Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Many people think that Right Effort is about stubborn determination and putting in 110% to attain the goal. But is it? Here Ajahn Brahm gives a clear definition of what Right Effort is - and it's not what you think!

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Bhante Buddharakkhita was about to start the evening when he noticed that the Christmas lights were on in our room. Bhante asked that they be left on, and the main lights turned off, so as to mark the time of the year which, to those of us in western society, is Christmas.  Such things, that may seem not to be an issue to us, are to others a trigger for anxiety and stress.  As this was the case for some in our audience, Bhante explained that to run for a lifetime from such things does not make them better or resolve them.  Sooner or later you have to face such triggers and where better than in a group of like minded people who are all learning to meditate.  Bhante then further explained that to help resolve such issues in his own life he would reverse the process by acknowledging the event, and trigger, and instead of allowing it to stress him, he would tell himself to relax.  In this way he managed to resolve his anxiety and simply relax.

Bhante continued his talk, returning to his subject of gratitude, prior to leading the group in a meditation with gratitude foremost in mind. Bhante used the image of floating in a swimming pool to relax and extend his gratitude to the universe before moving to a breath meditation.

After the meditation Bhante used his ample wit and humour to continue his subject of gratitude.  Bhante encouraged us to look for gratitude in all situations and used, as examples, his experience in teaching meditation to a group of children of various ages.  In doing so we can resolve situations that make us anxious or annoyed.

 

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Ajahn Brahm teaches that you cannot calm your mind through concentration, but instead you must let go and you let go by being content.

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Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for approximately thirty minutes. 

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Contradictory to our common belief, Ajahn Brahm contests that when a loved one dies, you don't have to have grief and he goes onto explain how death can actually be an inspirational experience.

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This is Ajahn Brahm's first talk back at Dhammaloka after the Rains Retreat in 2016. Ajahn Brahm shares some ways to be healthy such as; laughing, happiness, understanding how our body works, mindfulness and meditation. Ajahn tells us some stories on how to deal with a range of physical and mental, emotional illnesses.

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This is the last dhamma talk by Ajahn Brahm prior to the 3 months of the Rains Retreat in 2015. The Rains Retreat is a tradition going back to the time of the Buddha when monks and nuns stop travelling and spend time developing the peace of their meditation practice. In this talk Ajahn Brahm talks about how we all need a place in time and space to retreat to and find peace within.

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Ajahn Brahmali guides a meditation for approximately thirty minutes. 

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn spoke to us on the impermanence of thoughts in our meditation. Thoughts arise and then they pass. Just let them go. We know that, in life, nothing is permanent, things happen then they pass. So it is with our meditation. It doesn't matter if it's metta, breath, counting or a mantra the thoughts will arise and then pass. What matters is that we don't latch onto them, just let them go and return to our meditation.

Ajahn then asked the group which meditation they'd like to do. We chose body contemplation or body sweep and then moving to a breath meditation. Ajahn then reminded us that it isn't so much the method of meditation, it's more that our mind changes over time as we practice. The more we meditate the more relaxed we become.

 

 

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for approximately thirty minutes. 

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.