Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

In this Dhamma Talk, Ajahn Dhammasiha explains the difference between superficial distractions in our meditation, and the deep underlying defilements that cause disturbance. The superficial distractions will gradually calm down if we diligently and patiently continue attending to our meditation object. They are just an echo of all the input we receive from conversations, social media, watching you...

What's most important for a meditator is exactly what no AI (Artificial Intelligence) can know: Knowing our own mind, understanding our internal feelings, emotions, thoughts and intentions. No AI can help us to know ourselves. We ourselves have to develop the mindfulness to observe our emotions and mind states internally, AI can not possible do that for us. Ajahn Dhammasiha also explains how t...

At the pavāranā full moon completing the annual rainy season retreat, the monks are instructed by the Buddha to mutally invite each other for critical feedback regarding their conduct. The ceremony is to remind us how important it is for our own growth in the Dhamma to get and be able to receive and process critical feedback. It's difficult to see one's own shortcomings, as the faculty of...

In Anguttara Nikāya / Numerical Discourses, Threes No 103, the Buddha explains that for progress in one's meditation, we have to give attention to three qualities ('nimittas'): 1. Samādhi Nimitta: Calm, Tranquility, Unification of Mind, Concentration 2. Paggaha Nimitta: Effort, Striving, Exertion 3. Upeakkha Nimitta: Equanimity, careful observation without reacting or interfering, equi...

Ajahn Dhammasīha reminds us that the ultimate end of our whole Dhamma practice is letting go. Letting go of what? Letting go of everything! Everything means all sankhāras, all conditioned phenomena. Once the heart lets go of all conditioned phenomena, it realizes the Unconditioned Deathless Reality, Nibbāna. 'Everything' (the Universe, the All) in the teaching of the noble ones is the six...

Dhamma talk and discussion with Ajahn Dīpako at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. Ajahn introduces the audience to the meditation object of 'Recollection of Sangha' (Sanghānussati), and emphasizes the importance of 'Spiritual Frienship' (Kalyānamittatā): When we associate with admirable friends, who have a strong foundation in generosity, virtue and meditation, we will gradually acquire...

Recently the case of Christa Pike's "botched execution" in Tennessee went viral, as she is apparently the first person ever in the US to survive an "execution" after the poison (pentobarbital) was administered. In fact, after the first "lethal" dose failed to kill her, a second "lethal" dose was given to her. When she was still alive an hour after that s...

Ajahn Moneyyo recites the first chapters of the Vinaya Piṭaka, Mahāvagga 1. 1. to 1.6. in the original Pali language. These passages are the oldest and most authentic record of the events from the Buddha's supreme awakening (Sammā-sambodhi) under the Bodhi Tree at Uruvela (now Bodh Gaya) near the river Nerañjana, until the Buddha reunites with his first five disciples (Pañca-vaggiyā Bhikkhū) a...

Ajahn Dhammasīha talks about the power of Good Karma (Puñña) to to weaken and dilute even extremely bad old karma. The Buddha explained the process with the simile of drinking salty water: 🚰💧 The good, healthy spring water is the good karma we create. 🧂 Loads of salt mixed into the water is the bad karma we create. 🫗 Drinking the mix is experiencing the results of the karma we've created....

Ajahn Dhammasiha reads Luang Por Liem's little booklet on Walking Meditation (Jongrom / Cankama / Sakman Bhāvanā), translated by late Ajahn Thaniyo. You can read and download the booklet here: https://www.abhayagiri.org/media/books/liem_walking_with_awareness.pdf Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Ajahn Dhammasiha suggests to use the same instructions the Buddha has given us for Breath Meditation in our Walking Meditation. The 16 stages of breath meditation have been expounded by the Buddha in great detail, for example in the Ānāpānasati Sutta, Majjhima Nikāya No 118 = Mindfulness of In and Out Breath, Middle Length Discourses No 118: English Version: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/M...

The Buddha's half-brother Venerable Nanda was the foremost bhikkhu disciple in terms of sense restraint. He was attractive, handsome, strong and had a natural inclination to intense sensual desire, which caused him major struggles in the beginning of his monk's life. He overcame his difficulties through: Sense Restraint (Indriya Saṃvara) Knowing the right amount when eating (Bhojanasmiṃ Mattaññutā...

