Ajahn Brahmali Podcast

In the wake of the 2019 Easter terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, Ajahn Brahmali offers a compassionate and thoughtful reflection on how to process suffering, violence, and loss through the lens of Buddhist teachings. Events like terrorism challenge our emotional and moral frameworks. Buddhism does not ignore suffering, rather it teaches how to respond to it wisely and compassionately. Tragedy can al...

Ajahn Brahmali reflects deeply on the themes of death and impermanence, drawing from his personal experience following the passing of his father. He uses this as a heartfelt entry point into one of the most central contemplations in Buddhism. Death is an unavoidable part of life that many avoid thinking about, yet Buddhism encourages us to face it directly and honestly. The impermanence of life re...

Ajahn Brahmali offers a detailed and encouraging talk on samādhi, or meditative stillness, explaining its meaning, purpose, and crucial role on the Buddhist path. He addresses common questions and misconceptions surrounding deep meditation. Samādhi refers to deep states of mental stillness and clarity. It is not mere relaxation or concentration, but a fully collected and peaceful mind, free of dis...

Ajahn Brahmali offers a foundational talk on what Buddhism is really about, centered on its core framework: the Four Noble Truths. This talk is ideal for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners, as it revisits the essential insights of the Buddha’s awakening. The Four Noble Truths: Dukkha (Suffering or Unsatisfactoriness) The Cause of Dukkha The Cessation of Dukkha The Path Leading to the Cessat...

In this personal and reflective talk, Ajahn Brahmali shares the motivations, experiences, and insights that led him to become a Buddhist monk. Recorded 2018-07-12 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia under the  ⁠Creative Commons⁠  licence.  ⁠You can support the Buddhist Society of Western Australia...

Ajahn Brahmali delivers an insightful talk exploring the concept of true freedom from a Buddhist perspective. The session begins with reflections on meditation and segues into a deeper discussion about what it really means to be free. Real freedom is not doing whatever we want but being free from the desires that control us. Recorded 2018-07-09 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded an...

Ajahn Brahmali explores the distinction between “original” and “traditional” Buddhism, encouraging a thoughtful return to the Buddha’s earliest teachings to better understand the essence of the Dhamma. Original Buddhism refers to the direct experience and insights of the Buddha. These teachings are preserved in the early suttas (especially in the Pāli Canon). Traditional Buddhism includes the ritu...

Ajahn Brahmali gives a fascinating talk on the future of Buddhism, citing what the Buddha himself said on this topic, and connecting it with what it means to practice in the current age. Recorded 2016-04-01 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia under the  ⁠Creative Commons⁠  licence.  ⁠You can suppor...

In this Dhamma talk, Ajahn Brahmali explores the core Buddhist principle of impermanence (anicca), showing how a deep understanding of change can transform our relationship with life, reduce suffering, and open the door to liberation. Impermanence means that everything in our experience is unstable, subject to change, and ultimately not dependable. This includes all physical phenomena, mental stat...

In this thought-provoking talk, Ajahn Brahmali explores the concept of cosmology from a Buddhist perspective, drawing connections between ancient Buddhist insights and modern scientific understandings of the universe. He approaches the topic with both curiosity and care, emphasizing that the Buddha’s primary focus was liberation, not astronomy. The Buddha used cosmology not to explain the stars, b...

Ajahn Brahmali examines the Buddha’s teachings on volition (cetanā) and the difference between the foolish and the wise, framing the discussion around how our choices shape both our meditation practice and our lives. His approach is practical, aiming to help listeners apply Buddhist principles to daily living and spiritual development. Recorded 2015-05-10 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded...

Ajahn Brahmali reflects on the first discourse of the Buddha, known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (“Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion”), which outlines the core of the Buddha’s teaching: the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is not a list of options but a dynamic process. When Right View is well-established, the whole wheel of the Dhamma turns, leadi...

