Dharmabytes From Free Buddhist Audio

Practising Buddhism (so much harder than understanding it) involves breaking the chain of the twelve negative links, or nidanas, by moving onto the spiral path, here described in its twelve stages. What is our usual reaction to things that are pleasant, things that are painful and things that are neutral? Sangharakshita gives us a clear description of the beginning of the Spiral Path, that of our response to Dukkha. From the talk The Stages of the Spiritual Path as part of the series Introducing Buddhism given in 1966. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Punyamala describes the path of beauty and how we can move from contemplating mundane beauty to the beauty of the enlightened state and in so doing she leads us into an experience of beauty. From the talk entitled 'In Beauty May I Walk' - Beauty As the Fourth Laksana given during the Women's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, December 2019. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Is kindness possible here? How does clarity help us open up to love? Maitrisiddhi explores the active and receptive aspects of the Metta Bhavana as expressed through the symbolism of Akshobhya, the Buddha of the East. From the talk entitled Metta and Akshobhya's Mirrorlike Wisdom, the first of two talks given on "Living in the Mandala"; a retreat on the Brahma Viharas at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2018.   *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

This is a quietly passionate talk by Jinapriya on the quicksilver nature of the Enlightenment experience - impossible to pin down, utterly transformative. His main theme within the frame of such a big question - 'What is Enlightenment?' - is the struggle to live our lives in the present moment, especially in the face of pain. We are met with a thoughtful series of reflections, stories and images that all look to open up the gates of perception, and prepare the heart for the biggest change imaginable and possible for all. In that sense, this is a truly optimistic talk. From the talk entitled What is Enlightenment? Given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2003. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Here Vijayasri looks at the culmination of the sevenfold puja by exploring the Transference of merit and self-surrender section. She considers the importance of breaking our individual self view, including the telling of the story of the 1000-armed Avalokitesvara, a symbol of the Triratna Buddhist Order. Excerpt from the talk entitled Transference of Merit and Self-Surrender from the series in our series on Transforming Self and World through looking at the Sevenfold Puja given at the Croydon Buddhist Centre, July 2016. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

How can we be helpful? Do we go beyond ourselves to do things for others? Are we inspired by the ways in which we are helpful? Taravandana explores the meaning of the final verses of the Sevenfold Puja as practiced in the Triratna Buddhist Community. The Transference of Merits verse is based on Chapter 3 of the Bodhicaryavatara, Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva. Excerpted from the ninth talk in the Sevenfold Puja series at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, on Transference of Merits and Self-Surrender, March 2010. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Spiritual practice can be thought of in terms of developing positive qualities within ourselves. But in a very real sense it also consists in creating sufficiently beautiful conditions within our minds so that something from outside us may be invited in. From the talk entitled Inviting the Enlightened Mind given by Vadanya during the third Great Gathering of 2017 at Padmaloka Retreat Centre. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Jayaratna shares his story of about a recent journey to track down his difficulties with the Sevenfold Puja, and what he learned about himself in the process. From the talk entitled Facing the Sevenfold Puja given at the Shrewsbury Sangha, 2018. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Most of our life strategies are to avoid pain. We can ask ourselves - Do I want to be bound by suffering, or free from suffering? Aryajaya describes the movement towards the Three Jewels as a development of faith and effective Going for Refuge. From the talk entitled Commitment Is Key given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2016. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud  

Here Sangharakshita explores the Four Reliances as he distinguishes the meaning of vijnana (Discriminating Consciousness) and jnana (Transcendental Awareness) and then further distinguishes prajna-paramita (Perfection of Wisdom) from jnana. Launching his book entitled Wisdom Beyond Words, 1993. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud  

Vajradevi introduces the idea of 'talking meditation', where we carry the thread of awareness through verbal communication. This extends beyond awareness of the speech precepts to being aware of the texture or tone of our own and others' voices, using a 'settled back' stance and giving priority to the thread of awareness/knowing over the content of what's being said. She gives tips for the practice: staying aware of our own minds, aiming to let go of trying and focusing so as to aim for a more panoramic awareness. From the talk Working Mindfully with Communication & Language which is part of the series Pathways to the Beautiful Mind: Bristol Rains Retreat, 2019. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

The Buddha and Ananda once tended a sick monk, neglected by his companions because of his 'uselessness'. Sangharakshita shows that people cannot be treated as 'things' in the spiritual community. Excerpted from the talk entitled A Case of Dysentry as part of the series Incidents from the Pali Canon, 1982. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

How do we go beyond the duality of subject and object, self and other, to experience the true nature of reality? There is no real Buddhism if it’s all about self liberation. We have to see other people as like ourselves. Jnanavaca, telling the story of Meghiya, unequivocally draws out the importance of sangha and kalyana mitrata as the means to bring the Dharma to life in the world. Excerpted from the talk What is Sangha & Kalyana Mitrata? From the series entitled The Bi-Tendential Value of Being & The Greater Mandala given by Jnanavaca and Subhadramati at the London Buddhist Centre, 2019. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Silence all around the lake, the light of the sky reflecting on it’s surface, blushing in the colors of sunset. Dusk, twilight, a time of transformation, a time of meditation. Here, Dayanandi evokes the birth of Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born, who is a historical and mythological figure who established Buddhism in Tibet in the eighth century. Excerpted from the talk entitled Meeting Padmasambhava in the Cave of the Heart given during the Padmasabhava Day Festival at Manchester Buddhist Centre, October 2011.   *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Vidyasaki introduces Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal, his consort and disciple attributed with recording the story of the Great Guru’s establishing Buddhism in Tibet. Offering her perspective as a literary critic, Vidyasaki speaks from her heart about the mythical and historical dimensions of this significant bit of Buddhist history. Excerpted from the key note talk entitled Padmasambhava and the Naga King given on the Padmasambhava Festival Day, Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2018. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Previously unreleased and, rather famously, given off-the-cuff at the London Buddhist Centre, Sangharakshita gives an enjoyable and stirring evocation of the great Tantric Guru of Tibet. From the talk entitled Padmasambhava Talk given in 1979. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Subhadramati, with characteristic inspiration, shares a memory of Sangharakshita’s last public appearance before his death, and unfolds the significance this image for us as his disciples. She brings this into relationship with our practice of ethics, articulated through the three robes of Padmasambhava. From the talk The Archetypal Guru and the Ten Precepts given in the context of the 2020 retreat for women private preceptors at Adhisthana, 2020.   *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Seeing all beings with the potential for Buddhahood, we are moved to encourage and support that natural momentum towards growth and development. Every act of generosity, loving kindness, no matter how small, is acting in harmony with Reality and the growth of all beings. Vajratara gives us an inspiring glimpse into ethics in their ultimate sense which take their expression in the Bodhicitta. From a talk entitled The Lady of Tibet Yeshe Tsogyal given by Vajratara at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre, August 2008 about Padmasambhava's consort and great disciple.   *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

Prasannavira offers insight into the the essence of Padmasambhava – purity, love, skillful means. With a fearless embracing of experience, taking whatever appears as the Path, facing of inconvenience both personal and external deeper truths, we become the change we’d like to see in the world. From the talk entitled Who Is Padmasambhava? Given for Padmasambhava Day at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2017.   *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud

According to Tibetan tradition, in the bardo, an 'intermediate state' in the endless round of birth and death, we are free for an instant from that round. The Tibetan book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol) describes six of these opportunities for escape from reactivity. Here Sangharakshita explores our resistance to facing death and the impact of the esoteric teachings of Padmasambhava. From the talk Psycho-Spiritual Symbolism in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. part of the series Aspects of Buddhist Psychology, given in 1967. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud