Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Brahm explains how generosity isn't just about sacrifice. It's about generating happiness not only for the receiver of the gift, but also joy for the giver of the gift also. He relates several stories of how generosity bring joy into our lives.

This talk was given to a large audience in Singapore organised by the Buddhist Fellowship.

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Bhante talked to us about letting go. Just as we would automatically pull our hand out of a fire, so to, with consistent practice, will we naturally let go of our thoughts when meditating.

Bhante then leads us in a guided breath meditation. First encouraging us to relax our bodies and then guiding us to direct our attention to our breathing, to be aware of it, not change it, just watch it. Bhante's meditation is well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

After meditation Bhante opens to Q&A. Bhante then gave a talk on morality, virtue and many of the steps needed by us in order to meditate.

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Ajahn Appichato says in meditation we can experience deep tranquility, but it can be difficult to sustain. So Ajahn reminds us to develop our wisdom because he says insight is more powerful than tranquility.

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Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for approximately 30 minutes.

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Ajahn Brahm shares with us his spooky real stories about cats and discusses how we can learn about love, kindness and wisdom from cats.

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The Buddhist Society of Western Australia is delighted to have guest speaker Bhikkhuni Kusuma give a Dhamma talk. Bhikkhuni Kusuma talks about The Four Noble Truths, in particular the second noble truth, which says the cause of dukkha (unsatisfactoriness or suffering) is attachment. Venerable contemplates what attachment is, why it causes us suffering and how we can get out of suffering.

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This episode is not a single interview, but a compilation of interviews with Ajahn Brahm.

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Never have you imagined that bananas could be so profound. 

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It was Vesak day on Tuesday and Ajahn Cittapalo joined us at AMG.  Vesak Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha in the Theravada or southern tradition.  Ajahn having attended Vesak celebrations at Dhammaloka on Sunday, where many people took refuge by becoming Buddhist, noticed that for many, the five precepts are hard and fast rules.  Many of us do the same when we meditate.  We try too hard and become disenchanted when we fail.

Ajahn would never say that it is ok to consume alcohol, rather that we consider that we really should try to stop.  So it is with our meditations.  When random thoughts occur, we should simply let them come and go.  Don't get entangled, but don't try too hard and be overly critical that the thoughts continue.  Over time the ability to simply stand back in your mind and watch will grow and the thoughts will be come less frequent.  The same will happen with alcohol, each time we consume it, we consider it and do it less until we don't do it at all.

Ajahn tells us that our intentions matter more in all things.  When we meditate, it is our intention to gain a peaceful mind that matters.  Not being overly self critical for having thoughts.  Just as with the five precepts, it is our intentions that matter.

Ajahn led us in a body scan to relax us then a very peaceful silent meditation.

After the meditation Ajahn continued his talk on our intentions, cautioning us all to not be too critical of our efforts both in life and meditation.  After Ajahn concluded he joined the group in celebrating Vesak day.


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This is a dialogue between Ajahn Brahm and the Anglican Archbishop of Perth Roger Herft held at Curtin University in Perth. It's entertaining and enlightening, with Ajahn Brahm demonstrating a very good grasp of events in ancient history which he doesn't often elaborate upon. This talk is definitely for those curious about the origins of Buddhism and Christianity from a fresh perspective.

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