Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

Ajahn Dhammasiha reflects on skilfull means to overcome the 5 hindrances (Pañca Nīvaraṇā). It is exactly these 5 obstructions which stop our mind from unifying in samādhi, and weaken our wisdom: Sensual desire (kāmacchanda) Ill Will / Anger / Aversion (byāpāda) Laziness / Tiredness / Sloth & Torpor / Lack of energy (thīna-middha) Restlessness & remorse (uddhacca-kukkucca) Doubt / Wavering...

The Buddha explains in this short but powerful discourse: If we're trying to find all our happiness only in socializing and interacting with friends & family, we will not be able to enjoy the happiness of solitude. Without enjoying the happiness of solitude, we will never understand our own mind. If we don't understand our own mind, we can't realize stream entry, sammā samādhi and Nibbāna. Sut...

Ajahn Dhammasiha goes through the 8 factors of the Noble Eight Fold Path, and explains how they are relevant to guide our action and speech, both in daily life as well as in our formal meditation. The Noble 8-Fold Path Ariyo Aṭṭhangiko Maggo , also know as the 'Middle Way' Majjhimā Paṭipadā is one of the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha, mentioned prominently already in his very fi...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked by a newcomer to Buddhism for some advice how to get started with both study and practice of the Buddha's teaching. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dhammagiri Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Spotify Playlists⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dhammagiri Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠ Pics #buddhism #dhamma #generosity #virtue #meditation

Ajahn Dhammasiha leads a guided meditation on Mettā, Loving Kindness, cultivating the intention of unconditional good will to all beings without distinction. In particular, he encourages us to 'get the feeling going, i.e. to not just 'think' about loving kindness, but to recognize and nurture the ulifting, joyful emotion we feel while practising mettā. He also points out how important...

Question & Answer session with Ajahn Amaro on the occasion of his first Australia visit at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Queensland, Brisbane. Ajahn Amaro is the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near London, UK. Born in England in 1956, Ven. Ajahn Amaro received a BSc. in Psychology and Physiology from the University of London. Spiritual searching led him to Thailand, where he went to Wat...

Although Nibbāna is beyond all description and can not possibly comprehended by the thinking mind through language and concepts, the Buddha still used various similes to convey some idea to us what Nirvāṇa is all about. In particular, many times he compared the eperience of Nibbāna to a fire gone out. However, there's a big problem with that simile nowadays: Our current understanding how fire...

In this short guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to be aware of the breath, but also to be aware of not turning our meditation into an excercise of I-Making and Mine-Making ('Ahaṃ-Kāra' & 'Mamaṃ-Kāra'). Our Spotify Playlists Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast⁠...

Ajahn Amaro, Ajahn Dhammasiha and Ajahn Moneyyo recite the traditional Pali verses for sharing good karma with departed relatives, expressing their anumodanā (rejoicing) for all the kind support they received during Ajahn Amaros visit, and sending blessings to all beings. English Translation: As all the water in the streams is flowing to the boundless sea, Just likewise all your offerings are flow...

Ajahn Dhammasiha quotes from the 2nd formal discourse of the Buddha, the Anattalakkana Sutta (Discourse on the Not-Self Characteristic): "N'etaṃ mama, N'eso'ham'asmi, Na me so atta'ti" This is not mine, this is not me, this is not my self." Ajahn offers reflections and similes how we can contemplate these instructions of the Buddha to reduce and ultimately abando...

The Buddha encouraged us to cultivate both aspects of meditation: Samatha: Calm, tranquility, samādhi, concentration, blissful unification of the heart Vipassana: Insight, investigation, analysing, wisdom Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some reflections on this theme, emphasizing the importance of joy and happiness in our meditative practice. By the way, our Spotify Playlists can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠https:/...

Q&A with Ajahn Achalo on an occasion when he was visiting Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage in his home town, Brisbane. He shares his memories of his first experiences of inner calm on the beach while listening to the waves and answers questions about the benefit of apirations and rituals and how merit (good actions) can brighten our mind. More teachings by Ajahn Achalo can be found on his website a...

