Dharmabytes From Free Buddhist Audio

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is a moving remembrance of Dr. Ambedkar. Carrying the Torch of Dr. Ambedkar is excerpted from the talk Remembering Ambedkar by Sangharakshita. This highly evocative and moving account expounds the later years and death of a true Indian hero: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Dr. Ambedkar founded the Movement of mass conversions by ex-and#8217;Untouchablesand#8217; (and#8216;Dalitsand#8217;) to Buddhism in order to escape the everyday oppressions and active persecutions they were subject to under the Hindu caste system. That movement, begun in 1956 as a deeply political act, continues today and#8211; and Sangharakshita recalls his own involvement, as well as drawing out some robust lessons for contemporary western Buddhists. We are offered a truly radical vision of a practice of Buddhism that revolutionizes all aspects of how we live. In that sense, this is nothing short of a challenging, if kindly, broadside of a talk. Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre, 2006

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Make a Difference and#8211; Women in India, is excerpted from the talk Triratna Sangha In India and the Work of the India Dharma Trust by Tarahridaya. This talk was given as part of Manchester Buddhist Centreand#8217;s celebration of Dr Ambedkarand#8217;s 60th anniversary of his conversion to Buddhism. She provides a personal recount of the transformative nature of the Dharma and the Triratna Buddhist movement witnessed in India.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Words Count, is excerpted from the talk Words Have the Power to Connect Or Create Walls by Aniruddha, an Indian Order Member working as an NVC (Non-Violent Communication) trainer in India. This talk was given in 2009 on his first visit to the Buddhafield Festival and was a great hit. Learn more about the work of Karuna Trust

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Ambedkar: A True Hero, is excerpted from the talk Radical Buddhism and#8211; Changing the Myth of Society by Vajratara about Dr Ambedkar and his relevance to the Western Buddhists. In a culture of unprecedented freedom, Vajratara asks how we choose which path to follow? This was the question facing Dr Ambedkar who had a burning issue to solve and#8211; untouchability. Vajratara introduces Dr Ambedkar by showing his methods of solving this problem, and how he came to realise more than political, economic or social action was needed. She also explains how he came to choose Buddhism as a way to radically challenge the myth of Indian society. This leaves the question of what myths in our society do we need to challenge, and how do we challenge them? Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre in August 2014.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Paradigm Shift Parami revisits Bhanteand#8217;s vision of the New Society, sharing her inspiration and love for the radical and transformative power of the Dharma. This is the third talk entitled Revisiting the New Society in the series The Order as Practice: Shifting Paradigms.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Ratnaghosha offers some inspirational reflections entitled Seeds of Love from the talk entitled Choosing the Best. This talk explores the basic choice we have in life and goes into how we can cultivate positive emotion. The topics of motivation, faith and karma are also discussed.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Radical Metta, Saravantu reminds us of the radical nature of metta by recalling her own journey towards the Dharma, as well as telling some other illustrative stories. From the talk entitled A Most Appropriate Response.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte Sangharakshita speaks on: The New Society. Sangharakshita describes the events of his life that led him to found the Western Buddhist Order, and explains how an individual can join it. He then discusses its relation to the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order and introduces the idea of the nucleus of a new society. Excerpted from the talk The Nucleus of a New Society given in 1976. This talk is part of the series Buddhism for Today and Tomorrow.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte we offer an excerpt from a talk by Vishvapani entitled: Sacred Mindfulness. A talk given at the Triratna Buddhist Order November 2014 Menand#8217;s UK and Ireland Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana on 1 November 2014. The theme of the weekend was Mindfulness. Vishvapani writes: and#8220;Weand#8217;re in the middle of the greatest surge in interest related to Buddhism since the 1960s: the secular mindfulness boom. Iand#8217;ve been deeply involved in Triratna for many years and my current experience as a secular mindfulness trainer has me doing everything from teaching meditation to murderers to helping prepare a report on mindfulness for the UK parliament. In this talk I share my reflections on the strengths and limitations of the secular mindfulness movement and#8211; including how it challenges us to rethink our own teaching and our place in the Buddhist world; and explore the and#8216;sacredand#8217; dimension of mindfulness in Triratna Buddhism.and#8221; From the talk Secu

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte we offer an excerpt from a talk by Vajratara entitled: Friendship Arises from Metta. To have friends, we need to learn to be a friend. Friendship is an active practice, not to be left to chance. Using the Buddhaand#8217;s advice to Sigalaka, Vajratara gives some practical guidance on how to be a good hearted, supportive, consistent, beneficial and loving friend. From the talk entitled How To Be A Friend given at Sheffield Buddhist Center, 2011.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte entitled Words and Experience Ratnaghosha talks about Milarepaand#8217;s final exhortation from and#8220;The Shepherdand#8217;s Search for Mindand#8221;, which provides a complete path, effortlessly combining devotion and meditation. He sees how wrong were the fears and hopes of his own mind. Without arrival, he reaches the place of Buddha; Without seeing, he visions the Dharmakaya; Without effort, he does all things naturally. From the talk entitled The Goal given on the European Triratna Menand#8217;s Convention at Adhisthana on 19 August 2014.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, At the Heart of the Sangha Dhammamegha speaks about Sangha as Dharma practice and how spiritual community and friendship with the admirable are part of our heritage in Triratna. From the talk Wisdomand#8217;s Gathering: The Difference That Makes a Difference given on the Triratna International Gathering at Adhisthana, 27 August 2017.

The new consciousness that emerges does so in stages. In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we hear from Maitreyabandhu on the particular kind of effort needed in meditation entitled In the World, Not of the World. From the talk Meditation Essentials: Stages.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, is from a talk given by Vijayasri as a follow up to a showing of Sangharakshitaand#8217;s video on Buddhism, world peace and nuclear war. In Owning Your Shadow Vijayasri explores the concepts of violence and non-violence as aspects of the power mode / love mode relationship, and looks at the Jungian concept of the shadow. We examine the idea that change is possible, but that growth and development requires personal effort, using quotes from Sangharakshita, Jung and President Obama. Vijayasri concludes that one of the ways in which we can change the world is by teaching the Metta Bhavana to as many people as possible. The full talk, Violence and Non-Violence, was given at the Croydon Buddhist Centre in 2016 as part of our regular Saturday morning sangha class.

In our Dharmbyte today FBA Dharmabyte, The Buddha and Trees, Sinhadakini explores the significance of the Roseapple Tree in the story of the Buddhaand#8217;s Enlightenment. She discusses trees in general in Buddhism and goes on to talk about the type of effort needed for Enlightenment. From the talk The Buddha and the Roseapple Tree given on Buddha Day at Norwich Buddhist Centre.

Our Dharmbyte today FBA Dharmabyte is from Bhante Sangharakshita called Four-Fold Perfect Effort. Discussing the evolution of consciousness, this lecture explains that at the stage of reflexive consciousness, deliberate effort is required for any further progress. Right Effort is fourfold: preventing and eradicating the unskilful, and cultivating and maintaining the skilful. From the talk, The Conscious Evolution of Man: Right Effort, given in 1968 as part of the series The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we hear an excerpt entitled Spiritual Friends. Sujiva explores friendship in general andamp; Spiritual Friendship (Kalyana Mitrata) in particular, drawing upon his personal experience in this heart-felt talk. The full talk, Facebook Friends, Real Friends, Spiritual Friends, was given at the Auckland Buddhist Centre as a part of a Dharma night series.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we hear an excerpt called The Myth of Ordination. Akasaruci gives a personal talk about her experiences of being on the 2018 Akashavana ordination retreat, on which she was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order. From the talk Akashavana: Heart, Wisdom and Beauty given at her welcome back during Dharma Day on Sunday 29th July 2018 at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte we hear from Bodhipakshini in Reflections On An Ordination Retreat. As part of a welcome back evening for new Order members, Bodhipakshini reflects on her experience of the recent 3-month retreat in Spain during which she was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order. Excerpted from the talk Reflections On An Ordination Retreat, part of the series Ordination: A collection of personal talks.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte Abhaya, who has been ordained for 44 years, reflects on how he connects with the order. Connecting with the Order is excerpted from the talk of the same name, available on Free Buddhist Audio.