Saddhaloka talks about the tradition of storytelling in Buddhism, and recounts some of his own favourites. He is the author of a book of re-tellings of stories from the Pali Canon, the oldest collection of texts about the life and teachings of the Buddha. His obvious love of the tales comes shining through - sit back and enjoy... From the talk Enco…

On a warm spring day, under the overhanging branches of the Sycamore tree in the Buddhist Centre garden, Parami richly evokes Gautama's quest, realisation, and their relevance for today's world. This talk was given on Buddha Day at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2010. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify…

How do you get used to being Enlightened? What happened to the Buddha in the weeks after his breakthrough experience? Kamalashila uses the framework of the System of Meditation to shed light on the process that unfolded in the Bodhisattva's mind and body as Enlightenment dawned by connecting us imaginatively with the symbolism and image of Muchalin…

Sanghamani draws inspiration from the use of images in nature linked to the Buddha's Enlightenment. Invoking Mara's assault and calling the earth goddess to witness and how we can use them to help us contact our own fearlessness and confidence. From the talk May All Your Weeds Be Wildflowers given at Buddhafield East, 2011. Listen out for the creak…

Nagesvara draws out the significance of the episode from the life of the Buddha where he recollects a memory from childhood of natural, spontaneous samadhi. From the talk entitled The Rose Apple Tree, given as part of the retreat series Body of Bliss: ways into Samādhi, Buddhafield, 2021. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts …

Nagasiddhi traces the period after the Buddha’s going forth: as he masters meditation then turns towards extreme asceticism in his quest to overcome dukkha. Having taken himself to the brink of death, the Buddha-to-be finally realises that he must find his own ‘middle way’ to liberation. This talk is part of the series In the Footsteps of the Buddh…

Sangharakshita tells the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha-to-be, up to the time of his Enlightenment, drawing out the significance of some of the key events. Here we encounter the Buddha receiving help on the path to Enlightenment. Excerpted from the talk The Way to Enlightenment given in 1972. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Ap…

According to the Buddha we see permanence where there is impermanence, substantiality where there is insubstantiality, see the unlovely as beautiful and the unpleasant as pleasant. How does this affect us? And even more importantly, what can we do about this? Yashobodhi makes the simple yet profound connection between ignorance and suffering. Excer…

Amitasuri explores what can happen when faced with well-being, illness, ageing and death, and looks at how the Dharma might influence our response. Amitasuri takes her Dharma practice to her work as a Buddhist Hospital Chaplain, where she supports health and well-being through pastoral, religious and spiritual care for staff, patients and their fam…

Here, Bhadra evokes the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice in his description of the Middle Way. From the talk Finding the Middle Way Between the Psychological and the Spiritual given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times eve…

Suryamati shares a parable from the Udana to illustrate why the Buddha spoke so little about the nature of Enlightenment. From the talk The Mystery of Enlightenment In the Udana given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times e…

After an account of the Buddha's life, Sangharakshita asks how, if at all, such a man can be defined or categorised. This talk was given in 1968 as part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, ev…

Ratnaprabha looks at what motivated the Buddha to leave a comfortable life for an uncertain quest in the Jungle: the Four Sights of Old Age, Illness, Death, and the inspiring figure of the wanderer seeking liberation. Excerpted from the talk What Started the Buddha Off given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2016. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes pod…

Paraga offers some reflections on his personal experience of being in the Order. Excerpted from the talk Reflections On the Benefits of Being In the Order given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2016. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to …

Kalyanaprabha shares some of her own recollections of Bhante Sangharakshita going back to their first encounter in 1984, stories both humorous and serious, evoking some of his unique qualities. Drawing on an unpublished fragment, ‘What I learned from my gurus’, she reminds us of some of the fundamental aspects of his teaching. This talk was given a…

How do we move towards creating friendships that are less transactional and more transformative? Singhashri speaks on the topic of spiritual friendship, specifically the practice of generosity, and it’s effect on opening the heart. Excerpted from the talk entitled We Are Not Broken. We Are Alive - the Koan of Kalyanamitrata given on an Order weeken…

Sanghamani reveals her early days on the Buddhist path by sharing a dream she had about ‘going home’ with Bhante Sangharakshita as her guide. From the talk Discipleship, Magic and Myth given at the Triratna Buddhist Order weekend, held at Adhisthana, 2014. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts…

Ksantikara revisits Sangharakshita's classic 1970 lecture. In this energetic and playful talk Ksantikara adds his own reflections to Sangharakshita's original list of what a Guru is not (not the head of a religious group, not a teacher, not a father/mother substitute, not a problem solver) and explores the important of having people in our life to …

Mahamati talks on actualizing the myth of the Order- symbolised in the 1000 armed Avalokiteshvara. Excerpted from the talk Actualizing the 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara given on a Triratna Buddhist Order weekend at Padmaloka, 2010. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration thre…

Excerpted from the talk Bhante - Teacher and Friend by Dhammadinna, first in a symposium of talks about Sangharakshita given at the UK and Ireland Area Order weekend at Adhisthana, 2013. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. 3,000,000 d…

Here is a strong, beautiful talk by Parami from the final day of the Triratna Buddhist Order's International Convention 2013 in India, bringing us back to the task in hand as members of the Order and as Buddhists: engaging with breaking the fetters and weakening the hold that self-clinging exerts upon our minds and our ways of seeing things. *** Su…

As part of celebrations at Sangha Night to mark the 90th birthday of Sangharakshita, Ratnaghosha gives a personal talk on the influence of Bhante as a teacher. Excerpted from the talk Bhante As Teacher given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2015. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized i…

“All worldly activities are as immaterial as chaff.” So said the Tibetan teacher Tsongkapa. Having explored the Eight Worldly Winds, and their effects upon us; having examined our response and looked at suggestions for ways of working, is there some overarching approach we could adopt? In short, what have we learned, and how can we put it into prac…

Here is a recently re-discovered little lost delight - Sangharakshita and Subhuti launching each other's books and clearly enjoying themselves. Sangharakshita's in fine humour - and it's great to hear him read and quote from the bible! Is that a twinkle in his voice? Talk given at Triratna [FWBO] Day celebrations in 2001. *** Subscribe to our Free …

Akashamitra takes a look at one of the most difficult trainings offered in this approach. How can we find an opportunity for growth in that most upsetting situation - when someone we've trusted lets us down? Excerpted from the talk entitled Training the Mind: Learning From Betrayal, the sixth talk in a series of eight, given at the London Buddhist …

Padmavajra first met Sangharakshita when he was 17 and in this talk he shares some of his own most cherished memories of Bhante, including his experiences of being with him in India when he returned there in the 1970's to found the Order there. Urgyen Sangharakshita - Bhante - who died in 2018, is not only the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order…

Subhadramati explores integration as a process of meeting Mara in her life and in scenes in the life of the Buddha, and the fulfillment of integration during the Buddha's last days of exquisite love. This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2018. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Pod…

Dhivan recounts the conversion of King Pasenadi by the Buddha. Excerpted from the talk A Courtesan, a Killer and a King given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2016 *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On A…

Saraha draws out examples of the Buddha’s wisdom from the Pali Canon highlighting how pleasure and bliss are not obstacles to the spiritual path, craving and attachment is the problem leading to suffering.. Excerpted from the talk entitled Wisdom In the Pali Canon given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2010. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On…

In this talk Alokadhara explores these beautiful verses which evoke the Buddha, his qualities and the profundity of his teaching. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2014. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. 3,000,000 dow…