Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Is kindness possible here? How does clarity help us open up to love? Maitrisiddhi explores the active and receptive aspects of the Metta Bhavana as expressed through the symbolism of Akshobhya, the Buddha of the East. From the talk entitled Metta and Akshobhya's Mirrorlike Wisdom , the first of two talks given on "Living in the Mandala"; a retreat on the Brahma Viharas at Taraloka Retreat Centre ,...

This is a quietly passionate talk by Jinapriya  on the quicksilver nature of the Enlightenment experience - impossible to pin down, utterly transformative. His main theme within the frame of such a big question - 'What is Enlightenment?' - is the struggle to live our lives in the present moment, especially in the face of pain. We are met with a thoughtful series of reflections, stories and images...

Here Vijayasri looks at the culmination of the sevenfold puja by exploring the Transference of merit and self-surrender section. She considers the importance of breaking our individual self view, including the telling of the story of the 1000-armed Avalokitesvara, a symbol of the Triratna Buddhist Order. Excerpt from the talk entitled Transference of Merit and Self-Surrender from the series in our...

How can we be helpful? Do we go beyond ourselves to do things for others? Are we inspired by the ways in which we are helpful? Taravandana explores the meaning of the final verses of the Sevenfold Puja as practiced in the Triratna Buddhist Community. The Transference of Merits verse is based on Chapter 3 of the Bodhicaryavatara, Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva. Excerpted from the ninth talk i...

Spiritual practice can be thought of in terms of developing positive qualities within ourselves. But in a very real sense it also consists in creating sufficiently beautiful conditions within our minds so that something from outside us may be invited in. From the talk entitled Inviting the Enlightened Mind given by Vadanya during the third Great Gathering of 2017 at Padmaloka Retreat Centre . ***...

Jayaratna shares his story of about a recent journey to track down his difficulties with the Sevenfold Puja, and what he learned about himself in the process. From the talk entitled Facing the Sevenfold Puja given at the Shrewsbury Sangha, 2018. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook F...

Most of our life strategies are to avoid pain. We can ask ourselves - Do I want to be bound by suffering, or free from suffering? Aryajaya  describes the movement towards the Three Jewels as a development of faith and effective Going for Refuge. From the talk entitled Commitment Is Key given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2016. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk e...

Here Sangharakshita explores the Four Reliances as he distinguishes the meaning of vijnana (Discriminating Consciousness) and jnana (Transcendental Awareness) and then further distinguishes prajna-paramita (Perfection of Wisdom) from jnana. Launching his book entitled Wisdom Beyond Words , 1993. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for n...

Vajradevi introduces the idea of 'talking meditation', where we carry the thread of awareness through verbal communication. This extends beyond awareness of the speech precepts to being aware of the texture or tone of our own and others' voices, using a 'settled back' stance and giving priority to the thread of awareness/knowing over the content of what's being said. She gives tips for the practic...

The Buddha and Ananda once tended a sick monk, neglected by his companions because of his 'uselessness'. Sangharakshita  shows that people cannot be treated as 'things' in the spiritual community. Excerpted from the talk entitled A Case of Dysentry as part of the series  Incidents from the Pali Canon , 1982. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow o...

How do we go beyond the duality of subject and object, self and other, to experience the true nature of reality? There is no real Buddhism if it's all about self liberation. We have to see other people as like ourselves. Jnanavaca , telling the story of Meghiya, unequivocally draws out the importance of sangha and kalyana mitrata as the means to bring the Dharma to life in the world. Excerpted fro...

Silence all around the lake, the light of the sky reflecting on it's surface, blushing in the colors of sunset. Dusk, twilight, a time of transformation, a time of meditation. Here, Dayanandi evokes the birth of Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born, who is a historical and mythological figure who established Buddhism in Tibet in the eighth century. Excerpted from the talk entitled Meeting Padmasambhava i...

Vidyasaki introduces Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal, his consort and disciple attributed with recording the story of the Great Guru's establishing Buddhism in Tibet. Offering her perspective as a literary critic, Vidyasaki speaks from her heart about the mythical and historical dimensions of this significant bit of Buddhist history. Excerpted from the key note talk entitled Padmasambhava and the...

Previously unreleased and, rather famously, given off-the-cuff at the London Buddhist Centre , Sangharakshita gives an enjoyable and stirring evocation of the great Tantric Guru of Tibet. From the talk entitled Padmasambhava Talk given in 1979. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FB...

Subhadramati , with characteristic inspiration, shares a memory of Sangharakshita's last public appearance before his death, and unfolds the significance this image for us as his disciples. She brings this into relationship with our practice of ethics, articulated through the three robes of Padmasambhava . From the talk The Archetypal Guru and the Ten Precepts given in the context of the 2020 retr...

Seeing all beings with the potential for Buddhahood, we are moved to encourage and support that natural momentum towards growth and development. Every act of generosity, loving kindness, no matter how small, is acting in harmony with Reality and the growth of all beings. Vajratara gives us an inspiring glimpse into ethics in their ultimate sense which take their expression in the Bodhicitta. From...

Prasannavira offers insight into the the essence of Padmasambhava – purity, love, skillful means. With a fearless embracing of experience, taking whatever appears as the Path, facing of inconvenience both personal and external deeper truths, we become the change we'd like to see in the world. From the talk entitled Who Is Padmasambhava? Given for Padmasambhava Day at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 201...

According to Tibetan tradition, in the bardo, an 'intermediate state' in the endless round of birth and death, we are free for an instant from that round. The Tibetan book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol) describes six of these opportunities for escape from reactivity. Here Sangharakshita explores our resistance to facing death and the impact of the esoteric teachings of Padmasambhava. From the talk Psy...

Padmavajra tells the tale of Bahiya of the Bark Cloth demonstrate his ability to instantly wake others up to Reality. The Buddha was the first of the Mahasiddhas, or Great Perfected Ones. In the sixth century a new kind of Buddhist practitioner appears, picking up on these aspects of the teachings of the Buddha and opening up a new universe of myth, symbol and imagination. From the talk entitled T...

Here Sangharakshita explores how Buddhism, being the most rational of religions, appeals no less to the heart than to the head, using the language of myth to do so. Examples are four 'myths' from the Buddha's biography, here correlated with four of Jung's archetypes. From the talk entitled Buddhism and the Language of Myth , part of the series Ritual and Devotion in Buddhism , 1967. *** Subscribe...

Kulanandi  focuses on the importance of drawing on myth and symbols in relating to the ideals of spiritual community. Excerpted from the talk The Spiritual Community As Myth given at Stockholm Buddhist Center , June 2013. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud  

Jnanavaca weaves magic and myth with the day to day practice of the Dharma in exploring vimukti, freedom, which arises just before full and perfect Enlightenment in the spiral path. Excerpted from the talk entitled Freedom Or Death given on Buddha Day 2019 at the London Buddhist Centre . *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and...

A Bodhisattva is the ultimate treasure-seeker, searching for the Chintamani, the wish-fulfilling jewel, which gives all beings that which they truly desire. But how does a Bodhisattva find this gem and what do they do once they have found it?   Sadayasihi   explores the nature of compassion and how generosity can be both a means of expressing, as well as cultivating, compassion. After all, a Bodhi...

Previously unreleased, this important lecture introduces and explores further Sangharakshita's distinctive and visionary ideas on the subject of Going For Refuge, drawing out the real meaning of this central act of the Buddhist life. Poor original recording. From the talk entitled Levels of Going for Refuge given in 1978. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every...

Maitreyabandhu explores the path to insight in the context of Triratna's system of practice. He does this by exploring the three myths of self-development, self-surrender and self-discovery, as well as spiritual death and spiritual rebirth in the dharma life. From the talk Exploring Insight: Sadhana and the Goal of Life given in October 2019 during the Autumn Short Order retreat at Padmaloka Retre...