Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Venerable's Speaking on Mindfulness at Berkeley Buddhist Temple

From February 15th to 24th 2015, Ajahn Brahm offered a San Francisco Bay Area speaking tour in support of the Dhammadharini's sangha new bhikkhuni monastery. Founded by Ayya Tathaaloka, the Dhammadharini women's monastic community was the first bhikkhuni sangha of the Theravadan forest tradition in North America, and one of the few places in the West that women can become fully ordained Buddhist monastics.

Ajahn Brahm is one of the Venerable’s speaking on Mindfulness. Ajahn Brahm starts by reading from his book "Don't Worry, Be Grumpy" and then engages in a discussion about mindfulness.

Teaching retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaTK78FfG7k (YouTube Channel: Ajahn Brahm's Benefit Talks for Dhammadharini)

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

To find and download more Dhamma Talks on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the talk you want and then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Why on earth would we want to meditate? - Venerable Mudu - Armadale Meditation Group

It was Venerable Mudu's first of, hopefully, many, visits to the Armadale Meditation Group's Tuesday evening session. Venerable opened the evening by introducing himself to us all and relating a shortened version of his life as a monastic. After his introduction he posed the question of "Why on earth would we want to meditate". Is it because it's cool, hip and popular? Well, yes it is cool, hip and popular, but that isn't enough of a reason to do it. Venerable related a story of a visit Ajahn Chah had from an American scientist. The scientist, wishing to know what, if anything, was going on when we meditate, brought along all manner of instruments to try to measure any results he might find. Before he commenced, he asked Ajahn Chah “Why do you meditate”. To which Ajahn Chah responded "To have a healthy body, you must eat right and exercise". "To have a healthy mind, you must meditate".

With that in mind, Venerable then gave an explanation easily understood by inexperienced and experienced meditators alike on the simplest way to start meditating and gently gaining experience with practice. Venerable then led us through meditation beginning with a body sweep and progressing to breath meditation.

After meditation Venerable opened to Q&A before continuing his talk on monastic life and life in general.

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

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Increasing the Quality of One's Life | Ajahn Appichato | 18 January 2019

Ajahn Appichato teaches us how to increase the quality of our life. One piece of advice Ajahn shares to help us improve our life and achieve what we want is to generate the right intention, put in the effort and then reflect on our efforts.

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

A Fast Happy Path | Ajahn Brahmali | 30 June 2018

A talk given on a short day retreat at Thames Buddhist Vihara as part of Ajahn Brahmali's tour in the UK in support of Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project. 

Ajahn Brahmali supports Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, of which Ajahn Brahmavamso is Spiritual Adviser. Donations towards Anukampa's aim to develop a nuns' monastery in England are extremely welcome. Please visit: https://anukampaproject.org/donate/

Teaching retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLZZCgUNiws&t=4066s (YouTube Channel: Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project). Video courtesy of Cristo Nobel, LLP Management.

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

To find and download more Dhamma Talks on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the talk you want and then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Anatta: Non-self | Ajahn Brahmavamso

This is the first audio talk recorded by the BSWA at Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre in April 2001. In this talk Ajahn Brahm discusses the Buddhist teaching of anatta – the absence of a self.

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

A Nun's Life | Ayya Vayama

Ajahn Vayama responds to the request to talk about the Nun’s life; where they begin, their purpose or goal and how they live and practise. Ajahn Vayama reminds us that the Nun’s Sangha was created by the Buddha himself and is not a modern invention. Ajahn describes the nun’s monastery Dhammasara, its plans and the importance of having a Nun’s monastery for women to join the monastic life and attain Nirvana. As well as have female role models in the monastic life to inspire others. We apologise for the static in this audio, this Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 2000.

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

 

Love and Wellbeing | Ayya Vayama

Ajahn Vayama talks about the contribution of love to our wellbeing and to dealing with pain in our meditation. Ajahn looks at what we mean by ‘love’, as well as why our capacity to give and receive love effects our health and wellbeing. Ajahn explains that in Buddhism we are trying to move away from a narrow exclusive love to having a universal love for all beings because all beings need love. 

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

 

Transcendental Dependent Arising | Ayya Vayama

The Buddha taught the way out of suffering. Ajahn Vayama offers some reflections on the Buddha’s teaching “Transcendental Dependent Arising”, which Ajahn explains is a teaching on the chain of cause and effect, one thing giving rise to the next, that starts with suffering (dukkha) and goes all the way to the end of suffering; enlightenment Nirvana. This teaching starts with dukkha and looks on it as a teacher, because suffering is an invitation to wake up in our life, to wake up to the realities of life. Ajahn talks about how suffering can motivate us to find a way out of suffering; for us to put in the effort and energy required to find peace and wake up.

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

Importance of Being Able to Ask Questions | Ajahn Brahmavamso | 11 January 2019

Ajahn Brahm became interested in science because you can always ask challenging questions. Ajahn talks about the importance of asking and being able to ask challenging questions.

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

Finding True Freedom | Ajahn Brahmali | 9 July 2018

Ajahn Brahmali gave a Dhamma Talk and Questions and Answers Session at October Gallery London on the 9^th of July 2018.

