Free Buddhist Audio

The Karaniya Metta sutta is the focus for Parami's exploration of working with anger, working with polarisation in our relationships and in the world. She uses the lesson of the extremes in this current moment in history as a launching pad for insight into the nature of love. She gave this talk to the gathered Triratna Buddhist Community in Scotland at their New Year gathering online. It has the f...

In this talk, Satyakirti explores a set of ways through which we can work with fear in our practice, particularly through love and friendship. Using the Angulimala Sutta as an example, he explains how even the greatest fears can be overcome, and how a Buddha is entirely free from fear. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in December 2019 as part of the Sub35s 'Fearless Love' retreat. This talk...

Amritamati talks about how we can practice simplicity in our lives: whatever our lifestyle is or whatever we want our lifestyle to be, from parenting to becoming a celibate 'Anagarika'. This talk was given on a weekend retreat at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre for women who are training for Ordination, 2014. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes...

Karunagita , author of A Path for Parents (Windhorse publications 2005), gave this talk at the first weekend retreat for mothers held at Taraloka Retreat Centre , 2014. Here, she introduces the gifts of parenting, including the development of patience, maturity, opening to love and the development of wisdom through direct experience of the three laksanas, as well as the inherent challenges such as...

If a talk could ever be described as beautifully bracing, this is it! Amaragita brings a sharp-edged mind and a long-term perspective to the whole question of what practice is. As you might expect, she also brings humour, warmth and kindness too, qualities that more than balance out the penetrating clarity and sometimes challenging questioning underpinning this exploration of the possibility of pr...

The Imaginal Faculty....what is it and why does it matter in our spiritual lives? Taravandan a offers a personal perspective on her journey and experience of it in her practice. She offers guidance and pointers on how to open up further to the Imaginal Faculty in our own practice. A talk given as part of a day for women training for ordination, Manchester Buddhist Centre , 2017. *** Help keep FBA...

Here, Ratnaprabha discusses the value of using images and the imagination to become more emotionally involved in practice. Is an image of a Buddha or Bodhisattva used in meditation real or not? Talk given at West London Buddhist Centre , 2015. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a...

A self-proclaimed 'doctrine follower', Nagasuri challenges herself to speak on the basis of her faith in the Buddha,and does so with moving eloquence. Personal, full of devotion, she shares over 30 years of being in contact with the Buddha and explains how the grace of the Buddha's blessings has opened her heart time and time again. Talk given at the Women's International Order Convention 2011. **...

In this talk Padmavajra contemplates Beauty in different areas of Dharma life, including the beauty of people, of ethics, of friendship, community and 'institutions', and of wisdom. He also looks at the relationship between metta, formless beauty and the yidam, as well as knowing what beauty really is and 'the pregnant man'. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the Spring Short O...

Starting with a story from the Rastrapalapariprccha-Sutra, Vajratara draws out the significance of Sangharakshita's paper on the Fourth Laksana. This is the path of beauty, from contemplation of ugliness to the gateway of liberation called 'the beautiful'. To be on the path of beauty, we don't merely enjoy beauty, we have to surrender ourselves to that beauty. Talk given at Tiratnaloka Retreat Cen...

How will you conceive of yourself as becoming like the Buddha? Saccanama explores the three myths of spiritual life, that of self-development, that of self-surrender, and that of self-discovery. Recorded at the Swedish Summer Retreat at Dharmagiri , July 2019. This talk is part of the series  'To Place the Heart Upon' - Exploring Faith in Buddhism . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a su...

Subhuti considers the significance of Sangha day falling on the cusp of winter, and the importance of the seasons in human life. He recalls the genesis of Sangha day from the time of the Buddha, and considers it's relevance for us here in the 21st century. Ultimately Subhuti focus on the Sangha jewels itself; its vital importance for the individual practitioner and as a real sign of hope for this...

