Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

Ajahn Moneyyo discusses the very first Sutta in Suttanipāta: "The Snake" / "Uragasutta". Snakes regularly have to shed their old skin, as it becomes too restrictive for their growing body. In the wilderness, one can sometimes find this old, worn out skin, left behind by the snake. The Buddha uses this process as a simile for a monk who abandons anger, desire and delusion, leavi...

Ajahn Dhammasiha was asked via email to talk about bringing peace to ourselves regarding Iran, Israel and US war, and all the other evil and insanity we witness being committed globally. As Brisbane just witnessed a total lunar eclipse ('Blood Moon') on Magha Puja Full Moon day, Ajahn shares the ancient Indian myth how Rāhu the evil demon swallows the moon deity Chandimā during an eclipse. In his...

At our Pa Ba Ceremony of Offering Forest Cloth on Magha Puja Full Moon, Ajahn Dhammasiha gives a Dhamma Talk about the Ovādapātimokkha: Abstain from any evil deed accomplish what is good and true, And fully purify your mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. Enduring patience is the best of all ascetic practices; The best of everything at all is called Nibbāna by the sage. If you cause harm to...

Abstain from any evil deed accomplish what is good and true, And fully purify your mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. Enduring patience is the best of all ascetic practices; The best of everything at all is called Nibbāna by the sage. If you cause harm to anyone you can't be called a genuine monk! Refrain from harming and abuse, and strictly keep the Buddha's rules; Be moderate whe...

Chanting starts at 0.32 min. The sangha of Dhammagiri Buddhist Monastery recites auspicious paritta for Vietnamese/Chinese New Year of the Firehorse. Ajahn Moneyyo leads the chanting Tan Adicco recites the formal invitation to all devas & spirits Ajahn Dhammasiha joins the chanting as well. Spotify sometimes classifies our chanting podcasts as 'music' and then deletes them, as pure mus...

At the celebration of Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse 🐎🔥 in the Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean calendar at Dhammagiri, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about several suttas and verses where the Buddha uses horses as similes. The longer sutta that Ajahn mentions first, with the 'Beauty, Strength & Speed' simile, is at Anguttara Nikāya/Numerical Discourses, Threes No 97. Being born in the year...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the importance of 'Beautiful, Admirable Friendship' (Kalyānamittatā) for our Dhamma progress. "Having good spiritual friends is 100% of the holy life" (The Buddha, Saṃyutta Nikāya/Connected Discourses 45.2) Ajahn points out the connection with the 4 Factors of Stream Entry (Sotāpattiyangāni): Association with Good Persons (Sappurisa-saṃseva) Hearing t...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the importance of 'Admirable Friendship' for our spiritual progress. 'Kaḷyāṇa Mittatā ' can be translated as 'Beautiful Friendship' , 'Noble Friendship' or 'Good Spiritual Friendship'. It means a friend who causes our wholesome qualities like virtue, generosity, kindness and wisdom to increase when we associate with them, because...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about a quote in Dhammapada Verses #3 to #5: He struck me, he defeated me, he hurt, abused, offended me! If we hold on to vengeful thoughts - our anger never fades away. He struck me, he defeated me, he hurt, abused, offended me! If we let go of vengeful thoughts - our anger surely fades away. More hatred will not calm down hate, it simply doesn't work like that. The...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the 4 kinds of Karma the Buddha has expounded: Dark Karma (Sanskrit 'Karma' = Pāli 'Kamma'): Bad actions like killing, stealing etc Bright Karma: Compassion, Kindness, Contentment, Truthfulness etc. Mixed Karma: A blend of various dark & bright actions. Karma that leads to the end of Karma The last one is the most profound and difficult to understan...

