Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

Mindfulness of Breathing, Ānāpāṇasati, was the Buddha's own favourite meditation. Ajahn Dhammasiha provides an introduction how to gradually settle our mind onto the breath: The past is gone. The future has not yet come. We let go of past and future and settle down here and now , observing what arises in the present moment: 'Now is the Knowing!' We don't pay attention to external s...

Ajahn Dhammasiha offers reflections on the Ādittapariyāya Sutta, the 'Discourse on Burning', known as the third formal teaching of the Buddha. In this discourse, the Buddha challenges his audience with the shocking statement that the whole universe of our conscious experience is literally on fire. All six senses are burning with the fire of desire, hatred and delusion; they are burning with rebirt...

A crucial factor for progress and success in our meditation practice is learning to really enjoy meditating. Curiously, we often neglect that aspect, and instead rely only on will power and persistance. In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to deliberately develop the perceptions of gladness, joy and happiness for each step in our practice of breath meditation. More about Dhamm...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question in the audience: "How can we resist Desire?"   Is it enough to simply mindfully watch disire arising and passing away in our mind? And what if it does not pass away any time soon, and is in danger to overwhelm us?   There are several other interesting questions as well:   How to establish regular meditation practice when our lives are very bus...

This time we have included the full morning chanting we're doing for our regular Saturday Triple Refuge and Precepts Ceremony. Audio is improved (though still far from perfect ;-) and we think it will be interesting for our podcast listeners to hear the full ceremony that gets our committed group out of bed early on each weekend to arrive at Dhammagiri at 7.30 am every Saturday! By the way, th...

One of the deepest delusions of all is the sense of 'Self' ('Attā'), 'I', 'me' and 'mine'. Whenever we identify with anything at all as I, me, mine or Self, it will inevitably lead to disappointment and suffering. Consequently, if we want to abandon pain and disappointment, we have to abandon the illusion of Self and ownership. To help us see through the delusion of Self, the Buddha recommends us...

In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to use the breath as anchor for our awareness, and then to apply 'Anatta-Saññā' / 'Perception of Not-Self' to all the various thoughts, images, worries, phantasies bubbling up in our mind.   Whatever distracts us from the breath, whether it's plans for the future or little traumas from the past, whether it's sensual images or restless...

Inspired by Ajahn Moneyyo's recent recitation of the Pārāyanavagga' (Chapter on Going to the Further Shore in Suttanipāta), Ajahn Dhammasiha offers reflections on verse #1054, 'Puṇṇaka's Question'. In this verse, the Buddha provides his answer to Puṇṇaka's question: Who has truly gone beyond rebirth and old age? "Saṅkhāya lokasmi paroparāni, yass'iñjitaṃ natthi kuhiñci loke; Santo vidhūmo anīgho n...

Ajahn Moneyyo recites the Pārāyana Vagga in the Sutta Nipāta (Verses 1038 ff), one of the oldest parts of the Pali Canon. 16 Brahmin spiritual seekers visit the Buddha and ask him profound questions in verse about bondage  and liberation.   The unifying theme is going beyond, or crossing over – Crossing the  floods (of sensuality, becoming, views and ignorance), crossing over  ...

This is a good quality stereo recording of the Chanting we do at the end of our Sunday afternoon session. Called "Verses of Sharing and Aspiration", you can find it in the Amaravati Chaning Book on page 33 ("Through the Goodness that arises from my practice..."). It's the Amaravati English translation of the traditional Pali chant known as "Uddissanādhiṭṭhāna-Gāthā" ("Iminā Puññakammena..."), used...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about the power of Māra, 'The Evil One'. In Buddhist cosmology he is described as a powerful spirit, who is vehemently opposed to anyone attaining Nibbāna and thus escaping from his influence. Somewhat similar to the concept of the 'devil' in Western/Christian mythology. Ajahn explains that despite all his power, Mara can not overrule the effects of Karma. If we keep prec...

Often we struggle with doubts which teachings or meditation techniques are genuinely coming from the Buddha, and which ones may be later ideas and additions, or completely fake inventions. Fortunately, the Buddha himself has given us guidance on how to recognize the quality, the 'flavour', that proves to us that some teaching or method is real, authentic Buddha-Dhamma. He is actually advising his...

The environment children grow up in at an early age has a huge impact on their psychological well being for their whole life. If they consistantly receive love, affection and care, they will develop healthy self esteem, and the ability to give love and affection to others.   This process starts already during pregnancy. In the video, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages a young pregnant woman to be pa...

At the beginning of the Rains Retreat period, it is advisable to establish a firm foundation in our meditative Practice. The Buddha beautifully summarized core foundational principals for meditation in the famous verses of the "Bhaddekaratta" Sutta, Majjimanikāya/Middle Length Discourses #131. These instructions are of such primary importance, that they are repeated again in the following 3 suttas...

After the meditation session on Āsāḷhā Pūjā, Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some reflections on the 4 Noble Truths. He puts special emphasis on the Fourth Noble Truth, i.e. the Noble Eightfold Path, also known as the 'Middle Way' ('Majjhimā Paṭipadā'). With the Noble Eightfold Path, the Buddha has given us a tool that we can apply virtually any time throughout our life, whether ordained or in lay life. M...

Āsāḷhā Pūja, also known as Dhamma Day, is one of Buddhism's most important festivals, celebrating the Buddha's first formal teaching, the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" in the Deer Park ('Migadāya') at Sarnath near Vārāṇasī.   This Sutta on “Setting into Motion the Supreme Wheel of Dhamma” is rightly one of the most famous in the whole Pali Canon. The Buddha opens by expounding the Middle Way...

When we sit down to meditate, we often start with an attitude of trying to get something. To attain Samādhi. To get enlightened. Not surprising that we often run into trouble and difficulties in our efforts! Instead, we better direct our mind to simply try to see what's really going on, to watch, to observe mindfully, to understand wisely. In particular, we notice various forms of clinging and gra...

The Buddha taught that kindness and geneorsity will bring joy and happiness. However, we do not have to simply believe that out of faith. The Buddha encouraged us to always investigate and find out for ourselves.   Feed some carrots to the horses - how does it make you feel?   With mindfulness, we can notice how the simple act of giving some food to an animal is already enough to bring s...

Metta, Loving Kindness, is also known as 'Appamañña-Vihāra', a limitless abode, an unrestricted, unlimited dwelling place for our mind. We develop it to all beings throughout the universe without any distinction, discrimination, conditions or expectations of getting anything  in return. However, we ourselves are also living beings, and to make our practice of metta complete and successful, we...

In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to cultivate Loving Kindness (Mettā) to both ourselves and others in a balanced way.  Curiously, we often neglect to radiate Loving Kindness (Mettā) to ourselves. We are all living beings and just on that account we qualify for full and unconditional Mettā, whatever shortcomings we may have. There are trillions of living beings in the...

With so much negative news about wars and crises reching us all the time, it is easy for our mind to become dejected. But a dejected mind is an obstruction to ourselves, and of no benefit to anyone. Ajahn Dhammasiha recommends to develop 'Muditā' (Sympathic Joy - Rejoicing in other's good actions) and 'Mettā' (unconditional loving kindness to all beings) to raise our mind our of dejection and nega...

In the material world, if we want anything, it usually takes two things:   We need to have sufficient money to buy it.   We need to have the desire/intention to spend our money on it, and not onto something else.   If we really want some material object, but we have no money at all, we're unlikely to get it. But even if we have plenty of money, we would still not acquire it, if we p...

Ajahn Dhammasiha explains that we need to build up an emotional response to our meditation object. For example, if we practise Buddhānussati (Recollection of the Buddha), by repeating the Mantra "Bhagavā Arahaṃ Buddho" , our meditation will progress more smoothly if we have a feeling-response each time we repeat the Matnra. The more we know about the Buddha and his unique qualities, the stronger o...

Ajahn Dhammasiha discusses a text from Saṃyutta Nikāya / Connected Discourses, 35 Saḷāyatanasaṃyutta, Sutta #95 "Mālunkyaputta". An elderly monk asks the Buddha for personal meditation instruction. He receives the same advice like in the famous 'Instructions to Bāhiya'. He composes some spontaneous poetry, expressing his deep understanding of the very condensed and cryptic teaching of the Buddha....

Ajahn Dhammasiha relates the amazing, mind-blowing events surrounding the birth of the Bodhisatta as described by the Buddha himself in the "Acchariya-Abbhuta-Sutta"/"Wonderful and Marvellous"; #123 in the Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses. Additionally, he points out that we all can be 'Bodhisatta-Mātās'/'Mother's of the Bodhisatta' in a metaphorical sense: We all harbour the potential for...