Ajahn Brahmali Podcast

In this honest and insightful Dhamma talk, Ajahn Brahmali guides listeners through the process of understanding, relating to, and ultimately going beyond the inner critic, the voice of self-judgment that many of us carry. With clarity and compassion, he explores how Buddhist practice can help us meet that voice with kindness, mindfulness, and wisdom. Recorded 2024-06-14 - This talk by Ajahn Brahma...

In this insightful talk, Ajahn Brahmali explores delusion (moha), one of the three unwholesome roots in Buddhist teachings, highlighting its role as a core obstacle to wisdom, peace, and awakening. This talk encourages listeners to stay committed to the path, trusting that the gradual fading of delusion brings freedom, peace, and a more meaningful life. Recorded 2018-04-06 - This talk by Ajahn Bra...

In this reflective talk, Ajahn Brahmali discusses the idea that there is no such thing as "bad meditation." Drawing from his experiences traveling internationally, he highlights that meditation is less about reaching particular states or achievements and more about cultivating kindness, patience, and letting go. Recorded 2024-06-12 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded and made avai...

Ajahn Brahmali explores the concept of freedom through both a modern Western and a Buddhist lens, emphasizing that while both traditions value freedom, they understand it in fundamentally different ways. Western freedom is often equated with autonomy: the ability to choose what to do, say, or consume. In Buddhism, the core idea of freedom is inner freedom: the freedom from the compulsion of desire...

Ajahn Brahmali discusses the intersection between the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Buddhist principles, sharing reflections from a recent experience at a university conference in Thailand. The talk explores how Buddhism can support, deepen, and even surpass the ambitions of global sustainability initiatives. The SDGs seek external change, but Buddhism teaches that true change begins...

Ajahn Brahmali explores the transformative power of Right View (sammā-diṭṭhi), explaining how developing accurate understanding of the Dhamma is the foundation for liberation. Recorded 2021-01-16 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded in support of the Anukampa Bikkuni Project. Please see their donation page for ways to support!

In this Dhamma talk, Ajahn Brahmali reflects on impermanence (Anicca), one of the most central and transformative insights in Buddhism. Impermanence means that all conditioned things (bodies, feelings, perceptions, relationships, thoughts) are in constant flux, making them unreliable. The Buddha emphasized Anicca as a starting point for wisdom, leading to dispassion (Nibbida) and release from suff...

Ajahn Brahmali offers an encouraging and down-to-earth talk about the essential qualities of commitment and perseverance in sustaining a Buddhist practice. Drawing on both practical advice and spiritual insight, he speaks to the long-term mindset needed for deep transformation. Perseverance is not about striving or perfection; it’s about patient, kind repetition. Over the years, even small acts of...

Ajahn Brahmali explores the practical impact of Right View, not just what it is, but how deeply it influences our choices, emotions, and progress on the spiritual path. Recorded 2024-01-05 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia (BWSA) under the ⁠Creative Commons⁠ license. ⁠You can support the Buddhist Society...

Ajahn Brahmali explains the Five Hindrances (mental obstacles that block inner peace and meditation) and shares practical methods for overcoming them based on the Buddha’s teachings. The Five Hindrances: ​Sensory Desire (Kāmacchanda) ​Ill Will (Byāpāda) ​Sloth and Torpor (Thīna-middha) ​Restlessness and Worry/Regret(Uddhacca-kukkucca) ​Doubt (Vicikicchā) Recorded 2018-07-08 - This talk by Ajahn Br...

Ajahn Brahmali delves into the topic of right perception in the Buddhist path; explaining how our interpretation of experience shapes our behavior, emotions, morality, and our spiritual growth. Recorded 2023-11-10 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia (BWSA) under the ⁠Creative Commons⁠ license. ⁠You can sup...

Ajahn Brahmali reflects on one of the fundamental but often overlooked aspects of Buddhist practice: harmony. On a personal level, harmony arises from contentment, ethics, and kindness. In communities, it’s supported by mutual respect, humility, and non-contentious speech. Ajahn Brahmali emphasizes the importance of cultivating kind speech, patience, and a forgiving attitude. He encourages us to r...