Ajahn Brahmali supports Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, of which Ajahn Brahmavamso is Spiritual Adviser. Donations towards Anukampa's aim to develop a nuns' monastery in England are extremely welcome. Please visit: https://anukampaproject.org/donate/

Teaching retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0cZ3LSaRX0 (YouTube Channel: Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project)

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

To find and download more Dhamma Talks on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the talk you want and then type the title into the Podcast search box.

How To Deal With Conflict – The Buddhist Way | Ayya Vayama

Ajahn Vayama offers practical reflections on what we can do to prevent and stop social conflicts arising, such as anger, arguments and blaming others. Ajahn explains that there is no quick fix, or one answer to solving these problems, so she goes through step by step what the Buddha taught on how to deal with conflict, which includes developing and having right view.

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

To find and download more Dhamma Talks on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the talk you want and then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Living in the Present Moment | Ayya Vayama

Ajahn Vayama offers some reflections on the Buddhist teachings on living in the present, in the here in now. Ajahn Vayama says “The Buddha recited a poem to his disciples which he encouraged them to learn by heart and to use in their daily life to focus on the present moment. Part of the poem goes like this “One should not trace back the past, nor on the future builds ones hopes, the past is just the left behind, the future the yet unreached, rather with insight one should watch each mind moment as it arises now, to know and to be sure of that today the effort must be made, tomorrow death may come, who knows.” This poem is a summary of the Buddha’s teaching on living in the present moment.” We apologise for the quality of this audio, this Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 2000.

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

To find and download more Dhamma Talks on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the talk you want and then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Cultivating Ethics in the Cybernetic Age | Ajahn Brahmavamso

In this Dhamma talk Ajahn Brahm will explore the the cultivation of ethics focusing on how we can bring greater kindness and care in our use of email communication in particular. These teachings are offered freely and with much joy. We are extremely grateful for any contribution you are able to make so that we can continue to provide regular teachings by developing a monastery in England. Please visit our page https://anukampaproject.org/donate/ for further details on how to proceed with your donation.

Your Relationship with the World | Ajahn Brahmavamso

Ajahn Brahm discusses how to be happy by cultivating a positive attitude to life. Talk given at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 22nd of October 2014 and hosted by Dr. Arunika Gunawardena.

Teaching retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui10jkPpHCc (YouTube Channel: Dr. Arunika Gunawardena)

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

To find and download more Dhamma Talks on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the talk you want and then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Delighting in the Selfless Present - 4 of 4 | Ajahn Brahmavamso

Wednesday Evening Questions & Answers from the two day residential retreat 'Delighting In The Self-Less Present' at Kairos Centre, London on the 2nd November 2016.

These teachings are offered freely and with much joy. We are extremely grateful for any contribution you are able to make so that we can continue to provide regular teachings by developing a monastery in England. Please visit the page https://anukampaproject.org/donate/ for further details on how to proceed with your donation.

Delighting in the Selfless Present - 3 of 4 | Ajahn Brahmavamso

Wednesday Morning Questions & Answers from the two day residential retreat 'Delighting In The Self-Less Present' at Kairos Centre, London on the 2nd November 2016.

These teachings are offered freely and with much joy. We are extremely grateful for any contribution you are able to make so that we can continue to provide regular teachings by developing a monastery in England.

Please visit the page https://anukampaproject.org/donate/ for further details on how to proceed with your donation.

2019 New Year's Eve Dhamma Talk | Ajahn Brahm | 31 December 2018

31-12-2018.

What have you done this year with body, speech or mind? Ajahn Brahm teaches us about forgiveness, guides a meditation on forgiveness and metta and ends the ceremony with a blessing to start the New Year.

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

Delighting in the Selfless Present - 2 of 4 | Ajahn Brahmavamso

Tuesday Evening Questions & Answers from the two day residential retreat 'Delighting In The Self-Less Present' at Kairos Centre, London on the 1st November 2016.

These teachings are offered freely and with much joy. We are extremely grateful for any contribution you are able to make so that we can continue to provide regular teachings by developing a monastery in England.

Please visit the page https://anukampaproject.org/donate/ for further details on how to proceed with your donation.

How to Overcome the Five Hindrances | Ajahn Brahmali

Ajahn Brahmali gave a Dhamma Talk and Questions and Answers session on "How to Overcome the Five Hindrances" at Sheffield Hallam University on the 8th of July 2018. The Five Hindrances are: ‘desire for sensing’, ‘aversion or ill-will’, ‘lethargy laziness or sloth & torpor’, ‘restlessness, regret & worry’ and ‘doubt & uncertainty’. 

Ajahn Brahmali supports Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, of which Ajahn Brahmavamso is Spiritual Adviser. Donations towards Anukampa's aim to develop a nuns' monastery in England are extremely welcome. Please visit: https://anukampaproject.org/donate/

Teaching retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tKnVClbh0w (YouTube Channel: Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project)

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

To find and download more Dhamma Talks on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the talk you want and then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Delighting in the Selfless Present - 1 of 4 | Ajahn Brahmavamso

Tuesday Morning talk from the two day residential retreat 'Delighting In The Self-Less Present' at Kairos Centre, London on the 1st November 2016.

These teachings are offered freely and with much joy. We are extremely grateful for any contribution you are able to make so that we can continue to provide regular teachings by developing a monastery in England. Please visit our page https://anukampaproject.org/donate/ for further details on how to proceed with your donation.

This event was part of Ajahn Brahm's UK tour 2016 - "Buddhism in the 21st Century" in support of Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project.