Free Buddhist Audio

This week for our FBA Podcast we offer a key in accessing the potentiality of consciousness in: "Consciousness Unfolds". In this first talk from a series of three, Subhuti continues his well-known Rambles Around Reality at the LBC, this time enquiring into the nature of consciousness from the point of view of Urgyen Sangharakshita's particular presentation of the Dharma.

This week'sFBA Podcast"Spiritual Transmission and Lineage" is a detailed, intimate and heartfelt talk from Saddhanandi looking at the relationship between a Dharma follower and her/his teacher. The talk takes as its lead-off point, David Smith's criticisms of the FWBO as lacking relationship with a 'vertical dimension' in its systems of practice. It's a sympathetic and open response, but one that is also happy to have confidence in an inside experience of practice that arrives at different conclusions. Saddhanandi revisits Sangharakshita's own take on the problems faced by practitioners in a contemporary spiritual community, and, with the help of a good sprinkling of quotes and stories from other traditions, she explores the nature of the Sangha as the possible ground for insight itself to arise. Please note, this talk has variable sound quality throughout. Talk given at the Tiratna [Western] Buddhist Order Women's Convention, Wymondham 2007

We are graced with Dhammadinna's wisdom in this week'sFBA Podcast"The Richly Endowed Buddha of the Southern Realm" Third in a series of talks given on the 2012 Triratna International Retreat, Dhammadinna evokes the Buddha Ratnasambhava. For more talks, videos, photos etc from the retreat see www.thebuddhistcentre.com and navigate to page 'internationalretreat.'

For this week's FBA Podcast we have Kamalashila speaking on the occasion of relaunching his book Buddhist Meditation. In "Tranquility, Imagination and Insight" he beautifully reveals his thoughts on how the Buddha was imbued with confidence without conviction. He seemed completely at peace with himself which lead to friendliness in all his communications. His life, his example, the embarkment on the three trainings of behavior, meditation and wisdom combine in the practice of satisampajana – mindfulness and clear comprehension. Mindfulness was the Buddha's core practice – Cultivating the Way of Awakening.

In this week's FBA Podcast we picked one of Subhuti's "Rambles Around Reality – The 5 Niyamas." Here Subhuti talks about the fundamental basis of Buddhism's conception of reality; Pratitya Samutpada. He introduces it in the form of the 5 niyamas, in the course of his ramble he emphasises that these are forces, or the way things are rather than 'laws'. The talk culminates in the Karma and Dharma niyamas and particularly emphasising the importance of the Dhamma niyama, which is that in the universe that makes enlightenment possible. However to philosphise or abstract from it is to miss the point, in the end it must remain a mystery that we must experience for ourselves.

In this week's FBA Podcast we hear another take on a famous Bodhisattva: "Vajrasattva: Not About Purity" by Jnanavaca given on Vajrasattva Festival Day at London Buddhist Centre on June 2009.

In this week's FBA Podcast "Vajrapani The Dharma Protector," Vadanya introduces us to this Bodhisattva of Energy given as part of a series of talks on Stories and Symbols at Sheffield Buddhist Centre on 3rd July 2007.

The fires that can consume our old selves also release a new potential, the image of the phoenix evokes this transformation. In this week's FBA Podcast "Amitabha and the Phoenix," Vessantara explores Amitabha's emphasis on meditation and his wisdom of discrimination. Amitabha is also associated with spiritual death. How do all these associations come together? One point of connection is the Bodhicitta. The reorientation of self and a letting go which allows for something vaster and more beautiful to inform our lives. In the first place, this might be expressed through being more empathic and compassionate to others.

This week's FBA Podcast "Gazing at the Setting Sun – Amitabha and the Ordination Myth" is a previously unreleased talk by Dhammadinna looking at the process of joining the Triratna (Western) Buddhist Order in the sunset light of Amitabha, the red Buddha of the West. Talk given in 2000 at the National Order Weekend.

This week's FBA Podcast "Mindfulness As the Great Love (White Tara)" is a talk given by Vajratara at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre (28th August 2007), about the symbolism of White Tara, as part of a series on Stories and Symbols.