Free Buddhist Audio

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...

Sanghamani with a great second talk from the 2019 Triratna International Gathering. Her theme on this Alchemy of the Dharma weekend is how we can transform ourselves in order to transform our communities. And she leads with fearlessness in discussing her own work and practice in this regard. As a fundraiser at the cutting edge of the practice of connection – trying to forge a sense of mutually vit...

A wonderful first talk of the 2019 International Gathering, whose theme is 'Alchemy of the Dharma'. The utterly delightful  Ratnaguna  takes us through the true miracle of transforming ourselves via magic of a practice in which we also learn to let ourselves change.  This is a beautiful, reflective, funny take on the challenges of the Dharma life. Ratnaguna's breadth of reference is itself a joy:...

What is the Bodhicitta and how do we become receptive to it?  Vajratara talks about the paradox behind the Bodhicitta: how it is an experience beyond any personal attainment, yet it arises in us. How can we hold both perspectives? Using the framework of the '3 myths' of the Dharma life, Vajratara evokes the qualities and attitudes we develop to prepare ourselves for the Bodhicitta. A journey aroun...

In this talk, Sarvananda looks at how our engagement with the arts can help us move from literal mindedness to an imaginative engagement with Buddhist myth and symbol. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the 2019 East Anglian Men's Retreat. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo t...

The Buddha said the world is on fire, fueled by our greed hatred and delusion. Jnanavaca explores how we can raise ourselves to meet the challenges faced by humankind on both an individual and global basis.  Can Metta be cultivated so that in can burn brightly with the brilliant flames of peace? Talk given at London Buddhist Centre , 2019. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter to...

To succeed at anything, we need to think; to go about it in a way that's actually going to work. Vadanya examines different metaphors that help us to bring our reasoning and wisdom into action to make spiritual progress. He highlights the importance of creating the right conditions to grow and flourish, particularly the importance of spiritual friendship. Part 5 in the 'Path to Awakening' Sangha n...

The first of four talks given by  Ratnaguna during the annual Padmaloka Open Retreat. The theme of the retreat was 'For Heroic Spirits Intended...' and was based around the Ratnaguna Samcayagatha-a profound Mahayana Sutra. A new translation by Sraddhapa of the text was used for the first time during the retreat. You can find this text at Sraddhapa's website  where donations can be made to support...

  How do we transcend conflicts and contradictions?  Vilasamani   explores the conundrums of Buddhist practitioners in the Vimalakirti Sutra , and bring some of them up-to-date, in a talk to the West London Buddhist Centre Sangha night.   *** 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!...

Touching on the themes of righteous indignation, spiritual bypassing, empathy, non-violent communication, envy and exploring apology, confession and working with betrayal, Santavajri  poses the question as to whether we can forgive ourselves and move towards unconditional love for all beings. An exploration of verses 4, 5 and 6 of the Eight Verses for Training the Mind. Talk given at the Women's A...