Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Sangharakshita describes the moment of the Buddha's Enlightenment.  From the talk Who is the Buddha? , part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism , 1968. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Go...

The full moon in May is celebrated as the anniversary of the Buddha's Enlightenment and his victory over the demon Mara. Sangharakshita explains what Mara represents and how to overcome that which holds us back. Excerpted from the talk entitled The Buddha's Victory given in 1987. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration...

Maitrisiddhi , in her usual lively, inspiring and practical way, poses the questions: How we can recognise the insidious voice of Mara, embodiment of everything that holds us back from practising the Dharma? How do we relate to inner voices which undermine our confidence and best efforts? Can we, like Lochana, touch the earth with clarity and confidence in our path? From the talk Lochana and Mara:...

After telling the story of Mara's assault on the Buddha, Lokeshvara looks at it from a modern perspective and with reference to the System of Meditation. Of particular interest is a section of the prevalence of depression in our society and current research which identifies the need for purpose in our lives. If we have a sense of purpose, that almost always connects to deeper values, if we can jus...

Viryanaga recounts the myth of the Buddha's Victory over Mara, drawing out the experiential aspects of the Buddha's Enlightenment. Excerpted from the talk The Great Victory given at a mixed Sub35 event held at Padmaloka Retreat Centre , 2017. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to o...

When the Buddha finally sat down under the Bodhi tree and saw deeply into the nature of things, what had brought him to that point? And what happened next? Vishvapani focusses in on the Buddha's experience after Enlightenment, bringing his nuanced, perceptive reading to the words the Buddha himself is said to have employed in order to best evoke his experiences as he struggled to give voice to the...

We are all human beings, all human beings are in us. Subhuti offers a brilliantly evocative and personal call to connection, across all boundaries and conditionings. In order to be deeply challenged, in order to transcend our self view, we need to go for refuge with people different from ourselves. Excerpted from the talk What the World Needs Now: Triratna's Gift, An International Community and A...

Enlightened beings exemplify unconditional, unlimited love – something we as unenlightened beings can emulate and draw inspiration from to transform our relationships, self and world. Excerpted from the talk entitled The Good Friend given by Sudrishti on Buddha Day at Sydney Buddhist Centre , 2017. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite...

"Art is the organisation of sensuous impressions that express the artist's sensibility and communicate to his audience a sense of values that can transform their lives." Using his own definition, Sangharakshita investigates the relevance of art and the artist to higher evolution. Excerpted from the talk entitled Art and the Spiritual Life given in 1969 as part of the series The Higher Evolution ....

In this first talk from the 'In the Footsteps of the Buddha' retreat, Nagasiddhi invites us to experience the dharma imaginatively: through art and heart.  From the talk entitled Rites of Passage given at Rivendell Retreat Centre during the April 2021 Home Retreat hosted by The Buddhist Centre Online . This magical week-long retreat explores the images, myths and symbols of the Buddha's journey to...

Ratnaghosha explores the Buddha's teaching of Spiritual friendship being the whole of the spiritual life. The talk is wide ranging going into what spiritual friendship is and also how Buddhism sees the nature of reality. From the talk The Reality of Spiritual Friendship given at Nottingham Buddhist Centre , 2016. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Googl...

Jvalamalini evokes the meaning of kalyana mitrata, beautiful friendship, as one of the Six Distinctive Emphases of Triratna. From the talk entitled What Is Spiritual Friendship 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 Free Buddhist Audio po...

Padmasagara explores the profundity of the Buddha's statement that spiritual friendship is 'the whole of the spiritual life' or, in other words, the whole of the Going for Refuge.  From the talk The Mystery of Spiritual Friendship , part of the series Of the Mysteries of Spiritual Friendship and the Three Tantric Refuges given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes pod...

Aryajaya explores Sangharakshita's relationship to his teachers, who form the lineage for the Triratna Buddhist Order. A lovely exploration of the experience of relationship to the Bodhisattvas of Buddhist tradition via meditations passed from teacher to disciple, evoking a wide open sense of connection to the great beauty they represent. Excerpted from the talk Sangharakshita's First Connection w...

Saddhaloka explores the key aspects of any practitioner's commitment, Going Forth and Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels, evoking how Sangharakshita engaged with these formative acts as foundations of his own practice in India at the end of the Second World War. Excerpted from the talk Going Forth And Going For Refuge given at the Triratna International Council meeting, 2019. *** Subscribe to ou...

Bhante has said that his sadhana practices and the teachers who gave him the practices are 'inseparable'. Dayanandi tells some of the stories of how Bhante Sangharakshira received each of his sadhanas. Excerpted from the talk entitled Bhante, His Teachers and Sadhanas given on the Women's Private Preceptors' Retreat at Adhisthana, February 2019, as part of the series Talks from Women's Private Pre...

To plunge ourselves into the crucial citation takes tremendous courage. Sangharakshita asks: Are we ready to face our own death, and the total transformation it symbolizes? From the talk The Symbolism of the Cremation Ground and the Celestial Maidens part of the series Creative Symbols of the Tantric Path to Enlightenment , 1971. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On S...

Radical transformation is possible if we allow Padmasambhava and all that he symbolizes to touch our lives.  Ratnaghosha encourages us to face our demons, find our cremation grounds, and free up our energies. From the talk Demons For Every Occasion given at the Padmasambhava Day festival at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2013. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spot...

In this wonderful personal talk about Padmasambhava, Vessantara talks about his connection with the strange figure of Padmasambhava. On the way, he gives an insight into what it's like to relate to these Buddha and Bodhisattva figures deeply, and how we can do this.  And he explores the effects doing this can have on our mind, our heart and our Dharma lives. From the talk entitled Padmasambhava Pr...

Padmasambhava is a potent symbol of transformation. Maitreyi shows us how to evoke the help, energy and vision we need to change our lives. From the talk Heart Advice From the Lotus-Born: 'Never Be Apart From the Causes For Faith to Arise' given at London Buddhist Centre , 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration t...

Padmavajra implores us to face ourselves and find the deep treasures of the Dharma through an introduction to Padmasamabhava, the great Tantric guru of Tibet. From the talk Padmasambhava and the Magic Of Compassion given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre , 2006 *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. S...

Bhadra introduces the archetypal magician, Padmasambhava, illustrating how engaging the imagination through ritual and being willing to make the journey of descent are key elements of a fruitful practice. From the talk entitled The Art of Ritual and Descent given at Bristol Buddhist Centre , 2016. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-...

Saraha introduces us to Padmasambhava through his symbolism and the integration of all opposites. From the talk entitled Padmasambhava, Is He Real? What Is His Gift to the World. You, Are You Real, What Is Your Gift to the World given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2014. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three tim...

Vidyasakhi evokes the symbolism of the sacred cremation grounds where Padmasambhava engaged in his Bodhisattva training - meditating on impermanence and taming wild energies.  From the talk entitled The Tantric Path - The Cremation Ground given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre , 2017. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration...

Sangharakshita gave this previously unreleased and, rather famously, off-the-cuff talk at the London Buddhist Centre in 1979. In this excerpt we hear about Padmasambhava's principle work of subduing the demons obstructing the establishment of the Dharma in Tibet. These demons are primordial forces existing in the depths of the human mind and collective consciousness - primordial forces holding us...