Sutta Meditation Series

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on BINARA POYA (10 September 2022) via zoom, on "HOW DO WE DEVELOP NOBLE RIGHT CONCENTRATION WITH THE EIGHTFOLD PATH?" We examine the Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117), which is an important teaching of the Buddha on how the Noble Eightfold Path works, how we activate and develop it to fulfilment...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we examine these teachings of the Buddha titled "one who lives by the Dhamma" ( dhammavihārī ) from Dhammavihārī Suttas (AN 5.73-74). The Buddha goes through the different ways we develop our spiritual practice (learning, declaring, reciting, reflecting and practising) and where we can fall short.   We also refr...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In today's session, we look at Dhammapada Verse 392 - THE STORY OF VENERABLE SĀRIPUTTA HONOURING VENERABLE ASSAJI (Sāriputtatthera Vatthu). This is encouragement and inspiration towards honouring those that help us and offer great service encouraging us towards the Triple Gem and the Path and Practice taught by the Buddha, in order to find r...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Subha Sutta (DN 10): May I ask, with regards to the Subha Sutta (DN 10), there is a section on samādhikkhandha, not just talk about mental absorptions, but also includes guarding the sense doors, mindfulness and clear comprehension, and contentment. Can you help to give more...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked on Dukkha:   “Could you please tell me if I am mis-leading myself if I think of dukkha, the second characteristic of conditioned existence, as “incomplete” or “never resolved” instead of “stressful” or “suffering”? I ask because dukkha implies there is something or someone experien...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 140):   “I have read Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 140) and found that I want to do the meditation with regards to the elements.  Can I read the words from the sutta on these five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) and contemplate as my...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. When we see the value of Buddha Dhamma and realise the benefits of developing the Noble Eightfold Path, we naturally want all of our loved ones to come towards Buddha Dhamma and realise the benefits too. We want them to find the happiness and safety that we have found.   We can become overcome with desire or craving for our loved ones to va...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked on one of the Buddha's insight pathways in the Avijjā Sutta (AN 10.61): "With regards to Avijjā Sutta (AN 10.61), I noticed there were two occasions that mindfulness or ’sati’ appeared in the kusala path (satisampajañña and satipaṭṭhānā). May I ask, are they different or a...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. An extended answer to this often-asked question on "HOW DO WE TRANSLATE WHAT WE LEARN IN OUR MEDITATION (SPIRITUAL PRACTICE) INTO EVERYDAY LIFE?" To answer this question, we delve into encouragement and advice on daily practice, participating in Dhamma sessions & discussions, attending meditation retreats, and how this gradually translates i...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.  Advice and guidance, based on commonly asked questions, on how to take one's spiritual practice forward if you have attended one of our meditation retreats. The focus is on utilising the momentum from the meditation retreat, practising the insight pathway meditations and ensuring we activate the Noble Eightfold Path.   This talk...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we examine this timely teaching of the Buddha in the Adhammika Sutta (AN 4.70) on how a country (or world) becomes corrupt when the leaders are corrupt, and the misery and downfall that can be expected. We also examine when the leaders are righteous with integrity,  a country (or world) becomes righteous and prosperity an...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we take a closer look at the question on "WHO BENEFITS FROM OUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE?" and a collection of teachings from Asuravagga (AN 4.95 - AN 4.99) .   The Buddha teaches about four kinds of persons in the world:  One who is practising neither for their own benefit nor for the benefit of others ( nevattahitāy...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This question comes from the FULL DHAMMA SESSION conducted on ESALA POYA (13 July 2022) via zoom on "REAL EMPTINESS" where we examined the Cūḷasuññata Sutta (MN 121) and the Buddha's teaching on the gradual development of emptiness that culminates in the "emptiness that is pure, superior, and unsurpassed." The question we examine in this short s...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This question comes from the FULL DHAMMA SESSION conducted on ESALA POYA (13 July 2022) via zoom on "REAL EMPTINESS" where we examined the Cūḷasuññata Sutta (MN 121) and the Buddha's teaching on the gradual development of emptiness that culminates in the "emptiness that is pure, superior, and unsurpassed."   The question we examine in this...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This question comes from the FULL DHAMMA SESSION conducted on ESALA POYA (13 July 2022) via zoom on "REAL EMPTINESS" where we examined the Cūḷasuññata Sutta (MN 121) and the Buddha's teaching on the gradual development of emptiness that culminates in the "emptiness that is pure, superior, and unsurpassed."   The question we examine in this...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on ESALA POYA (13 July 2022) via zoom, on REAL EMPTINESS .  We examine the Cūḷasuññata Sutta (MN 121), which is an important teaching of the Buddha on the gradual development of emptiness that culminates in the " emptiness that is pure, superior, and unsurpassed ".   **Please note - we are exa...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we take a closer look at the Kāladāna Sutta (AN 5.36) and the Buddha's teaching on giving timely gifts and how the merit-making can be vast .  The five timely gifts are: one gives to a visitor one gives to one setting out on a journey one gives to a patient (or sick person) one gives during a famine one first present...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast . In this session we delve a little deeper into the Buddha’s teaching on giving, and more specifically into the gradual progression of giving as we practice and develop this quality on the Buddha's Path. Giving is an important support or foundation for the spiritual path. It's fundamental to the non-greed path of the Buddha's teachings. As we ref...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast . This is an encouragement when one falls sick. To look at the aversion that can arise and what we can contemplate to overcome the aversion. Although the body may be afflicted with physical illness, the mind does not have to be afflicted. Some of the suttas referred to directly or indirectly: — Salla Sutta (SN 36.6) — Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta (...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. Another session to accompany the fifth module in the Youth Dhamma Gradual Teachings series looking into Buddha's Gradual Instructions to Lay People on THE BLESSINGS OF RENUNCIATION (nekkhamma ānisaṃsaṃ). In this additional session, we examine RENOUNCING A SMALL HAPPINESS FOR A GREATER ONE and the story of how the Buddha came to be showered with...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. Another session to accompany the fifth module in the Youth Dhamma Gradual Teachings series looking into Buddha's Gradual Instructions to Lay People on THE BLESSINGS OF RENUNCIATION (nekkhamma ānisaṃsaṃ).   In this additional session, we examine THOSE WHO DELIGHT IN THE PEACE OF RENUNCIATION and the story of the Buddha's return from the Tāva...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. Another session to accompany the fifth module in the Youth Dhamma Gradual Teachings series looking into Buddha's Gradual Instructions to Lay People on THE BLESSINGS OF RENUNCIATION (nekkhamma ānisaṃsaṃ).   In this additional session, we examine HOW THE BUDDHA FULFILLED THE HIGHER PERFECTION OF RENUNCIATION (AS THE BODHISATTA), to help us to...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we answer a request for guidance on what are the recommended things to be done and how to make the best of the opportunity when going on Buddhist pilgrimage . We start by looking at the Saṁvejanīya Sutta (AN 4.118) and go from there. In this session, we cover:  — The Four Inspiring Places (Nepal, India)  — Other...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on VESAK POYA (15 May 2022) via zoom, on THE TRUE GOAL OF SPIRITUAL LIFE. We examine the Mahāsāropama Sutta (MN 29), which is an important teaching of the Buddha on the benefits that result from making progress in the spiritual life, which can also become obstacles to the Path when unwholesome states en...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. In this Dhamma session, we are addressing a Dhamma question (or topic) on the Dhamma-follower ( dhammānusārī) , Faith-follower ( saddhānusārī ), and Stream Entry. In addressing this topic, we delve into the Buddha's words on these two kinds of persons, the fixed course of rightness, and how they enter the stream; reference to learning ability; t...