Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Teaching of the 5 precepts given to anagarikas and lay people attending the three months Rains Retreat of 2009. Ajahn Brahm explains the moral philosophy behind the Five Precepts. Apologies for the quality of this audio which is quite poor in parts. Recommend turning the volume up to hear properly.

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

Ajahn Brahm talks about his favourite subject: happiness! Learn the secret of happiness with Ajahn Brahm.

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

We haven't seen Bhante at Club Med for some years so it was a welcome surprise to see and hear him.  Bhante started the evening in an unconventional way which was an unusual but welcome change.  Bhante, having been present in areas of the world that have suffered greatly from both natural and man made disasters, replayed a podcast from the US radio station website "This American Life".  The podcast documentary tells the story of a phone booth in Japan that attracts thousands of people who lost loved ones in the 2011 tsunami and earthquake.  A Japanese TV crew from NHK Sendai filmed people inside the phone booth.  The phone line, however, is not connected.  The episode by Miki Meek is incorporated into our podcast but can be listened to independently by following the link below.

Bhante thankfully warned us that hankies and tissues would be and were required.

Bhante used this podcast to highlight the need for us to come to terms with ourselves more than anything and in doing so, forgive ourselves. Don’t wait for the forgiveness of those we have  trespassed against.  Forgive ourselves now -  for ourselves.

Immediately after the podcast had concluded, Bhante lead us into a body scan meditation.  Toward the middle of the meditation, Bhante used the Metta Sutta as a mantra in and for the rest of the meditation.  After the meditation, Bhante continued to talk on forgiveness and why we should forgive ourselves.



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

This American Life - episode 579 - One Last Thing Before I Go - act one

Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on how to overcome obstacles in life.

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

Ajahn Brahm visits Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia to talk about finding the true meaning of life.

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

Bhante Sujato broke with our normal format and gave us a dharma talk on Dependant Origination prior to the meditation.  Dependant Origination is at the core of the Buddha's teachings and is viewed by many as a very difficult, confusing subject.  Bhante handled it by using real life examples from his own life, with a good dose of humour, using words and terms that the lay person can understand.

Bhante then asked the group what type or object they would prefer for the meditation.  The raised hands were fairly even on all the suggestions, so it was left to Bhante to decide.  Bhante having just given a dharma talk on Dependant Origination suggested a meditation on the four elements as recognised by Buddhists.  So the meditation object was Earth, Water, Fire, Air and how they relate to everything (our bodies and all things around us) both seen and unseen.

After meditation Bhante opened to Q&A suggesting that anyone who may have been confused by the dharma talk, should now ask.



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

Are you not enjoying meditation? Perhaps you are trying too hard to achieve something in your meditation. Venerable Hasapanna teaches you to take your time; to relax your body and to practice metta and contentment before meditating on your breath.

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

Do you have problems that you want to get rid of? Venerable Hasapanna explains how your wanting to get rid of the problem creates additional suffering.

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

Venerable Hasapanna guides a meditation for about 30 minutes.

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

The Buddhist Society of Western Australia is honoured to guest speaker Professor Ajahn Dhammavihari give a Dhamma talk. Ajahn begins by talking about the Buddha’s first sermon. (13 June 2006). 

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