Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

By Dhammagiri Forest HermitageReligion & Spirituality Buddhism

Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts episodes

April 24, 2023 LUANG POR THONG DAENG: Accumulating Goodness | Trsl: Ajahn Moshe | Dhammagiri | LP Tongdaeng
Luang Por Thong Dang provides very comprehensive Dhamma Guidelines during a one day meditation retreat at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage.
Luang Por explains various skillful means to develop Dāna, Sīla and Bhāvanā (Generosity, Virtue and Meditation).
He encourages us to raise our heart to a higher cause, and to investigate the true nature of the present moment.

As our podcast is directed at an English speaking audience, we have put the English translation by Ajahn Moshe at the beginning, right after the formal invitation to teach Dhamma and Luang Por paying homage to the Buddha.
However, for the benefit of our Thai listeners (or Thai learners :), we have included the complete Thai version at the end, from 21:57

Photos from Luang Por Tongdaeng's visit to Dhammagiri here:
⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/luang-por-thong-daeng-gallery⁠

Our Podcast on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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52 min
April 20, 2023 Don't Get Caught Up in the Movie called Consciousness | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri Dhamma Talk
The Buddha used the simile of a magic show for consciousness. In his time there were no movies yet, otherwise he may well have used watching movie or TV or Youtube as a simile.

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about how truly mindfully watching a film usually means that we can't 'enjoy' it anymore. The moment we're aware that this is not real, this is just pictures on a screen, this is artificially produced by actors and director and lighting arrangements and so on, we can't 'buy into it' any more.

It's difficult to get frightened by the villian, cheer for the heroine, and hope for the cavallery to appear and save them all, if we conciouosly know this is only a movie produced by actors in a studio.

Or imagine they were to zoom out of a romantic scene in moolight, to show you the surrounding studio, mics, lights, camera, prop-up and numerous people standing around. All emotional effect would immediately be lost.

Similarly, if we observe the constructed nature of consciousness, how it arises based on contact of internal sense bases and external forms, sounds, fragrances, tasts, sensations and thoughts/ideas, we would lose or at least weaken our attachment to it.

Our Podcast on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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26 min
April 17, 2023Not Good Luck or Bad Luck, but Karma | Dhamma Talk on Buddhism | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri
We hope for "Good Luck" and are worried that we may end up "unlucky". However, if we truly have confidence in the Buddha Dhamma, we know that there is actually no such thing as good or bad luck, there's only the results of Karma.
Nothing happens just by chance, it's always the outcome of our intentional action. Usually a combination of the Karma from actions a long time ago, even several liftimes ago, plus our very recent actions. In fact, the influence of our actions right now means that the law of Karma is not a fatalist teaching. Karma doesn't mean that our future is totally determined, because we have the freedom to choose our course of action right now. We can't change what we have done in the past, but we can change how we respond to the results of our actions here and now in the present.
If we experience hardship due to the karmic results of past unwholesome actions, we have to courses of action open how to respond:
We may feel grumpy and react with anger and retaliate, thus creating the karmic causes for more suffering in the future
Or we may react with patient endurance, equanimity, forgiveness, loving kindness and compassion, thus breaking the unwholesome cycle and creating the karmic causes for future happiness

Our Podcast on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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38 min
April 13, 2023Dangers of AI Artificial Intelligence | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question about AI ('Artificial Intelligence').
He points out the most important difference between AI and a living human being, namely consciousness:
Even the most sophisticated and 'intelligent' AI is not conscious, it's not a living being.

A human being is more than the faculty of intellect. In particular, human beings can have a conscience, which AI completely lacks. Humans also have feelings, emotions. Humans can make decisions based on ethical standards, virtue and precepts they are committed to. AI doesn't have that ability. They can't feel compassion or loving kindness.
Even in a dictatorship, human beings may decide not to follow orders, but to act according to their conscience and ethical considerations. They may be committed not to kill, even in war, even if their own wealth, health and life are endangered.

Ajahn quotes several examples where single individuals, 'unsung heroes' who may be virtually unknown, have courageously acted against orders, solely based on their conscience, and prevented major bloodshed, and potentially even global nuclear war.
On the other hand, once robots/AI are making decisions affecing real human beings, these decisions wouldn't be restrained by any kind of ethics, precepts, standards of virtue, or conscience. We should never allow that to occur, because ethics, compassion, loving kindness and conscience need to guide any decision making.

Our Podcast on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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32 min
April 10, 2023Better Rebirth vs No Rebirth | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhamma Talk on Buddhism at Dhammagiri Monastery
The Buddha teaches a gradual training. Most beings are not ready yet to completely let go of everything and end the circle of Saṃsāra, the endless wheel of birth and death.
First we can aim at improving our situation in Saṃsāra:
By generosity and kindness
By keeping precepts
By having conviction in the efficacy of karma and the truth of rebirth
We accumulate good karma that will lead to a fortunate rebirth as human of deva.
Once we have secured that much, our mind is already purified to some extend, and we're now getting ready to end rebirth for good. Even the longest life in the most beautiful heavn is still impermanent.

So we contemplate the five groups of clinging (pañcupādānakkhandhā) and the six internal and external sense spheres (saḷāyatana) as impermanent, disappointing and not me or mine or self, so that the heart can let go of them completely and experience awakening, the end of any form of existence, the total freedom of Nibbāna.

Our Podcast on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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57 min
April 07, 2023We Become What We Worship | Dhammagiri | Dhamma Talk | Buddhist Reflections by Ajahn Dhammasiha
When we respect and admire a person, like for example the Buddha, when we revere a certain quality, like wisdom or compassion, our mind will incline into that direction. We gradually condition ourselves to become similar to the person or quality that we respect and worship.

