Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Here, Vessantara explores moving back and forth between physical and imaginal experience, questioning our assumptions about imagination and reality.  From the talk The Gift of Awareness , part of the series When I Give, I Give Myself given on retreat at Adhisthana , 2020. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three ti...

Ratnavandana continues her exploration of the Brahma Viharas, describing how they work together as a mandala, as well as giving many useful and inspiring practice tips. Excerpted from the talk The Brahma Viharas: Approaches to Practice ,  the second talk in the series Living in the Mandala, given on a retreat held at Taraloka Retreat Centre , 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Ap...

Prasadachitta   explores the realms of the mandala of the 5 Buddhas and their connection to the thread of all sorrows. From the talk entitled The Thread of All Sorrows given on a men's ordination training, San Francisco Buddhist Center 2017. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to ou...

Shubha explores the Three Bodies of the Buddha experientially in the Spiritual Death, Spiritual Rebirth and Receptivity stages of Sadhana practice, and how the whole of Sadhana practice has the potential to be free of self-nature.  Excerpted from the talk The Trikaya, Sadhana and Vipashyana given on the Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana , March 2020. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast...

Revered by Buddhists from earliest times, the stupa is here explained in terms of the five elements, the 'Vase of Initiation', and the 'Flaming Drop'. Excerpted from the talk given by Sangharakshita entitled The Tantric Symbolism of the Stupa as part of the series Creative Symbols of the Tantric Path to Enlightenment , 1972. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotif...

Maitrisiddhi introduces us to Shinran, the Japanese teacher on the refuge tree of the Triratna Buddhist Community. She explores what Shinran has to tell us about faith and ordinariness, both of them encourage us to rest in Metta towards our unenlightened mind. Excerpted from the talk entitled: An Introduction to Shinran and the Pure Land at Glasgow Buddhist Centre , 2021. *** Subscribe to our Dhar...

In this first talk in a series of three introducing the Pureland texts as a practice in themselves,  Ratnaguna offers an excellent exploration of imagination. Excerpted from the talk The Pure Land and Imagination given at given at Adhisthana, England, as part of the Triratna European Chairs Assembly , 2016. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podc...

Taranita discusses Pure and Impure Buddhalands and possible meanings and interpretations for us. Excerpted from the talk entitled Pure and Impure Buddhalands - This Very Place, the Lotus Paradise given at Bristol Buddhist Centre , 2015. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Fre...

Sangharakshita deals in depth with what a Buddha Land is, how and by whom it comes to be built, and what all of this has to do with us. Excerpted from the talk entitled Building the Buddha Land from the series The Inconceivable Emancipation - Themes from the Vimalakirti Nirdesha , 1979. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspi...

Nagapriya   explores the emergence of the Bodhisattva Ideal in the Mahayana tradition by discussing the historical context in which this basic concept developed, its ties to early Buddhist texts, and what the bodhisattva's life entails, on both the mundane and cosmic levels. From the talk entitled The Ideal of Universal Awakening, part of the series Visions of Mahayana Buddhism , given at Manchest...

Taking inspiration from Sangharakshita's 1995 book Transforming Self and World: Themes from the Sutra of Golden Light, Maitrisara reflects on how we approach the challenges of the world in a skilful way and with a Buddhist perspective. Excerpted from the talk Transforming Self and World given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre , 2023. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On S...

In this introductory talk to The Sutra of Golden Light, Saddharaja gives us an historical overview of the sutra, and its extraordinary reputation, plus a story about his own meeting with the sutra in 1983. He introduces chapters 1&2 and also suggests how we might best approach the sutra ourselves in order to experience its riches.  Excerpted from the talk Entering Another World , part of the serie...

Continuing the series on the White Lotus Sutra, Jayaka gives a talk on the Parable of the Rain Cloud. The parable evokes the qualities of the dharma through the imagery of a mighty rain cloud, falling on all equally. Excerpted from the talk The Parable of The Rain Cloud given at London Buddhist Centre , 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Po...

