Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

After his return to Dhammagiri, Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some experiences from his travels. Some photos can be seen here: https://travel-pics-ajahn-2.dhammagiri.net He first attended the huge event for Luang Por Sumedho's 90th birthday at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near London. LP Sumedho is the most senior Western disciple of Ajahn Chah, and the founder of Wat Pah Nanachat, Cittaviveka and A...

The term ‘bhikkhu’ is defined as ‘almsman’, or ‘mendicant’. One who depends on the generosity of others for his material needs. What kinds of requisits are buddhist monks allowed to have and how should they relate to them? Our Spotify playlists can be found on our Spotify Profile here: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/user/8z4dmrysnbbnjtz9f0wzjgcr Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Web...

Ajahn Dhammasiha compares spiritual practice and meditation with the task of cleaning to show how they are related to each other. Our Spotify playlists can be found on our Spotify Profile here: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/user/8z4dmrysnbbnjtz9f0wzjgcr 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/pod...

Ajahn Dhammasiha explains about the various benefits of developing Metta (loving-kindness), especially to motivate ourselves. Our Spotify playlists can be found on our Spotify Profile here: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/user/8z4dmrysnbbnjtz9f0wzjgcr 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...

Sañña, usually translated as perception, is one of the 5 Aggregates (Khandha), one of the central teachings of the Buddha. Learn more about the meaning of the Pali word and how it relates to the origination and cessation of suffering. Our Spotify playlists can be found on our Spotify Profile here: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/user/8z4dmrysnbbnjtz9f0wzjgcr Our Podcast is also available on our own Dh...

What does it really mean "to take refuge in Sangha"? What if a very senior monk disrobes, how can we protect our mind from losing faith in such situations? Ajahn Dhammasiha points out that our refuge in terms of Sangha is: "...Yadidaṃ cattāri purisayugani, aṭṭha purisapuggala - Esa Bhagavato Sāvakasangho... "...Namely the four pairs of persons, the eight kind of individuals - T...

A Dhammatalk by Ajahn Dhammasiha about the numerous benefits of associating with people who have noble qualities and realized awakening. Our Spotify playlists can be found on our Spotify Profile here: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/user/8z4dmrysnbbnjtz9f0wzjgcr Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser: https://www.dhammagiri....

Guided Meditation and Question & Answer session at Dhammagiri with Ajahn Vajiro, currently abbot of Sumedharama monastery in Portugal on Sunday, 25th February. Ajahn Vajiro first gives a short guided meditation. In the session afterwards he is answering questions on the topics of the meaning of the Ovāda Pātimokkha & Mangala Sutta, about Silence & Space and about clinging to views &amp...

On occasion of Visākhā Pūjā, Ajahn Dhammasiha relates the events leading up to the Buddha's Supreme Awakening under the Bodhi Tree. Initially, the Bodhisatta practised extreme austerities in the believe that only through pain one can eradicate desire and attain perfect release. He fasted and tortured his own body until he almost died. When he collapsed, the Bodhisatta fortunately remembered ho...

During his visit at Dhammagiri, Ajahn Vajiro responds to a question from the audience: What's the reason that apparently only so few practitioners actually succeed to attain Nibbana? Ven. Ajahn Vajiro was born in Malaysia in 1953 and has been a Buddhist monk for over 40 years. In 1979, he met Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho when they made a visit to Hampstead Vihara in Oakenholt, England. He rece...

Before departure to the large gathering of Sangha at Amaravati Ajahn Dhammasiha shares reflections on the importance of Sangha meeting in harmony for the longevity of the Sasana. More than 140 monks are expected to gather on occasion of the Acariya Puja for Luang Por Sumedho's 90th birthday. Meeting frequently in harmony, conducting business in harmony, and parting in harmony, are the first 3...

To commence free distribution of our Dhammagiri Tees 2nd batch, Ajahn Dhammasiha goes through the meaning of every symbol and writing on the shirt: 1. Twelve spoked Dhammacakka (Dhamma Wheel) 2. Tiratana (Three Jewels) with Trident symbolizing Triple Gem Vajira (Diamond/Thunder Bolt) symbolizing the power of wisdom that can cut defilements in the mind, just like a diamond that is harder than any o...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question about the meaning of 'akāliko' (timeless). Timelessness is one of the qualities of the Dhamma, as described by the Buddha in the well known formula: "Svākkhāto Bhagavatā Dhammo, sandiṭṭhiko, akāliko , ehipassiko, opanayiko, paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhī'ti" "The Dhamma is well expounded by the exhaulted one, visible here and now, tim...

Ajahn Dhammasiha explains 5 powerful benefits we can receive from the simple ceremony of Taking Refuge in Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha, together with committing to the 5 precepts: Taking Refuge reduces anxiety Taking Refuge uplifts our heart and protects us from feeling down and depressed Taking Refuge is an act generating heaps of good karma, if we really mean it and do it wholeheartedly. And the...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question how we can develop gratitude methodically. Being grateful (Kataññū Katavedī) has been praised by the Buddha as belonging entirely to the sphere of a truly good person. However, he also pointed out that it is a rather rare character trait. Gratitude may not always come naturally, so we have to make a deliberate effort to develop that character trait. For exam...

This is the ceremony of taking refuge in the Triple Gem of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, followed by taking of the FIVE precepts. We do this ceremony at Dhammagiri: Every Saturday morning 07.30 am On the Sundays closest to the full moon at 09.00 am Requesting Triple Refuge & FIVE Precepts Mayaṃ Bhante, tisaraṇena saha pañca-sīlāni yācāma. Dutiyampi, mayaṃ Bhante tisaraṇena saha pañca-sīlāni yācām...

This is the ceremony of taking refuge in the Triple Gem of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, followed by taking of the EIGHT precepts. We do this ceremony at Dhammagiri: Every Saturday morning 07.30 am On the Sundays closest to the full moon at 09.00 am Requesting Triple Refuge & 8 Precepts Mayaṃ Bhante, tisaraṇena saha aṭṭha-sīlāni yācāma. Dutiyampi, mayaṃ Bhante tisaraṇena saha aṭṭha-sīlāni yācāma....

When cultivating bhāvanā (meditation), naturally we have to be mindful of and focussed upon our meditation object; for instance 'Buddho', or the breath, or mettā; and so on... However, if we try to exclusively focus only on the meditation object with all we've got, the effort quickly becomes ineffective, or even couterproductive. Instead, while meditating, we always have to check out:...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to the question how Karuṇā (Compassion) differs from Mettā (Loving Kindness). Compassion is the wish for all beings to be free from pain and suffering in any form. Loving Kindness is the wish for all beings to be happy and well. Though both belong to the 4 'Divine Abidings' (4 Brahmaviharas), and are closely related, in actual experience they feel quite distinct w...

Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to connect with nature, and to contemplate the 4 Great Elements externally as we experience them in the natural environment. Earth Element (Hardness, Rocks, Stones, Sand, Feeling the Ground while Walking or Sitting) Water Element (Wet soil or grass or sand or beach; Ocean; Rain; Streams/Rivers) Fire/Heat Element (Sunshine, warm air, warm breeze) Wind Element/Energy M...

Ven Jinaratana Thera offers guidance how we can experience and contemplate the four elements ('Cātu-mahā-bhūtikā') in in our own bodies. Paṭhavī-dhātu = Earth Element /Solidity Āpo-dhātu = Water Element / Liquidity Tejo-dhātu = Fire Element / Heat (or lack of heat, i.e. cold) Vāyo-dhātu = Wind Element (energy movement) Bhante Jinaratana was born in Toronto, Canada. He became interested in meditati...

In this sutta, the Buddha compares the work of a goldsmith to the work of a meditator trying to purify their mind. Both have to pay attention to 3 qualities at the appropriate time, without overdoing any of them: Calming the mind with samādhi / cooling the gold in the smelter Arousing the mind with energetic effort / heating the gold Looking on with equanimity / observing the gold with equanimity...

Ven Jinaratana Thera explains how we can starve the 5 hindrances ('anāhāra pañca-nīvaraṇa') in order to gradually weaken and overcome their obstructive influence on our mental development. Like all sankhāras, the five hindrances are conditioned, i.e. they depend on some form of nutriment for their existence. If we reduce the nutriment that's feeding the hindrances, they will become weaker and weak...

Ajahn Thee Sabbajayanto shares his experience of arriving in Australia at age 16 for school and further studies. He didn't know any English, and had to start learning it by 'being thrown in at the deep end'. Naturally, it wasn't easy, and although he liked Australia a lot, he had to work very hard to adjust to a language and culture very different from Thailand. After school, he fi...

On occasion of Easter, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about a subject that is common to virtually all religions: Loving Kindness. Loving Kindness, in Pali known as 'Mettā', is the intention of unconditional good will to all beings without exeception or discrimination. Whatever religion, or no religion at all, whatever race or nationality or sex or age or colour, whether they like us or hate us, th...