Zencast 341 - Investigating Desire

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• Zencast 341 - Investigating Desire
• ISmile319 – Rubber Bands and Shortcuts
• Self Compassion
• Protecting Oneself and Protecting Others Through Mindfulness
• The Stream Enterer
• Visibility
• The Effect of Reflecting on Suffering
• Indra’s Net & The Web of Life
• Beyond Hope and Hopelessness
• Dhammarati on FBA’s Growing Online Community
• Sagaramati on Free Buddhist Audio
• Fear and Dread
• The Three Characteristics of Conditioned Existence
• Interconnectedness and the Awakening Heart
• Dayanandi on Sharing our Stories
• The Nearness of Tara
• Chetul Sangye Dorje
• The Dharma Tape History Detectives
• Tara – Virya Buddha
• Tara as Embodiment of Practice for Others
• The Establishment of Taraloka
• Rememberance of Freedom
• Doubt from Faith
• Great Doubt
• Don’t Leave Your Values at Home

Zencast 341 - Investigating Desire Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:49 PM PST Investigating Desire - Gil Fronsdal This teaching is given freely courtesy of Audio Dharma. Audio Dharma ; IMC ; Gil Fronsdal » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

ISmile319 – Rubber Bands and Shortcuts Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:49 PM PST In this talk, Michael addresses several issues; among them, how we often lose the view we've been offered by insight. He's written about this and calls it "The Rubber Band Effect," and suggests that we take pains to examine its source. Doing so helps us see not only how practice helps us develop a greater steadiness as we meet the world, but also our meditation helps to cultivate deepen our acceptance of what is actually happening in each moment. He also addresses an article that was shared with him in which Joseph Goldstein offers a way for busy people to "turbocharge" their practice in nine minutes a day. While this isn't enough time to get at the roots of our delusion, both Michael and Joseph Goldstein agree that the exercises application can do wonders to deepen wherever we might be on the path. ___ Feel free to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Click on the player below, in order to listen to Michael McAlister's talk. Tweet » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

Self Compassion Posted: 30 Nov 2011 06:52 PM PST Carla Brennan » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

Protecting Oneself and Protecting Others Through Mindfulness Posted: 30 Nov 2011 06:52 PM PST Bhikkhu Analayo » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

The Stream Enterer Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:49 PM PST Why a stream enterer enters no stream and would never say, "I am a stream enterer." This podcast comes from teachings on the Diamond Cutter Sutra given in Borobudur, Indonesia, in January of 2011. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org For more information about Lama Marut, please visit http://www.LamaMarut.org For additional audio teachings, please visit http://www.aci-la.org/teach_marut.html To subscribe to more of Lama Marut's audio and video podcasts please visit http://www.aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Visibility Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:24 AM PST In today’s FBA Podcast titled “Visibility” Kuladharini explores what it’s like to be an example of the fourth sight in the world, to be a visible embodiment of Dharma practice. Using the metaphors of the begging bowl, robes and shaved head she shares three ways in which she has gone forth as a visible example of a dharma farer. Talk given at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Effect of Reflecting on Suffering Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST In today’s FBA Dharmabyte “The Effect of Reflecting on Suffering” Maitreyi looks at pleasure and suffering in the context of samsara – compassionate responses to self and other, and how to loosen the bonds… This Dharmabyte is from the talk “The Defects and Dangers of Samsara,” given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2005 and is part of the series “The Four Mind-Turning Reflections.” » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Indra’s Net & The Web of Life Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Indra’s Net & The Web of Life,” Akuppa traces positive lessons to be learned from simply observing and engaging with nature’s patterns and processes – and invites us all to prepare to be awestruck as a necessary first step. From the talk: “Buddhism and Ecology” given at the Triratna [Western Buddhist Order] Convention, 2005 » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Beyond Hope and Hopelessness Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Today’s FBA Podcast, “Beyond Hope and Hopelessness Dancing In the Ruins of Time,” takes us into the world seen through the eyes of EcoDharma, a Triratna retreat centre in the Catalan Pyrenees. Guhyapati offers a sober analysis of the environmental problems facing humanity and issues a clarion call for action – including from the Buddhist community. Recorded at the 2009 Buddhafield Festival. Visit the EcoDharma website – www.ecodharma.com » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Dhammarati on FBA’s Growing Online Community Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Spreading the Dharma Sharing our Practice Connecting our Community Worldwide Dhammarati on Free Buddhist Audio from free buddhist audio on Vimeo. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Sagaramati on Free Buddhist Audio Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Spreading the Dharma Sharing our Practice Connecting our Community Worldwide » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Fear and Dread Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Fear and Dread”Kulaprabha explores spiritual death – death of our fixed, bounded self, the self that is made up of bundled habits and preferences and views, especially views about existence and non-existence – with reference to the first of two Pali Canon suttas. From the talk: “Spiritual Death, Fear and Fearlessness” given at the Taraloka, May 2008 as part of the System of Meditation retreats. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Three Characteristics of Conditioned Existence Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “The Three Characteristics of Conditioned Existence” Sangharakshita illustrates how perfect vision can arise, and concludes by showing how Buddhists have communicated their vision of reality in conceptual and imaginative terms. FBA Dharmabyte from the full talk, “The Nature of Existence: Right Understanding,” given in 1968 as part of the series “The Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path.” » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Interconnectedness and the Awakening Heart Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Interconnectedness and the Awakening Heart” Parami explores the theme of the Buddha’s compassionate action and how ultimately it came from beyond self, beyond other – it emerged from his realisation of ‘Emptiness’. The Buddha realised full well how hard it was going to be to communicate what he had discovered to other people – to us. He knew that the grip of greed, hatred and delusion is very strong. He could imagine how vexatious it might be to teach. Fortunately for us, he could also see our potential. And so out of compassion he taught. FBA Dharmabyte from the full talk, “Out of Compassion for the World,” given at the Triratna International Retreat at Taraloka, May 2008 » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Dayanandi on Sharing our Stories Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Spreading the Dharma Sharing our Practice Connecting our Community Worldwide This summer Viriyalila caught up with Dayanandi, one of the early community members at Taraloka Retreat Centre, to talk about preparing and giving Dharma talks, creating supportive conditions for women to practise, and sharing our stories. Dayanandi lived and worked at Taraloka for 16 years, arriving in 1986 directly after her ordination. VL: On the first retreat after your ordination, you were asked to give a talk on the topic of Perfect Speech. What was it like for you to prepare and give that talk as a brand new Order Member? DN: I remember it was really sunny and I was sitting out at a table in the barley fields.  There were several women preparing talks to give on that retreat. I was reflecting on Sangharakshita’s description of having to dive deep to find the truth, like diving for pearls at the bottom of the sea, that is how you find the truth, by diving deep within yourself. VL: What brought you to Taraloka? DN: I asked to join the project because I loved being on retreat so much, but also because I saw how beneficial the project would be for women. But then the irony was that what was needed was an architect and not a meditation teacher! I was mostly happy to help with that, it was needed, but sad too when I couldn’t go on retreats due working on the building. That was the primary focus for about four years, though retreats continued on side by side with the work. It was a growing period, very challenging but satisfying. VL: What did you gain from living and working together in a community? DN: I think its been through living and working together that my deepest friendships were formed. It was difficult to do what we were doing, we didn’t really know how to do building work, but we had to just get on with it. Sometimes it was exciting, giving us lots of confidence. People came in to help from all over the country, enjoying doing their part renovating a section of brick work or something. They’d come back on another retreat and say – “That’s the bit I did!” VL: How did you get more involved in leading retreats? DN: After the lounge was built, that was my last big project, I wanted to focus on meditation and leading meditation retreats. But my friend Sanghadevi, who was the Chair at the time, knew me well and thought it would be good for me to lead retreats where I needed to express myself more. She suggested that I give Dharma talks and meet with people in groups, so I got channeled that way as the building work finished. Then I discovered that I really loved meeting people, and was very inspired to write and give the talks on retreats. VL: So during that time, Taraloka was really blooming – in what ways did Taraloka influence the growth of the sangha? DN: Thousands of women have come on retreat at Taraloka. I noticed what a difference it made to the women’s wing, suddenly having a focus, an inspirational focus, for our practise, a place where the mythic dimension was alive, there was a deepening practice going on in the shrine room. People built up their associations with the place, by coming on retreats. Each time they came back they immediately felt like they were slotting back in to their practise. It felt like the women’s wing of the Order was building more confidence and experiencing more joy – we could see each other grow and develop. Before that our energy was scattered by not having our own place. VL: Taraloka has been going strong for over 25 years. Were you recording yourselves during the early days? DN: Yes, there is a whole archive still at Taraloka of talks given on Order days and retreats. I sent you a few tapes from there earlier this summer. There are quite a lot of talks on tapes at Taraloka. I’m not sure if they know what to do with them! Dayanandi on Sharing our Stories Viriyalila wondered what sort of advice Dayanandi would give to women new to Buddhism. She readily recommends asking other women to share their stories. “People’s wisdom comes from thinking through and facing their difficulties in our daily lives, our work, our friendships, our relationships, and trying to do that with mindfulness and metta… that’s how we live and grow… we learn a lot from each other.” Dayanandi on Sharing our Stories from free buddhist audio on Vimeo. Maintaining Inspiration and Deepening One’s Practice Viriyalila and Dayanandi continued to talk about changes in Dayanandi’s life after she left Taraloka taking on the responsibility of International Women’s Order Convenor, moving to a community in Birmingham, experiencing a large dry spell in her practise, going on annual month-long solitaries and her move to a new community and urban setting in Manchester. VL: After such an intensive period living and working at Taraloka, how did you continue to deepen your practise? DN: My life has had a lot of out-going in the Order. I’ve just been realizing that solitary retreats has been where i have deepened my meditation practice and study. Solitary retreats have been the real basis of my spiritual development over the years. Since 2000 I’ve been going on meditation retreats at Vajrakuta and I’d often do a solitary after those retreats – and that’s been extremely transformative having that sort of input. My practise was quite challenged after moving to Birmingham – I had to find a new way of practising after leaving Taraloka and no longer having the structure of retreats and a focussed community. VL: And then you how did you come to the decision to move to Manchester? DN: I decided to move there out of friendship. The community in Birmingham was beginning to phase down and for a short period I was living on my own. I really wanted to live in a bigger community. So I went to visit two good friends who lived together with others in Manchester and eventually moved in to join them. VL: It seems as though you are working through the Manchester Buddhist Centre, would you say a bit about that? DN: I’m just wanting to be around to share my experience. I’m also working with the public preceptors and private preceptors, I’m just wanting to share my experience of the Dharma. It just makes such a difference for people to have someone that people can talk about their practice with. We started a monthly meditation club where people can just come, get a little input regarding their meditation practise. The main thing really is a chance to talk and listen to each others experience about meditation. VL: It seems many people aren’t accustomed to talking about their meditation practices. Lately it feels like there is shift  to talk more about what we are doing in our spiritual life. How are we taking 20, 30, 40 years of experience and giving that expression? Which leads me to this recent series of talks that you gave in Manchester. This seemed like an important undertaking for you – would you share a bit about your experience of this? DN: I offered to give the series of talks after going on a two month solitary when I studied every thing I could find on Sangharakshita’s System of Meditation. I wanted to understand it more deeply for myself from my own experience, particularly the stages of Spiritual Death and Spiritual Rebirth. What does the stage or process of Integration really mean and how do they