International Retreat, Dhammadinna evokes the Buddha Ratnasambhava. For more talks, videos, photos etc from the retreat see www.thebuddhistcentre.com and navigate to page ‘internationalretreat.’
For this week’s FBA Podcast we have Kamalashila speaking on the occasion of relaunching his book Buddhist Meditation. In “Tranquility, Imagination and Insight” he beautifully reveals his thoughts on how the Buddha was imbued with confidence without conviction. He seemed completely at peace with himself which lead to friendliness in all his communications. His life, his example, the embarkment on the three trainings of behavior, meditation and wisdom combine in the practice of satisampajana – mindfulness and clear comprehension. Mindfulness was the Buddha’s core practice – Cultivating the Way of Awakening.
In this week’s FBA Podcast we picked one of Subhuti’s “Rambles Around Reality – The 5 Niyamas.” Here Subhuti talks about the fundamental basis of Buddhism’s conception of reality; Pratitya Samutpada. He introduces it in the form of the 5 niyamas, in the course of his ramble he emphasises that these are forces, or the way things are rather than ‘laws’. The talk culminates in the Karma and Dharma niyamas and particularly emphasising the importance of the Dhamma niyama, which is that in the universe that makes enlightenment possible. However to philosphise or abstract from it is to miss the point, in the end it must remain a mystery that we must experience for ourselves.
In this week’s FBA Podcast we hear another take on a famous Bodhisattva: “Vajrasattva: Not About Purity” by Jnanavaca given on Vajrasattva Festival Day at London Buddhist Centre on June 2009.
In this week’s FBA Podcast “Vajrapani The Dharma Protector,” Vadanya introduces us to this Bodhisattva of Energy given as part of a series of talks on Stories and Symbols at Sheffield Buddhist Centre on 3rd July 2007.
The fires that can consume our old selves also release a new potential, the image of the phoenix evokes this transformation. In this week’s FBA Podcast “Amitabha and the Phoenix,” Vessantara explores Amitabha’s emphasis on meditation and his wisdom of discrimination. Amitabha is also associated with spiritual death. How do all these associations come together? One point of connection is the Bodhicitta. The reorientation of self and a letting go which allows for something vaster and more beautiful to inform our lives. In the first place, this might be expressed through being more empathic and compassionate to others.
This week’s FBA Podcast “Gazing at the Setting Sun – Amitabha and the Ordination Myth” is a previously unreleased talk by Dhammadinna looking at the process of joining the Triratna (Western) Buddhist Order in the sunset light of Amitabha, the red Buddha of the West. Talk given in 2000 at the National Order Weekend.
This week’s FBA Podcast “Mindfulness As the Great Love (White Tara)” is a talk given by Vajratara at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre (28th August 2007), about the symbolism of White Tara, as part of a series on Stories and Symbols.
In this week’s FBA Podcast “Dwelling In the Presence of the Buddha” Subhuti considers the significance of Sangha day falling on the cusp of winter, and the importance of the seasons in human life. He recalls the genesis of Sangha day from the time of the Buddha, and considers it’s relevance for us here in the 21st century. Ultimately Subhuti focus on the Sangha jewels itself; its vital importance for the individual practitioner and as a real sign of hope for this world.
This week’s FBA Podcast by Ratnaprabha explores“How Genuine Sangha Can Be Created”.
This week’s FBA Podcast, is by Vidyamala titled “Can Buddhism Survive and Thrive In a Secular World?”. Based on her experience of teaching both ‘hard core’ Buddhism on the one hand and secular mindfulness on the other in various countries and cultural contexts, Vidyamala explores two opposite positions that can be taken in response to this question.
One can be ‘liberal’ and try to change Buddhism to align with popular values in society, or ‘conservative’ and try to change society to align with traditional Buddhist values.
Is there a middle way between these two extremes, where Buddhism is dynamic, accessible and attractive and yet remains true to the uncompromising and radical teachings of the Buddha?
Talk given at Manchester Buddhism Centre on 28th May 2011, as part of a series of free public talks entitled ‘Buddhism and the Big Question’.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, we bring you“The Messengers of the Dharma” by Vajragupta. He offers us a very accurate look at our Order from the perspective of the first three fetters.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Padmasambhava: The Lost Talk”, previously unreleased and, rather famously, given off-the-cuff at the London Buddhist Centre, Sangharakshita gives us this enjoyable and stirring evocation of the great Tantric Guru of Tibet. Talk given in 1979.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Change Is Overdue”, Maitrisara shares her thoughts on the theme of ‘A Force for Good in the World’, given in the Dharma Parlour at the 2010 Buddhafield Festival in Somerset, UK. Maitrisara lives in Oxford, UK, where she’s active in a wide range of community projects – as well as Triratna’s EcoDharma centre in the Pyrenees.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Dealing with Change”, Saddharaja starts off with another story from his childhood in the 1960s about a forest fire and the effects of this upon his father, who was a forester. An example of sudden, dramatic change at work. He moves on to talk about smaller less dramatic changes in the work place which can create anxiety for Right Livelihood workers. Talk given at Windhorse Evolution.
This week’s FBA Podcast by Vadanya is called “Fighting the Fivefold Fear”. In this talk Vadanya explores how we can turn the tables on pointless anxiety and limiting fears, and use these as fuel for our practice. Talk given on Men’s Event at Padmaloka, June 2013.
This week’s FBA Podcast by Jnangarbha is called “The Hub of the Wheel”. This is Part 2 of a series of four talks on the Wheel of Life. This talk on The Hub was originally recorded in December 2003. It is available on Free Buddhist Audio thanks to the volunteer efforts of the Croydon Buddhist Centre Digital Archive Project.
This week’s FBA Podcast “Buddhism, Modern Physics and the Nature of Reality” given by Jnanavaca at the London Buddhist Centre’s Open Day in May 2010.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Buddhism and Science”, Manjuvajra condenses the Evolution talks into one that puts the spiritual life into the context of evolution – an update of Bhante’s Higher Evolution talks. Talk given at the Bristol Buddhist Centre, April 2013.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a lovely talk by Vajrasakhi, current chair of Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre in Wales. In “Reality As A Way Of Life” Vajrasakhi shares her thoughts on Enlightenment as a way of living, a way of being conscious, a way of being aware, even creatively aware.
This week’s FBA Podcast is the third talk in the LBC Buddhophany series by Subhuti titled:“Meeting the Buddha In Reality”. Subhuti concludes with a rousing call to take the Buddha’s invitation to meet him in reality. To do this we need to engage with the Buddha on the level of history and myth.
This week’s FBA Podcast, comes from Vidyamala, speaking at Manchester Buddhist Center in 2012.
Entitled “Awareness is Revolutionary”, she encourages us to change our minds to change the world, speaking about the life-changing power of awareness.
This week’s FBA Podcast, comes from Lokabandhu at Buddhafield’s Green Earth Awakening event in May of 2013.
Entitled “A Buddhist Approach to Changing the World”, Lokabandhu explores how Buddhists might take on the heroic task of affecting the world for the better. After reviewing the Buddhist concept of conditionality, he draws on examples such as Dr. Ambedkar and Triratna’s paradigm of the ‘New Society’ to illustrate how lasting social and personal change might successfully be brought about.
This week’s FBA Podcast, by Padmavajra, was given during the 2013 Young men’s retreat at Padmaloka.
Entitled “The Way of the Dharma Warrior”, Padmavajra describes the qualities of the Dharma Warrior and how Dharma Warriors are fighting in the great battle between the spiritual community and the group – fighting for the liberation of the truly human individual against the forces of mediocrity and uniformity – the battle with Mara who embodies those forces. Padmavajra concludes with David Jones’ magnificent evocation of a warrior in his poem ‘The Hunt’.
This week’s FBA Podcast, by Vajratara, is a tour-de-force of a talk entitled “Young People, the Bodhisattva Ideal, and Padmasambhava”.
Vajratara weaves together her first contact with meditation and the Dharma (being forced to go by her best-friend’s Mum!), early explorations with drugs, her love of teaching, how to build a spiritual community, Padmasambhava, and the Bodhisattva Ideal.
This week’s FBA Podcast, by Dhammagita, is entitled “Dads and Mums, Truth and Lies”.
Given at a Dharma Day festival talk at the West London Buddhist Centre in July 2011, here Dhammagita celebrates the Dharma – emphasising the importance of truth and authenticity – and ends with a heartfelt expression of gratitude to her own teachers.
This week’s FBA Podcast, by Sanghamani, and given during the Buddhafield East “Buddhism and the Natural World” retreat, is entitled “May All Your Weeds Be Wildflowers”.
Sanghamani draws inspiration from the use of images in nature linked to the Buddhas Enlightenment, Maras assault, and calling the earth goddess to witness and how we can use them to help us contact our own fearlessness and confidence. She encourages us to see our weeds as wildflowers and use metta to plant new seeds in order to create our own Buddhafields. She also speaks personally about the Buddhafields as places that offer the perfect conditions for spiritual growth.
Listen out for and be patient with the creaking mast of the Rainbow Tent ship!
This week’s FBA Podcast, by Sangharakshita explores the Sutra of Golden Light and is entitled “Nature, Man and Enlightenment.”.
We seek happiness, but often we find that our desires and aspirations are in conflict. This struggle and its resolution are symbolically portrayed in the sutra by the figures of the Monk and Drdha, the Earth-Goddess.
Talk given in 1976.
In the face of global climate crisis what can we do? How can we change the ways we think and respond to the seemingly insurmountable problems the planet faces? This week’s FBA Podcast, by Akuppa, explores the relationships and connections between “Buddhism and Ecology.”
Akuppa’s thoughtful introduction to the worlds of scientific and deep ecology asks us the hard questions and offers some hope for possible answers. Drawing on the work of Joanna Macy and others, he traces positive lessons to be learned from simply observing and engaging with nature’s patterns and processes – and invites us all to prepare to be awestruck as a necessary first step.
Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Convention, 2005
Inspiration is present because of how we live – it is not something that comes from inside of us or outside of us. This week’s FBA Podcast, by Vidhuma, looks at: “Maintaining Inspiration.”
In his usual humble, poetic, and beautifully spoken way, Vidhuma weaves his way through The Three Refuges, bringing in his favorite American poets and writers, including Walt Whitman, as he explores the theme of the convention: The Heart of the Order.
Talk given at the North American Order Convention, 2010
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Going for Refuge,” by Viveka, is a personable and wide-ranging look at one of the most important aspects of Buddhist practice, whose significance is upheld in every tradition.
What is it to look to the ‘Three Jewels’ as a response to our dissatisfaction? A thoughtful exploration, taking in traditional Dharma approaches and contemporary counter-cultural art forms and ways of living…
Talk given at San Francsisco Buddhist Center, 2006
To appreciate the significance of the 25th Anniversary of the Triratna’s sole retreat center in America, Nagabodhi takes us back 2500 years to the time of the Buddha through the early years of the movement right up to the present day and onwards into the future.
This week’s FBA Podcast, “Reflections on Aryaloka” is an inspiring and well thought out talk including stories about Sangharakshita and Aryaloka’s early pioneers. Nagabodhi offers one man’s perspective on bringing Buddhism to the West: A story of heroism, gratitude and love for the Dharma.
Talk given at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, New Hampshire USA, August 2010
In this week’s FBA Podcast,“Love, Sangha and Amitabha”, Amitasuri introduces us to Amitabha: Buddha of love and compassion, looking at the love and sangha aspects of the red Buddha of the western realm. From this perspective Amitasuri reflects on our relationships and the preciousness of human life. She considers whether, with body speech and mind, there can be any more appropriate response to connecting with ourselves and each other than with love and compassion.
In this week’s FBA Podcast “The Tale of Maha-Kassapa” Amoghavajra asks us, what is it that gladdens your heart?
Taking us back 2,500 years to the Kingdom of Magadha in Northern India to the birth of a boy called Kassapa, Amoghavajra tells the story of how he grows up happily and as he gets older he becomes less and less worldly. Kassapa marries Bhadda who has equally renunciant tendancies. They both go forth together.