Subhadramati continues the Dharma night series exploring the wisdom of the White Lotus Sutra by reflecting on the setting and context of the parables. From the talk entitled Myths and Parables From the White Lotus Sutra - Queerer Than We Can Suppose at London Buddhist Centre , 2015. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspirati...

At times in the spiritual life we may need considerable energy to overcome obstacles, such as negative emotions, psychological conditionings, rational thinking, and even the sense of 'time' itself. How, when, and where can we break through? From the talk Breaking Through into Buddhahood by Sangharakshita ,1969. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google ...

On a Silent Retreat at Taraloka, Samantabhadri honours silence as significant spiritual practice where we dwell more deeply with ourselves, with others, with nature and the objective world, and within a developing atmosphere. All this opens a vision of experiencing 'Reality as it is' (Sangharakshita). From the talk Silence: Practice and Vision given at Taraloka Retreat Centre , 2022. *** Subscribe...

Nagapriya takes an unusual angle as he speaks of the Dharma as a portal into the Buddha's mind itself... From the talk Cherish the Doctrine given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre , 2022. Part 1 of a three part series based around the motto of the great Tibetan 20th Century teacher Dhardo Rimpoche - "Cherish the Doctrine, Live United, Radiate Love." *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple P...

Order Members and Mitras Training For Ordination gathered together in a big marque set up in Taraloka's beautiful grounds to listen to a series of talks and guided meditations led by Vajradevi on the theme of the Satipatthana Sutta. Excerpted from the talk Pure Presence: The Basis For Seeing Clearly , Part of the series The Great Gathering: Dancing with Pure Presence given at Taraloka Retreat Cent...

Nagesvara describes samadhi as collectedness, integration of our energies, wholeness, openness, rather than concentration as primary. Excerpted from the talk What Is Samadhi? , part 5 of a series from the 2021 Buddhafield online retreat Body of Bliss: ways into Samādhi . *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three tim...

Vidyamala simplifies the whole of Buddhism with this succinct teaching on impermanence. From the talk Overview of the Five Stages of the System of Practice, part of the series The Bridge, the Path and the Goal given at Adhisthana , 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Fr...

Bhadra explores the positive nature of spiritual death and how important it is to distinguish these opening and liberating experiences from the potentially disorientating and disturbing effect it has on our ego structure. Excerpted from the talk Turning Towards Spiritual Death with Metta given at Bristol Buddhist Centre , 2018. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spo...

In this lecture to launch his book of the same name on the prajna-paramita (Perfection of Wisdom) tradition, Sangharakshita explores the meaning of hierarchy in Buddhism, and particularly the distinction between vijnana (Discriminating Consciousness) and jnana (Transcendental Awareness). Excerpted from the talk Wisdom Beyond Words , launching the book of the same title, 1993. *** Subscribe to our...

There's an inherent contradiction if you're striving for insight in terms of seeing through the illusion of a permanent self. Dharmapriya shares a seminar quote from Sangharakshita about the philosophical underpinnings of the Bodhisattva Ideal in Triratna and the necessity of compassion in the quest for Enlightenment. Excerpted from the talk The Bodhisattva Ideal In Triratna given at the European...

Here, Subhuti speaks to the amount of effort to maintain unity across a growing spiritual community. Excerpted from the talk Adhisthana, Sanghakaya and Unity , the second talk in a series called Triratna Three Strands , Adhisthana , 2013. The three strands of Triratna are the Triratna Buddhist Order , the Triratna Buddhist Communit y and the Preceptors' College . *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes p...

Subhadramati shares her experience traveling to India for the International Order Convention. Excerpted from the talk Ordination and the Unity of the Sangha giving at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre as part of a series on the Six Distinctive Emphasis of the Triratna Buddhist Community. A talk full of energy, insight and inspiration on Ordination within Triratna, given in 2016. *** Subscribe to our D...