A Chanting of the Samaññaphala Sutta “The Fruits of recluseship” (Dīgha Nikāya No 2). King Ajātasattu visits the Buddha and asks him a seemingly innocent question: All ordinary professions like cooks, barbers, accountants etc. enjoy some visible results and gains from their profession – but what about contemplatives (monks and nuns)? Is it possible to point out any results that someone may gain fr...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the emotion that is called 'Saṃvega' in Pali, 'Spiritual Shock'. Saṃvega, spiritual urgency , doesn't feel nice, it's not a pleasant feeling. However, it is beneficial, as it urges us to practise the Dhamma with commitment and dedication. When we're experiencing pain and grief from loss and disappointments, we can transform this painful emot...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked how we can practise mettā (loving kindness) and at the same time still set boundaries and protect ourselves from being harmed by others. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Spotify Playlists⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Be skeptical if there's really any spirit involved, and first investigate other possible explanations Do NOT use 'black magic' or any other negative energy based on anger of fear against the spirit The best protection is very pure 5 precepts and stong mettā (loving kindness). This is good for ourselves always and in any case, whether the 'ghosts' are real or not Sharing merits & chanting Dhamm...

This is a portrait of the Buddha by Ajahn Moneyyo based on the most ancient sources: The Sutta Pitaka and Vinaya Pitaka dating from before 400 BC. It is a recollection of the Buddha as perfect in knowledge and conduct (Vijjācaraṇa sampanno) and as the knower of the cosmos (Lokavidū) - Two of his unique qualities that we can remember about him. Learn about the way of life, the amazing qualities, me...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about five conditions that slow the decline of the True Dhamma (Saddhamma): Respect and deference to the Buddha Respect and deference to the Dhamma Respect and deference to the Sangha Respect and deference to the Training (Sikkha) Respect and deference to Samadhi It's striking that the Buddha mentions respect for samādhi, but not repect for wisdom. There is no doubt that...

Ajahn Cattamalo responds to questions and comments of the audience after the meditation session, at the end of our One Day Full Moon Retreat. Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanachat and in various monasteries througho...

Ajahn Dhammasiha shares the story how Ven Mahakassapa first met the Buddha. Later, closer to the time of the Buddha's Parinibana, Ven Mahakassapa approches the Buddha and asks: "In the beginning, we had few rules and many persons attaining awakening. Now we have so many rules, but only few persons realize the Dhamma: What's the reason for that?" The Buddha explains that it's...

Ajahn Cattamalo shares Dhamma and answers questions from the audience during our One Day Full Moon Retreat at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane. Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanachat and in various monasteries t...

Ajahn Cattamalo leads a 25 min guided Buddhist meditation on Anapanasati (Mindfulness of the Breath) during the New Year's Eve event at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane. Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanacha...

Before the auspicious paritta chanting on New Year's Day, Ajahn Cattamalo shares some short Dhamma reflections at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanachat and in various monasteries thr...

At the end of the year, we're usually focussed on resolutions for the future. But we may overlook good things we already have, and good qualities we already have developed in our character. Reflecting on all the good things we can be grateful for doesn't mean denying all the bad things happening in the world. However, if we're only focussed on the bad stuff, our mind is in danger to be...

In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha uses Santa Claus as a metaphor for the process of emptying the mind. Santa's  job is to give gifts to all the kids for Christmas. He's working very  hard to fulfill this task, travelling on his sleigh carrying a very big  and heavy sack with all the presents. Similarly, our mind is carrying  around the heavy load of all kinds of different emotion...

Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to "be a good Santa". A good Santa Claus will give all the gifts to the kids. A bad Santa may cheat and keep the most expensive presents for himself. Similarly, our task as followers of the Sakyan Sage is to not hold back, but to give absolutely everything away. Not literally giving away, but letting go of absolutely everything: Whether it's material objects, or rela...

Ven. Samvaro has stayed with us for here at Dhammagiri for one month in November to December 2025. In this short (10 min) video, recorded after the Saturday morning Changting and Refuge & Precepts Session, Tan Samvaro answers a question from the audience: With all the various Buddhist teachings we here about, what's the gist of them all? What do we really have to focus on in our practice?...