Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

By Dhammagiri Forest HermitageReligion & Spirituality Buddhism

Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts episodes

March 09, 2023Enduring Patience Incinerates Defilements | Magha Puja Ovadapatimokkha | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhamma Talk at Dhammagiri
On Magha Puja, the full moon in March, 1,250 Arahant disciples spontaneously gathered around the Buddha in the Bamboo Grove Monastery in Rājagaha.
The Buddha then recited the 'Ovadapāṭimokka', a concise summary of his teaching and practice leading to awakening.

The second verse in this poem of only 16 lines starts with:
"Khantī paramam tapo titikkhā..."
Usually translated as 'Enduring patience is the supreme ascetic practice'.

To emphasize the amazing power patience has in wearing away our 'kilesā' (= mental defilements of greed, hatred and delusion), Ajahn Dhammasiha here translates as 'Enduring patience is the greatest incinerator of defilements'.
Whenever life is tough, difficult, rough, unfair, it's a chance for us to develop khantī, patience.
And we should never underestimate how much we strengthen our character each time we patiently endure, and how much we undermine the kileasā.

Ajahn Chah always emphasized the importance of 'Ot Ton' = Patient Endurance a lot in his style of training.

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

.
25 min
March 07, 2023Buddha's Teaching in a Nutshell - Ovadapatimokkha | Dhamma Talk on Magha Puja | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri
On Magha Puja Full Moon, in the first year after the Buddha's supreme awakening, 1,250 of his most outstanding Arahant discpiles gathered in a spontaneous assembly around the Buddha in the Bamboo Grave Monastery at Rajagaha. The Buddha then recited the 'Ovādapāṭimokkha' to them.
In just 16 lines of beautiful poetry, the Buddha summarized the most essential points or his teaching and the practice meditative practice leading to Nibbāna:

"Abstain from any evil deed
accomplish what is good and true,
And fully purify your mind -
That is what all the Buddhas teach.
Enduring patience is the best
of all ascetic practices;
The best of everything at all
is called Nibbāna by the sage.
If you cause harm to anyone
you can't be called a genuine monk!
Refrain from harming and abuse,
and strictly keep the Buddha's rules;
Be moderate when taking food,
and dwell alone in solitude
devoted to the Higher Mind -
That is what all the Buddhas teach."

In his Dhamma Talk, Ajahn Dhammasiha particularly emphasizes the central importance of non-violence. Total harmlessness, not to intentionally cause any harm or hurt by action or speech to any being is central to our Dhamma practice.
In particular, we have to protect our precepts, with the first one on not killing the very foundation of harmlessness.

Unfortunately, this precept is being severely undermined in our modern society, even in regard to humans, in three areas:
"Euthansia" - The Buddha NEVER endorsed, encouraged or condoned the killing of humans in any way. Active euthanasia is breaking the first precept and can have severe karmic consequences

Abortion - The Buddha did consider a fetus/embryo/unborn child to be a human being, and causing an abortion is breaking the first precept with all potential severe karmic consequences

War - War propaganda tries to convince us that the 'enemy' is so evil, that killing them is actually a 'good' thing. The Buddha NEVER endorsed, encouraged or condoned the killing of anyone, however 'evil'. He encouraged mettā, Loving Kindness, even to our 'enemies' (Of course, mettā doesn't mean we consent or agree with any unwholesome actions. We do oppose them and try our level best to prevent them. But not by killing, and not based on emotions of hatred)

We have to protect our mind not to get deluded in above three areas, that we can continue our unwavering commitment to harmlessness, and maintain the first precept uncompromised.

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

.
52 min
March 01, 2023Thursday Challange: Who can Disturb my Loving Kindness? | Dhammagiri | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhamma Talk | Metta
Mettā, 'Loving Kindness', is the intention of unconditional good will to all beings, without distinction or discriminatiton, without bargaining, without demanding anything back, without any expectations to be liked or thanked or reciprocated.
Whether cute koalas or ugly canetoads, whether friends & family or total strangers or even enemies, we aim to wish well to absolutely everyone.

Towards the end, Ajahn recommends to start our day with mettā meditation. Then go out and take on the challenge:
"I dare you, show me what you've got, can you disturb my mettā in any way!"

We're not expecting that everyone will be nice to us, just because we're trying to develop loving kindness throughout the day. Quite the contrary, we're willing to accept any provocation or irritation as a challenge to our mettā. We take it on and are exited to see what challenge might come, so that we've got an opportunity to maintain and strengthen our loving kindness in difficult conditions.

