In a paper of great clarity and insight, Sangharakshita introduces the figure of the Bodhisattva, who embodies the principle of perpetual self-transcendence. Excerpted from the talk The Bodhisattva Principle, given in 1983, as part of the series Two Lectures to a Conference on Reality, Consciousness and Order. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podca…

Taking the line ‘May the flames that transmute samsara into nirvana’ from the familiar Triratna Dedication ceremony as his starting point, Jnanadhara explores the transformative power of mindfulness. What exactly are those flames? How does mindfulness help us ‘transform, transmute, transfigure’ in the words of Bhante Sangharakshita? Taking a deep d…

Padmolka draws from a well-known story in the Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava when he is asked for a short, practical teaching which can be learned by heart to help Queen Nang Chung to practice the Dharma and ultimately lead her to Buddhahood. Excerpted from the talk Padmasambhava's Advice to the Three Fortunate Women given at Glasgow Buddhist…

Here Dayanatha explores the limits of knowledge in the face of the mystery of enlightenment. Excerpted from the talk We Think We Know given at the London Buddhist Centre Winter Retreat, 2021. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our …

In this talk Padmavajra explores 'the way of the ecstatic wanderers', the Mahasiddhas who are the early Buddhist Tantric adepts. He tells some stories, including stories about Sangharakshita and his encounters with a one-eyed Tantric in South India. He also evokes 'the mysterious home of the dakini' which takes us to the Land of the Five Jnanas. Fi…

Prakasha explores the historical and mythical aspects of Padmasambhava, as well as how he is relevant to us. Excerpted from the talk entitled Padmasambhava given at Shrewsbury Triratna Buddhist Centre, 2019. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. S…

Vidyasakhi speaks here about the nature of symbols. From the talk entitled Padmasambhava and the Naga King, given on Padmasambhava Day at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2018. *** 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 p…

Here we have a talk given by Balajit in celebration of Padmasambhava Day at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2022. *** 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 downloads and counting!Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podc…

Previously unreleased and, rather famously, given off-the-cuff at the London Buddhist Centre, Sangharakshita gives us an enjoyable and stirring evocation of the great Tantric Guru of Tibet. Excerpted from the talk simply entitled Padmasambhava Talk given in 1979. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google P…

Here, Subhadramati follows the life and myth of Padmasambhava, the great Tantric guru of Tibet. Excerpted from the talk entitled The Night of the Demons given as part of the London Buddhist Centre as part of the series Winter Retreat 2021. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspi…

Vajratara provides an inspiring and thorough introduction to Padmasambhava's consort and great disciple, Yeshe Tsogyal. This talk was given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2008. *** 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 downloads an…

Here Ratnaghosha speaks to the power of the dakini, from the talk entitled Demons For Every Occasion, given at the Padmasambhava Day festival at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2013. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddh…

Khemabandhu shares some experiences of his personal encounters with Guru Padmasambhava, the effects that those had on his life, as well as some reflections on Bhante Sangharakshita's teaching on energy. From the talk entitled Padmasambhava: The Lightning Guru of Energy given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2021. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcas…

How do we prepare ourselves to receive teachings? How do we prepare ourselves to meet reality? Maitrisingha explores the importance of humility, courage and spiritual friendship. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2023. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curate…

Jvalamalini introduces the centrality of Going for Refuge through the story of the refusal of Padmasambhava to make obeisance to the King of Tibet. From the talk entitled The Magician Meets the King given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2015. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspir…

The Sutra's hero, Vimalakirti, a master of the Bodhisattva's 'Skilful Means', discussed here in terms of the Four Analytical Knowledges, the Four Elements of Conversion, and the Magical Formulae. In this excerpt from the talk Sangharakshita describes the fourth of the Four Analytical Knowledges, that of Courage. From from the talk On Being All Thin…

Ratnaprabha takes us into the realm of story and imagination with a journey to the northern realm. Amoghasiddhi is also connected with Spiritual Rebirth, we hear how this relates to insight, becoming more than we are, and the way in which we draw up courage and creativity to transform ourselves and maybe make a difference in the world. Excerpted fr…

Ksantikara delves us deeper into the mandala of the five Buddhas by. evoking the mystery, power and courage of the deep-green Buddha Amoghasiddhi. Ksantikara extols us to be brave enough to encounter the depths of our being. And from the depths to gather the power to act, to move towards enlightenment and set ourselves free. Given at London Buddhis…

In this talk, Maitrisiddhi explores what mudita - sympathetic joy - is and how important it is to our practice. Excerpted from the talk The Brahma Viharas - Living In the Mandala (11 of 17) from an intensive meditation retreat for mitras held at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2021. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify …

Sangharakshita gives voice to this poetic Buddhist scripture describing the wonderful Pureland of the Buddha Amitabha. Excerpted from The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra. *** 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 podca…

Kusalasara shares her inspiration arising from reflecting on the Buddha Amitabha, particularly his radiant deep-red glowing color representing a deep, meditative, self-contained energy. Excerpted from the talk A Deeper Longing-Amitabha given at London Buddhist Centre, 2022 on the Winter Retreat, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Ap…

Padmasagara gives a talk on the Buddha Amitabha, Avalokitesvara and the Bodhisattva vow. He shares three stories, each of them drawing out the boundless radiant love of Amitabha and the inconceivable nature of true compassion. Given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019, as part of the series Faces of Enlightenment. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist …

Allow life to flourish in the realm of Ratnasambhava. Garavavati explores the symbols, wisdom and transformational power of the yellow Buddha in the southern realm of the Five Buddha Mandala. This talk was given on London Buddhist Centre’s Winter Retreat, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Go…

Dharmashalin talks about the importance of abundance in our Dharma lives. Excerpted from the talk Living with Abundance given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre 2024. *** 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: O…

Here Vessantara explores how the Dharma has been practiced by people following many different lifestyles – from homeless wanderers to kings and queens in their palaces. If there isn’t one ‘Dharma lifestyle’ then what do all these different ways of living have in common, and how can they all be expressions of the Buddha’s teaching? What are the prin…

Akshobhya: Transforming Hatred Into the Mirror-Like Wisdom Under hatred lies fear, under fear there is compassion. Vajrapriya shares something of the symbolism of Akshobhya and talks about how we bring the mirror-like wisdom into our daily lives. This talk was given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2019. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podca…

Paramabandhu kicks off the 2019 London Buddhist Centre Winter retreat with a talk introducing colourful, symbolic world of the Five Buddha Mandala. After introducing the theme of the five Buddha mandala, Paramabandhu goes on to explore the image and symbolism of Akshobhya - the deep blue Buddha of the eastern realm. In this talk Paramabandhu partic…

The Divine Healer, identifiable in Egyptian and Greek myths, also appears in the White Lotus Sutra as both the Medicine Buddha and the Good Physician, in the parable of that name, who leaves his sons to cure themselves. Excerpted from the talk The Archetype of the Divine Healer by Sangharakshita, part of the series Parables, Myths and Symbols of Ma…

A clear and passionate talk, looking at bodhicitta and its twin aspects of love and letting go: wisdom and compassion. Maitrisiddhi explores the role of paradox and how we need to 'hold two necessary ideas together' without polarising between them. Given at Taraloka Retreat Centre as part of the Taraloka & Tiratanaloka online Great Gathering weeken…

Dharmadipa speaks to how sangha is based on a common right view, even more so than kindness. Excerpted from the talk Wisdom and Ignorance, the last of six talks given during the 'Mind in Harmony' retreat at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2017. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspir…