Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Living ethically requires us to have imagination in how we treat others, and truly put ourselves in others' shoes. Here, Sangharakshita discusses vertical imagination as seeing the world with the Divine Eye. Excerpted from the talk entitled Living with Ethics (book launch) given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre , 2009. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Go...

Mokshini introduces us to Buddhist Action Month and asks us to consider how our actions have consequences and how we practise the precepts as consumers. From the talk entitled Altruism, Actually - Getting Out and Doing It given at the Triratna International Retreat , 2014. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three t...

How can we be more present? Kiranada shares her reflections on forgiveness - for herself, for others - on losing things that were taken, not given. A reading from her book A Year of Silence: Solitary Retreat in New Zealand Wilderness , from the talk entitled A Year of Silence (with Q & A) recorded at the Portsmouth Public Library, New Hampshire, USA, 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:...

Our friendships with one another rely on apologies and forgiveness. In a talk describing the characteristics of the True Individual, a teaching from Sangharakshita, Subhadramati describes how the act of apology and forgiveness have the capacity to completely transform a friendship.  From the talk entitled The True Individual given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre ,  2017. *** Subscribe to our Dharmaby...

Vishangka explores the joys and challenges that arise in a spiritual community. Here we hear the retelling of the Culagosinga Sutta and the importance of cultivating skillfulness in actions of body, speech and mind.   Excerpted from the talk Blending like Milk and Water: Sangha In the Buddha's Time given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podc...

Ratnaguna describes a level of happiness marked by stillness and calm that arises when we practice meditation. This stillness allows us to confront ourselves fully, leading to an experience of coming home to oneself.  From the talk Stop Buying Stuff and Learn How to be Happy Instead given at M anchester Buddhist Centre , 2011. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spot...

Sanghadhara shares reflections on death and awareness of the present moment. How consciously are we living our life?  From the talk entitled Happy Dying, Happy Living given at the Dharma Parlour at Buddhafield Festival , 2018, on the theme of 'The Dance of Life and Death'. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three t...

When metta meets the good fortune of others, mudita arises, joy in others. Mudita is an antidote to depression, to boredom, and it really connects you to yourself, to others, to the world around you. A beautiful introduction by Ratnavandana to the Brahma Viharas as an integrated set of practices flowing from metta - loving kindness.  From the talk Introduction to the Brahma Viharas (With Guided Me...

With a balance of down-to-earth humour and uncompromising vision, Vajratara encourages us to be open to others, to always be friendly, even when we cannot be happy.  From the forthright and passionate talk entitled Chetul Sangye Dorje about his giving of the Green Tara practice to Sangharakshita given at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre , 2007. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Pod...

We all need to find emotional equivalents to our intellectual understandings if our spiritual practice is to progress. Here Sangharakshita talks about how joy and happiness are characteristic Buddhist emotions that we seem to be missing out on. Mudita, the happiness we feel in other people's good fortune, can be cultivated through practice. From the talk entitled Reason and Emotion in the Spiritua...

If our metta is strong enough, it will become mudita, altruistic joy for others.  Concise and essential, Satyaraja draws out practical and profound aspects of the four Brahmaviharas, considering them as both meditation practices and as realms that we can occupy. From the talk entitled Mudita , part of the series Brahmaviharas and the Awakening of the Bodhi Mind , Padmaloka Buddhist Centre , 2016....

This introductory talk by Dhammadinna is an ideal entry point to the world of the mind-turnings. Seen as foundations for the building of practice, the reflections encourage us to make life meaningful in the face of a relentlessly ungovernable reality. A strong look in the mirror of the heart. Excerpted from the talk The Four Mind-Turning Reflections , the first talk in a five-part series from Tira...

Ratnaprabha  describes  Nagarjuna's Five Great Stages of Spiritual Development as expounded in 'The Precious Garland' on leading the spiritual life. Recollection, Positivity, Openness, Renewing, and Spontaneous Compassionate Action ultimately lead us to making the Dharma available to others, the greatest gift we can give. Excerpted from the talk A System of Spiritual Development given at Padmaloka...

Padmakumara tells the story of three monks living together in harmony like milk and water. Excerpted from the talk I Read the News Today, Oh Boy given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre , 2007. *** 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...

Exposing a modern disease of frustrated craving for experience, Sangharakshita suggests that spiritual life is better seen in more concrete ways; as growth, work, and duty. In this excerpt from the talk Enlightenment as Experience and Non-experience given in 1975. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcasts  | On Spotify  | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times ev...

What is another person? Vijayamala helps us to see how our assumptions impact our ability to see others clearly. Creating spaces for things to unfold in our relating to others is a practice of mindfulness. From the talk entitled Love Without Illusions , part of the series Four Dimensions of Awareness , given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre , 2016. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple...

At the heart of the spiral path is conditioned co-production which at heart means "changingness". This "changingness" can be creative (leading to more and more beneficial mental states) or reactive (cycling from pleasurable to painful mental states). Subhadramati describes how the spiral path uses a creative "changingness" to grow out of our habitual habits and into liberation. From the talk The S...

Using metaphors from the Bodhicaryavatara, Bodhinaga draws out how mindfulness can transform our lives, both as a defence against negative, reactive patterns and in actively developing the heart and mind of a Bodhisattva, 'one who cares more for others than they care for themselves'.  From the talk entitled Staying in Touch , part of the series The Path of Awakening , given at Sheffield Buddhist C...

Getting to a refuge is essential to liberation, and it needs to be something beyond our present understanding. Akashadevi describes the process of deepening our going for refuge as well as a common misunderstanding.  From the talk Going For Refuge , part of the series Sangharakshita and his approach to Buddhism at West London Buddhist Centre , 2017. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On A...

Vidyadaka talks about his spiritual teachers as offering the Dharma in an ordinary, straightforward way.  Spiritual friendship is not an added-on part of Going for Refuge, nor is it the Buddhist equivalent to having some mates - rather it is of the essence of the spiritual life and a vital means of communication, emotional development, and meaning - not to mention challenge and enjoyment. But how...

Viveka concludes this Anapanasati Sutta: Instructions for Awakening retreat with a final exploration of the wisdom tetrad, focusing on the experience of relinquishment and offers suggestions on bearing with confoundment through imagination and inquiry.  Excerpted from the talk Where Is Self Arising Now?  given at   Adhisthana , May 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast:   On Apple Podcast...

Dhammarati   illuminating the process of conditionality that is put in motion when engaged in Anapanasati meditation. Here he is introducing the fourth tetrad focusing on the first instruction of contemplating impermanence. Excerpted from the talk Inquiry Into the Experience of Wisdom , part of the series Anapanasati Sutta: Instructions for Awakening given on retreat at Adhisthana , May 2019. ***...

Dhivan , author of 'This Being, That Becomes', talks about some of the historical Buddha's ideas on how conscious awareness can influence unconscious patterns that keep us imprisoned in a fixed sense of self.  Excerpted from the talk entitled Doors to Freedom - the Buddha's Psychology of Liberation , Buddhafield , 2012. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-sized inspiration three times...

Maitreyabandhu reminds us that the Buddha was cautious to describe things that were best directly experienced. The Lakshanas are not a metaphysical description of reality. Impermanence, insubstantiality and suffering show us there is something wrong with our perception. From the talk Self-Surrender and the Laksana of Dukkha , part of the series Towards Insight: Three Myths given at Adhisthana , 20...

Parami touches on aspects of Sangharakshita's 'system of meditation', and most specifically the area of positive emotion. Parami is an ideal guide for this sort of material, steeped as she is in study and practice engaged within the light of the 'Bodhichitta', and the Bodhisattva Ideal itself. From the talk entitled The Awakening Heart given at Taraloka Buddhist Centre , 2006. *** Subscribe to our...