Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Vayama offers some reflections on the Buddhist teachings on living in the present, in the here in now. Ajahn Vayama says “The Buddha recited a poem to his disciples which he encouraged them to learn by heart and to use in their daily life to focus on the present moment. Part of the poem goes like this “One should not trace back the past, nor on the future builds ones hopes, the past is just the left behind, the future the yet unreached, rather with insight one should watch each mind moment as it arises now, to know and to be sure of that today the effort must be made, tomorrow death may come, who knows.” This poem is a summary of the Buddha’s teaching on living in the present moment.” We apologise for the quality of this audio, this Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 2000.

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Some excellent questions and wise responses on many contemporary issues.

On the invitation of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ajahn Brahm delivers an interview at the 7th World Buddhist Summit in Sri Lanka in November 2017. Recorded at the Temple Trees Auditorium by Dharmavahini Foundation.

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Ajahn Brahmali firstly describes what meditation is all about, nothing weird, nothing too complicated.  Ajahn encourages us to watch what is happening in our own mind as we meditate to see what we are thinking about.  This will allow us to establish what we personally prioritise in our lives.  We will often find that the things we personally prioritise such as work, hobbies and our terrible boss, are the things hindering our meditation.  By identifying what is actually distracting us, what we have unknowingly made our first priority, we can shift our thinking to things that will improve our entire lives.  Compassion for ourselves and our families.

Ajahn then guided us in a 30 minute meditation well suited to beginners and the more experienced of us [everyone
benefits from a refresher now and then].

After the meditation Ajahn continued the talk of the need for us all to have a long-term investment in meditation and our inner world. He said how important it is that we care for and develop our inner reactions to the world rather than spending so much time trying to collect possessions, change the world or grumble about the things we cannot change.


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Whenever we meditate there are disturbances. Ajahn Brahm teaches us that we shouldn't give them importance and eventually they will disappear.

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Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for approximately 30 minutes.

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In our society we are encouraged to debate who is right, however Ajahn Brahm encourages us to live together in harmony. Ajahn shares his beautiful experiences of working together in harmony with his fellow monks.

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Venerable Hasapanna responds to the question “how do you really let go of someone in your life?” Venerable reflects on what letting go means and how we have to train our mind to let go by developing wisdom, because the reason we attach and hold on to things is due to lack of wisdom. Venerable ponders where is the source of the suffering? Where does the attachment come from? What are we letting go of? Is the object of our attachment the source of our happiness and suffering?

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Ajahn Vayama talks about the power of the Buddhist teachings and the path of practise to transform our suffering into happiness, particularly how we work with the mind in meditation to accomplish this. Ajahn explains the statement the Buddha made when he was asked what the Buddhist path was about and how this is very valid and important in our practise of meditation and our daily life. ‘The teaching of all the Buddhas is the same. That is to refrain from doing what is evil, harmful and unwholesome and unskillful. To actively cultivate what is good, wholesome, helpful and skillful and to purify the mind.’

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Ajahn Nissarano completes his talk on the values and attitudes that lead to happiness and success.

This talk was arranged by Ajahn Brahm Society Sri Lanka and recorded by Dharmavahini Foundation, Sri Lanka.