Free Buddhist Audio

Ratnaguna gives us ten pieces of advice from the Buddha that speak to the isolation we're experiencing whilst the world is in lockdown. The talk was given via Zoom, following the temporary closure of Manchester Buddhist Centre due to the Coronavirus pandemic, April 3, 2020. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dh...

Vilasamani   gives an introduction to the twelve links on the wheel of life, specifying how the spiral path emerges from the gap between feeling and craving. Talk given at West London Buddhist Centre , 2016. 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 news and new D...

Here we have Maitreyi  talking about communicating through symbols, this time round through the hub of the wheel of life. Talk given at Mid Essex Buddhist Centre , February 2020. *** 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 news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA...

Vadanya launches a series of talks on three great Buddhist symbols that describe the way things are: the wheel of life, the spiral path, and the ultimate goal of Enlightenment. Together they form a guide to escape from the ultimate vicious circle into the complete freedom and fulfilment of Awakening. Here, Vadanya explores on the wheel by describing the symbolism of each of the four concentric rin...

Instead of the traditional description of the Fourth Noble Truth - the Eightfold Path - Saccanama   explores Sangha as a means to counter the individualism of our times. What exactly is the true meaning of Sangha? And how can the mysterious 'third order of consciousness' or Bodhicitta help us to transcend our preoccupation with ourselves? He looks at three stories from Buddhist tradition that expl...

Kalyana Mitrata is spiritual friendship, even 'the lovely intimacy', the need for close and supportive connections with others in treading the path. Ratnaprabha   explores why the Buddha said spiritual friendship is 'the whole of the Buddhist Life'. Is it as important now as it was in the Buddha's time? Is a Kalyana Mitra the same thing as a guru or teacher? How can we make the intimate connection...

Vajratara  introduces the theme of spiritual friendship or kalyana mitrata. What is spiritual friendship? How is it distinguished from ordinary friendship? How can we make friends? What is the difference between vertical and horizontal friendship? Using stories, personal anecdotes and images she introduces the overall theme to prepare for more talks in this series, which focusses on the tantric ri...

Ratnaghosha  reflects on how friendships and connections are woven into the tapestry of his life, how other people give our lives a sense of richness and abundance. In the sangha, people are passing on the Dharma through their relationships – living, breathing Dharma is passed on through spiritual friendship. The Buddha was the original spiritual friend, exemplifying for us that Enlightenment dema...

Satyajyoti  introduces the tantra: Buddhism to set life aflame through deep personal transformation of our direct experience. Out with abstractions and theory, it's time to act 'as if your turban was on fire!' In the words of Sangharakshita, 'making Buddhism respectable is the last thing we should do'.  In her introductory talk, Satyajyoti outlines five key principles of Tantric Buddhism and expla...

When we approach the Dharma and looking at Buddhism try to imagine the people from who it comes, the communities from which it arises. In the origins of Indian Tibetan Buddhism there isn't a lot of material available, and there are lots of secrets! Padmavajra rounds out a series of talks at the C ambridge Buddhist Centre (UK, 2017) on the Tantric Path with this thought-provoking investigation into...

Moksatara  introduces the dakini, the tantric embodiment of what's possible when all of our energy is completely engaged, alive and flowing. These beings of limitless space have complete freedom of mind, fierce energy and a full emotional engagement with life. In order to meet the dakinis we must travel to where they dwell: the cremation grounds, where bodies are taken to be burnt. The deepest, da...

HHere Saddharaja  describes the rainy season in India and its role in the origin of confession practice in Buddhism. He goes on to describe the different kinds of confession practice, their benefits and how they totally differ from confession in other religions.  He also introduces the The Sutra of Golden Light 's nexus, Chapter 3, The Chapter on Confession with it's great import and beauty. The s...

The Buddha's Parinirvana marks the final passing of the Buddha two and a half millennia ago. It is an opportunity not just to contemplate on impermanence, but also to rejoice in the example of the Buddha's life and in the precious opportunity our own lives present us with. Dhammadinna delivers in this talk given at Parinirvana Festival at London Buddhist Centre , 2019. *** Help keep FBA free for e...

Vishvapani beautifully explores Sangharakshita's poem 'Padmaloka' in which he looks forward to his own death. It's a poem about death, rebirth and nature, and Vishvapani connects it to other poetry which it echoes. This talk was given a week after Sangharakshita's death in November 2018 at Cardiff Buddhist Centre . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dh...

Punyamala   explores the Buddhist teachings of impermanence and shares reflections on how to live with the fact of death, using her recent experience of death. This is the Second in a series of four talks given on the four reminders given at Taraloka Retreat Centre called Reflection: A Path of Wisdom. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podc...

Saccanama offers this thought-provoking talk exploring insight into anatta. What happens when one loses control and renounces the self?  Recorded at the Swedish Summer Retreat at Dharmagiri Retreat Centre, 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 supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes...

When things go wrong in our life we can see them as an obstacle to an ideal spiritual life feel we should be leading. But there's another way of looking at difficulties, and instead of trying to get rid of difficulties, we could be welcoming them as opportunities.    Vajratara   draws on the Tibetan Mind Training tradition, as well as the Pali Suttas to examine how we can make adversity our teache...

A series of personal exchanges with Subhuti   about the central issues of life.  Subhuti is among the most prominent and experienced of Western Buddhists. He has spent the past forty-odd years practising the Buddha's teachings and travelling the world helping make it possible for others to do the same.  Hosted by Subhadramati during his Presidential visit to the London Buddhist Centre , which he w...

Jnanavaca   explores the myths and parables of the glorious White Lotus Sutra. This week he unpacks the wisdom of the parable of the Burning House. Includes some questions from the audience. Dharma Night at the London Buddhist Centre , April 6th 2015. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo...

After considering the history and the meaning of the title, Sangharakshita provides a summary of The White Lotus Sutra's dramatic structure, with brief explanations of the significance of certain details. Talk given in 1971. This talk is part of the series  Parables, Myths and Symbols of Mahayana Buddhism in the White Lotus Sutra . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Su...

Parami  evokes the reality of interconnectedness in relation to the second Dasadhamma - My life is dependent on others. I am sustained by the gifts of others - She talks about how the experience of interconnectedness is supported by wisdom, and results in compassionate activity. This talk is part of the series  The Order as Practice: Shifting Paradigms given at Adhisthana, 2015. *** Help keep FBA...

Ratnaguna shares with us his great love for the Vimalakirti Nirdesa, a Buddhist Mahayana text he's gone back to again and again and again since 1979. He explores how a Bodhisattva should regard living beings, or how they should develop the Great Love for them, according to the mysterious character Vimalakirti.  Talk given at Stockholm Buddhist Center , 27 May 2013. *** Help keep FBA free for every...

Drawing on Bhante's paper on the Ten Pillars from 1984, the Dhammapada and the Mind Turning teachings,  Dhammadinna  talks about the paradigm shift we make in our ethical practice from power mode to love mode, and the renunciation of power and blame through which we enter into experience of forgiveness and ksanti. This talk is part of the series  The Order as Practice: Shifting Paradigms.   *** He...

Here we have  Dharmashalin  exploring the question: Who is Milarepa and more importantly how is he relevant to us? He's an incredibly rich character, but what stands out first and foremost is the profound example of transformation, redemption even, that he found in the course of his life. This brings hope to all of us, he changed so we can change… Talk given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre , 2019. *...

Saddhanandi is the Chair of Adhisthana and a preceptor. She was for many years the Chair of Taraloka retreat centre. She was a close friend of Bhante Sangharakshita and is noted for her warmth, friendliness and skills as a Dharma teacher. It is a real treat to have her at Sangha Night to share her thoughts on the Buddha Shakyamuni. This talk is part of the series  Buddhas and Bodhisattvas  given a...