Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ayye Vayama reflects upon how happiness is a frame of mind that can be developed through understanding the causes of happiness and actively cultivating the thoughts and habits of mind that lead to happiness. She then goes on to explain what the Four Brahmaviharas (Divine Abodes) can be developed that lead to happiness.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

A penetrating look at how we react to criticism both when furnishing it on others and (at once more challenging) receiving it ourselves. Why are we often so hardened and totally stuck in our views and perceptions when softness of mind can yield much larger fruit?

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

 

Ajahn Pasanno the abbott of Abhayagiri Monastery in California offers a talk on how to train our buffalo mind.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Most modern people who choose a spiritual path want guaranteed results, just like they were buying an expensive item from the department store – we want guarantees, a working product or our money back. But embedded in this attitude is the idea that we acquire things – while the Buddhist path is not about getting stuff, but about letting go.
But when we do learn to let go, then we are on the path to Nibbana…

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

As Ajahn Brahm addresses the question of how to reconcile religion and science by “bending the faith to fit the facts” and not the other way around – and in the process talks about how to zero in on the experience of enlightenment.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

This talk revolves around the second and third factors of the Noble Eightfold Path, namely the Intentions of Renunciation, Goodwill and Harmlessness – as well as the practising of Right Speech. Always pragmatic and practical, the Dhamma taught by the Buddha 2500 years ago, correlates perfectly with contemporary concepts of psychology: deluded and and ego-intoxicated, humans project their own fears and weaknesses onto others, rather than face these within themselves. This creates endless conflict and suffering. Loving kindness, gentleness, humility and frugality are the Buddha’s antidote…

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

By way of his considerable understanding of the Dhamma, Ajahn Brahmali provides a guide to making moral decisions and leading an ethical life. The Venerable runs his listeners through several approaches taught by the Buddha. These include the well-known ‘5 Precepts’, as well as the ’10 Courses of (Virtuous) Action’. An outstanding explanation of the ‘4 Types of Kamma’ rounds off this inspired & practical talk.

Ajahn Vayama offers advice on why and how to create a life of inner wealth.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn Brahm discusses both the perceived dangers and pleasures of sensuality, and a Buddhist approach to understanding the sensuality of the world. Denial of the senses, labelling them evil or even completely prohibiting sense indulgence is not the Buddhist way. Meditation and mindfulness allow practitioners to deal with sensuality wisely, particularly if it is destructive to one’s self or others.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn Brahm talks about the control/freedom paradox. How much of our lives is *actually* controlled by us, how much by forces outside ourselves? How free are we? The relinquishment of our controlling impulse brings freedom, while the ego, with its judgement apparatus, leads to bondage and despair.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Why is it that we get jealous? What are you jealous for? Is it something that you really want, which is really valuable in this world? Ajahn Brahm points out how being jealous of someone else is sacrificing your own happiness, when you could be rejoicing in their success and thereby increasing your happiness. In other words jealousy is a huge problem which stops you from being happy and stops you from getting happiness in other people’s successes.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn Brahmali discusses the dangers of religious cults, including in Buddhism – how we can recognise them, and how to react to cults in society.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn Sister Vayama advising on how to share our own experiences of suffering and happiness with others to help all of us.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Inspired by a recent fellowship with brother Benedictine monks from north of Perth, Ajahn Brahm offers advice on which authorities we should be obedient to and why.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Is religion just for wowsers who are putting off their happiness until the next life? Is there room for laughter in religion? What is happiness anyway? Ajahn Brahm offers a fresh perspective on the role of happiness in the religious life, and the choice between different types of happiness that we make – and having a good time along the way.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

 

Anger and ill-will is a range emotions that goes from minor irritation all the way up to a furious rage. We’ve all experienced this emotion and it can be both intoxicating and very unpleasant. It’s also a major obstacle on the path of Buddhist practice. Ajahn Brahmali discusses the problems with ill-will, and how to overcome it.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ayye Vayama talks about the place of meditation in the Buddhist path, and the benefits of a meditation practice.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Much of energy in people’s lives is directed towards the worldly challenges of getting stronger, getting more money and status. But are these really worthy challenges that lead us to happiness? Or shall we seek out difficult situations in life to grow from those challenges? Ajahn Brahm casts a fresh light upon facing life’s challenges.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn Brahm gives advice on how to deal with the grief and loss associated with the death of those close to us, and how to deepen our understanding of life and death in the process.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

What can we do to find some meaning, to find some truth and how can we use it to create some sense of peace and happiness and harmony in this fractured world.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.