Sutta Meditation Series

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This short extract is from discussion around identifying and abandoning unwholesome verbal conduct and mental stains in the meditation and then seeing that they arose as a result of spending time clicking through a variety of things on the internet, as well as indulging in frivolous talk.  This has been edited from a Dhamma session held via zoom...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is an edited version of a Dhamma session held via zoom on "DEVELOPING IMMEASURABLE LOVING KINDNESS", based on the Buddha's teaching in the Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Snp 1.8), emphasising the supramundane practice that leads to the fruit of non-return. Some of the suttas covered directly or indirectly in this session: — Anumāna Sutt...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. A short extract from our Full Duruthu Poya Dhamma session (on 6 January 2023) explaining the connection between the Four Noble Truths and having the Four Determinations as taught by the Buddha in the Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 140), that lead to the four concentrations. This gives a broader picture of what underpins the verse "One should not n...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. A short extract from our Full Duruthu Poya Dhamma session (on 6 January 2023) explaining the context for Buddha's exposition of the six elements in the Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 140) - Why the Buddha is offering this particular teaching to venerable Pukkusāti and why it is applicable to us.   We reference the Dhātu Sutta (SN 27.9) to understan...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on DURUTHU POYA (6 January 2023) via zoom, on "THE EXPOSITION OF THE ELEMENTS" - PART ONE. We examine the Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 140) and the Buddha's teaching to venerable Pukkusāti on the six elements, six bases of contact, eighteen mental explorations and four determinations. The key v...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. As we come to the end of 2022, it's a good opportunity to reflect on how we've connected through the Buddha and his Teachings, and to honour the good friendship we've cultivated together.    It's a time to express heartfelt gratitude and joy. (*Listen to the end if you can*)   Blessings and good wishes, to all our brothers and si...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is an EXTRACT from the Full Unduvap Poya Dhamma session (on 7 December 2022) explaining the Buddha's teaching of the Seven Knowledges that arise from possessing the noble right view: making one ready to realise the fruit of Stream Entry, or  one has attained and is able to maintain the fruit of the attainment as a concentration. Often p...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on UNDUVAP POYA (7 December 2022) via zoom, on "THE STRENGTH OF LIVING IN HARMONY AS SUPPORT TO DEVELOP THE NOBLE PATH".    We examine the Kosambiya Sutta (MN 48) and the Buddha's teaching to the quarreling monks of Kosambi.   The purpose of examining this particular teaching from the Budd...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. As we come close to the end of the year, we can take the opportunity to do some self-examination of our spiritual practice, applying the Buddha's teaching from the Ṭhiti Sutta (AN 10.53) .   The Buddha states at the opening of the discourse:  " Bhikkhus, I do not praise even a standstill in wholesome qualities, much less decline. I prai...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. Role models play an important part in all of our lives, whether we seek them out or not. And whether we walk the Buddhist Path or not, they can have the power to shape the direction we take and the ability to influence the decisions that follow on from there.  For Buddhist practitioners, the Buddha is our most eminent role model, teacher and the...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked:   “A friend recently accused me of singing the Dhamma, rather than reciting it. We got into an argument about it, where he was saying “it’s in the suttas” and I was saying “I’m following what I’ve learned at the temple or monastery, and the chants that are on YouTube”. Could you o...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. As a follow up to the post on our community page about offering pahan (oil lamp/light) puja, we take a look at the fruit of offering lamps/lights to the Buddha (dīpadānassidaṁ phalaṁ).   We examine the legends of the senior monks and nuns - Anuruddha Thera, Sakulā Theri, Pañcadīpa Thera, Araṇadīpiya Thera, Ajita Thera, Ekadīpiya Thera, and Pañca...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this extended Dhamma session, we look to deepen our understanding and practice of the Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7) by focusing on the skilled mental states that arise when we abandon these mental stains or defilements.    *This Dhamma session is particularly beneficial for those who already know how to meditate on the Vatthūpama Sutta, and are see...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on ILL POYA (7 November 2022) via zoom, on "THE MAGNITUDE OF SAMSARA". We examine the Anamataggavagga or Chapter of Linked Discourses on the Undiscoverable Beginning (Saṁyutta Nikāya 15). The purpose of examining this particular chapter is to gain a stronger understanding of the bigger picture...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. From the request to provide an EXTRACT from the Full Vap Poya Dhamma session (on 9 October 2022) on developing the three knowledges as highlighted in the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19) . The Buddha's instructions are explained and helpful sutta references are provided.   **Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the as...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, as requested, we go through instructions on "How do we meditate on the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta and navigate the jhānas?" **Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the aspiration for the supramundane development of the Noble Eightfold Path**  For the Full Vap Poya Dhamma session AND the list...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19):   "Meditators seem to fall into two baskets with the jhānas – (1) you really need them and can get intoxicated with them, or (2) you don’t need them and ignore them entirely. So, this might be a silly question, but I respectfully ask anyway...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. From the request to provide an EXTRACT from the Full Vap Poya Dhamma session (on 9 October 2022) explaining how we enter and develop the four jhānas by contemplating the instructions in the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19) .   **Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the aspiration for the supramundane development of the No...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on VAP POYA (9 October 2022) via zoom, on "SKILLED THOUGHTS, JHĀNAS & THE RIGHT PATH" We examine the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19), where the Buddha gives an account of what he did as the unenlightened Bodhisatta to develop the mind towards Nibbāna.  It's a very inspiring and useful teac...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. Following on from our last Dhamma session looking into a question on the Byasana Sutta, we now examine The Great Misfortune of Tissa Thera from Dhammapada verse 240 as a case study on rebirth in lower realms . This is useful to enable us to understand this Dhamma.   Tissa Thera was very attached to his robe and was reborn as a louse (animal real...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked:   “In the Byasana Sutta (AN 5.130), the Buddha states there are five kinds of misfortune or loss. Out of the five, there are only two that lead to rebirth in lower realms - misfortune regarding virtuous behaviour and misfortune regarding view. Why only these two? And if you could...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Meghiya Sutta (Ud 4.1): "The question I would like to ask is about Meghiya’s eagerness. Meghiya sees that, unlike the Buddha, there is something further to do and there is something to add to what has been done, but his liberation of mind is not fully mature. May I kno...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. **This Dhamma session follows on from the "Living by the Dhamma" — Dhammavihari Suttas (AN 5.73-74) — https://bit.ly/3S3SgMb In this Dhamma session, we examine the opportunities (or bases) for liberation that can come from hearing a teaching from a teacher, teaching the Dhamma to others in detail, reciting the Dhamma in detail, contemp...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. A short EXTRACT from the Full Binara Poya Dhamma session (on 10 September 2022) on why we meditate, the different kinds of concentration that lead to one-pointedness or unification of the mind, what makes the Buddha's teachings different, and what is really his definition of development of the mind ("meditation") **Please note - we...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. From a request to provide an EXTRACT from the Full Binara Poya Dhamma session (on 10 September 2022) explaining The wisdom pathway or progression of renunciation instructed by the Buddha in the Saḷāyatanavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 137), which can be sequentially contemplated as a meditation.   This was examined as part of understanding noble right inten...