The social and political landscape is changing. Societies are, on the one hand, fragmenting whilst, on the other, unifying within a growing culture of consumerism and individualism. How can we create a community that is unified and diverse, exemplifying real values and being a force for good in the world? Suryagupta , current chair of the London Buddhist Centre, inspires us all to shine the light of the Dharma in the world. This keynote talk was given to launch the year of study and practice at ...
Nov 21, 2020•52 min•Ep. 484
Kuladharini explores what it's like to be an example of the fourth sight in the world, to be a visible embodiment of dharma practice. Using the metaphors of the begging bowl, robes and shaved head she shares three ways in which she has gone forth as a visible example of a dharma farer. Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre , 2009. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow...
Nov 14, 2020•36 min•Ep. 483
'Serenity, freedom from disease, joy and long life, the happiness of an emperor, prosperity; these the patient person receives while continuing in cyclic existence.' Padmavajra 's sixth talk on the Bodhicaryavatara explores Shantideva's thorough exploration of the perfection of patience. In this chapter, Shantideva brings our attention to the seriousness of the faults of hatred and anger. He shows how such states of mind arise and gives a number of ways in which patience can be cultivated in rel...
Nov 07, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 482
Padmasambhava is a potent symbol of transformation. Maitreyi shows us how evoke the help, energy and vision we need to change our lives. Talk given part of the London Buddhist Centre's Padmasambhava Day Festival, 2019. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud...
Oct 31, 2020•40 min•Ep. 481
After exploring the historical and mythical aspects of Padmasambhava, Prakasha offers insights into how the Tantric Guru of Tibet, Padmasambhava , is relevant to us, here, today, now. This is the third in a series of talks give on Padmasambhava Day, 2019, for the Shrewsbury Triratna Buddhist Group . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharm...
Oct 24, 2020•28 min•Ep. 480
Buddhist ethics are not about conforming to a set of conventions, not about 'being good' in order to gain rewards. Instead, living ethically springs from the awareness that other people are no different from yourself. You can actively develop this awareness, through cultivating love, clarity and contentment, which can ultimately help us to come into greater harmony with all that lives. Arthapriya , a Public Preceptor who lives in Cambridge, takes a personal and Dharmic look at what it means to g...
Oct 17, 2020•47 min•Ep. 479
Subhadramati explores the nature of impermanence as part of the London Buddhist Centre's week-long exploration of Mind Reactive / Mind Creative for the 2018 Urban Retreat. This talk is part of the series Mind Reactive / Mind Creative . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud...
Oct 10, 2020•50 min•Ep. 478
In this talk, Padmavajra explores the Altruistic dimension of Going for Refuge - The Bodhisattva Ideal - through Bhante's poem 'The Guardian Wall'. He particularly explores the line in the poem: 'The loveliest Bodhisattvas are the anonymous' and what this means for somebody aspiring to practice the great ideal of the Bodhisattva. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the 'Bodhisattva Ideal' retreat in January 2020. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe ...
Oct 03, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 477
Saddharaja explores self-sacrifice as a component of the Bodhisattva Ideal introduces Chapter 18 The Chapter on the Tigress. He goes on to explore compassion and altruism, and how we can develop these by letting go of attachment and hatred, and thereby gaining true freedom. The third of four talks given during the Open Retreat at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in October 2019. This talk is part of the series The Sutra of Golden Light . *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Sub...
Sep 26, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 476
Maitrivasin talks about awakening deep powerful energies that move us along the path to freedom. By engaging warrior energy to tackle the doubt or distractions of habitual ways we bring all of our volition on the side of positive growth and progress towards Enlightenment. This talk is part of the series The Path of Awakening based on the Bodhicaryavatara given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre June, 2019. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podc...
Sep 19, 2020•47 min•Ep. 475
Candrika explores how we might work with the mythic dimension in our current situation of pandemic. There is so much going on in our local and global community. Candrika takes us through the wisdom and symbolism of the Five Buddha Mandala to help us make sense of the world, helping us to work with difficult feelings of fear, disruption, despair. Talk given as part of the Glasgow Buddhist Centre , Scotland, April 2020. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to ou...
Sep 12, 2020•29 min•Ep. 474
Here Akuppa explores the story of who you are and how you come to create the story of you. We need a different story. Living from a truer story of our luminosity and what happens when we come together on the basis of our luminous mind/heart. This is Part 1 of two talks given by Akuppa to the Triratna Buddhist Community in Scotland online gathering in June 2020. Listen to Part 2 of this series Transforming Self and World Part 2: Buddhist Politics *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supp...
Sep 05, 2020•35 min•Ep. 473
Subhadassi talks about dharma practice in challenging times, drawing on poetry & literature (Pablo Neruda & Franz Kafka) and the Perfection of Wisdom Tradition (especially the Heart Sutra ). We also bump into the householder Vimalakirti, Subhadassi's wife & children, the Diamond Sutra, Compassion , the Three Lakshanas & Hakuin along the way. Talk given for Brighton Buddhist Centre Dharma Day, July 2020. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to o...
Aug 29, 2020•38 min•Ep. 472
This is the seventh talk in an eight part series by Padmavajra exploring a great classic of Tibetan Buddhism – Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation'. The work, inspired by devotion to Manjusri, is one of the key texts in the development of the Tibetan Lam Rim teachings. And Gampopa, being one of the two principle disciples of the yogi Milarepa, presents both the monastic Lam Rim approach of Atisha and the Mahamudra meditation teachings of Milarepa himself. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Cent...
Aug 22, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 471
Using verses from both the Dhammapada and the Bodhicaryavatara, Vairocana maps out the Buddhist practice of patience, from restraint to positive emotion. This is the fourth talk in a series on the Six Paramitas at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre in the summer of 2012. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA...
