Free Buddhist Audio

In our FBA Podcast today, "The Broken Mandala,", Maitreyabandhu talks about how we need a central mythic thread in our lives, and how without this the mandala of our life is either broken, destructive or chaotic. This personal, inner mandala is mirrored by the public outer world around us. Humanly and spiritually we live in a broken mandala. How do we make sense of our lives? What is our deeper priority? What can we base our mandala around that will lead to true happiness? The talk was given at Nottingham Buddhist centre on 9th April 2014.

In our FBA Podcast today, "Forces That Shape the Mind,", Manjuvajra continues with his thoughts on 'Evolution and the meaning of life'. Individuals enter this path of a higher evolution by consciously cooperating with the evolutionary process to refine their self consciousness: to purifying the mind as a basis for the next evolutionary step. To purify the mind we must know the mind, so in this talk we explore an analysis of the mind that sheds light on the practical needs of the purification process which is itself achieved through the practice of ethics, mindfulness and meditation. This is the third talk in a series given at the Bristol Buddhist Centre.

In our FBA Podcast today, "Milarepa and the Yak Horn Story,", Yashobodhi tells the story of Milarepa's attempt to tackle his disciple Rechungpa's pride by singing to him from inside a Yak horn.

In our FBA Podcast today, "The Motive (Remixed),", Padmavajra explores 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 Centre, Winter 2008 This talk is part of the series Themes from Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation.

In our FBA Podcast today, "Zen Master Hakuin", Jyotipakshini delivers a wonderful overview of Hakuin's early life and what led him to becoming a monk. She shares his strengthss and the characteristic aspects of his personality, his determination and intense dedication, as well as his highly critical nature, his struggles and setbacks. We also hear a little about the two schools of Zen and about koan practice, as well as Hakuin's later life as a prolific teacher and reformer of the Rinzai school. Talk given at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre in July 2011.

In celebration of the Buddha's Enlightenment, our FBA Podcast today is titled "Heart of Darkness" from the London Buddhist Centre's Buddha Day Festival a few years back. Inspiring stuff, despite it's title! An honest, heartfelt talk from the author, "Meaning in Life".

In this week's FBA Podcast we hear a talk given by Nagabodhi on Triratna Day 2014. Here, in "Dhardo Rinpoche, Stupa Building and Sangha" Nagabodhi recounts his favorite memories of his time with Dhardo Rinpoche in Kalimpong, expresses his feelings about the strengthening power of stupa building for centers, and ties it all together with a reminder of the central role of sangha in the Triratna Community.??Talk given on Triratna Day 2014 at Aryaloka Buddhist Center with an introduction by Aryaloka's Chairperson, Dayalocana.

In this week's FBA Podcast Dhammarati delivers "A System of Training." Here Dhammarati explores the FWBO's system of practice itself -its background in practice, its relationship to tradition, and its implications for the very nature of spiritual life. An encouraging, grounded, flexible take on the rigorous, meaningful, and rewarding challenges of a lifetime of working with the mind and the heart. Talk given at the national Order weekend, February 2008

In this week's FBA Podcast we hear from Parami in the LBC series: "Women Elders of the Triratna Buddhist Community" Parami, ordained in 1980, and one of our International Order Conveners, gives a talk about her spiritual life.

In this week's FBA Podcast, "How the Buddha Taught Mindfulness," Ratnpaprabha explains this practice and understanding of the Sutta of 'Being mindful of the in- and out-breaths' (Anapanasati). He talks about how mindfulness connects with body-awareness, how t takes you into rapture and happiness, and thus into 'sensitivity to the whole mind. He also explores how one calms and focuses the mind in mindfulness meditation, and how this can lead to 'gladdening', 'concentrating' and 'liberating', and finally to full Insight.