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

.
38 min
February 27, 2023 Buddhism is a Science of the Mind | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhamma Talk at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage
Ajahn Dhammasiha points out that Dhamma is not something we simply have to belief, to take on blind faith. Instead, all the teachings of the Buddha are open to investigation, and can be verified in our own experience.
In fact, the Buddha himself encouraged thorough investigation of his teaching. He himself said that experiential, true knowledge is superior to faith, and he is leading us to gain this experiential knowledge.

The hallmark of true sience is that it can be reproduced: Once a scientist publishes the experiments and results of his research in a scientific magazine, other scientists do not have to decide based on faith whether he's right or wrong. If they set up exactly the same experiment, and if they then get exactly the same results, they will KNOW that the proposed theory is true.
The teachings of the Buddha have been verified millions of times over the last 2,500 years by the personal experience of those who have realized the stages of awakening.

However, even if we're not yet at the stage in our practice where we can verify the full extend of the Buddha's insight, we can start by checking out some of the basic teachings:
For instance, the Buddha claimed that good karma, like generosity, is synonymous with happiness.

We can just try it out - let's do some kind, good and generous action, and then find out in personal experience what it feels like!

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

.
33 min
February 22, 2023Why Walking Meditation is so Beneficial and Important | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri | Cankama /Jongrom / Sakman Bhavana
Ajahn Dhammasiha reminds us that walking meditation is not in any way inferior to sitting meditation. Monks have realized full awakening while walking meditation, and some have even attained Parinibbāna (Nibbāna element without remainder at the 'Death' of an Arahant) while walking. The Buddha practised walking meditation a lot, and he walked over the whole central Ganges valley throughout his life out of compassion to spread the Dhamma. We all should practise walking meditation regularly, and if we so prefer, we can use walking as the main posture for our meditation.
Ajahn explains about the ideal length of the walking meditation path (20 to 25 paces), the best direction (roughly east-west), and encourages us to walk naturally, not in extreme slow motion.

There are two basic options how to cultivate walking meditation, and we can choose either of them:
Using the sensation of walking (e.g. feeling the feet touching the ground) as the meditation object

Walking is simply a posture, like sitting, but we take any of the meditation objects the Buddha recommended and attend to it while walking. For instance 'Buddho', or Loving Kindness (Mettā), or Mindfulness of Breathing (Ānāpānasati). Our mind is quite capable to manage the walking activitiy in the background, so to speak, and to mainly focus on the meditation object at the same time.

The Buddha himself mentioned five advantages of walking meditation:
One gets trained in stamina and becomes able to walk long distances

One gets trained in putting forth effort and to endure strenuous exertion

One improves general health

The food one ingests is properly digested

Samādhi developed while walking does last a long time

Anguttara Nikāya/Numerical Discourses, Fives, #29

More ab
out 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

.
43 min
February 20, 2023Raise Your Mind to Connect with Visiting Senior Ajahns | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to uplift our mind to a higher level, to better connect with Luang Por Liem during his visit in three weeks time. The purer our heart, the better we will be able to tune into profound teachings and comprehend them.
In Australia and many countries mobile networks are being upgraded to 5G. However, if our phone only has 4G capabilities, we won't be able to receive the super high speed of 5G. A 4G phone will only ever receive in 4G, it can't tune into the new 5G signal.
Similarly, if we wish to receive the full benefits of the teachings and presence of a visiting meditation master, we have to 'upgrade' our mind to a higher level.
How do we do that?
Generating good karma ('puñña'), to brighten our mind and suffuse is with wholesome joy and happiness

Observing the 5 precepts meticulously, to experience freedom from remorse ('avippaṭisāra'), clear conscience, and blameless happiness ('anavajja-sukha')

Developing Samādhī ('unification of mind' / 'concentration') to free our mind from the five hindrances and increase the level of mindfulness ('sati') and awareness ('sampajaññā')

Cutivating Right View ('Sammā-Diṭṭhi'), conviction in the efficacy of karma, confidence that there are beings that have freed their hearts from all defilements and fetters, and that total release, Nibbāna, can be experienced by ourselves if we follow the 8 fold noble path as expounded by the Buddha

