Dharmabytes From Free Buddhist Audio

Another talk in our exploration of Insight, todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte from Dhammamegha entitled and#8220;Living Dharma in South Africaand#8221; was the second talk in a panel called and#8220;Spreading the Dharma as a Path to Insightand#8221;, given at the European Combined Order Convention held at Wymondham College on 23 August 2014.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Amalasiri gives a lovely talk entitled and#8220;Life is a Gift and#8211; Triratna in Barcelonaand#8221;, beginning a series of podcasts from now to the end of the year exploring the topic of insight. This talk was given at the European Combined Order Convention, the theme of which was and#8220;The Bodhisattvaand#8217;s Reply: Triratna Paths to Insightand#8221;.

Sangharakshita recounts for us in todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte the Rohini incident in which and#8220;The Buddha Prevents a Warand#8221;. The Buddhaand#8217;s lone voice of sanity in this story is a wonderful template for us to work from when considering realistic courses of action in the modern world to promote peace and end warfare. Excerpted from the talk and#8220;Buddhism, World Peace and Nuclear Warand#8221; given in 1984.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte Lokabandhu speaks on the topic of and#8220;Buddhism and Activismand#8221;, describing how becoming an active force for good in the world through direct social engagement is an integral part of Buddhist practice. Part of the longer talk and#8220;Buddhism, Social Engagement, and Non-Violent Direct Actionand#8221; given in the Dharma Parlour at the 2010 Buddhafield Festival.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte Amalaketu talks about Eco Dharma at Colchester Buddhist Centreand#8217;s Sangha Night series on Engaged Buddhism. Entitled and#8220;Introducing Eco Dharmaand#8221;, he maps out the possible Buddhist response to the environmental crisis.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we present an excellent talk from Young Peoples Facilitator Kara Moses entitled and#8220;Sangha as Alternative Cultureand#8221;. Kara talks about why industrialised Capitalist society presents us with particularly challenging conditions for Buddhist practise, and how the Sangha provides a radical positive alternative.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we complete our series on Sangharakshita, his life and his friendships with and#8220;Lalitaratna Rejoices in Bhanteand#8221;. This talk is another in a set recorded during a celebration of Sangharakshitaand#8217;s birthday in 2010, featuring the lively and humorous reminiscences of Lalitaratna.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we listen while and#8220;Akasasuri Rejoices in Bhante,and#8221; expressing her appreciation for the role that Sangharakshita has played in the spiritual life of herself and others. This talk was recorded during a celebration of Sangharakshitaand#8217;s birthday in 2010.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Paramachitta Rejoices in Bhanteand#8221;, Paramachitta reflects on the positive qualities of her honored teacher, Sangharakshita, on the occasion of his birthday in 2010.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Recollections of Going Forthand#8221;, Sangharakshita reflects back on his time in India, early in his spiritual career, when he made the decision to go forth into homelessness, pursue the Buddhist path and follow in the Buddhaand#8217;s footsteps.

Dharmashalin returns in todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte with part two of his overview of the spiritual life of Sangharakshita. In and#8220;Sangharakshita and Triratna,and#8221; we continue the story principally through the development of Triratna from a dream to an international Buddhist community.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Sangharakshita: The Early Years,and#8221; Dharmashalin gives us an overview of Sangharakshitaand#8217;s early life and spiritual path before founding the Triratna Buddhist Community. A great primer for those wanting to know a bit more back-story about our teacher.

In todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Dharma Challenges our Views,and#8221; Satyaraja asks us What’s most important to us? What do we devote our time to? He reminds us that we don’t like uncertainty, and yet, when we strive to gain insight to see things as they really are, we realize we have to stay open and receptive to the mystery of ourselves. From the words of Padmasambhava: I do not have I do not understand I do not know

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Two Great Shifts in One’s Being,and#8221; Vajratara shares her thoughts on going forth, leaving behind ones old habits, and going for refuge towards what is real, what is possible, what is beautiful and#8211; the goal of the spiritual life. From the talk and#8220;The Bodhicaryavataraand#8221; given at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre on 18th March 2008. Part of a series on Great Buddhist Texts.

In todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Bodhisattva and Evolution,and#8221; Sangharakshita introduces the figure of the Bodhisattva, who embodies the principle of perpetual self-transcendence. This is an excerpt from the talk, and#8220;The Bodhisattva Principleand#8221;.

In todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Living Collectively: Sangha as Teacher,and#8221;Saddhanandi shares some wisdom from Jack Kornfield on spiritual community and living collectively. She then describes having confidence in the Order and developing Sangha as the authentic teacher. From the talk and#8220;Spiritual Transmission and Lineageand#8221; a detailed, intimate and heartfelt talk looking at the relationship between a Dharma follower and her/his teacher.

In todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Prajna as Aesthetic Appreciation,and#8221; Padmavajra offers a little insight into seeing not-self. From the fourth talk in his wonderful series on the Dhammapada, the most popular of early Buddhist texts.

In todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte we hear from Ratnaghosha from the Menand#8217;s Combined Convention in and#8220;Speaking About the Goal.and#8221; Words and descriptions cannot fully encapsulate transcendental experience. Inspired by verses from 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: Without arrival, he reaches the place of Buddha; Without seeing, he visions the dharmakaya; Without effort, he does all things naturally. This is an excerpt from the sixth talk given on the European Triratna Menand#8217;s Convention at Adhisthana on 19 August 2014, entitled and#8220;The Goal.and#8221;

In todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte we hear from Maitreyabandhu from the Menand#8217;s Combined Convention in and#8220;Hearing the Cuckoo’s Cry.and#8221; Reading haiku, Maitreyabandhu brings us to reflect on our shared understanding of the goal of insight and enlightenment. This is an excerpt from the second talk given on the European Triratna Menand#8217;s Convention at Adhisthana on 19 August 2014, entitled and#8220;Against Avoiding Pain.and#8221;

Subhadramati shares her insights on ethics in todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte: and#8220;Acting in Accordance with our Values,and#8221; an excerpt from a the talk and#8220;Ethics As a Path to Insight.and#8221; Practicing ethics leads to greater happiness, springs out of our empathy for others, and eventually becomes free of any notion of self and other. Given on August 30 2014 at the European Womenand#8217;s Convention held at Adhisthana on the theme of and#8220;The Bodhisattvaand#8217;s Reply: Triratna Paths to Insightand#8221;.