Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

Ajahn Dhammasiha reminds us that the default position of our mind is actually samādhi. The mind is naturally blissful and calm. It is only the kilesas (defilements) that get our mind moving, and that are causing agitation. Like a body of water will become still all on it's own, as long as we do not disturb it, so our mind would be still if only we did not actively agitate it. Trying to force the m...

The circle of Saṃsāra, the endless wheel of birth and death, has been going on for such a long time that a beginning point can not be discerned. We all had many past lifes, not just one or a hundred or a thousand, but billions and trillions of past lifes. The Buddha explained that we had so many past lifes, that the tears we shed is more than the water in the pacific ocean. The blood we shed when...

Ajahn Chah once stated that in 40+ years as a monk, it's only two things he has found: 'Not Sure' and 'Patient Endurance'. The Pali term 'anicca' is usually translated as 'impermanent'. However, the actual meaning is much wider, and includes 'not sure', 'uncertain', 'unreliable'.Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to push ahead and fearlessly contemplate all phenomena, whether external material possess...

Ajahn Dhammasiha recommends to use: ' Not Sure' 'Not Certain' 'Anicca'  like a broom to sweep away all thoughts and worries and distractions in our meditation. We use the breath as anchor for our awareness, and stay with it. But all thoughts and plans for past and future, all fantasies and images, all worries and concerns we immediately counter with 'not sure' , so that they can't take hold o...

On occasion of Ajahn Chah's 30th death anniversary, Ajahn Dhammasiha offers reflections on the outstanding spiritual qualities of the founder of our tradition. Not only did Luang Por Chah possess the determination, faith, energy and wisdom to succeed in his own internal meditation practise. Additionally, he was an extrememly effective teacher. He could relate to virtually everyone, whatever class,...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the lifespan in Devaloka ('Heavenly World'). Even on the lowest level the lifespan equals about 10 milion human years. The Buddha encouraged us to contemplate the beauty of life in heaven, so that we feel inspired to develop the qualities that get us there: Generosity, virtue and faith in karma & rebirth.www.dhammagiri.netwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to questions about feeling ('vedana').How to contemplate fuzzy, indistinct feelings? Reflecting on Neutral Feeling. How to work with feelings of pain from booster? Distinguish spiritual and worldly feelings.www.dhammagiri.netwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Instinctually, human beings respond to danger with either fear or aggression, the so-called "Flight or Fight Reaction". Unsurprisingly, with the dangers of the pandemic relentlessly presented in all media for the last two years, we can observe a lot of anxiety and anger building up by now. Unfortunately, both are unwholesome mindstates and can easily lead to creation of bad karma. Ajahn Dhammasiha...

When we're exposed to some threat or danger, an instinctual response is either fear or aggression. We can see the same pattern in animals in the "flight or fight reaction" to danger. As humanity has been exposed to a media onslaught depicting the dangers of the pandemic for the last two years, we can see a lot of fearful and angry reactions. Unfortunately, both anger and fear are unwholesome minds...

For New Year at Dhammagiri, Ajahn Dhammasiha and Ajahn Moneyyo chant Paritta. These auspicious, protective verses are 2,500 years old, reaching back to the Buddha himself, and are recited in Pali, the language spoken by the Buddha. Paritta is believed to help ward off misfortune and disease, and to attract blessings and good fortune to anyone listening with an attentive mind. Ajahn Moneyyo leads t...

Ajahn Dhammasiha presents and comments on a sutta in Udāna, one of the oldest and most authentic parts of the Pali Canon. A poor, despised sufferer of leprosy approaches a large crowd where the Buddha is teaching, hoping to beg for some food. However, he ends up listening to the Buddha, and is the only one in the whole crowd to realize the Dhamma, attaining Stream-entry (Sotāpatti), the first stag...

Ajahn Dhammasiha presents the Buddha's "Shorter Exposition on Karma" from Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses #135.In this sutta, the Buddha descibes actions and mental attitudes that lead to good and bad karmic consequences in a future rebirth:Intentional killing of living beings causes short life span - Abstaining from killing brings long liveInjuring others causes ill-health - Refraining f...

