Free Buddhist Audio

Our FBA Podcast, this week is from the delightfully inspirational Parami titled "The Awakening Heart." This is the first talk in the series of the same name. It touches on aspects of Sangharakshita's 'system of meditation', and most specifically the area of positive emotion. Parami is an ideal guide for this sort of material, steeped as she is in study and practice engaged with in the light of the 'Bodhichitta', and the Bodhisattva Ideal itself. Parami is the International Women's Order Convener for the Triratna Buddhist Order.

FBA Podcast, "The Alchemy of Wisdom," Yashobodhi introduces the perfection of wisdom in a series on the Six Paramitas at a West London Buddhist Centre Sangha night in May 2012. Followed by questions and answers.

FBA Podcast, this week, "Conditionality and Meditation" is a talk by Vessantara who has just completed a three year, three month, three day retreat. Conditionality is a central theme of the teaching of the Buddha, and it is very helpful to bring our understanding of it into the arena of our meditation practice. During this talk, Vessantara looks at how to set up good conditions for our meditation to unfold in a natural, expansive way. He also explores how to meditate on conditionality, so that we take our understanding of it deeper, until we know its truth in our bones, and conditionality becomes our natural way of seeing the world. Talk given at the Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2012.

Today's FBA Podcast, "The Therigatha and the Problem of Self"by Dassini, takes us into the lives of the early bhikkunis. Two verses by elderly nuns, Dhamma and Citta, give rise to reflection on letting go of fixed self view as a major component of breaking through to Enlightenment.

FBA Podcast, "The Six Elements," Ratnaprabha introduces us to earth, water, fire, air, space and consciousness as the mystery of human experience. He then describes how to use the elements in meditation and life.

FBA Podcast, "Continuous Spiritual Death – Continuous Spiritual Rebirth" 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.

This week's FBA Podcast is a delightful talk by Danapriya titled: "Let your Inner Riches Shine." Exploring the themes of generosity and abundance, we are led into the heart of Buddhist practice.

In this week's FBA Podcast "Dana – the Emotional Life of the Sangha," Samacitta puts the practice of generosity under the microscope in this engaging talk on the first paramita. When we perform an act of generosity, what exactly is happening? How does it relate to the development of Wisdom? Is there such a thing as purely mental generosity and how effective is it? This talk explains the 'why', 'what' and how' of Dana-Paramita.

This week's FBA Podcast was first given on Lord Buddha TV in India. In "The Buddha's Advice to a Banker" Subhuti talks about a conversation the Buddha had with his leading Lay disciple, who was one of the wealthiest men in North India. What makes him significant is that he was also recognised as a non-returner. In this conversation the Buddha talks as prosperity, wealth and what makes for happiness. We see both his straight-forward common sense and his vision for the depth and meaning of human life. Although advice given two and a half thousand years ago it holds good today. It is not wealth that bring meaning to life but the qualities of your mind and the relationships around us. This talk was given at the London Buddhist Centre

In today's FBA Podcast, "All In This Together – Is It Time For a Buddhist Economics?" Kavyasiddhi delivers beautifully in this first of a series of public talks at Manchester Buddhist Centre entitled 'Buddhism and the Big Question'.