The social and political landscape is changing. Societies are, on the one hand, fragmenting whilst, on the other, unifying within a growing culture of consumerism and individualism. How can we create a community that is unified and diverse, exemplifying real values and being a force for good in the world? Suryagupta , current chair of the London Buddhist Centre, inspires us all to shine the light...

Kuladharini explores what it's like to be an example of the fourth sight in the world, to be a visible embodiment of dharma practice. Using the metaphors of the begging bowl, robes and shaved head she shares three ways in which she has gone forth as a visible example of a dharma farer. Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre , 2009. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Sub...

'Serenity, freedom from disease, joy and long life, the happiness of an emperor, prosperity; these the patient person receives while continuing in cyclic existence.' Padmavajra 's sixth talk on the Bodhicaryavatara explores Shantideva's thorough exploration of the perfection of patience. In this chapter, Shantideva brings our attention to the seriousness of the faults of hatred and anger. He shows...

Padmasambhava is a potent symbol of transformation. Maitreyi shows us how evoke the help, energy and vision we need to change our lives. Talk given part of the London Buddhist Centre's Padmasambhava Day Festival, 2019. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for...

After exploring the historical and mythical aspects of Padmasambhava, Prakasha offers insights into how the Tantric Guru of Tibet, Padmasambhava , is relevant to us, here, today, now. This is the third in a series of talks give on Padmasambhava Day, 2019, for the Shrewsbury Triratna Buddhist Group . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcas...

Buddhist ethics are not about conforming to a set of conventions, not about 'being good' in order to gain rewards. Instead, living ethically springs from the awareness that other people are no different from yourself. You can actively develop this awareness, through cultivating love, clarity and contentment, which can ultimately help us to come into greater harmony with all that lives. Arthapriya...

Subhadramati  explores the nature of impermanence as part of the London Buddhist Centre's week-long exploration of Mind Reactive / Mind Creative for the 2018 Urban Retreat. This talk is part of the series  Mind Reactive / Mind Creative . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week!...

In this talk, Padmavajra explores the Altruistic dimension of Going for Refuge - The Bodhisattva Ideal - through Bhante's poem 'The Guardian Wall'. He particularly explores the line in the poem: 'The loveliest Bodhisattvas are the anonymous' and what this means for somebody aspiring to practice the great ideal of the Bodhisattva. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the 'Bodhisattva Ideal...

Saddharaja explores self-sacrifice as a component of the Bodhisattva Ideal  introduces Chapter 18 The Chapter on the Tigress. He goes on to explore compassion and altruism, and how we can develop these by letting go of attachment and hatred, and thereby gaining true freedom. The third of four talks given during the Open Retreat at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in October 2019. This talk is part of the...

Maitrivasin  talks about awakening deep powerful energies that move us along the path to freedom. By engaging warrior energy to tackle the doubt or distractions of habitual ways we bring all of our volition on the side of positive growth and progress towards Enlightenment. This talk is part of the series  The Path of Awakening based on the Bodhicaryavatara given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre June,...

Candrika explores how we might work with the mythic dimension in our current situation of pandemic. There is so much going on in our local and global community. Candrika takes us through the wisdom and symbolism of the Five Buddha Mandala to help us make sense of the world, helping us to work with difficult feelings of fear, disruption, despair. Talk given as part of the Glasgow Buddhist Centre ,...

Here Akuppa explores the story of who you are and how you come to create the story of you. We need a different story. Living from a truer story of our luminosity and what happens when we come together on the basis of our luminous mind/heart. This is Part 1 of two talks given by Akuppa to the Triratna Buddhist Community in Scotland online gathering in June 2020. Listen to Part 2 of this series Tran...

Subhadassi talks about dharma practice in challenging times, drawing on poetry & literature (Pablo Neruda & Franz Kafka) and the Perfection of Wisdom Tradition (especially the Heart Sutra ). We also bump into the householder Vimalakirti, Subhadassi's wife & children, the Diamond Sutra, Compassion , the Three Lakshanas & Hakuin along the way. Talk given for Brighton Buddhist Centre Dharma Day, July...