The choice is ours, in which direction we wish to develop:
If we respect and admire celebrities, sport, pop and music stars, we will gradually incline to the qulities they represent
If we worship the Triple Gem, our mind will incline towards generosity, virtue, mindfulness, loving kindness and wisdom

It does matter who's picture we put on our phone wallpaper, or on our walls at home.
Let us choose wisely.

Our Podcast on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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35 min
April 04, 2023 LP Tongdaeng, LP Plien & the Most Powerful Mantra: "Iti pi so Bhagava..." | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some info about Luang Por Tongdaeng, who will visit Dhammagiri in three weeks time 23rd to 25th April, including a one day retreat on Sun 23/04.
Luang Por is the abbot of Wat Doi Phra Jao Ton Luang near Chiang Mai. He was born in Sakon Nakhon Province in the Northeast of Thailand in August 1954. At the young age of 13 he ordained as a novice with Luang Por Wan Uttamo. Some time later, he trained in the monastery of Luang Por Waen, Wat Doi Mae Pang. After his full ordination as a bhikkhu, Luang Por Tongdaeng's most important teachers were Luang Por Prasit, and Luang Por Plien of Wat Aranyavivek.
Ajahn Dhammasiha relates the story how Luang Por Pien was the first senior monk visiting Dhammagiri, only days after we had aquired the top section of our property, and how he made some amazingly accurate predictions about the future development of Dhammagiri.
Ajahn Dhammasiha mentions that Luang Por Tongdaeng talked about reciting "Iti pi so Bhagavā..." a lot when he saw him last January to invite him to Dhammagiri. He actually said that "Iti pi so Bhagavā..." is the most powerful mantra of all. It is how the Buddha described his unique qualities himself, and they apply not only to our Buddha, but to all Buddhas whenever or wherever they arise. We can recieve great benefit from chanting "Iti pi so..." regularly and frequently, like e.g. 108 times in sequence.
"Iti pi so Bhagavā Arahaṃ Sammā-sambuddho
Vijjā-caraṇa-sampanno
Sugato Lokavidū
Anuttaro Purisa-damma-sārathi
Satthā Deva-manussānaṃ
Buddho Bhagavā ti"
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Pure One, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding,
the Accomplished One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained;
he is Teacher of gods and humans;
he is Awake and Holy"
(English translation as in Amaravati Chanting Book)

Our Podcast on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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43 min
March 29, 2023Meditate More, as Puja to Teacher | Dhammagiri | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhamma Talk on Buddhism
The Buddha himself explained that the highest form of puja is to practise the Dhamma in line with Dhamma. The same applies to any teacher I know of, they all appreciate most if their students take their teachings on board and actually practise them.
We can use this fact to give us motivation to be more diligent in our meditatitve development. We reflect that by putting forth effort in our own bhāvanā:
We offer a form of puja to the teacher far superior to any material offerings like flowers, incense and so on
We express our gratitude in the form the teacher appreciates the most
We provide the best possible motivation to the teacher to continue their difficult and demanding work in teaching, expounding, inspiring and encouraging students with Dhamma

Our Podcast is now also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, you can listen in any browser:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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34 min
March 27, 2023 What's the Result of Letting Go? | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhamma Talk on Buddhism at Dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha points out how Luang Por Liem in his recent Dhamma talks interprets terms like 'Going Forth' ('Pabbajjā'), or 'Generosity/Giving' ('Cāga'), in a deeper, more profound sense.
Usually Pabbajjā means ordination as a novice, going forth from the houselife into homelessness. But Luang Por takes it deeper by suggesting the meaning of going forth, moving away from everything unwholesome, abandoning mental defilements.
Similar, he interprets 'Cāga' not just as giving something as an act of generosity, but suggests it means giving away, letting go of attachments, anger and craving.
This generates a question from the audience:
"What is the Result of Letting Go?"

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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29 min
March 22, 2023LUANG POR LIEM: Taking Goodness as Our Basis | Trsl: Alex Oliver | Dhamma Talk at Dhammagiri | Buddhism
English translation first.
Full Talk in Original Thai from 18 min 00 sec.

Luang Por Liem is the successor of Ajahn Chah as the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong, Ubon, Thailand. He is the leading senior monk of the whole international lineage of Ajahn Chah, and one of the most revered meditation masters of the Thai Forest Tradtion.
This talk was recorded at the public Dhamma sharing session with Luang Por after almsoffering and shared meal at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage.

Luang Por provides us with a comprehensive teaching including many aspects of Dhamma, ranging form skilfull adaptation to new or challenging conditions in various countries, to his encouragement to make merit, protect our virtue, develop metta, contemplate the nature of our bodies, observe and recognize things as they are to correct deceptive views, and develop sati-paññā (mindfulness and wisdom) to fully cleanse our heart from all defilements, that we can reach our full potential as human beings, both for our own benefit and for the benefit of larger society.

Luang Por ends his Dhamma teaching with a short blessing, with the other six monks present all joining in.

An excellent translation was provided by Alex Oliver, who had been ordained as a bhikkhu for more than 10 years, serving for many years as the attendent monk ('upatag') and interpretor for Luang Por. He kindly came specially for this occasion, to help looking after Luang Por and providing very fluent and accurate ad-hoc translations.
It is not easy to serve as interpretor for Luang Por Liem, as he usually speaks for a long time without interruption, in this talk actually for about 45 minutes. The interpretor has to take notes while Luang Por is speaking, and then translate the entire talk from his memory supported by the notes he has taken.

As our podcast is aimed at English speaking audience, we have put the English translation first. There's just a few words in Thai at the beginning, to give everyone a feel for the original and Luang Por's voice and speaking style. However, for our Thai speaking followers, we have included the whole Thai original as well, starting from 18 min 00 sec.

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724

Our email Newsletter:
https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Our Podcasts on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD

Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834

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57 min