Kassapa meets the Buddha, becomes his disciple and gains Enlightenment. He is known as a superb meditator and was foremost among the bhikkus for practising austerities. According to Amoghavajra’s story, one of the teachings that the Buddha gave to Kassapa was to attend to whatever gladdens the heart.
Be prepared for the odd surprise in our FBA Podcast today where Dhivan asks: “What Do We Really Know About the Buddha?”
A lovely talk here from the excellent Dhivan. As he sifts the information that’s come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual, changing the world he took part in, stepping out of history “with the walk of a lion, the walk of a swan.”
Talk given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2008
Our FBA Podcast today is a wonderfully entertaining talk on Perfect Vision titled: “Welsh Bats, A Vajrasattva Drugs Mule and Spanish Insight.” Here Vajrin tells a story of a wide ranging journey, including his early days at the Bristol Buddhist Centre in Long Ashton; his time as a junior doctor working in Africa; travels through India and Tibet; a visit to an Everest base camp and finally to ordination at a retreat centre high in the Spanish sierras. Along the way he manages to acquire a splendid Vajrasattva rupa and overcoming considerable obstacles, brings it home, thereby establishing a life-long association with this powerful bodhisattva of purification.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Manjuvajraa offers us insight into “Spontaneous Universal Compassion.” The last of eight talks in the series ‘Evolution and the meaning of life’, here Manjuvajra shows us the next evolutionary step – purifying the mind.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Ratnaprabha gives us: “How To Have Fun” – A Look at the Buddhist path in terms of happiness, engagement, interest and delight. A new take on the positive nidanas.
Talk given at the West London Buddhist Centre
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “The Power of Empathy,” Vajrasara explores metta (loving kindness), the subtle art of listening, and Kuan Yin, the mysterious white lady of Compassion.
One of a series of talks on the theme of ‘A Force for Good in the World’, given in the Dharma Parlour at the 2010 Buddhafield Festival in Somerset, UK
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Empty Cave: Reflections on Life, Practice and Enlightenment,” Saraha takes us on a journey into the snowy mountains of the Pyrenees where he engaged in a solitary meditation retreat.
He found ‘nothing but the sound of a man breathing’ and hope and direction through emptiness, beauty and the Buddha’s assertion that mindfulness is the way to freedom.
Talk given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, October 2012.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Padmavajra takes us on an amazing journey into: “The Tiger’s Cave.” This is the first in an excellent 8-talk sequence by Padmavajra on Zen Buddhism. The series is full of colourful stories and challenging insights from the lives of the great Masters of China and Japan.
This talk introduces the basics and brings us face to face with the Great Emptiness at the heart of practice.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004
This talk is part of the series “Tangling Eyebrows with Zen Masters.”
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Magic For the Modern World,” Candradasa takes a personal look at aspects of magic in the East and West, considering its place in Buddhist history and practice and also its meeting with Christianity at the time of the Renaissance. What emerges is a picture of how magic defined in various ways can be a powerful metaphor for the everyday work of Buddhist meditation and ethical practice – with the enchantment of love and wisdom fused the only one we need. The Buddha is the Master of Enchantments and his path – a magical training with him – is available to all. The truly marvelous awaits…
Talk given in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, October 2012. This talk is part of the series “Religion Without God.”
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “The Blissful Mind,” Vajradevi explores bliss, happiness, joy and their relationship to the Buddhist path. What stops us feeling happy more of the time? Is there a difference between freedom of desire and freedom from desire?
Last of a series of four talks entitled ‘The Powers of the Mind’ given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre in April 2011.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Vadanya delivers an engaging and rich talk titled: “The Great Hidden Treasures of Padmasambhava.”
In this week’s FBA Podcast, we bring you a classic talk by Sangharakshita: “Art & The Spiritual Life.” “Art is the organisation of sensuous impressions that express the artist’s sensibility and communicate to his audience a sense of values that can transform their lives.” Using his own definition, Sangharakshita investigates the relevance of art and the artist to higher evolution. Talk given in 1969 as part of the series “The Higher Evolution.”
In this week’s FBA Podcast, “Ashvaghosha: India’s Great Buddhist Poet” Dhivan introduces Ashvaghosha, the Buddhist poet of 2nd c. AD India. Two of his works survive: a poetic re-telling of the Buddha’s life-story (‘The Buddhacarita’ or ‘Acts of the Buddha’), and ‘Handsome Nanda’, about the conversion of the Buddha’s sensuous and wife-loving cousin to the Dharma.
Here Dhivan shares some of his own translations of Ashvaghosha from Sanskrit and Pali sources, in this accessible and humorous introduction to some fine Buddhist poetry.
This talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 20 August 2009, on the occasion of the launch of Urthona magazine, issue 26.
In this week’s FBA Podcast, Maitreyabandhu brings us “Poetry East: Sasha Dugdale Interview.” Sasha Dugdale is a poet and translator. She worked for the British Council in Russia in the 1990s where she set up the Russian New Writing Project with the Royal Court Theatre. Since her return in 2001 she has translated new plays for the Court, the RSC and other theatre companies. Her recent translations of Elena Shvarts’ poems Birdsong on the Seabed were shortlisted for the Popescu Prize and the Academica Rossica Award. Her third book of poetry Red House appeared in August 2011 and is published by Carcanet Oxford poets.
“One of the most original poets of her generation” Paul Batchelor, The Guardian.
In this week’s FBA Podcast “Life – For A Limited Time Only,” Suriyavamsa begins with the inevitability of death and some of our habitual attitudes to death and suffering, reading from contemporary poets. He brings out the Buddhist perspective that life and death are not separate, but parts of the same process. This talk was given at Parinirvana Day 2010 at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre.
In this week’s FBA Podcast “Death And The Buddhist,” Danavira is very funny, can do poetic and profound, tends to the chaotic in his style, and has a particular genius for this kind of thing; this kind of thing being talking about death. The whole talk is a kind of respectful joyride through the hardest subject of all – sit back and enjoy a thoroughly adult treat that’s likely to blow the heart wide open.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Men’s Event 2000
In this week’s FBA Podcast “Reflections on Vajrasattva: Purity, Confession and Death,” Dhammadinna shares her thoughts on Vajrasattva. His purity is not any sort of purity that can be attained – he is beyond space and beyond time. He is a very positive, profound, beautiful figure encouraging us to turn towards our innate purity, our Vajrasattva nature, so that we can wake up to the fact that in our deepest nature we’ve never been impure.
This talk was given as part of the Vajrasattva Festival Day at the London Buddhist Centre on Sunday 13th February 2010.
In this week’s FBA Podcast “Triratna Buddhism,” Vadanya tells the story of Sangharakshita and the new Buddhist Order and movement he founded. He talks about the early days of the FWBO and demonstrates the radical nature of the movement that has now become the Triratna Buddhist Community.
In this week’s FBA Podcast , “The Individual and Community” Dhammarati talks about the Order as the basis for the New Society. Basing his talk in part on the lectures where Sangharakshita originally introduced the idea of the New Society, which also includes interesting material on the Order, specifically the distinctions between Public and Private Ordination and what they represent.
Dhammarati then goes onto to explore the central importance the Triratna Buddhist Order places on communication and connection as a means of personal transformation and the basis from which we influence the world. This gives us the significance of the Triranta Buddhist Order as a community of individuals trying to change themselves and have a positive impact on society making them a nucleus of a new society.
Talk given in a seminar at Dharmapala College, 2010.
This week’s FBA Podcast , “Dreaming Angels” is a rousing and challenging talk by Vajratara given on the December 2012 National Order Weekend for women. The full title is “Dreaming Angels Each Imbued with the Mysteries of the Other – Why the Triratna Buddhist Order is Needed and What It Can Do.”
Vajratara begins her talk by evoking the social revolution of Dr Ambedkar. A revolution, she says, which is still needed to overthrow unhelpful attitudes in society, free the disadvantaged and give meaning to those who long for a higher life. She explains how the Triratna Buddhist Order can be in the first rank of the fighting forces in this revolution by referring to the Five Pillars of the Order.
In this week’s FBA Podcast , “Buddhism: A Force for Good in the World” Vajragupta explores the potential of the Buddha’s teachings to transform society, starting with seeing how the Dhamma has helped millions of people who’ve suffered under the Hindu caste system change their lives. He asks how we’ve done in bringing this part of Bhante’s vision into being in the last 40 years, and encourages us to take opportunities to change society, including helping activists in positive change, and bringing a Buddhist perspective to current social debates.
In this week’s FBA Podcast , “Buddhism and Peace” Parami thoughtfully asks: What is peace? And what does peace mean for Buddhists? Is it just the absence of war and conflict; guns and screaming?
Or is it also the deep silence that arises when the mind and heart are in harmony – a positive state of mind that can be cultivated both personally and collectively, where good and evil don’t exist as concepts?
This talk was given by Parami at Manchester Buddhist Centre on 30th July 2011 in the series Buddhism and the Big Questions.
In this week’s FBA Podcast , Kamalashila introduces the fifth perfection: “Dhyana Paramita, the Perfection of Meditation.” Kamalashila is the author of ‘Buddhist Meditation: Tranquillity, Imagination, Insight’, an excellent manual on the practice of Buddhist meditation. Talk given at the West London Buddhist Centre, 2012.
In this week’s FBA Podcast , “The Myth of Tristan and Iseult: Love, Transgression and Death,” Dhivan explores the origins and significance of the myth of Tristan and Iseult, relating it to the practise of Buddhism in the modern west.
The twelfth-century Cornish story of Tristan and Iseult has captivated imaginations and inspired poets, composers and artists ever since. What is it about this tale of a love potion and a doomed love, of adultery and lies, that is so fascinating?
The talk was given on 11 September 2008 at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, on the occasion of the launch of Urthona Magazine, issue 25.
This week’s FBA Podcast , “Sangharakshita in Conversation with Kathleen Raine,” is a retro piece from the 1980s when ‘Independent Arts’ ran an ambitious and extremely impressive Arts program through the Croydon Buddhist Centre in London. Here’s a first offering from the archive of recordings – an open conversation between Sangharakshita, founder of the Western Buddhist Order, and the renowned poet and scholar Kathleen Raine, one of the founders of the Temenos Academy.
The occasion was the launch of Sangharakshita’s book ‘The Religion of Art’ – and the discussion ranges widely and, at times, controversially through the subject of the Arts considered as a vehicle for spiritual truths. It’s full of talking points and challenges to contemporary orthodoxies around art theory. But whatever one’s take on the views of the participants, this is a marvellous record of a unique meeting of minds.
The Jungian commentator James Hillman suggested that ‘soul’ needs nurturing as well as ‘spirit’ in human life. Our FBA Podcast , “Poetry, Soulmaking and Meditation,” Paramananda uses deeply meaningful poems to show soulmaking in action, and explains how the process can be brought into your meditation practice.
Our FBA Podcast this week is a window into the ancient art of happiness. In “ Stop Buying Stuff and Learn How to Be Happy Instead,” Ratnaguna explores alternatives to buying more stuff and hooking up to more electronic gadgetry…
The Buddha repeatedly said that the only reason he taught was to alleviate suffering, and he in fact enumerated three level of happiness. This teaching is no longer simply an issue of personal growth – it has become vital to the future of our planet.
Talk given at Manchester Buddhist Center, 2011 in a series of free public talks, Buddhism and the Big Questions.
Our FBA Podcast this week, “The Buddha and Friendship,” by Vajratara, begins by looking at how the symbols of the individual spiritual journey is really a story about a network of relationships. Every symbol is born out of relationship. It’s living tradition that gives confidence, it’s not about your own individual practice – your own individual practice is just a part of the Buddhist tradition and the Buddhist community.
With references to Indra’s Net, from the Avatamsaka Sutra, Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra and descriptions of the Bodhicitta, Vajratara delivers an inspiring and engaging look at how our collective practice is essential for the arising of the Bodhicitta.
Our FBA Podcast today, “People of Loving Kindness,” is a lovely talk from Padmavajra, given to celebrate Sangha Day in Birmingham. And who better to conjure the spirit of loving kindness as it permeates a community practising together and supporting each other in their great, shared endeavour.