During his visit at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage in Brisbane, Australia, Ven. Ajahn Amaro is leading our community in taking the Triple Refuge (Tisaraṇa Gamana), and the 5 or 8 precepts. Ajahn Amaro is the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near London, UK. Born in England in 1956, Ven. Ajahn Amaro received a BSc. in Psychology and Physiology from the University of London. Spiritual searching le...

There are two kind of people: Some that visit a Buddhist monastery, and some that don't. Among those that visit a Buddhist Monastery, there are to kinds of people... ⁠⁠⁠Dhammagiri Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Spotify Playlists⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dhammagiri Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠ .

A short Guided Meditation by Ajahn Amaro during his stay at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane, Australia. Ajahn Amaro is the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near London, UK, the largest Western monastery in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Born in England in 1956, Ven. Ajahn Amaro received a BSc. in Psychology and Physiology from the University of London. Spiritual searching led him to Thailan...

Ajahn Dhammasiha compares the benefits of watching or even participating in the 2024 Olympics in Paris with the benefits of Dhamma practice. He also urges us to use the effort athletes are applying to make it to the Olympics as an encouragement for us to apply similarly singleminded effort in our bhāvanā (meditation), in particular as the benefits of bhāvanā (the complete end of birth, aging, deat...

In his Dhamma talk, Ajahn Dhammasiha emphasizes that the Buddha's teachings are applicable, practical, pragmatic (opanāyika). In particular, he reminds us of the duty the Buddha has pointed out for each of the 4 Noble Truths, what we actually have to do with them. Ajahn also responds to a question about bravery in our Dhamma practice, and how courage relates to the the Noble 8 Fold Path. ⁠Dham...

On Āsāḷhā Full Moon, Ajahn Dhammasiha discusses the the first discourse of the Buddha, the sutta on 'Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma' (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta). In particular, he describes how the Buddha's teaching on the 4 Noble Truth is similar to the approach of a good doctor: A good doctor first has to assess the patients true condition by carefully noting all symptoms: F...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked how we can let go of attachments. He explains that letting go can not be done by an act of willpower. We need wisdom, insight, in order to let go. If we can see that anything that we are attached to will NOT give us lasting happiness, but ultimatley causes us disappointment and suffering, then the heart will let go automatically. Dhammagiri Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Our Spotify Playlis...

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about three main events in the Buddha's life that we commemorate on Āsāḷhā Full Moon Day: Teaching of the first formal discourse, the 'Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta' Conception of the Bodhisatta / Dream of Queen Mahāmāyā with the Bodhisatta approaching her in the form of a white elephant with 7 tusks and entering her body via her right side Great renunciation of th...

When we stand barefoot with our feet in the water at the beach, we can notice how the waves are washing away the sand from under our feet. We don't stand on firm ground, the sand we stand on is constantly eroding, making our posture unstable, unreliable and impermanet. Ajahn Dhammasiha uses this experience as a simile for sankhārā ('conditioned phenomena'). Everything that is condition...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked how much good karma we generate if we are doing the good action not voluntary, but we are forced to do it by external circumstance, like for instance a court order for 'community service'. Another question is about food offered at the monastery: Does it have any special qualities, different from food one would eat at a commercial restaurant? How about taking the l...

Dhammatalk by Ajahn Amaro about seeing impermanence and how it can help us to be liberated from self-view , on the occasion of his first Australia visit at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Queensland, Brisbane. Ajahn Amaro is the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near London, UK, the largest Western monastery in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Born in England in 1956, Ven. Ajahn Amaro received a BSc. i...

Q&A session with Venerable Ajahn Amaro during his visit to Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane, Australia. Tan Ajahn Ajahn is asked if it was tough for him in the beginning, when he was a newly ordained monk at Ajahn Chah's monastery in Thailand in 1979. Ajahn answers that he didn't find it difficult at all in the first year, but quite the opposite, he could hardly believe his good f...

We can train ourselves to enjoy meditation, or actually any kind of activity. Perception is not-self, it depends on conditions, and if we cultivate the right conditions, then our perception will change accordingly. The ability to turn ones perception around has been called 'Ariya-Iddhi' (Noble Psychic Power) by the Buddha. The enlightened Arahants can see the attractive as disgusting, or t...