Ajahn Brahmali explores the role of perception in Buddhist practice, drawing from early Buddhist discourses to show how it can be trained and refined to support wisdom and liberation. Perception shapes how we respond to the world; therefore, training it is vital for spiritual development. Just as habits are formed by repetition, wise perceptions become more natural over time through consistent pra...

Ajahn Brahmali explains the authentic framework of Buddhist meditation as taught by the Buddha, grounding the discussion in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta and broader Pali Canon teachings. The Buddha emphasized gentleness, joy, and patience in meditation, not striving or controlling. Ajahn Brahmali points out that meditation develops naturally when one cultivates the conditions for peace, such as practici...

Ajahn Brahmali offers a heartfelt talk on generosity (dāna), explaining why it's not just a nice moral act but a powerful spiritual practice that lays the foundation for deeper progress on the Buddhist path. Practicing generosity is not just giving material things, but also giving time, attention, forgiveness, and kindness. Recorded 2021-11-12 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded and mad...

Ajahn Brahmali explores Right View, emphasizing its essential role as the foundation of the entire Buddhist path. Right View is the correct understanding of reality, particularly in terms of: Kamma (karma) and its consequences. The Four Noble Truths. Impermanence, non-self, and suffering (dukkha). Right View helps reduce craving, aversion, and delusion, replacing them with clarity, peace, and wisd...

Ajahn Brahmali shares a light-hearted yet deeply practical talk on the six supporting factors that lead to strong and stable mindfulness. His focus is on how to nourish mindfulness through everyday habits and attitudes, not just meditation. You don’t force mindfulness; you nurture its conditions, and it arises on its own. Recorded 2022-04-03 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded and made avai...

In this reflective talk, Ajahn Brahmali discusses the themes of death and what it reveals about life, meaning, and the spiritual path. He approaches death not with fear, but with clarity and compassion, seeing it as one of the most profound contemplations in Buddhism. Recorded 2020-05-01 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of...

Ajahn Brahmali offers a talk on the nature of consciousness and how understanding it plays a vital role in spiritual growth. Delivered during the early COVID-19 lockdowns, the talk weaves in reflections on change, uncertainty, and the deeper workings of the mind. Consciousness is not a fixed self or soul, but a process that arises dependent on conditions. Seeing its conditioned nature helps us ste...

Ajahn Brahmali explores the theme of identity, both in everyday life and in the context of Buddhist wisdom. The talk is sparked by his own experience of recently becoming an Australian citizen, which led him to reflect on what identity really means. According to the Buddha, identity is a mental fabrication based on attaching to the five khandas or aspects of experience (body, feeling, perception,...

Ajahn Brahmali explores the common question: “Is Buddhism a religion?” He offers thoughtful reflections on how we define Buddhism and why that definition matters for both practitioners and newcomers. Buddhism is practical and experiential, focusing on ethics, meditation, and insight rather than dogma or ritual. Ajahn Brahmali suggests Buddhism is best seen as a training or path, a way to understan...

According to the Suttas, a corrupt leader can corrupt the whole society. Ajahn Brahmali discusses the importance of voting for moral leaders and for having compassion towards politicians. Ajahn reminds us that our world is never going to be perfect, so we shouldn’t become upset over political issues. Instead we should focus our attention on being generous and kind. Politics affects everyone, but f...

Ajahn Brahmali offers a thoughtful talk on the role of lay Buddhists in the Buddha’s path, emphasizing that deep spiritual practice is not limited to monastics and that laypeople have a vital and honored place in the Buddha's teachings (Dhamma). Even with jobs and families, laypeople can progress deeply by: Reflecting on the Dhamma. Using life’s challenges as opportunities for patience, non-at...

Ajahn Brahmali humorously addresses the title “The Easy Way to Awakening,” using it as a launching point to discuss the practical, gradual, and joyful nature of the Buddhist path. The Buddhist path is not about forcing or striving, it’s about creating the right causes and conditions for awakening to unfold naturally. Awakening arises naturally from ethical conduct, renunciation, and wisdom applied...

Ajahn Brahmali discusses the role and significance of monastic life in Buddhism, highlighting why it remains a vital aspect of the Buddha's teachings (Dhamma) and what both individuals and society gain from preserving it. While not everyone can become a monk or nun, valuing and supporting monasticism ensures that the Dhamma remains available, authentic, and transformative for future generation...