Our FBA Podcast today, “Sangha in the Context of Contemporary Buddhism,” is from two of our speakers, Parami and Ratnaghosha. Together they deliver two excellent talks that reflect on the area of sangha from inner and outer perspectives respectively. How does the FWBO’s approach square up with that of other traditions? And how might we continue to work on our practice of sangha as an integral part of our personal practice of the Dharma. As usual from two of our most thoughtful speakers, there is much to consider here – in which any Buddhist will likely recognise the challenge and the joy.
This is the last in the series organised by ‘Dharmapala College’ to mark the 40th anniversary of the Western Buddhist Order. The series looked at the Order and the FWBO taken together – past and future: its own emphases, and its relationship to the whole Buddhist tradition…
Our FBA Podcast “Building Sangha, Creating Harmony” is a beautiful talk by Vajrasara. Here she explores the value of spiritual community, ways to encourage fuller harmony, and the many opportunities in friendship for waking up.
OurFBA Podcast this week “Sangha As An Insight Practice,” is a thoughtful, inspirational and, in some places, challenging exploration of how Sangha can be a practice leading to Insight.
Please note: the last few minutes of this talk are missing, for a transcript see our description on freebuddhistaudio.com.
Our FBA Podcast is titled “Creating Sangha and Changing the World” – an inspirational exploration of the Third Jewel by Saddhaloka. He looks at the distinguishing role of Sangha, spiritual community, in the development and life of the Triratna Buddhist Order, and, in fact, in any kind of Buddhist spiritual life. Saddhaloka here is steady and thoughtful as ever…
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2002
This is the first talk in the series of the same name. It touches on aspects of Sangharakshita’s ‘system of meditation’, and most specifically the area of positive emotion. Parami is an ideal guide for this sort of material, steeped as she is in study and practice engaged with in the light of the ‘Bodhichitta’, and the Bodhisattva Ideal itself.
Our FBA Podcast, this week is from the delightfully inspirational Parami titled “The Awakening Heart.”
This is the first talk in the series of the same name. It touches on aspects of Sangharakshita’s ‘system of meditation’, and most specifically the area of positive emotion. Parami is an ideal guide for this sort of material, steeped as she is in study and practice engaged with in the light of the ‘Bodhichitta’, and the Bodhisattva Ideal itself.
Parami is the International Women’s Order Convener for the Triratna Buddhist Order.
FBA Podcast, “The Alchemy of Wisdom,” Yashobodhi introduces the perfection of wisdom in a series on the Six Paramitas at a West London Buddhist Centre Sangha night in May 2012. Followed by questions and answers.
FBA Podcast, this week, “Conditionality and Meditation” is a talk by Vessantara who has just completed a three year, three month, three day retreat.
Conditionality is a central theme of the teaching of the Buddha, and it is very helpful to bring our understanding of it into the arena of our meditation practice. During this talk, Vessantara looks at how to set up good conditions for our meditation to unfold in a natural, expansive way. He also explores how to meditate on conditionality, so that we take our understanding of it deeper, until we know its truth in our bones, and conditionality becomes our natural way of seeing the world.
Talk given at the Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2012.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “The Therigatha and the Problem of Self“by Dassini, takes us into the lives of the early bhikkunis. Two verses by elderly nuns, Dhamma and Citta, give rise to reflection on letting go of fixed self view as a major component of breaking through to Enlightenment.
FBA Podcast, “The Six Elements,” Ratnaprabha introduces us to earth, water, fire, air, space and consciousness as the mystery of human experience. He then describes how to use the elements in meditation and life.
FBA Podcast, “Continuous Spiritual Death – Continuous Spiritual Rebirth” Padmavajra speaks about the stages of spiritual death and rebirth, specifically how to prepare for them, how they can be seen in all the stages of the path, as well as where they lead.
Talk given on a Kula Gathering at Padmaloka, 2012.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a delightful talk by Danapriya titled: “Let your Inner Riches Shine.” Exploring the themes of generosity and abundance, we are led into the heart of Buddhist practice.
In this week’s FBA Podcast “Dana – the Emotional Life of the Sangha,” Samacitta puts the practice of generosity under the microscope in this engaging talk on the first paramita.
When we perform an act of generosity, what exactly is happening? How does it relate to the development of Wisdom? Is there such a thing as purely mental generosity and how effective is it? This talk explains the ‘why’, ‘what’ and how’ of Dana-Paramita.
This week’s FBA Podcast was first given on Lord Buddha TV in India. In “The Buddha’s Advice to a Banker” Subhuti talks about a conversation the Buddha had with his leading Lay disciple, who was one of the wealthiest men in North India. What makes him significant is that he was also recognised as a non-returner.
In this conversation the Buddha talks as prosperity, wealth and what makes for happiness. We see both his straight-forward common sense and his vision for the depth and meaning of human life. Although advice given two and a half thousand years ago it holds good today. It is not wealth that bring meaning to life but the qualities of your mind and the relationships around us.
This talk was given at the London Buddhist Centre
In today’s FBA Podcast, “All In This Together – Is It Time For a Buddhist Economics?” Kavyasiddhi delivers beautifully in this first of a series of public talks at Manchester Buddhist Centre entitled ‘Buddhism and the Big Question‘.
Our FBA Podcast this week “The Alternative to God” is a very thought provoking talk by Maitreyabandhu. Does God exist or not? How do you know? A thoughtful and critical look at this age old question in light of the Buddha’s teachings.
Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre in November 2006.
“The true revolutionary is guided by love.” (Che Guevara). In this weeks FBA Podcast, “Finding Freedom,” Amalaketu explores freedom through images and stories and the Chappanakopama sutta, the discourse on the simile of the 6 animals, and shows how Buddhism is the way to ultimate liberation.
This week’s FBA Podcast is a quietly passionate talk by Jinapriya titled: “What is Enlightenment” – impossible to pin down and utterly transformative. His main theme within the frame of such a big question is the struggle to live our lives in the present moment, especially in the face of pain. We are met with a thoughtful series of reflections, stories and images that all look to open up the gates of perception, and prepare the heart for the biggest change imaginable and possible for all. In that sense, this is a truly optimistic talk.
Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2003
This weeks FBA Podcast, “Songs of the Elder Sisters” is one of a series of talks on the Therigatha, the songs or poems of the nuns at the time of the Buddha. Here, Gunasiddhi gently explores the three themes of Going Forth, Friendship and Impermanence through these tender yet powerful stories.
In celebration of the Buddha’s Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma, this week’s FBA Podcast“The Word of the Buddha” describes the various levels on which Enlightened Consciousness seeks to communicate itself to those who are unenlightened.
Talk given in 1972.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “The Jewel in the Lotus,” by Sraddhagita, is a beautiful down-to-earth exploration of the great central images of Mahayana Buddhism, usually associated with the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshavara.
This talk was given in 2007.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “A Personal Talk On the Bodhisattva Ideal” is just that – a moving and personal talk, by Vidyamala, given at the 25-year jubilee retreat (of FWBO activities in Stockholm) in a beautiful setting in the archipelago north of Stockholm, Sweden, September 2005.
How do the Bodhisattvas enter the Dharma door of non-duality?Today’s FBA Podcast, “The Way of Non-Duality” explores this as one of the main themes in the Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra. Sangharakshita explains some of the dualities listed in the Sutra, gives some examples of his own (with tips on how to transcend them), and concludes with Vimalakirti’s ‘thunder-like silence’.
Talk given in 1979 as part of the series “The Inconceivable Emancipation – Themes from the Vimalakirti Nirdesha.“
Ratnaguna brings a fresh, clear-minded look at the Vimalakirti Nirdesa sutra in today’s FBA Podcast, where he asks: “Who Is Vimalakirti?” Exploring current writings and the thinking of Sangharakshita he offers a number of possibilities: Vimalakirti is a community of practitioners; he is the bodhisattva principle; the spiritual imperative; and both an inspiration and a rebuke.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2009
In today’s FBA Podcast, Sangharakshita goes to Buddhafield! ” A first for him, and a first for the fabulous Buddhafield Festival that takes place each year at the height of the English summer. This talk, “Entering the Sangha” was given in a tent in Devon – and the sounds of this great Dharma celebration are everywhere around as Sangharakshita marks his entry to the ‘Dharma Parlour’ with a rolling set of thoughts and reminiscences and encouragements to practice. We move from India at the time of the peaceful revolution of ‘untouchable’ caste Hindus, to the famed hot-tubs of the festival itself. And we are introduced to the first ‘three fetters’ from the Buddha’s teaching, the breaking of which will set us free. This is classic Sangharakshita – plenty to challenge and plenty to talk about around the fire afterwards.
With an excellent and thoughtful introduction by Kamalashila.
Talk given at the Buddhafield Festival, Devon 2007
This week’s FBA Podcast is one of our Dharma Tape Detectives findings from the FBA Archives. “In Harmony with Friends and Brethren” by Srivati. What does it mean to be part of a Sangha? What does true harmony mean alongside the inevitability of conflict? Srivati addresses these questions with help from the monks at Kosambi, the six memorable qualities of a Bikkhu, and the seven knowledges of the stream entrant.
In today’s FBA Podcast, “The Defects and Dangers of Samsara,” Dharmacharini Maitreyi looks at pleasure and suffering in the context of samsara – compassionate responses to self and other, and how to loosen the bonds…
Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2005 as part of the series “The Four Mind-Turning Reflections.”
This week’s FBA Podcast , “Tibetan Book the Dead: Talk 1 – The Six Bardos“, is an extraordinary talk by Padmavajra exploring the great text that reveals the realms between death and new life, where anything is possible in the Bardo – the ‘intermediate state’. From the first talk in the series “Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol).”
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, winter retreat, 2005
Today, on the full moon of May, we celebrate the Buddha’s Awakening, his full and perfect Enlightenment. Our FBA Podcast is a passionate look at our true nature and our deepest yearnings. “The Ideal of Human Enlightenment“, by Sangharakshita, was given in 1975 and is as relevant now as it was then.
In this week’s FBA Podcast,”Enlightenment as Heart, Life as Whole,” Saddhanandi takes us through a set of very thought-provoking reflections. She is forthright about the difficulties and joys of cultivating faith in the Dharma and makes very plain the consequences we can expect in our life as and when that faith arises. The talk is peppered with examples from her own practice. The audience clearly appreciates her sense of humour – which is often at her own expense.
The event was recorded in a very large marquee on a rainy day and despite that the sound quality is still OK!
Given at Taraloka, May 2005. The companion talk to this one is Vajradarshini’s “We Have a Huge Barrel of Wine, But No Cups”
This weeks FBA Podcast, “The Significance of the Buddha’s Enlightenment” is a talk by Sona given at Manchester Buddhist Centre on Buddha Day, 9th May 2009.
This weeks FBA Podcast, “On the Threshold of Enlightenment” is part of the pivotal by “Aspects of the Bodhisattva Ideal” series delivered by Sangharakshita in 1969. This lecture describes dhyana (meditation), and prajna (Wisdom), the fifth and sixth perfections.
This weeks FBA Podcast, is a recording of a question and answer session with Sangharakshita at the Croydon Buddhist Centre in 2004. “An Evening with Sangharakshita” is a lovely introduction to the man who founded the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community (formally known as the Western Buddhist Order and FWBO).
This weeks FBA Podcast, “The Buddha’s Gift To The World” is brought to us by Vajratara. Vajratara condenses nearly 50 years of the Buddhas life, using stories from the Pali Canon to show how the Buddha built a spiritual community that lasts to this day. Transcending the conflict between the desire to withdraw and the desire to engage, the Buddha wanders northern India out of compassion, teaching the Dharma by his presence and his words.
This weeks FBA Podcast, “Brahma Viharas and the Key Moment“, is a distillation of Kulaprabha’s 15 years of co-leading retreats on the development of Loving Kindness, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity. This talk was given in September 2001, before and after the Twin Towers attack, while Kulaprabha was on a six week retreat in Italy. She was one of only a few people on the retreat who knew what had happened and knew about the shock that had reverberated round the world. Some of her reflections from that time are included in the talk.
This weeks FBA Podcast is a thoughtful, inspiring talk by Khemasuri titled “The Spiral Path – The Great Escape.” Faith, joy, and delight in the spiritual life. Sharing experiences from her own life, Khemasuri expounds on the importance of the Spiral Path, a fundamental teaching in the Triratna Buddhist Order.
This weeks FBA Podcast is a talk was given on a Young Women’ Weekend at Taraloka titled “Faith is Innate, Doubt Acquired.” In this talk Singhamati explores Sangharakshita’s aphorism: Faith is Innate, Doubt Acquired. It looks at questions such as: What is faith? How do you cultivate the three grounds of faith? How is doubt a fetter? How can you dispel doubt?
Today’s FBA Podcast, is a classic talk given by Sangharakshita in 1967 titled “Mind: Reactive and Creative.” In this brilliant and accessible approach to the essence of Buddhism, Sangharakshita shows that Buddhism starts with the mind. Mind can be reactive, symbolised by the Tibetan Wheel of Life, or creative, as when one follows the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, described here in detail.
Our FBA Podcast today is a talk by the delightfully clear Vajrapriya titled “The Selfless Mind.” What if all of our emotional and spiritual problems were caused by an incorrect understanding of our true nature? Vajrapriya explores the Buddha’s insight that our commonsense assumptions about ourselves are the source of our suffering. Unpicking those assumptions is the first step to the arising of a wisdom that leads to an expansive and liberating way of relating to others and the world.
Talk 2 in a series of 4 talks entitled ‘Powers of the Mind’ given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, April 2011.
Today’s FBA Podcast is another reading from The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. This one, “A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras” Chandana talks about the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, a category of Sutras in the Mahayana tradition.
Our FBA Podcast today is “The Diamond Sutra” by Sangharakshita. If one does not want to ‘get caught in the grip of reality’, one should leave this great text alone! The Perfection of Wisdom Discourse that ‘Cuts Like a Diamond’…
N.B. Reference for this lecture: Buddhist Wisdom Books, translated by E. Conze. (Allen & Unwin, 1958)
Talk given in 1969.
Our FBA Podcast today brings us to the core of our practice: “The Heart Sutra, Sangha and Spiritual Death” by Kamalashila. Beginning with a shared understanding of spiritual practice that is Sangha, we are led through a revisioning of our practice that includes the deeper, darker more mysterious perspectives of insight and wisdom. This talk was given at the London Buddhist Centre’s Tuesday evening drop-in meditation class on 6th Dec 2011.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “The Buddha, Hakuin, Birth and Death”, is the second in an excellent 8-talk sequence by Padmavajra on Zen Buddhism. The series is full of colourful stories and challenging insights from the lives of the great Masters of China and Japan.
In this talk, Padmavajra takes us into the strong experience of Going Forth into homelessness. Through personal reminiscence and classic Zen poetry that evokes a truly rich awareness, we see the Buddha, Hakuin, Dogen and Ryokan as they struggle to make sense of this fleeting world of form.
This talk is part of the series “Tangling Eyebrows with Zen Masters.”
This weeks FBA Podcast, “Spiritual Death and Rebirth, a New Perspective On the Dharma Niyama”, takes us deeply into the stages of spiritual death and rebirth that are key to the system of meditation, representing the culimination and fulfilment of the Buddhas vision. During this talk given at Padmaloka Subhuti explains some new elements of Sangharakshita’s thinking about how they relate to the Niyamas, particularly the Dharma niyama – exciting, and challenging stuff.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “The Transitoriness of Life and the Certainty of Death”, is by Vajradharshini who brings us a beautiful piece on the hardest of subjects. The third talk in a five-part series from Tiratanaloka’s retreat on the ‘Four Mind Turnings’ of the Tibetan tradition.
Using zen poetry and a happily wide-ranging series of quotations (from Tibetan lamas to Ezra Pound), Vajradarshini explores her own father’s death as a way to approach attitudes to death and dying. She considers death in the light of the four mind-turning reflections of Atisha: the result is an inspiring, funny, truly challenging look at the heartbreak of our mortality, and how the Dharma helps us to meet and be present with the ultimate experience.
Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre 2005.
This talk is part of the series The Four Mind-Turning Reflections.
Today’s we introduce Atula in our weekly FBA Podcast with “Mending the Broken Ladder” a very thoughtful talk long-time by this practising Buddhist and psychotherapist. The nature of the ‘psyche’ and our sense of self-view is explored with reference to the Fourfold Vision of William Blake, T.S. Eliot, Charles Bukowski, Edward Conze, and Humpty Dumpty! Expect some stimulating words around the role of myth, metaphor and all our ways of cognizing, thinking about and expressing experience in what we call ‘spiritual life’ – and a clear encouragement to see that process as one that is profoundly relational.
Talk given Monday 8th March 2010.
Welcome to this weeks FBA Podcast, “Fields of Creativity”, a sparkling talk by Sangharakshita on a theme close to his heart. Full of warmth, wit and stimulating ideas.
Talk given in 2001.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “In the Bleak Midwinter”, Parami delivers a gem of a talk, with a wintery theme. With a song to open followed by metaphors on bleakness, with the earth as hard as iron and water like a stone, times when we struggle and it seems as if no growth is possible. She talks about her early experience of doing the metta bhavana and what a radical practice it is, leading to beauty, magic and angels.
This talk was given in December 2010 at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre.
In today’s FBA Podcast, we are taken deep into the mythical magical world of Milarepa, Tibet’s great yogi saint, in “The Life of Milarepa,” by Paramartha.
First talk in a series of 4 talks on ‘Milarepa’.
Talks given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter Retreat 2010.
In today’s FBA Podcast, “Renunciation – Tasting Freedom,” Saddhanandi says at the beginning of this talk that she’s concerned she won’t fully convey the depth of inspiration she feels about her theme – she shouldn’t have worried, she does it full justice. Her various approaches to her subject include renunciation as giving up unreal expectations, as giving up compulsion, as continuity of purpose and commitment to values, as establishing freedom, as not being blown by the worldly winds. One of her telling quotes is ” … there is no spiritual development without renunciation, and no renunciation without spiritual development …”
This is the first of three talks given on the 2009 UK Women’s Order / Mitra Event. It’s based on the first section of Tsongkhapa’s short text “The Three Principle Aspects of the Path”.
The other talks in the series are “Generating Bodhi Mind” by Vajratara, and “The Path of the Buddha’s Delight” by Samantabhadri.
Given at Taraloka, May 2009.
Today’s FBA Podcast is titled: “Getting It,” by Vidyadevi. Her brief here is ‘study as a way to Wisdom’, and she comes to it with a delightfully playful straightforwardness. As a means of exploring the ‘Middle Way’, she speaks of the various dualities and juxtapositions she has encountered in her own engagement with Dharma study over the years: theory and practice, metaphor and literalism, authority and personal experience, utility and beauty, etc. But she also speaks (and sings! Paul Simon…) of the need for a lightness of heart and of mind at the root of it all…
Talk given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, Great Gathering 2000
Padmavajra delivers some crazy stuff as we hit koan country! Today’s FBA Podcast titled “Great Doubt” is the seventh in an excellent 8-talk sequence by Padmavajra on Zen Buddhism. The series is full of colourful stories and challenging insights from the lives of the great Masters of China and Japan.
A fascinating look at doubt in spiritual life in general, and in the lives of some of the most celebrated practitioners of Zen. Uncompromising stuff towards a more profound level of awareness – steer to the deep!
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004
This talk is part of the series Tangling Eyebrows with Zen Masters.
Today’s FBA Podcast takes us into the mysterious world of “Tara – Virya Buddha”. Dharmacharini Vanaraji gave this talk to the Women’s Class at the London Buddhist Centre, June 2011.
Today’s FBA Podcast is titled “Chetul Sangye Dorje” by Vajratara. A forthright and passionate talk, taking as its starting point the great contemporary Tibetan teacher (sometimes also written ‘Chatral Sangye Dorje’) and his relationship to practice in the Triratna [FWBO] Community via his giving of the Green Tara practice to Sangharakshita. The main focus, however, is the need to practice the Dharma for others as part of a meaningful community, and Vajratara argues her case with a balance of down-to-earth humour and uncompromising vision.
Talk given at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007
In today’s FBA Podcast titled “Visibility” Kuladharini explores what it’s like to be an example of the fourth sight in the world, to be a visible embodiment of Dharma practice. Using the metaphors of the begging bowl, robes and shaved head she shares three ways in which she has gone forth as a visible example of a dharma farer.
Talk given at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “Beyond Hope and Hopelessness Dancing In the Ruins of Time,” takes us into the world seen through the eyes of EcoDharma, a Triratna retreat centre in the Catalan Pyrenees. Guhyapati offers a sober analysis of the environmental problems facing humanity and issues a clarion call for action – including from the Buddhist community.
Recorded at the 2009 Buddhafield Festival.
Visit the EcoDharma website – www.ecodharma.com
In today’s FBA Podcast Suriyavamsa begins “Life for a Limited Time Only” with the inevitability of death and some of our habitual attitudes to death and suffering, reading from contemporary poets. He brings out the Buddhist perspective that life and death are not separate, but parts of the same process.
This talk was given on Parinirvana Day 2010 at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre.
Today’s FBA Podcast is the first talk in a brilliant series titled “Eight Verses for Training the Mind” by Dharmachari Subhuti. Based on the Tibetan text by Kadampa Geshe Langri Tangpa, Subhuti introduces the verses in the context of the development of Buddhism in Tibet and India. We then have a full treatment of the first verse itself:
“May I always cherish all beings, Withe the resolve to accomplish for them The highest good that is more precious Than any wish-fulfilling jewel.”
Talk given at Madhyamaloka, Birmingham, 2004
For the full series: “Eight Verses for Training the Mind.”
In today’s, FBA Podcast, simply titled “Ethics,” Manjuvajra takes a look at the complex area of ethics from a Buddhist perspective. The nature of ‘self’, the place of feeling and emotion, the role of intention and action – these are fertile grounds for digging deeper into our own ethical practice and considering our lives in the light of the Buddha’s teaching of ‘non-harm’.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2000
“Just as the mighty ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, even so the Dharma-vinaya (Buddhism) has but one taste, the taste of Freedom”- The Udana. Today’s FBA Podcast, “The Taste of Freedom: is a brilliant and rousing tour-de-force on transcendental freedom, one of Sangharakshita’s best-loved lectures.
Talk given in 1979.
Today’s FBA Podcast “Talks of a Free Spirit – 45 Years of the Buddha’s Life” explores the life and teachings of the Buddha as they’ve come down through the stories of the tradition. Vajrasara has a veritable genius for making clear the relevances for contemporary society, and this talk is a most engaging example as she takes her own favourite tales and draws out the beautiful challenges of it all.
Today’s FBA Podcast “Doubt as Path” is a good and useful talk on the dangers of certainty in the spiritual life – individually and within a community. Amaraketu draws on his own experience of zen and of painting in order to evoke a sense of what it might be like to live and practice not knowing. Everything is just beginning…
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2005.
Today’s FBA Podcast is titled “Life with Full Attention”. In this half-hour talk, Maitreyabandhu (a teacher at the London Buddhist Centre) gives you a witty, practical, real-life look at how mindfulness makes us more alive and free. His book ‘Life With Full Attention’ will be published by Windhorse Publications in July 2009.
Click here for more talks from the 2009 International Urban Retreat. For more information on this years Urban Retreat see: www.theurbanretreat.org
In today’s FBA Podcast, Mahabodhi kicks off a series of talks on the theme of ‘Work As Spiritual Practice’ with “Work As Spiritual Practice: Introducing Reginald Ray’s Threefold Model”. Based on Ray’s book, ‘Buddhist Saints in India’, this is a framework for considering the spiritual benefits and challenges of three roles or life styles within Buddhism: The solitary retreatant, the sangha builder who works within Buddhist institutions, the lay practitioner or social activist whose commitments take them to work out in the world. According to Ray, each plays a crucial role in the health of the Sangha. After exploring the different life styles, Mahabodhi talks about his experiences as the ‘retreatant’ writer.
A talk in a series addressing the relevance of Buddha’s teaching to contemporary issues at the Manchester Buddhist Centre 2011.
Today’s FBA Podcast, is a magical exploration by Vajragupta titled: “We Live In a Beautiful World: Buddhism and Nature”. Sharing his very personal experiences on solitary retreats, Vajragupta asks, “How can human beings live with more love and appreciation of the natural world? What does Buddhism have to offer?”
A talk in a series addressing the relevance of Buddha’s teaching to contemporary issues at the Manchester Buddhist Centre 2011.
Today’s Podcast “Compassionate Koans – The Heart of the Matter does in fact take us to the heart of the matter! An excellent, personal set of reflections by Vijayamala on the relationship between our longing and our pain. The Buddhist tradition posits compassion as the best response, but it isn’t always clear how that works. No answers here – but a few leads and some thoughtful tales from life and from a longstanding practice of meditation.
Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Women’s Convention, 2005
Today’s FBA Podcast takes us back to the 1969 wholly inspiring Aspects of the Bodhisattva Ideal series by Sangharakshita. “Masculinity and Femininity in the Spiritual Life”is the fifth talk in the series. Here, the third and fourth Perfections are kshanti (forbearance, tolerance or spiritual receptivity) and virya (energy in pursuit of the good). So the Bodhisattva integrates ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ qualities in a perfect union.
Talk given in 1969.
In today’s FBA Podcast, “Learning from Tibetan Buddhism – A Personal Account” Vessantara shares from his many years of engagement with Tibetan Buddhist approaches to meditation and general Buddhist practice. He carefully weighs up the different aspects of exploring a tradition outside of your own, and evokes Tibetan Buddhism itself through the story of his initiation into the Vajrayogini sadhana. A lovely, thoughtful talk that pays tribute to the effect of one ancient form of Dharma in a modern practitioner’s own life. There is also a thorough discussion of visualization meditation, and a moving celebration of the teachers who have helped him on the path.
Given at the Western Buddhist Order Convention 2005.
Today’s FBA Podcast, is a brilliant retrospective on our Triratna Community developments titled: “Being Radical – 40 Years of the New Society” by Vajragupta.
Do we still believe in the ability of the Dharma to transform self and society?
Do we still want to make a distinctive Dharmic contribution to building a better world?
Are we willing to accept that challenge? And are we willing to sometimes challenge the views and values of the society around us?
This was the fourth talk given at Dharmapala college’s New society seminar in April 2010.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “Transcending the Human Predicament”, Sangharakshita investigates various symbolic elements in the Parable of the Burning House and we are reminded of the importance of responding to ‘the call of the Divine’. The general significance of the parable is then discussed under the headings of escapism, universalism and sectarianism.
“The White Lotus Sutra is not only a religious classic, but a masterpiece of symbolic spiritual literature.” ~ Sangharakshita
From the classical ground-breaking series: Parables, Myths and Symbols of Mahayana Buddhism in the White Lotus Sutra given in 1971.
In today’s talk, “Anatta Made Simple”, Locana provides an excellent introduction to the most subtle and complex part of the Buddha’s teaching on impermanence: that all things in conditioned existence are empty of any innate self-nature. Insubstantiality might never be really ‘simple’ to understand – but this is a good place to start and Locana an ever-intelligent guide along the way…
Locana (Elizabeth English) is the author of ‘Vajrayogini: Her Visualization, Rituals, and Forms’
Welcome to this week’s FBA Podcast, “Abundant Treasures,” by the wonderful story teller, Suriyavamsa. The first of a series on the parables of The White Lotus Sutra, this talk looks at the Sutra as a whole. Suriyavamsa explores the key themes as well as how best to approach a Mahayana Sutra.
Please note that there is some noise disturbance at the end of the talk due to a small and restless child!
In “Standing on Emptiness” Dhammadassin eloquently invites us into a lovely, thoughtful exploration of the traditional Buddhist path of ethics, meditation and wisdom, using poetry and the ideas of contemporary science to evoke the mystery that lies at the heart of practice. Dhammadassin’s beautifully weighted talk challenges us to look at how we think and how we act, and is rooted in a moving fidelity to experience as the ground of our inspiration. One to be treasured!
Talk given at the Triratna Buddhist Order women’s national weekend, August 2004
In today’s FBA Podcast, Kamalashila delivers: ‘Absorption – After the Enlightenment’.
How do you get used to being Enlightened? What happened to the Buddha in the weeks after his breakthrough experience? Kamalashila explores these questions in two ways – using the framework of the Western Buddhist Order’s system of meditation to shed light on the process that unfolded in the Bodhisattva’s mind and body as Enlightenment dawned; and connecting us imaginatively with the symbolism and image of Muchalinda, the great serpent, coiling his body protectively round the meditating Buddha.
Please note, there are a few words missing around the start of this talk.
Talk given on the FWBO International Retreat at Taraloka, May 2008
In today’s FBA Podcast, Parami delivers true to form: “Energy At Its Most Abundant” on the topic of ‘virya’ – ‘energy in pursuit of the good’. This talk was given as part of a three talk series at Windhorse:Evolution, a large and successful Buddhist team-based right livelihood business.
A good, strong (sometimes even idealistic!) evocation of the co-operative spirit of Buddhist work and of spiritual practice in general, with particular reference to Shantideva’s ‘Bodhicharyavatara’. With a thoughtful look at Padmasambhava, and an affectionate tribute to her own teacher, Urgyen Sangaharakshita, whose poem ‘The Song of the Windhorse’ forms the root text for this talk.
Talk given in Cambridge, 2002
In today’s FBA Podcast, we give you “The Buddha’s Vision”, the last talk in the “Gautama Buddha” series launching Vishvapani’s new book “Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One”. (Quercus, 2011)
When the Buddha finally sat down under the Bodhi tree and saw deeply into the nature of things, what had brought him to that point? And what happened next? In his final take on the Buddha’s journey of the heart and mind, Vishvapani focuses in on the Buddha’s experience before, during and after Enlightenment, bringing his nuanced, perceptive reading to the words the Buddha himself is said to have employed in order to best evoke his experiences as he struggled to give voice to them. A fitting conclusion to a wonderfully insightful series.
Includes an adroit discussion of the issues around imagination and historical evidence, and how we can usefully approach the Pali texts as literature.
Talk given in Bristol, February 2011.
This talk is part of the series Gautama Buddha.
In today’s FBA Podcast, we give you the fourth talk in the “Gautama Buddha” series titled: “The Buddha and Society”, from the launch of Vishvapani’s new book “Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One”. (Quercus, 2011)
The Buddha as a radical, as a holy man, as pragmatist, as tamer of demons, as visionary – in this wide-ranging, riveting talk Vishvapani gives us all these and more, and all in relation to the society Gautama took part in. Some provocative words and questions from the Buddha and from our speaker as we try to get to grips with a world vastly different from our own. What was the Buddha’s social vision, and what can we learn from it? This is essential listening and holds some surprising insights into the life and times of a great sage in and out of his own culture and history.
Talk given in Birmingham, February 2011.
In today’s FBA Podcast, Vishvapani delivers “The Buddha’s Personality”, the third talk in his dynamic new series from the launch of the book “Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One”. (Quercus, 2011)
Great artists have tried and failed to grasp the essence of the Buddha’s character. Beyond the narrative and the drama, what was the Buddha actually like? And what can be gleaned from the diverse sources that tell us about him? In this reflective talk Vishavapani looks behind the veils of history, legend and the texts themselves to conjur a vivid, felt image of the Buddha’s personality. In a series of beautifully observed close-up drawings from the Pali Canon we are left with a portrait of spiritual genius that is both enigmatically distant and thoroughly human.
Vishvapani is a well known figure in the Triratna Buddhist Community and is a regular contributer on the BBC’s ‘Thought for the Day’.
Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre, February 2011.
Today’s FBA Podcast, is the second talk in a major new series of talks by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: ‘Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One’ (Quercus, 2011).
In “Imagining Gautama”, originally subtitled, ‘Approaching The Buddha As An Historical And As A Mythic Figure’, Vishvapani traces his own relationship to the Buddha, from early family connections arising out of the turmoil of war to his experience of writing the book itself. In doing so he explores the tricky work of trying to engage with the imagination constrained and disciplined by the historical evidence. What emerges from his work with the Pali texts is a portrait of the Buddha and his world where it’s impossible to miss the vital sense of a man questing for a coherent vision of reality.
Features a question-and-answer session.
Talk given at the Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2011. Check out our blog for more on this fascinating series.
In today’s FBA Podcast, we present: “Searching for the Buddha”, the first in a major new series of talks by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: ‘Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One’ (Quercus, 2011). Vishvapani is a well known figure in the Triratna Buddhist Community and is a regular contributor on the BBC’s ‘Thought for the Day’.
In this talk we meet the Buddha set firmly in his own historical context, with space too for the legendary and particular reference to the natural world. Vishvapani explores the presence of nature in the Pali suttas, exploring its significance in the texts, in our own contemporary mental landscapes and in the imaginative life of a country and its people. Ancient India comes alive as we wander with the Buddha, facing his fears amongst the ghosts of the jungle. There is much that is important for reflection here – the Dharma made fascinating by dint of the author’s depth of engagement with Buddhist practice and the sheer breadth of his cultural reference.
Features an extended question-and-answer session (NB, poor sound quality on the questions themselves).
Talk given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, January 2011.
In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, Punyamala delivers a rich, comprehensive talk: From Enchantment to True Delight – Reflections On Stream Entry. Here, she sets out the path from effective to Real Going For Refuge using the framework of breaking the first three fetters and gaining Stream-entry. Punyamala confidently asserts that Stream-entry is attainable in this lifetime. Using Sangharakshita’s terms for these fetters – habit, superficiality and vagueness – she gives clear, practical guidance, in a gently encouraging way, about how to weaken the fetters and develop spiritually.
Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Convention, 2009
In today’s FBA Podcast, “This Way Up – Living the Spiral Path” Saraha delivers a beautiful and engaging talk seeped in the Pali Canon. Leading with the Vatthupama, Simile of the Cloth, Sutta, Saraha gives us a very detailed look into the stages of spiritual development as described in the Lokuttara Paticcasamuppada Sutta – The Spiral Path.
Today’s FBA Podcast, “Why Read the Sutta Nipata?”, by Suriyavamsa, is a thorough and engaging exploration of the why and what of suttas, how they were traditionally passed on through the ages and Kukai’s description of how a sutta works on the rational, imaginative and cosmic-mythological levels. Includes beautiful readings on the themes of: skillful speech, grief and fearing death, humility, pleasure, avoiding arguments and worldly desire, finishing with the much loved ‘Pingiya’s Praises of the Way to the Beyond.’
In the talk On the Hymn to Perfect Wisdom‘ Kulaprabha beautifully explores these verses of devotion from ‘The Perfection of Wisdom in 8000 Lines’ and they apply to us, in our lives, in our world.
In celebration of the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the Triratna Buddhist Community, (formally the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) we bring you an moving and engaging talk by Subhuti: “Awake to the Cries of the World” the keynote talk from the FWBO celebrations a decade ago. How do we respond to the suffering in the world? Subhuti speaks from his experience of years trying to answer that question – the joys and pitfalls of trying to ‘help’ as part of a committment to the Bodhisattva Ideal. Complete with an introduction by Padmavajra on Avalokiteshvara. Talk given on FWBO Day, 2001.
Today’s FBA Podcast is titled “Karma and the Consequences of Action”. The fourth talk in a five-part series from Tiratanaloka’s retreat on the ‘Four Mind Turnings’ of the Tibetan tradition. Here Ratnadharini takes us a little closer into the often misunderstood area of karma in Buddhist thinking. She draws out the important details of the process that we call ‘actions and consequences’ – but her emphasis is always on putting what we learn into practice in real life, with other real people. Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2005.
In The Alchemy of Love Padmavajra explores the transformative magic that is Bodhichitta practice. A short introduction to the theme here – setting the context for the series and introducing us to Shantideva, whose treatise on Bodhichitta practice (the Bodhicharyavatara) forms the basis of the wonders to be explored
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004
This talk is part of the series The Alchemy of Love.
In Enlightenment as Experience and as Non-Experience, Sangharakshita exposes a modern disease of frustrated craving for experience. He suggests that spiritual life is better seen in more concrete ways; as growth, work, and duty.
Talk given in 1975.