In this structured and engaging Dhamma talk, Ajahn Brahmali explores two fundamental aspects of the Buddhist path: Right View (Sammā Diṭṭhi) and Spiritual Friendship (Kalyāṇa-mittatā). These two elements form the foundation and support system for deep, lasting spiritual progress. Recorded 2015-05-09 - This talk by Ajahn Brahmali was recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist...

Ajahn Brahmali gives a clear explanation of samatha (calm) and vipassanā (clear seeing); the two core components of Buddhist meditation practice. He offers practical insights into how these two qualities interact and support each other on the path to awakening. Samatha means tranquility, stillness, or calm. It is developed through practices like mindfulness of breathing, loving-kindness, or body a...

Ajahn Brahmali discusses the essential role of mental purification (through morality, ethics, and virtue) in establishing strong and effective mindfulness. The talk emphasizes that meditation doesn’t begin with technique alone, it begins with how we live and relate to the world around us. Recorded 2012-07-20 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made available for free distributio...

Saddhā, or confidence, is one of the five spiritual faculties in Buddhist teaching. Confidence is different from blind faith. Confidence is the force inside of you that pushes you along the spiritual path. The first aspect of Buddhist confidence is gained through making observations and inferences about a person over a period of time.  A person who has extraordinarily inspiring and infusing attrib...

Ajahn Brahmali talks about how virtue, especially of the mind, gives rise to mindfulness and how mindfulness is instrumental to successful meditation. Recorded 2012-03-23 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia under the  ⁠Creative Commons⁠  licence.  ⁠You can support the Buddhist Society of Western Au...

In this reflective Vesak evening talk, Ajahn Brahmali invites listeners to deepen their connection with the historical Buddha, not just as a figure of reverence, but as a real human being who lived, awakened, and taught. The talk honors Vesak, which celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing, by focusing on his character, teachings, and timeless relevance. Recorded 2010-05-28 - Thes...

From a Buddhist perspective, thinking about death isn’t a negative, dark and depressing act, but rather, thinking about death can be very useful, putting life in perspective, and even leading the mind in to peace. Ajahn Brahmali gives advice on how to wisely contemplate death. Recorded 2009-12-25 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Bud...

In this talk, Ajahn Brahmali introduces and explains the concept of dependent origination (paṭicca samuppāda), one of the Buddha’s most profound and insightful teachings. Though often seen as complex, Ajahn Brahmali presents it in a way that is accessible, practical, and deeply relevant to spiritual practice. Dependent origination describes how suffering arises through a chain of cause-and-effect...

In this thoughtful and encouraging talk, Ajahn Brahmali reflects on dukkha (suffering), not to discourage, but to motivate and deepen our understanding of the Buddhist path. He emphasizes that seeing suffering clearly is not pessimistic; rather, it is the first step toward true happiness and liberation. Ajahn Brahmali encourages seeing suffering not just in isolated events, but as a condition of e...

Ajahn Brahmali presents a rich and inspiring talk on what it means to develop the mind in the Buddhist tradition. He explains that mental development is one of the Buddha’s greatest discoveries, and that true happiness and freedom come not from the world outside, but from training and refining the inner world. Mental development is a gradual path, where patient effort and gentle awareness lead to...

If were are able to see impermanence in the world we are able to see life as it really is. However, really seeing and understanding the quality of permanence in life is harder than we think. Ajahn Brahmali discusses what the problem of impermanence really means and how seeing it clearly can lead to greater freedom. Recorded 2008-12-26 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made ava...

Many people – even many Buddhists – know very little about, or have mistaken ideas, about who the historical Buddha really is. Ajahn Brahmali sets aside the myths and legends and gives an historical account of the life of Siddhartha Gautama – the Buddha, and connects this to how it can enhance our practice in the here and now. Recorded 2008-10-24 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded...

In this gentle and practical Dhamma talk, Ajahn Brahmali explores the meaning, power, and purpose of loving-kindness (mettā) , a core quality in Buddhist practice that nurtures both personal well-being and compassionate relationships with others. Recorded 2008-06-13 - These talks by Ajahn Brahmali have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Austra...