Walking meditation is in no way inferior to sitting meditation. In fact, for many of us in modern society it can be a more suitable posture than sitting crosslegged (or even full lotus). The way we grow up, always sitting on chairs, we're often not flexible enough for sitting crosslegged. Therefore, walking can help us to continue our meditation for a much longer time. It's also excellent...

Chanting is an essential part of meditative practice in virtually all Buddhist traditions, and also in other religions. Ajahn Dhammasiha explains the powerful benefits we receive from diligently learning Buddhist chants by heart, from listening to them, and from reciting them regularly. Chanting the teaching of the Buddha develops samatha (tranquility) and samādhi, due to the calming and uplifting...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about Saṃyutta Nikāya / Connected Discourses 12.23 'Upanisā Sutta' / 'Origin Sutta' In his discourse, the Buddha expands the usual links of Dependent Origination / Paṭicca Samuppāda in a revolutionary way, moving from Suffering to Faith to Joy: ( ... ) Birth is the origin of suffering (dukkha) Suffering is the origin of faith (saddhā) Faith is the origin of j...

Ajahn Dhammasiha explains how the faultfinding mind can deprive us of happiness, and even drive us into depression. If we're stuck in the negative feedback loop of complaining and faultfinding, we have to gradually but consistently reeducate our mind to pay attention to good and uplifting events. What we pay attention to ('yoniso manasikāra') is so important. We have a choice where to...

The final goal of Dhamma practice, what it's all about, is to realize Nibbāna (Sanskrit: Nirvāṇa ). It's important to have an accurate understanding of our final objective, otherwise it would be difficult to develop our mind in the right direction. However, as Nibbana / Nirvana is totally beyond all concepts, words, notions and thoughts, even the Buddha can not possibly describe it accurat...

To develop insight, vipassana, we have to learn to observe uninterested. We have to be like an objective researcher. We know what we experience, without reacting, interfering and manipulating. We shift our identification towards the 'Knower', rather than the 'Doer'. What we take up as object of our observation, we no longer identify with. We just mindfully know the emotion we'r...

Some people think: "When I do something good, I just do it and then forget about it. That's what the Buddha would want us to do." No, this is not what the Buddha teaches! The Buddha teaches the exact opposite: We should remember our good actions, we should recollect our generosity, we should be mindful of our virtue. Ajahn Dhammasiha explains why. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about one of the more challenging teachings of the Buddha: "Grief, pain, sorrow, frustration, depression and despair are born from what is dear to us, they originate from what we love." You can find the sutta Ajahn mentions in his talk at: Majjhima Nikāya / Middle Length Discourses No. 87 'Piyajātika Sutta' / 'Born from What is Dear' https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN8...

20 years ago on 13 August 2006, Brisbane Buddhist Vihara Inc (BBV) decided at a Special General Meeting to invite Ajahn Dhammasiha, to start a Forest Monastery associated with the tradition of Ajahn Chah in the Brisbane area. The next day on 14th August 2006, Dr Gamini Jayasinghe (President of BBV Inc) called Ajahn Dhammasiha to formally extend this invitation to him, and Ajahn accepted. Dr Gamini...

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about Nekkhamma = Letting Go To truly renounce, to truly let go, we have to investigate the process of attachment happening in our mind. We can observe and investigate this process everytime when we're shopping. For example, if we buy a new phone, or any other object. The moment we pay and take the phone, our mental attitude changes profoundl...

Ajahn Dhammasiha shares how much he liked Italy and Rome at his recent visit to Santacittarama Monastery in Sabina, Italy. He was surprised how easy it is to get lost in 'Lebenslust' / 'Cheerful Enjoyment of Life', despite the fact that death is closing in on all of us, and that no safe place can be found in Samsāra. If we truly want to transcend all conditioned phenomena and experience Nibbāna, w...

The full moon in July marks one of the most important dates in the Buddhist calendar: Asalha Puja (Esala), the start of the Rains Retreat / Vassa for the Buddhist monastic Sangha, and the day when the Buddha delivered his first formal discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta ('Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma'). This date is also known as 'Dhamma Day'. Ajahn Dha...

Ajahn Dhammasiha quotes and shares reflections on Samyutta Nikāya 22.43 (Connected Discourses of the Buddha, 22.43): "Attadīpā, bhikkhave, viharatha attasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā, dhammadīpā dhammasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā!" "Bhikkhus, live with yourself as an island, live with yourself as a refuge, with no other refuge; live with the Dhamma as an island, live with the Dhamma as your refuge, with no other ref...