In this talk “This Precious Human Life” Kulaprabha skillfully points out that it’s not every human life that is precious. Preciousness comes when our human life has arrived at the unique occasion of the ‘Eight Freedoms’ and at the right juncture of the ‘Ten Endowments’ – and when we have a faithful heart.
Given at Taraloka Retreat Center, February 2008 this talk is one of a series of talks on the Four Reminders or Four Mind-Turnings inspired by Gampopa’s ‘Jewel Ornament of Liberation’.
In “The Meaning of Parinirvana”, Sangharakshita gives a lecture celebrating the anniversary of the Parinirvana or ‘death’ of the Buddha. It outlines six basic meditation practices crucial to the attainment of the ‘Deathless’: Enlightenment.
N.B. Last few words missing. Talk given in 1972 by Urgyen Sangharakshita.
In this thoughtful, sympathetic talk, “Becoming a Citizen of the Present”, Srivati expounds on the most delicate of tasks in any life – how to live in the present moment. Exploring the subtle aspects of past and present, of memory and expectation, we encounter impermanence as the touchstone of our experience through storytelling (Bahiya of the Bark Garment) and the practice of writing – especially poetry. A lovely set of challenges to become ‘citizens of the present’ and inhabit properly our own potential for change.
Talk given to the Triratna (Western) Buddhist Order National Order Weekend, 2001
In this talk, “Dying to Live” Vidyamala gives a strong account of working with suffering and sorrow in life, and of transforming your experience into one characterized by contentment and a sense of meaning. From her own practice of living with chronic pain comes a sane and unsentimental perspective that affords us all a measure of genuine optimism as we meet the trials of the world: bereavements and losses of all kinds can be met with a kindness and awareness that gently ease the burden, allowing something of peace to enter our lives again.
Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Women’s Convention 2003
In this talk, “Generating Bodhi Mind” Vajratara guides us through the second section of Tsongkhapa’s short text on “The Three Principle Aspects of the Path”. The verses contain some strong and striking images for what it feels like being caught in Samsara and they come to life in Vajratara’s talk. She relates how she nearly came to death herself swept away by a Indonesian river and that was just an ordinary river current, never mind the current of Samsara! At the end of the talk she suggests that of the Bodhicitta practises we might take up – the puja or the various reflections on the suffering of beings – the most useful and effective Bodhichitta practice is the practice of sangha, of spiritual community.
Talk given at Taraloka, May 2009.
In this talk, “The Ideal of Universal Awakening” Nagapriya explores the emergence of the Bodhisattva Ideal in the Mahayana tradition. Nagapriya discusses the historical context in which this basic concept developed, its ties to early Buddhist texts, and what the bodhisattva’s life entails, on both the mundane and cosmic levels.
This is the second talk in a five-part series called Visions of Mahayana Buddhism given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2009.
“Great Compassion Penetrates into the Marrow of the Bones” – A stirring and penetrating talk by Dhammadinna around the image that a Bodhisattva’s compassion runs as deep as their very bones. Nagarjuna, Milarepa and others add their voices as Dhammadinna makes an emotionally resonant but clear-eyed attempt to lay out the ground of a practice that is moving towards the development of Bodhichitta. Why bother? she asks us, and shows how open-heartedness can respond realistically and well to suffering in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Convention, 2009
In this talk, “Out of Compassion for the World”, Parami explores the theme of the Buddha’s compassionate action and how ultimately it came from beyond self, beyond other – it emerged from his realisation of ‘Emptiness’. The Buddha realised full well how hard it was going to be to communicate what he had discovered to other people – to us. He knew that the grip of greed, hatred and delusion is very strong. He could imagine how vexatious it might be to teach. Fortunately for us, he could also see our potential. And so out of compassion he taught.
Talk given at FWBO International Retreat at Taraloka, May 08
In this talk “Loving What Is” Vajrapriya shares his own nitty gritty practice of dealing with hatred, clearing the way for a more mettaful response. “Metta is what arises when you realize that being human isn’t easy.” With an introduction by Jnanavaca. To read about some of our volunteers who helped make this talk available, please see our post on Triratna News.
In this talk, “Demon of Choice” Aryadhara works with a team from the Young People’s Group in Cambridge (England) to give a series of short talks under the theme “Taming the Demons of the Modern World” in celebrating Padmasambhava, the Great Guru of Tibet. Choice is something we all have – we have the choice to act the way we act, the choice in the way we live our lives, which is very positive. The Demon of Choice is more about consumerism which can alienate us from our deeper selves. This type of choice keeps us in a superficial state of alienation preventing us from asking deeper questions such as what gives our lives meaning? Transforming the Demon of Choice involves overcoming doubt, the practice of renunciation, and living simply.
In “What Do We Really Know About the Buddha?” Dhivan delivers a lovely talk with the odd surprise as he considers the relationship between what we think we may know about the Buddha, and what the historical evidence suggests. As Dhivan sifts the information that’s come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual changing the world he took part in, stepping out of history “with the walk of a lion, the walk of a swan.”
In this talk Subhuti gives a concise and inspiring account of the Honeyball Sutta. Starting with some background to his work in Hungary amongst the oppressed Gypsies there, he presents the Buddha’s understanding on the basis for civil, in fact all kinds of, strife.
The Buddha’s analysis takes the form of a nidana chain beginning with actual experience, that when we begin to proliferate or move away from facts to interpretations inevitably leads us into a secondary reality that easily leads to conflict with others, who have different versions of reality.
A brilliant talk, covering ground rapidly but concisely bring together the Buddha’s wisdom both in terms of transforming society and how we work within meditation, in fact we need to employ the same tools in both situations.
In this talk Jinananda gives us some practical tips on good communication and healthy relationships. He brings in the Buddha’s words from the Sigalaka Sutta to illustrate some of the ways relationships were managed in the Buddha’s time. Pointing out that different kinds of relationships require different sets of duties and dynamic ways of relating, he notes that we should be mindful of how we are fulfilling those relationships from our own end.
Jinananda discusses the fact that even Buddhists, who are supposedly always kind and helpful, are not always so, even in stories from the Pali Canon. He reminds us, however, that this is normal, and that relating skilfully to each other is a truly immense challenge – difficult for even the most experienced Buddhists and not to be taken lightly.
Talk given at the West London Buddhist Center
In this talk Saddhanandi draws on over 25 years of experience living and practicing in spiritual communities as she explores the conditions that she trusts give rise to Wisdom Beings.
We live in a culture that encourages us to look out for the individual – just look after yourself and never mind about others.
Collective practice, the practice of community, has a dynamic alchemy all of its own – like a coral reef lots of creatures live in it, and it is very susceptible to pollution. The development of the Individual is the development of the Sangha, and the development of the Sangha is the development of the Individual.
Saddhanandi is the Chair of Taraloka Retreat Centre in England. This talk was given during the Triratna International Sangha Retreat hosted by Taraloka and Buddhafield in May 2010.
In this talk ‘Ksanti (Patience)’, Satyaraja beautifully explores how friendship is probably the main way we exemplify the altruistic dimension of the spiritual life. Ksanti, often translated as Patience, is one of the Six Perfections practiced by the Bodhisattva, one in whom the Bodhicitta, the Awakened Heart, has arisen.
Patience is explored here in three aspects: with ourselves, with other people, and in spiritual receptivity. One needs to learn patience when working with other people to help build a spiritual community. Not in the sense of endurance, ksanti in its true form is an aspect of metta, of love. Loving people for who they actually are, not who we would like them to be. Friendship really starts when you meet bits in others you don’t like and you keep going, deepening your connection.
Talk given at the Stockholm Buddhist Centre in February 2010.
Nagabodhi’s account of his visits to see Dhardo Rimpoche, the great Tibetan teacher based in Kalimpong, is by turns moving, funny and revealing. The story of a remarkable man – someone who embodied the spirt of the Bodhisattva – who continues to inspire practitioners the world over years after his death. A rare opportunity to hear from someone who spent time with Rimpoche at his famous school, whose motto says it all: “Cherish the Doctrine, Live United, Radiate Love”…
Talk given at Windhorse:Evolution, Cambridge, UK
In ‘Everything Matters – Turning Consumerism on its Head’, Vajradarshini points out that we live in a world of things and there’s a world of practice in things. As consumerism is defined as ‘to destroy’, we are challenged to find ways to turn consumerism on its head and find the Truth in our relationship to Things. Accompanied by Kavyasiddhi reading both poetry and prose, this beautiful Dharma gem is worth hearing again and again.
Talk given at the 2010 International Sangha Retreat.
This podcast talk by Dharmavadana is a great exploration of how poetry can be an ally in the spiritual life, and analyzes the ways in which it occupies a similar atmosphere to meditation.
Talk given at West London Buddhist Center
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This fantastic talk by Akuppa, given at the 2006 Buddhafield Festival, focuses on how Buddhist practice weaves together with social awareness, and what an Earth Community built on sustainable values might look like.
(Please note: there are a few minutes missing at the start, and the original recording was very poor. But it’s worth it!) Talk given at Buddhafield Festival, 2006
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In ‘Mindfulness of Reality’, the excellent Kulananda (Michael Chaskalson) brings a welcome compass to the maze of Buddhist teachings around the nature of existence itself. After all, it’s not easy, is it? Impermanence, dependent arising, becoming, etc. – it’s enough to make anyone think twice. Or a thousand times. And still get nowhere. But fear not – this is a clear, concise, eminently human and straightforward tour of the last of the traditional four levels of mindfulness. And Kulananda’s approach is born of his experience of over twenty year’s teaching on just this kind of thing. Ready? Then in we go…
Kulananda/Michael Chaskalson has published widely on many aspects of Buddhism and meditation, and runs a variety of mindfulness-based stress reduction programmes for use in personal and business life.
Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2000
Pain and Suffering is the first of two talks that Ratnaguna gave earlier this year at the Stockholm Buddhist Centre. He explores the whole area of feeling, both pleasant and painful, but especially the pain side of the spectrum. Using storytelling, poetry, and clear Dharma teaching, Ratnaguna asks, “What kind of life are you living if you are not really in your body? When you resist the pain, you resist everything.” When we face our own suffering, then we find something else… a deep sense of wisdom and kindness.
Coming up next week… Part II Pleasure and Happiness by Ratnaguna.
The ‘Just Sitting’ practice has been part of the FWBO’s system of meditation since the very beginning yet is not often discussed and not always understood. Here Subhuti gives his own inspiring and brilliantly refreshing take on the practice as a central element in his own meditative life. A must-listen piece for all those enthused by ideas of formal and ‘formless’ meditation – ‘Just Hear’ it and you”ll see what we mean!
This is the first in a series of talks from the Western Buddhist Order Convention in 2001 offering different perspectives on the Abhidharma and exploring from a personal perspective what the study of the 51 Mental Events can tell us about our minds and how they work. Based on the classic Tibetan text ‘Necklace of Clear Understanding’, this is a terrific, clear introduction by Dhammadinna to the whole area of how to ‘Know Your Mind’.
Tracked version includes the following detail:
1. Lineage of material on Mind; Yeshe Gyaltsen’s ‘Necklace of Clear Understanding’; Sangharakshita’s ‘Know Your Mind’; Subhuti’s talks on ‘Mind and Mental Events’
2. The Abhidharma – classification of mental events; transforming mental states and actions; sharing and confessing
3. What is ‘Mind’? Introspection – Dharma-Vichaya (dhammaviccaya); the seven ‘Limbs of Enlightenment’ (Bodhyangas); reflecting on the lakshanas and Pratitya Samutpada
4. Practical aids in working with mental events; different Abhidharma traditions; lists as tools
5. Defining and experiencing Mind; manas (state of consciousness); impossible to pin down; Milarepa and the Shepherd’s Search for Mind; mind and the subjective
6. Subjective versus objective; the Yogachara perspective; the skandhas and vijnana; the Enlightened person and non-identification with the subjective)
7. The eight vijnanas and the five Wisdoms or Jinas; Yeshe Gyaltsen’s focus on the senses
8. Characteristics of mind – i. clarity ii. cognition iii. momentary iv. conditioned v. karma
9. Primary Mind (chitta, citta); mental events as how the mind takes hold of objects; experiencing ‘Pure Mind’ through prajna; Milarepa’s list of requirements
10. A Look at the 51 mental events; six categories and two perspectives
11. Summary – transforming mental states; Padmasambhava on Mind
Talk given at Wymondham, 2001
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Time to bring the picture on the FWBO’s relations with other Buddhists bang up-to-date with this splendid excursion over the common ground Buddhists share in the 21st century, and also through the diverse practice landscapes they continue to explore in their own approaches to the Dharma.
