Dharmabytes From Free Buddhist Audio

FBA Podcast, and#8220;Continuous Spiritual Death and#8211; Continuous Spiritual Rebirthand#8221; Padmavajra speaks about the stages of spiritual death and rebirth, specifically how to prepare for them, how they can be seen in all the stages of the path, as well as where they lead. Talk given on a Kula Gathering at Padmaloka, 2012.

FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Finger Pointing at the Moonand#8221; we are taken on another journey with Sangharakshita into the Essence of Buddhism. The finger pointing to the moon is compared with the third fetter: clinging to ethical rules and religious observances. From the talk and#8220;The Nature and Development of Buddhismand#8221; by Sangharakshita.

Amidst the complexity of Buddhist teachings, we can discern a distinctive essence lying behind the various historical forms which developed to convey the Buddhaand#8217;s oral message. In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Parable of the Raftand#8221; Sangharakshita describes the essence of Buddhism: the parable of the raft and the advice to Mahaprajapati Gotami. Excerpted from the talk and#8220;The Nature and Development of Buddhism.and#8221;

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Four Means of Unification of the Sanghaand#8221; Suvarnaprabha offers a thoroughly delightful guide as she explores the subject and#8220;What is the Sangha?and#8221; with a depth of feeling that comes startling through at times. An introduction to the idea of spiritual community in Buddhism this is a human and grounded presentation of one of the Dharmaand#8217;s best kept secrets, one of its greatest potential gifts to the West.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Unsupported Practice of Generosityand#8221; is an inspiring excerpt from the third in a sparkling, wide-ranging, thoroughly comprehensive ten talk series by Padmavajra on and#8216;The Diamond Sutraand#8216; given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004. This talk is part of the series and#8220;The Diamond Sutra and#8211; Taking Mind to its Limits.and#8221;

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Sharing Without Reservation and#8221; is an inspiring short talk by Sue Susnik, a mitra in the Triratna Buddhist Community. This was given on a New Society Weekend 2011 from members in the Young Buddhistand#8217;s Sangha.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Four Sanghrahavastusand#8221; takes us into the heart of the Mahayana tradition and#8211; the Four Means of Unification and#8211; generosity, kindly speech, beneficial activity, and exemplifying. The Sutraand#8217;s hero, Vimalakirti, was a master of the Bodhisattvaand#8217;s and#8216;Skilful Means.and#8217; From the talk and#8220;On Being All Things to All Menand#8221; by Sangharakshita, given in the series: and#8220;The Inconceivable Emancipation and#8211; Themes from the Vimalakirti Nirdesha.and#8221;

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Who Can We Trust?and#8221; Saddharaja poses the question in the face of the three things mankind has traditionally relied upon: God, the Father, the group, and material possessions. He then explores what we really needand#8230; a mountain of confidence embodied in the figure of Akshobya. Includes a description of Akshobyaand#8217;s appearance in the Bardo. From the talk, and#8220;Akshobya,and#8221; given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter Retreat 2001

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Show of Wealth,and#8221; is an excerpt from the talk and#8220;Padmasambhava and the King of Tibetand#8221; another tour-de-force from Vajratara. Looking to approach the great figure of Padmasambhava and#8211; the and#8216;Second Buddhaand#8217; and#8211; through his famous meeting with the King of Tibet. As ever, a provocative, fully engaged and fully engaging take on the Dharma and the challenges that face us on the Path. Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Bodhisattvaand#8217;s Gifts,and#8221; by Padmavjra, is from the third talk in the series: and#8220;The Diamond Sutra and#8211; Taking Mind to its Limits.and#8221; Padmavajra takes a look into the world of the Bodhisattva and the six Perfections of Wisdom, especially dana and#8211; generosity which forms an essential basis of Buddhist practice and of life.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Dana = Generosityand#8221; is brought to us by Sangharakshita, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community. An excerpt describing the practice of dana from the brilliant talk and#8220;Altruism and Individualism in the Spiritual Lifeand#8221; given in 1969 as part of the pivotal series and#8220;Aspects of the Bodhisattva Ideal.and#8221;

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Neither God Nor Manand#8221; is brought to us by Sangharakshita, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community. After an account of the Buddhaand#8217;s life, Sangharakshita asks how, if at all, such a man can be defined or categorised. The full talk, and#8220;Who is the Buddha?and#8221; is part of the series Introducing the and#8220;Three Jewels of Buddhismand#8221; given in 1968.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Why Choose Buddhism?,and#8221; Sangharakshita points out possible potentially misleading assumptions concerning Buddhism, and describes three principal avenues to a practical spiritual life. This track is from the talk and#8220;The Approach to Buddhismand#8221; given in 1966 as part of the series and#8220;Introducing Buddhism.and#8221;

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Facing the Truth,and#8221; Vidyamala leads us through the art of being with change in the moment. From the beautifully strong and popular talk, and#8220;Dying to Live.and#8221; Vidyamala shares from her own practice of living with chronic pain comes a sane and unsentimental perspective that affords us all a measure of genuine optimism as we meet the trials of the world: bereavements and losses of all kinds can be met with a kindness and awareness that gently ease the burden, allowing something of peace to enter our lives again.

Faith is longing for what is possible, lucidity to what has value, and conviction as to what is real. Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Faith as Surrender, Faith as Emergenceand#8220;, is a little gem from the talk: and#8216;We Know What Youand#8217;ve Studied, But What Have You Seen?and#8216; by Kulaprabha.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte and#8220;When Reality Knocks on the Doorand#8221; is a selection from the talk and#8220;What is Enlightenment?and#8221; by Jinapriya. This is a quietly passionate talk on the quicksilver nature of the Enlightenment experience and#8211; impossible to pin down, utterly transformative. When Reality knocks at the door are we able to own painful experience and surrender? Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2003

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte and#8220;Come and See for Yourselfand#8221; is a selected Dharmabyte from the talk and#8220;Introducing Buddhismand#8221; delivered to teacher-training students in 1966. In this excerpt, Sangharakshita explores tolerance and the freedom to grow and shows that there is no place for God in Buddhism. The full talk serves as an excellent general introduction to Buddhism.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Taking Awareness Deeper,and#8221; by Paramabandhu, is from the comprehensive and invaluable talk titled and#8220;Mindfulness For Just About Everythingand#8221; given at the San Francisco Buddhist Center in 2006. Drawing on many years of experience as a consultant psychiatrist and Dharma teacher, he invites us to consider the lessons Buddhist techniques around meditation and mindfulness training can bring to the field of mental health and#8211; especially to problems with depression and addiction. The talk evokes the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta to explore the four traditional foundations of mindfulness and discuss their potential use in therapeutic contexts.

The great ocean is strange and wonderfuland#8230; and#8220;Just as the mighty ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, even so the Dharma-vinaya (Buddhism) has but one taste, the taste of Freedomand#8221;- The Udana. In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;What is Freedom?and#8221; Sangharakshita explores how the Dharma vinaya is both strange and wonderful. From the cracker of a talk, and#8216;The Taste of Freedomand#8216; given in 1979.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Salutation to the Three Jewels and#8211; The Tiratana Vandanaand#8221; is a classic Buddhist salute to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. This is chanted every day the world over by practitioners from different Buddhist communities and#8211; a true touchstone for practice. Chanted by Vipulakirti