all relate to each other? I was studying and thinking a lot about the Five Great Stages of the Path which the System of Meditation is based on. I became really fascinated with that and how the actual five-fold Path ends up with Spontaneous Compassionate Activity. I can see how that five-fold path really illustrates how the spiritual life unfolds, I see it in my own experience. The Five Great Stages of the Path is a six-part series of talks given by Dayanandi at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, available on Free Buddhist Audio. Encouraging Exemplification Viriyalila concluded their time together by asking Dayanandi to share any encouragement she may have for her fellow women practitioners in the Order in sharing their stories, their experiences, their practise of the Dharma. DN: What I enjoy most is a Dharma talk illuminated by that person’s own experience…it’s really inspirational, enjoyable and humbling to be on the receiving end of someone’s experience. Just sharing what you do do in your practice…. “All we have to do to be effective as Bodhisattvas, we just need to exemplify our own level of practice. Just be really honest, that is what inspires, that helps other people.” Dayanandi on Exemplification from free buddhist audio on Vimeo. Many thanks to Dayanandi for her time giving this interview, and for her many years of service to the Dharma. Her encouragement to fellow women practitioners to “Share their Stories” is deeply inspirational… May all beings be free from suffering. Become a Supporting Friend of Free Buddhist Audio » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Nearness of Tara Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “The Nearness of Tara,” is an excerpt from the talk, “Contemplating the Qualities of the Tathagatas” by Samantabhadri, given at Taraloka in February, 2010. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Chetul Sangye Dorje Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Today’s FBA Podcast is titled “Chetul Sangye Dorje” by Vajratara. A forthright and passionate talk, taking as its starting point the great contemporary Tibetan teacher (sometimes also written ‘Chatral Sangye Dorje’) and his relationship to practice in the Triratna [FWBO] Community via his giving of the Green Tara practice to Sangharakshita. The main focus, however, is the need to practice the Dharma for others as part of a meaningful community, and Vajratara argues her case with a balance of down-to-earth humour and uncompromising vision. Talk given at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007 » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Dharma Tape History Detectives Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST FBA Volunteers In Search of Dharma This summer, Mary Salome and a group of volunteers from the San Francisco Buddhist Center started up a DIY fundraiser with a dual purpose: raising funds is one, the other is to make more talks from the FBA archives available online. As an avid user of Free Buddhist Audio Mary once inquired as to why there weren’t more talks by women available online. She expressed an interest in wanting to help with this, and a project was born. We selected a handful of cassette tapes and MiniDiscs from our archive and sent them along to Mary. She shared with us, “Originally we thought we would not be able to restore the audio to broadcast quality and so wanted to provide transcripts alongside the audio.  I knew that it would not be possible for me to do this all on my own so I saw it as an opportunity to engage with other people around the work.” Mary enthusiastically organized the tapes and put a call out for more volunteers from the San Francisco Buddhist Center sangha, naming the project: “Dharma Tape History Detectives.” “The process itself has been meaningful as a way to make what could be very solitary work into community work. Just speaking for myself, I find it inspiring that people are spending time writing out the words to a talk with a very dedicated and committed practice of mindfulness” *** Check out the list of talks they are preparing: Six Part Series on the Five Buddha Mandala, given on a women's summer retreat, August 1985 (location as yet unknown – may be revealed on the tapes) Transformation: Creating the Mandala of the Five Buddhas, Vidyasri Akshobya, Vimala Amitabha: The Buddha of Infinite Light, Padmasuri Amogasiddhi: The Lord of the Dance, Sridevi Ratnasambhava, Parami Vairocana: The Illuminator, Anoma The Four Right Efforts – four talks by Sridevi, Vimala, Sanghadevi and Ashokasri (on two cassettes) Buddhist Revival in India, Padmasuri Coursing Through the Worldly Winds, Dayanandi 1999 On Atisha: A Life in the Service of Compassion, Dayanandi 1999 A Future in the Dharma: Enjoying Meditation, Dayanandi 1999 Order Puja, Led by Bhante Sangharakshita, Sangharakshita 1983 Open Up The Thatched, Dayanandi Standing Steady as a Mountain, Mahamati Chapters: Principles, Practice and Potential, Ratnadharani 2007 One Great