Aug 15, 2020•53 min•Ep. 470
Virya is the energetic counterpart to the patience of Ksanti; it is energy in pursuit of the good. Bodhinaga tells us how we can develop this noble vigour, which brings strength and courage like that of a virtuous knight. He guides us through counteracting the four 'enemies of virya' before introducing the Four Powers: ethical sources of energy to power the Dharma life. Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019. This talk is part of the series The Path of Awakening . *** Help keep FBA free for...
Aug 08, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 469
Viriya expresses itself in action, with attentiveness, care and enthusiasm. Saddhanandi shares from her personal training and experience as an artist to elucidate the meaning of Virya, drawing out the aspect of training the mind to develop positive mental states. Talk given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, GBC Rainy Season, March 2020. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow...
Aug 01, 2020•39 min•Ep. 468
What is peace? And what does peace mean for Buddhists? Is it just the absence of war and conflict; guns and screaming? Or is it also the deep silence that arises when the mind and heart are in harmony - a positive state of mind that can be cultivated both personally and collectively, where good and evil don't exist as concepts? Parami explores these questions and more with great compassion and wisdom. Given by at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2011 in the series Buddhism and the Big Questions. *** ...
Jul 25, 2020•57 min•Ep. 467
How do we relate to the Buddha? Sangharakshita has emphasised the importance of connecting with him as a historical figure. Through personal example and stories Dharmashalin asks the question, do we even see the Buddha as a kind old man? Maybe that would be a good start… Talk given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre (UK), 2014. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blo...
Jul 18, 2020•53 min•Ep. 466
How do we construct our world? Collective experiences impact on our personal views and experiences. Mahayana texts offer us the opportunity to interrupt our usual way of perceiving and thinking about the world. Suryagupta explores the extraordinary character, Vimalakirti, and his teaching of The Great Love – the love that is great compassion, the love that is never exhausted, the love that is giving, the love that is morality, the love that is tolerance, the love that is happiness. From Dharma N...
Jul 11, 2020•59 min•Ep. 465
"The creative mind loves when there is no reason to love." Sangharakshita Viryajyoti gives the second talk in a series on Compassion for a Modern Word on a theme close to her heart. The Bodhisattva aim is to free all beings from suffering – what about here and now in the 21st century? What is radical kindness? What would it be like to be radically kind? The Buddha represents the spiritual ideal of Buddhism and through his life and teaching he exemplified a path of increasing selflessness, loving...
Jul 04, 2020•28 min•Ep. 464
Vessantara shares reflections that emerged during his three year retreat, namely a poignant opportunity to let go of self reference and enjoy the simple awareness of the present moment. This talk was given at the Triratna Buddhist Order European Order Gathering at Wymondham College August 25, 2012. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma...
Jun 27, 2020•57 min•Ep. 463
Visuddhimati explores how we really need to know ourselves deeply and experientially to allow us to let go into the deep mystery at the heart of the mandala. She shares her reflections on initiation, spiritual death and rebirth, inspired by a Rilke poem. Using the structure of the Rilke poem she explores how engaging with images and allowing them to unfold their meaning within us, allows us to let go into wisdom. The mandala symbolism is explained with an emphasis on the significance of the circ...
Jun 20, 2020•47 min•Ep. 462
Drawing on his book on the Buddha, Vishvapani explores the connection between awareness of our immediate experience and seeing the true nature of existence. Talk given at Cardiff Buddhist Centre , 2018. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud...
Jun 13, 2020•39 min•Ep. 461
Karunagita explores emptiness through Padmasambhava's advice to Queen Ngang Chung: During the time of insight which is surrounded by a calm, gentle aura, openness and appearance are inseparable. The six senses come forth, though appearance and voidness are inseparable; this is the real foundation, without which no means exists. Talk given at Dhanakosa Retreat Center , 2017. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of D...
Jun 06, 2020•48 min•Ep. 460
Nagabodhi offers his reflections on the Buddha's enlightenment. What is it are we actually trying to achieve? How intensely are we cultivating and experiencing metta, friendship, kindness, compassion, patience and love? This talk is part of the series The Bridge, the Path and the Goal given at Adhisthana, 2019. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news a...
May 30, 2020•56 min•Ep. 459
In this talk, Moksatara explores what karma really means and how we can work with this law of the universe to leave behind the 'snakes and ladders' game of repetitive ups and downs, moving instead on a liberating path of growth. By understanding the importance of conditionality and ethics, we can take charge of our lives and move in the direction we want to go. Recorded at Sheffield Buddhist Centre , January 2020. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dh...
May 23, 2020•50 min•Ep. 458
Concise and essential, Satyaraja draws out practical and profound aspects of the four Brahmaviharas, considering them as both meditation practices and as realms that we can occupy. This is the second talk in a series of four talks on the topic of karuna, compassion. From the series Brahmaviharas and the Awakening of the Bodhi Mind given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre Winter Retreat, 2016. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size...
May 16, 2020•36 min•Ep. 457
A stirring and penetrating talk by Dhammadinna around the image that a Bodhisattva's compassion runs as deep as their very bones. Nagarjuna, Milarepa and others add their voices as Dhammadinna makes an emotionally resonant but clear-eyed attempt to lay out the ground of a practice that is moving towards the development of Bodhichitta. Why bother? she asks us, and shows how open-heartedness can respond realistically and well to suffering in our own lives and in the lives of others. Talk given at ...
May 09, 2020•59 min•Ep. 456
Ratnaguna gives us ten pieces of advice from the Buddha that speak to the isolation we're experiencing whilst the world is in lockdown. The talk was given via Zoom, following the temporary closure of Manchester Buddhist Centre due to the Coronavirus pandemic, April 3, 2020. *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today. Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, t wo times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Fa...
May 02, 2020•53 min•Ep. 455
