Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on the first line of the Dhammapada: “the mind is the forerunner of all things”. Ajahn reveals what and how powerful the mind is. As well as how Buddhism has a deep understanding of meditation and the nature of the mind, such as how it works and how it can be used to do amazing things.

Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on the benefits of disappointments, frustration and not getting things our way, because it teaches us to let things go more and to flow with things. He offers suggestions for dealing with our problems, such as forgiveness and seeing that what's really important in life are the people and our spiritual development. Ajahn Brahm goes on to talk about the problems of power and trying to control our environment.

Ajahn Vayama ponders what it is Buddhist practitioners are trying to accomplish in terms of the mind? Ajahn Vayama reveals what we are practising and why. And shares advice on how to be mindful of our body and mind.

Ajahn Sucitto reflects upon how there are many interesting treasures or parts of Buddhism to learn and practice, such as morality, meditation, samadhi, loving kindness, generosity, non-attachment, karma and more. He talks about how these parts all bind together into one whole. 

 

Venerable explained Buddha’s Eight Worldly Winds by giving real world examples such as our need for praise and to blame.  Venerable then led us through a body sweep meditation to truly relax us.  Venerable then gave a talk on how to avoid suffering and the "Buddha’s Eight Worldly Winds".

Ajahn Sucitto explores the Buddhist teaching ‘suffering and the end of suffering,’ ‘unsatisafactoriness and the end of unsatisfactoriness’. He investigates what this teaching means and says another way to express this is ‘kamma and the end of kamma’ and ‘the kamma that leads to the end of kamma’. Ajahn Sucitto talks about how kamma is relevant to the cessation of dukkha.

Ajahn Brahm gives an overview on what it’s like to be a monk or nun. Ajahn talks about the monastic rules, such as why they need rules, their purpose and what happens when they keep or break them. He points out the importance of understanding the purpose of the rules, so that one keeps them for the right reasons and he explains how they are conducive to happiness, wellbeing and prosperity.

Venerable Hasapanna talks about how to inspire your meditation by finding appreciation in yourself.

Responding to a recent question on whether it is possible for women to become enlightened? Ajahn Vayama gives a talk on the history of the nun’s order and shares stories of the fully enlightened nun’s in the past and women who have left their families and sometimes royal privileges to enter the monastic life. Hence demonstrating that women have the same capacity and potential for spiritual growth as males.

Venerable Hasapanna offers a teaching on feelings, especially how to deal with unpleasant feelings. Venerable offers practical advice on how to reduce and remove the unwholesome mind states such as greed, anger and aversion.