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

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJw

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

...
37 min
February 14, 2023Meeting Krooba Ajahns and Reconnecting with Sangha in Thailand | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha shares his joyful experience of meeting senior monks and monastic kalyāna mittas (spiritual friends) in various forest monasteries during his recent travels in Thailand and Malaysia.
He reports from Wat Pah Nanachat, the international Forest Monastery founded by Ajahn Chah in 1975

Meeting Luang Por Liem, Ajahn Chah's successor as abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong, currently the leading senior monk of the whole lineage of Ajahn Chah

Visiting Ajahn Jundee's monastery Wat Ampawan

Staying at Wat Marp Jan with Ajahn Anan

Visiting Luang Por Tongdaeng at his monastery Wat Doi Phra Jao Ton Luang near Chaing Mai

Two days with Ajahn Khantiko at his small hermitage Wat Doi Mongkolsathan in the mountains

His one week stay at Wat Anandagiri with Ajahn Achalo

And his time at SBS Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuaty in Malaysia

In particular, he mentions some Dhamma advice he received from Luang Por Tongdaeng about dukkha vedana contemplation, and about repitition of the powerful mantra: "Iti pi so Bhagavā...".

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

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJw

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

.
1 hr 1 min
February 08, 2023 Remorse after Bombing Campaign | Dhamma Talk | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage
Ajahn Dhammasiha shares the fascinating story related by Ajahn Amaro of meeting an old Air Marshall who organized bombing campaigns in second world war.
Coming from a simple background, the retired Air Marshall told Ajahn Amaro that the only way to realize his dream of becoming a pilot in the 1930ies was by joining the Royal Air Force. He had no idea of actually fighting in a war, and was quite unaware of the political situation in Nazi Germany, and increasing signs of military confrontation in Europe.
When WW2 finally came, he quickly rose through the ranks due to his organisational talents, ending up in a position responsible for planning the British stategic bombing campaign against Germany, including the devastating attack on Dresden.
He related to Ajahn Amaro how after the war, he felt remorseful about the amount of death and destruction caused by the bombing, and made a point of personally visiting every German city he had planned to bomb.
He finally decided to dedicate the rest of his life to the task of trying his utmost to prevent any such war ever to happen again in the future.

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

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJw

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

.
33 min
January 29, 2023 Morning Chanting SBS Sasanarakkha Part 02 | Pali & English Recitation | Bhante Ariyadhammika | Ajahn Dhammasiha
Listen to Part 01 on Apple/iTunes
Listen to Part 01 on Spotify

During his stay at Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS), Taiping, Malaysia, Ajahn Dhammasiha was kindly giving permission to make this recording of their Friday Morning Chanting.
SBS has a comprehensive training program for bhikkhus (Buddhist monks). In order to cover a wide range of chants for the monks to gradually master, both morning and evening chanting move through a roster of various chants. This recording covers the Friday morning chants, in particular including the Mātikā and Vipassana-Bhūmi chants traditionally recited at funerals. Some of the chants are also done in English language.
Bhante Ariyadhammika, the Sanghapariṇāyaka of SBS (leading senior monk/teacher/preceptor), personally leads the chanting.
The resident sangha here chants with a very powerful deep bass voice, in fact the most bass chanting style I have encountered anywhere in Theravada monasteries so far 🗣. Even with the limitations caused by my mobile recording equipment, you will notice the deep bass if you use good round-the-ear headphones 🎧, or large loudspeakers 🔊 .
(The build-in speakers in mobile phones or even tablets woun't be able to convey the bass fully - but it's still a nice morning puja to listen to 🙂 )

If your interested to learn more about the actual meaning of what is chanted, you can download the full version of the SBS Chanting Book, in Pali + English translations, as a PDF File (about 8MB) here:
https://github.com/sasanarakkha/pali-english-recitations/releases/download/build_17.01.2023_06-53/SBS-Pali-English-Recitations.pdf

More info on SBS and their excellent training program for monks hailing from all over the world is available here:
https://sasanarakkha.org/

Dhammagiri Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Spotify Playlists⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dhammagiri Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pics⁠⁠⁠

#buddhistchanting #chanting #palichanting #palirecitation #buddhism
37 min
January 24, 2023 Watching the Mind | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Talk on Buddhism at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage
Ajahn encourages us to watch our mind all the time.
Even when we meditate, we're careful not to focus exclusively on the meditation object, but to simultaneously be aware of the general state of our mind, and how our mind relates to the meditation object.
When we train to do that in our formal meditation, we develop the skill to be able to also watch our mind continously while we're engaged in the activities of daily life.

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

Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJw

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

.
28 min