The goodwill of a mother to her only child arises naturally, spontaneously, and without any effort. But to widen that same attitude to all beings without distinction takes a lot of work. That's where we have to apply right effort ('sammā-vāyāma'), where we develop and cultivate ('bhāvanā'). www.dhammagiri.net www.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitage www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU...

As Queensland is finally opening borders for arrivals without quarantine, there is a sense of uncertainty about future levels of infections and changing regulations. Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to not deny these feelings, but to confront them directly by active contemplation. 'Anicca', normally translated as 'impermanence', also means 'not sure', 'uncertain', 'unreliable'. We may feel some temp...

The typical response to death in our society is denial. But however much we deny it, that will not change the basic reality of our own mortality. The Buddha instead advises us to directly confront this challenging reality by deliberately contemplating death ('Maraṇussati').However, to really gain the intended benefit from death contemplation, there are two important preliminary conditions:We have...

With a bunch of kids of various ages joining the session, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the 'Metta Sutta', one of the Buddha's best known teachings on Loving Kindness. Whether cute like koalas or ugly like canetoads and cockroaches, whether harmless like wallabies or potentially dangerous like snakes, whether tall or short or small or big, far or near, born or to-be-born, we do not despise any crea...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is guiding a meditation on Loving Kindness. We're using the Mantra: "In Gladness and in Safety, May All Beings be at Ease!" We try to extend this attitude to all beings without exception, and into all directions without any spatial limitation, spreading throughout the universe.  However, at the same time we're not neglecting to include ourselves as well. Each one of us oursel...

Ajahn Dhammasiha offers reflection on the Buddha's acvice to his own son, seven year old novice Ven Rāhula.(Majjima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses #61 "Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhikā")The Buddha uses powerful similies to impress on Rāhula the importance of developing a strong sense of shame and conscience about deliberate lying. He explains that someone who has no shame and conscience about lyi...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to questions and comments by a young mother and her 10 year old daughter, who are visiting Dhammagiri for the first time.www.dhammagiri.netwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Ajahn Dhammasiha reflects on teachings of the Buddha in 'Cankī Sutta' (MN #95): What spiritual teachings are appealing to us, or what kind of opinions, views, theories we're attracted to, is not normally determined by the factual truthfulness of that teaching or view. Instead, it's usually one of the following five reasons:We simply have faithWe like it, it feels good, it's emotionally agreeable t...

Research has shown that the feeling of romantic love can be sustained only for a maximum of about 4 years (although it may well last much, much shorter!). On the other hand, marriage is meant to be a commitment for life. Children and their education, mortgages and so on are decades long investments. Consequently, romantic love is not a sufficient basis to sustain a marriage, and a more substantial...

As a parent who wishes for the welfare and happiness of their child, the most valuable thing we can do for them is teaching them the Dhamma, encouraging them to practise generosity, virtue and meditation. We can not start that process too early: Even before birth the unborn child will be strongly influenced by all the emotions the mother experiences. If the mother feels a lot of anger or depressio...

The traditional ceremony of offering robes after the end of the Rains Retreat is considered one of the most auspicious time in the year for generating 'puñña' (good karma).Welcome and introductory remarks by senior monkRequesting the Triple Refuge & Five PreceptsCeremony of taking refuge in Buddha, Dhamma & SanghaCeremony of formally committing to the five preceptsDedication of OfferingsPresentati...

Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some short reflections on skilfull means of finding time for formal meditation in our busy lifes:Get up one hour earlier than normal, and ,voilà, you've got one hour time to meditate :-)In order to manage to get out of bed one hour earlier, go to sleep one hour earlier! Switch on a bright light immediately on waking, and perhaps also switch on some loud and energizing audio...

Almost 2 years into the pandemic, with disputes, conflict and discrimination increasing worldwide re lockdowns, masks and vaccinations, it's so important for us to remember the Buddha's instruction to develop Mettā ('Loving Kindness'):Unconditional, non-judgemental good will to all beings without distinction or discrimination. Whether others like us or don't like us, whether they agree with our vi...