As a basis Dhammarati looks at the FWBO’s own grounding in tradition, and encourages us all at root to look continually to our own practice as we make the great journey from suffering to an expansive sense of living free.
Talk given at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, January 2009
This recording of songs from the Asvagosha project troupe is a real find in the Dharmachakra Archives.
The Asvagosha project was set up in India in the early 1990s as a way of developing cultural activities among poor ‘ex-Untouchable’ communities in slums and rural areas. Teams of performers visit the localities and put on performances of sketches and specially composed songs. The shows reflect the concerns that are uppermost in the minds of the people from these communities- issues such as alcoholism, domestic violence, superstition, and child health. The performers bring a level of humour and energy to their performances, ensuring that the messages are conveyed in a straightforward, unpatronising way.
For more on the Karuna Trust’s vital work with ‘ex-Untouchable’ Indian Buddhists, see their website.
Singers
Dhammachari Ratnodaya, Dhammachari Kamalabodhi, Dhammachari Satyadeepa, Dhammachari Yashoratna, Rahul Sownone, Satish Moon
Musicians
Ananada Panchabhai, tabla Narendra Kale, harmonium
Original Producers
Dhammachari Siddhartha, Jayant Barve
Digital Remastering
Dhammachari Candradasa
All songs composed by members of the Asvagosha project (except ‘Raho Sukhame’ – composed by Dharmarakshita)
The Asvagosha project is run by Karuna Trust and Bahujan Hitay. Both are non-profit charities.
Tracked version includes the following detail:
01 Asvagosha, Asvagosha
02 Jivanta Dakhala
03 Ek Bano Neka Bano
04 Dhamma Januna Ghe
05 Tumche Amuche Bandhutwache Nate
06 Andaratun Baher Ya Ho
07 Ata Tumhi Te Deepa Wha
08 Mahaparinirvana Sagari
09 Raho Sukhane Ha Manau Ethe
Here’s a forthright and passionate talk, taking as its starting point the great contemporary Tibetan teacher (sometimes also written ‘Chatral Sangye Dorje’) and his relationship to practice in the FWBO via his giving of the Green Tara practice to Sangharakshita. The main focus, however, is the need to practice the Dharma for others as part of a meaningful community, and Vajratara argues her case with a balance of down-to-earth humour and uncompromising vision.
Tracked version includes the following detail:
1. Introduction to Chetul Sangye Dorje; Sangharakshita’s first meeting with him
2. Early years and practice; a meeting with the Regent of Tibet
3. The meaning of Chetul Sangye Dorje’s name; a meeting with Thomas Merton
4. A teaching to Paramartha; two mind-training slogans (lohjong); practising for yourself versus practising for others; a quote from Sangharakshita
5. Real practice as love and kindness to others; commentary on mind-training by Jamgon Kontrul; the mantra of the universe; resorting to ‘the magical practice’ of spiritual individualism; going beyond yourself
6. How to practice for others; Green and White Tara; significance of Tara’s leg position; balance between self-focus and other-focus; the conflict of choice
7. Be friendly even when you can’t be happy; green, nature, and remaining open
8. Practising together, in numbers; all beings as White Tara; drawing strength from communal practice
9. Don’t settle for a comfortable life; White Tara as a young girl; settling down; Chetul Sangye Dorje and the meat-eating teacher’s disciple
10. Conclusion – Tara as embodiment of practice for others; not allowing our Buddhism to become self-indulgence
The teachings that Ratnaguna explores in this talk are all from the Sutta Nipata – one of the earliest of Buddhist texts. His sub-title is the rather intriguing: ‘The Dharma before Buddhism’. You might say that when it comes to the Sutta Nipata, the Buddha is very clearly telling it like it is. Well, so does Ratnaguna!
In the opening remarks (which, unfortunately, were not recorded) he likens these suttas in their profound scope and effect to the simpicity and purity of Bach’s violin sonatas and cello suites.
Given on the FWBO International Retreat at Taraloka, May 2008
Another excellent talk, from the Buddhafield project. Amaragita takes a look at Buddhist practice in the light of parenting, and has a lot of good things to say about the everyday business of staying with our experience, embracing the hard bits and releasing the joy.
As an added bonus, listen for some lovely singing throughout!
Talk given at the Buddhafield Festival in 2006.
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A lovely talk this month, from the excellent Dhivan. Be prepared for the odd surprise as he considers the relationship between what we think we may know about the Buddha, and what the historical evidence suggests.
As Dhivan sifts the information that’s come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual, changing the world he took part in, stepping out of history “with the walk of a lion, the walk of a swan”.
Talk given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2008
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Happy Holidays, Everyone! So, this is as close as we could get to a Christmas edition… You know, ‘Buddha Nature – easily confused for ‘incarnation’, all that…
No? Oh, well, what this most definitely is is an absolute cracker of a talk from Sagaramati. A brilliant, scholarly-but-accessible, look at the origins and development of the Tathagatagarbha (Buddha Nature) school of Buddhist thought through the lense of early Buddhist scripture.
Many misunderstandings are addressed as Sagaramati (aka. Professor Robert Morrison), with his usual wry, testy humour, takes us back to basics in considering just how – if at all – Tathagatagarbha doctrine is in harmony with Buddhist tradition. And he surprises himself in the process, evoking a path of practice rooted in kindness and a vision of ever-present possibility for all of us.
Talk given in 2004.
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Ok, buckle up. ‘Padmasambhava’ by Danavira is, as we’ve come to expect from the man, a rollicking ride of a talk. Actually, ‘talk’ doesn’t really do it justice: try incantation, wrong-footing evocation, dramatic monologue and enactment through storytelling, with a good dose of chanting and singing thrown in – some planned, some spontaneous. Sprinkle in a healthy quotient of hilarity and excitement and you’ve pretty much got yourself a knock-out, world-spinning excursion into the magical realism of the Great Guru, the Second Buddha, the Master of Enchantments. Be shaken by this. Be beguiled…
Please note: In this talk Danavira uses and adapts verses from the excellent ‘Self-Liberation Through Seeing With Naked Awareness’ by John Reynolds (Station Hill Press 1989)
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2001
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Over here, Clemenza! Ever wanted to know about ‘General Systems Theory’ – one of those subjects you always hear vague things about yet never quite know what it actually is? Ever wondered why we seem to love a good gangster? Well, then this is for you! To tell the truth, we would have picked this anyway for the podcast because the title was just so good! But it happens to be an excellent and very full short talk by Khemasuri on a growing area of contemporary Buddhist philosophical thought. This one requires a bit of concentration – but it pays off with her passionately argued case for embracing personal responsibility and community engagement as a way of effecting social change in our troubled world. Just like “going to the mattresses”. But in a good way…
Talk given at the Buddhafield Festival, Devon, 2007
Contents
01 ‘Evolution or extinction’ by Sangharakshita (1971) – this talk as a response; the Buddha’s basic teaching and experience; conceptual constructions of a specific time and culture – ‘pratitya samutpada’ (‘dependent arising’) and ‘general systems theory’
02 The difference between causality and conditionality; Cartesian thinking – from the holistic to the mechanistic; conditionality through the whole of human culture and experience; properties of all systems; feedback mechanisms; systems evolving in complexity – evolution and change; points of instability – the possibillity of collapse; non-predictability and synergy
03 Repercussions for how we act; the Cartesian model of the world and its effect on behaviour; systems theory, actions and consequences; means and ends as the same thing
04 Social networks, systems and change; ‘event-triggering process’ – shocks to the system and creative response; change with a community of individuals; the properties of a living community
05 What the Mafia can teach us about supporting change; Fritjof Capra’s ideas on the criminal underworld’s success; what the Mafia does well as a community; towards an ethical underworld
06 What we can do individually and collectively; the revolutionary nature of the ‘metta bhavana’ meditation (‘development of loving kindness’); actions and consequences again; taking risks; different ways of doing community; collective change is not comfortable – the validity of strong emotions
07 The importance of passing on knowledge and promoting another vision of the world; diversity; don’t leave your values and principles at home; acting from the heart; the ‘infinite game’; profound personal feedback from your efforts
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This is another great talk from the ‘Dharma Warriors’ series given at the Buddhafield Festival 2006. Karunagita is the author of ‘Growing as a Parent – What Buddhism Has to Offer’, and here she presents some of that material to an audience of summer loving practitioners under the blue skies of Devon. Settle back and enjoy the sound of drums, kids’ voices, and Karunagita’s perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of raising a child as part of your practice of the Dharma. She encourages us to see and accept the gifts of love, letting go and awareness (of our limitations and of our mortality) that are inherent in the life of any parent – and we catch a hint of the growth and wisdom that are possible for the heart as it opens to meet its experience in the most fundamental relationship of all.
Talk given at the Buddhafield Festival, Devon 2006
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A short but sweet talk from San Francisco’s very own Suvarnaprabha, in which she explores the Buddhist vision of compassion through her own experience of meditation and contact with inmates within the U.S. prison system. Moving stuff.
Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order convention, 2005
Contents
01 Survanaprabha – poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca; a personal interest in violence
02 Violence as resistance in meditation; compassion as not resisting experience
03 Prisoners talking about self-perpetuating violence
04 The vastness of compassion; the difficulty of talking about shunyata and compassion
05 An anecdote about selflessness; quote from Shunryu Suzuki
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Time for another talk from Vajradarshini. More poetry, more Rumi, more listening joy. Actually, we just liked the title so much we had to go for it this month – but, in fact, it’s another splendid journey around the idea of Enlightenment, using the languages of surrender and discipline from the Sufi context. It’s as heady as a sumptuous wine, but also sobering and down to earth, whether we’re “following a railing in the dark” or walking lost “inside the red world”. Drink up!
Talk given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2005
Contents
01 Starting with a poem by Rumi – not a ‘sensible’ talk
02 ‘Enlightenment’; following a railing in the dark; wine in Rumi’s poetry; the Dharma as studying the self; surrender and discipline
03 The Tavern – pushing off for Truth; ‘managing’ samsara and settling down
04 Fermentation; being cooked – slowly
05 How we are cups; two ways we limit ourselves – i. literalism; a quote from Aloka – abandoning ideas of what the ‘path’ is
06 Sangharakshita on literalism and craving; effective Going for Refuge and giving up limited ideas; the antidote to beauty
07 ii. Utilitarianism; Sangharakshita’s idea of the Greater Mandala of Uselessness; literal takes on aesthetics; breaking the cups
08 Pushing off into truth; kinds of connection with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas; Reality and form and emptiness; visualistaion practice and life – things arising and disolving
09 ‘Fana’ and ‘baka’ in Rumi’s poetry – two streamings across the doorsill; Shams-e-Tabrizi – Rumi’s teacher
10 The importance of reflecting on form and emptiness; the eight-point mind training – taking all obstacles with you on the path; the Bodhisattva Ideal from the perspective of emptiness; spiritual practice in a world neither real nor illusory
11 Pema Chodron on how to avoid burn-out; shunyata and unrealistic ideals; a quote by Dennis Potter near to death; the trivial and the important; birdsong
12 Hsuan-Tsang’s ‘trusting mind’; introducing the dirt we buy to the dirt we already have
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Here is the second part of Paramabandhu’s excellent exploration of the lessons Buddhist techniques around meditation and mindfulness training can bring to the field of mental health – especially to problems with depression and addiction. Drawing on many years of experience as a consultant psychiatrist and Dharma teacher, here he takes questions on his previous talk and elaborates on the general theme. There’s a wide range of material opened up – and considerable detail about how we can actually go about applying these techniques to whatever challenges we face in your own lives. Essential listening.
Please note – the questions in this recording were made at very low levels. We’ve amplified and clarified where possible – but the general sound quality drops noticeably at these points. However, they are all now audible and, in almost all instances, questions are repeated by Paramabandhu before he answers.