Glorious Mistake, Vajradharshini 2005 In Harmony with Friends and Brethren, Srivati 2002 *** You can make a donation to the Dharma Tape History Detectives fundraiser on First Giving or Just Giving. If you see a talk in our archive list that you’d like to sponsor, email Mary@freebuddhistaudio.com when you make your donation. Each audio recording undergoes a process of digitizing, transcribing, & copy editing that will take about ten hours per talk. They suggest a donation of $ 50 (that’s $ 5 an hour — quite a bargain!) but any amount will start the process. You’re also welcome to sponsor the general effort rather than a specific talk. The Free Buddhist Audio Team would like to thank the San Francisco Buddhist Center Volunteer Detectives for taking on this project. We are looking forward to discovering and sharing what’s on they discover and to increasing the number of talks in our archive by women. Many Sadhus to all of you! » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

Tara – Virya Buddha Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Today’s FBA Podcast takes us into the mysterious world of “Tara – Virya Buddha”. Dharmacharini Vanaraji gave this talk to the Women’s Class at the London Buddhist Centre, June 2011. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Tara as Embodiment of Practice for Others Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:22 AM PST Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Tara as Embodiment of Practice for Others,” is an excerpt from the talk, “Chetul Sangye Dorje” by Vajratara given at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007 » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Establishment of Taraloka Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:22 AM PST In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “The Establishment of Taraloka,” Sangharakshita shares his rejoicings of the opening of the new retreat centre for women, Taraloka. This track is from the talk, “Buddhist Dawn in the West,” in which Sangharakshita outlines what led him to found the Triratna [FWBO] Community. In addition to sharing his thoughts about Taraloka, he discusses developments in ordinations conducted by senior Order Members and a new Buddhist magazine. Talk given in 1986. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Rememberance of Freedom Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:22 AM PST Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Rememberance of Freedom,” by Kulaprabha, is from a meditation – a led reflection from the recording titled “Reflection on the Eight Freedoms”. Let yourself be led through this reflection and take up the challenge of seeing just what positive circumstances we already have to do… Well, to do what with them? Therein lies the freedom and the challenge. This is another in the series of talks from Taraloka inspired by Gampopa’s text – ‘The Jewel Ornament of Liberation’, December 2007 Please note this talk is a led meditation. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Doubt from Faith Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:22 AM PST Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Doubt from Faith,” takes us into some crazy stuff as we hit koan country! In this track, Padmavajra explores materialist versus religious world views, spiritual life without God and the dialectic between Great Faith and Great Doubt. Uncompromising stuff towards a more profound level of awareness – steer to the deep! FBA Dharmabyte from the full talk, “Great Doubt,”, featured in this Saturday’s full podcast. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Great Doubt Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:22 AM PST Padmavajra delivers some crazy stuff as we hit koan country! Today’s FBA Podcast titled “Great Doubt” is the seventh in an excellent 8-talk sequence by Padmavajra on Zen Buddhism. The series is full of colourful stories and challenging insights from the lives of the great Masters of China and Japan. A fascinating look at doubt in spiritual life in general, and in the lives of some of the most celebrated practitioners of Zen. Uncompromising stuff towards a more profound level of awareness – steer to the deep! Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004 This talk is part of the series Tangling Eyebrows with Zen Masters. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Don’t Leave Your Values at Home Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:22 AM PST Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Don’t Leave Your Values at Home,” Khemasuri passionately shares the case for embracing personal responsibility and community engagement as a way of effecting social change in our troubled world. This track from the talk, “Building an Ethical Underworld – Lessons from the Mafia”, given at the Buddhafield Festival, Devon, 2007. » Click Here To Listen To The Podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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