Talk given at San Francisco Buddhist Center, 2006
Contents
01 Question-and-answer session – two books to reference on mindfulness; working with depression – discrepancy monitor and rumination
02 Knowing what you can and cannot change – considered action
03 Difficulty doing mindfulness work when actively depressed; noticing subtle shades of pleasant and unpleasant
04 Can mindfulness initiate depression? Stepping out of patterns of thinking; difference between rumination and ‘staying with’; body awareness
05 Over-active mind; 12 step program – something to actually do; expectations and suffering; having your experience – the truth as sometimes uncomfortable
06 Letting go of what you don’t have; relationship break-up; staying with unpleasant experience and not compounding it – the Buddha in the ‘Dart Sutta’
07 Not identifying with one feeling; sexual addiction; recovery from addiction and mindfulness practice
08 Rumination in the body; working with internal sensations; using metaphors to work with your mind
09 Psoriasis and mindfulness
10 What is meditation? A brief introduction and exercise – the ‘Three Minute Breathing Space’
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This is a timely and invaluable talk from Paramabandhu. Drawing on many years of experience as a consultant psychiatrist and Dharma teacher, he invites us to consider the lessons Buddhist techniques around meditation and mindfulness training can bring to the field of mental health – especially to problems with depression and addiction. The talk evokes the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta to explore the four traditional foundations of mindfulness and discuss their potential use in therapeutic contexts. It is a kindly and empowering expression of practical hope, whose message applies to us all as we struggle to overcome whatever it is that holds us back from greater freedom in our lives.
Part 2 of this podcast will feature a question-and-answer session based on the material
Talk given at the San Francisco Buddhist Center, 2006
Contents:
01 Contemporary interest in mindfulness; brief therapeutic history of meditation since the 1960s; the Buddha as behavioural therapist – the obese king, Kisa Gotami and her baby
02 John Kabat-Zinn and mindfulness-based stress reduction; other therapies based around mindfulness
03 Mindfulness in Buddhist tradition; the Satipatthana Sutta; sati and sampajanya; analogies for mindfulness; the four foundations of mindfulness – an analysis of technique in practice
04 Four aspects of mindfulness in therapeutic context; i clocking what’s going on – being on automatic pilot
05 ii Sitting with your experience; Rumi’s poem ‘The Guest House’; the kindly aspect of awareness; body awareness and mental proliferation
06 iii Perspective; cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy – the implicit and the explicit; not taking our thoughts so seriously; iv choice – mindfulness of purpose
07 Taking awareness deeper; freedom; Kotita’s ‘Song of Realization’
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Settle back and touch base with this very enjoyable and, at times, inspiring talk by Saddharaja on the great blue Buddha of the eastern quarter of the mandala – the Unshakeable One, the Imperturbable Akshobya. This is particularly good because it departs from standard fare on the figure. We get a great reading from Wordsworth, a stimulating discussion of ethics and their relationship to issues of doubt and self-confidence, as well as a meeting with a wooly mammoth… Listen out too for a terrific story about standing inside a mountain which communicates something essential about the depth of presence and mystery Akshobya is all about.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter Retreat 2001
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This wonderful talk by Ratnaguna looks at the Pureland tradition of Shinran, comparing some of his approaches to those of the contemporary teacher John Kabat-Zinn, pioneer of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. The nature of ‘problems’ versus ‘difficulties’ is explored – notions of ‘acceptance’, ‘development’, and awareness itself are considered from new angles that can shed light on our experience of failure and suffering. A lovely, sympathetic and good-natured look at the foolishness of human beings which can, when held in the heart, begin to approach wisdom itself.
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To get us moving again now the new site is up and running, here’s a cracking and wonderfully detailed talk by Vessantara, author of ‘Meeting the Buddhas’. He is the ideal person to introduce us to the complex and fascinating Tantric figure of Vajrapani – ‘Lord of Secrets’, embodiment of ”virya’ (‘Energy in Pursuit of the Good’). Vessantara’s style is familiar and well-earthed, and therefore eminently suited to material that bristles with electricity and is not always so easy to communicate. We get the origin and development of the Tantra itself, as well as of this key figure who meets the impermanent nature of Reality head-on and embodies the tremendous possibilities of change. Look out too for a great introduction about darts…!
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We’re totally thrilled to announce the launch of Free Buddhist Audio, the new, free download and streaming service from The Dharmachakra Archives. If you’ve been enjoying our podcasts, you’ll love this! The site features over 500 free recordings – mostly talks, but also guided meditations, retreat recordings, question-and-answer sessions and interviews! There’s also a very extensive searchable text archive of seminars and talks on all aspects of Buddhist practice and culture, western and eastern. The site has been several years in the making, and is now live – so, we’d like to invite you over! Come and play…
This is pretty fantastic in its way. Danavira is one of the best speakers we know – he is very funny, can do poetic and profound, tends to the chaotic in his style, and has a particular genius for this kind of thing; this kind of thing being talking about death. The whole talk is a kind of respectful joyride through the hardest subject of all – sit back and enjoy a thoroughly adult treat that’s likely to blow the heart wide open.
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Kamalashila has spent a lot of his adult life exploring meditation – and this talk is a lovely little foray into the whole subject as a crucial aspect in life and practice, with special consideration given to reflection on the six elements. Oh, and look out for Brian the meditating dog…
Table of contents:
01 Brian, the meditating dog, and the natural life; experience of the elements versus artificial living
02 Meditation exposing artificiality through awareness of experience; meditation as a kind of prayer for authenticity and truth; the buddhist path as a way of beccoming more natural
03 The six element practice as a focus on nature; historical suppression of pagan naturalness; naturalness as an issue of practice, not theory
04 The earth element; the easiest element to experience directly; hard, firm and durable
05 The water element; the shape depends on the container; the taboo of bodily fluids; accepting the elements as they are; the elements as co-existing qualities, not things
06 The fire element; relating to and learning from fire
07 The element of wind (air) as ‘motion’ – vayo dhatu; movement of emotional energy in the body and its oppression; element practice as recollection of spaciousness; the movement of the mind, thoughts and perceptions
08 The element ‘space’; the great container of all things
09 The element ‘consciousness’; all other elements embraced in consciousness; the element of experiences; seeing into what experience is
10 Questioning in practice – deepening; the reason for practice as the development of liberating awareness; the consequences of unawareness and awareness; letting the dharma in; the importance of study and discussion in deepening practice
11 The essence of meditation as realising the natural state of things and being changed by that realisation; having confidence in one’s realisations; learning what to look for; the spaciousness of things
12 Two ways into spaciousness; noting inconsistencies as opportunities for realisation; the incongruity and illusory nature of ‘me’ and ‘mine’; relaxing the tendency to arousal opens up simplicity and naturalness
13 A second approach to emptiness; seeing directly the free and spacious nature of things; motion in the mind; the elusive nature of thoughts; words and thoughts; the emptiness of thoughts; emptiness as the natural element; nirvana as naturalness
14 Returning to earth and befriending the elements; the extremity of artificiality in present culture; Buddhafield as an attempt to find simplicity; true simplicity as whatever allows more room for comparison and wisdom
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Vaddhaka can usually be relied on to give a pretty great talk – and this is no exception. Here we have a real treat – a terrific, energetic exploration of the green Buddha of the north: Amoghasiddhi (Dundubishvara), the Unobstructed One. This is kind of a multi-media affair – listen for the 13th Century Spanish processional music in honour of the Virgin, and a blast of Sibelius too! Marvellous.
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, winter retreat 2001
Please note that some small noise artefacts can be heard occasionally on this talk due to a poor original recording.
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This is a fascinating, challenging and, in the end, realistically affirming look at Buddhist practice in the face of global climate crisis. What can we do? How can we change the ways we think and respond to the seemingly insurmountable problems the planet faces? Akuppa’s thoughtful introduction to the worlds of scientific and deep ecology asks us the hard questions and offers some hope for possible answers. Drawing on the work of Joanna Macy, amongst others, he traces positive lessons to be learned from simply observing and engaging with nature’s patterns and processes – and invites us all to prepare to be awestruck as a necessary first step.
Please note that some small noise artefacts can be heard occasionally on this talk due to a poor original recording.
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This is a gem of a talk from Abhaya. With his customary dry wit and sharp eye he leads us on the crazy paving path through the Diamond Sutra — a text guaranteed to turn your world upside-down. Some very funny parts to this talk — and some excellent evocations of rigorous Dharma practice as part of the everyday business of life. Watch out too for an intriguing discussion of the sutra as Vajrapani and as a zen master… Great stuff!
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Jnanavaca is back! Last time it was mountaineering (see our very first podcast), this time it’s Einstein, Schroedinger, double slits, and all that stuff you wished you understood about quantum physics but despaired of ever knowing so as to impress at parties… Well, now you can learn all about it — as well as how it relates to Dharma practice and the Buddha’s view of a truly luminous Reality. Very classy stuff from a great speaker with the most infectious laugh on the planet! We won’t give any more away here — settle back and enjoy a brain-expanding, soul questioning talk.
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The Buddha as lover, as master of enchantments, as a vision of the sky. In this talk, Candradasa presents the story of the Buddha’s life as a backdrop to three visions of practice, focussing on a progression through love and corresponding to the traditional path of ethics, meditation and wisdom. Myth, dream and archetypal images galore — from Jung and Star Wars to Giacometti and Jean Genet — as well as a healthy dose of sex, magic and death. But finally, we have the Buddha simply as a vision of how to know ourselves more fully and live our lives with a marvellous elegance of being…
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Core meditation teaching from Viveka. Here is her fresh and vibrant take on the traditional practice of anapanasati – mindfulness with breathing. Using the breath as a stabilizing presence, this series of reflections is designed to help us discover the nature of reality itself by encouraging us to notice what is actually happening each moment in a direct and open way. Anapanasati is a complete path to awakening or enlightenment.
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Lalitavira’s splendid talk on mindfulness – especially mindfulness of the body – is here to ground you! Through vivid imagery, we encounter the root practice of Buddhism as it appears in earliest times. In doing so, we contemplate the assumptions behind our experience, as well as those behind traditional dharma practice and philosophy. This is good, strong medicine for flighty times – an unflinching but kindly look at death, sex and the nature of things!
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A new year’s talk by Subhuti to help dust away all those mental cobwebs hanging over from the last one! Just the thing for sharpening your wits, deepening your understanding of the thorny area that is ethics, and generally pulling your socks up on the awareness front… A friendly but thoroughly enagaging first step into a profoundly interesting area of Buddhist philosophy and practice — just how does the mind work?
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A jewelled casket of a talk by Vajradarshini, with poetic accompaniment. Rumi meets Tsongkhapa in the Tavern of Ruin, and Dogen, Milarepa and Nagarjuna join them to talk about ‘self’ and ‘world’. Joanna Macy turns up too — then many voices, mixed and mingled, explore the experience of being part of an Order and following the Buddha’s way. Quite splendid stuff.
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Fabulous stuff from Padmavajra. This richly rewarding talk explores the place and function of sound in Buddhist practice and history, as well as within the speaker’s own spiritual life. A wide-ranging cultural journey is made from John Coltrane to Sufi Qawwali, from mantra to Zen poetry, taking in Andre Gide, Renaissanace Neoplatonism and the ancient Pali Verses en route. Not to be missed!
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A good, pithy introduction from Nagapriya (not to say quirky – check out the soccer references!) to the traditionally thorny and rather misunderstood area of karma and rebirth, teasing out its relationship to Buddhist ethics in general. Instant karma is yours…
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A lovely, thoughtful exploration of the traditional Buddhist path of ethics, meditation and wisdom, using poetry and the ideas of contemporary science to evoke the mystery that lies at the heart of practice. Dhammadassin’s beautifully weighted talk challenges us to look at how we think and how we act, and is rooted in a moving fidelity to experience as the ground of our inspiration. One to be treasured!
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A sparkling discussion from 2003 on the use of images for accessing the Buddhist tradition. And an indispensable exploration of everyday practice of the Dharma in the beautiful light of the Tathagathagarbha Sutra.
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In this moving talk Jnanavaca relates events in Joe Simpson’s popular mountaineering book ‘Touching the Void’ to aspects of Buddhist practice.
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.