Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

By Dhammagiri Forest HermitageReligion & Spirituality Buddhism

Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts episodes

May 19, 2022 Birth of the Buddha | Vesak at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage
Ajahn Dhammasiha relates the amazing, mind-blowing events surrounding the birth of the Bodhisatta as described by the Buddha himself in the "Acchariya-Abbhuta-Sutta"/"Wonderful and Marvellous"; #123 in the Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses.Additionally, he points out that we all can be 'Bodhisatta-Mātās'/'Mother's of the Bodhisatta' in a metaphorical sense: We all harbour the potential for awakening in our mind, which is known as 'Tathāgata-garbha' = 'Embryo of the Tathāgata' in Mahāyāna Buddhism. If we carefully nurture this seed until it reaches maturity through dedicated Dhamma practice, we will ultimately give 'birth' to the 'Buddha' = realize Awakening.https://www.dhammagiri.nethttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwhttps://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
33 min
May 18, 2022 Great Final Nirvana of the Buddha ('Maha-Parinibbana') | Vesak at Dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha offers reflections on the Final Parinibāana of the Lord Buddha on occasion of Vesak.
He explains why the Buddha decided to spend his last rains retreat not in the famous Jetavana at Savatthi, like the last 15 years, but instead with the Licchavis in Vesāli.
He describes several main events at the Buddha's final passing, including the Buddha's last words, and the verses spoken by his great disciple Ven Anuruddha.
At the end, the community recites a passage from Anguttara Nikāya/Numerical Discourses, Book of Ones, #13.1; 13.5 & 13.6, extolling the unique qualities of the Buddha.https://www.dhammagiri.nethttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwhttps://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
46 min
May 17, 2022 Bhagava, Araham, Buddho - Recollection of the Buddha | Guided Buddhist Meditation | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri | Buddhanussati | Vesak
In this guided meditation, during the Vesak Full Moon program at Dhammagiri, Ajahn Dhammasiha uses the Mantra:
"Bhagavā Araham Buddho - Buddho Araham Bhagavā"
as a form of 'Buddhānussati', Recollection of the Buddha.
Remembering the Buddha with the help of a Mantra is an easy and very straightforward method of establishing one's Samatha/Samādhi meditation. Many of the great Ajahns of the Forest Tradition used Buddhānussati as their foundational meditation object ('Parikamma') with good effect.
Remembering the Buddha brings up the qualities of faith, confidence, conviction and devotion in our mind. As these emotions are getting stronger with every repetition of the mantra, they start to generate a wholesome form of happiness, called 'pāmojja' in Pāli.
As the meditation progresses, the happiness develops into rapture and bliss ('pīta-sukha'). We can then allow ourselves to be immersed and suffused by that rapture and bliss, until they ultimately carry our mind into internal, blissful unification - Samādhī.

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28 min
May 11, 2022 The Buddha's Great Renunciation | Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Dhammasiha
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the "Great Renunciation", how the Buddha left the pampered life as prince behind, and set out alone to find freedom from suffering and death:
The Buddha's father, King Suddhodhana, had confined his son, the young Bodhisatta, in the pleasure palace, where he tried to keep all suffering away from him. He wished for him not to renounce, but to continue in household life, and to become a most powerful wheelturning emperor. No old or sick persons were ever allowed into his presence, and all flowers were removed before he could see them wilting.
However, when the Bodhisatta went on an outing to the pleasure gardens, he encountered a very old man. Having never seen anyone old at all, he enquired from his Charioteer, Channa:
"Who is that? What happened to him?"
Being informed by Channa, he returned straight back to the palace and started contemplating.
"Will I become so old one day as well? What about my beautiful wife Yasodhara? How about my own father and family?"
The same happend on similar outings when he encountered a sick person and a dead body, and finally, on the last outing, the Bodhisatta saw a calm and peaceful looking renunciant. He resolved to leave the palace life behind right today, and to become a homeless ascetic himself.
He rode out into the Indian Full Moon Night on his white stallion Khantaka, cut of his hair and beard with his sword, and started his spiritual journey.
Ajahn Dhammasiha points out that this story is also a powerful metaphor for our own mind. Like the Buddha's father, our own mind tries to hide the realites of old age, sickness and death from ourselves, so that we can continue "living in the pleasure palace" = enjoying the sensual pleasures in life.
If we can break out of this delusion, we can set out on a spiritual search, just like the Bodhisatta.https://www.dhammagiri.nethttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwhttps://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
43 min
May 10, 2022 AJAHN KARUNIKO | Dhamma Discussion and Q&A at Dhammagiri
Venerable Ajahn Kāruṇiko has been a Bhikkhu for 37 years. He ordained at Cittaviveka Monastery as a disciple of Luang Por Sumedho in the early 80ies, and has served as abbot of Cittaviveka from 2015 to 2020. He has also spent 3 years with Luang Por Anan at Wat Marp Jan in Tailand.
Cittaviveka is the first monastery of the tradition of Ajahn Chah outside of Thailand. Ajahn Chah has personally visited the property, and provided guidance and encouragement to Ajahn Sumedho during the very difficult foundation and renovation period.
You can learn more about Chithurst Monastery here:
https://www.cittaviveka.org
We're grateful that Luang Por Karuniko was able to finally visit Dhammagiri, after a delay of 2 years due to pandemic restrictions in Australia, and for his generous sharing of Dhamma.
More information about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: https://www.dhammagiri.net
Our Youtube Channel, "Dhammatalks at Dhammagiri":https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJw
Dhammagiri Newsletter:https://www.tinyletter.com/Dhammagiri/Archive
1 hr 9 min
May 04, 2022 AJAHN KARUNIKO | The Refuge from Thinking: Body Awareness EdNormGMic
During his visit to Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Ajahn Kāruṇiko addresses a very common problem in meditation - too much thinking.Luang Por encourages us to bring awareness into the Body. The Buddha himself warned us that whoever neglects mindfulness directed to the body, neglects the path to the deathless. If we can establish mindfulness and awareness within our body, we will be able to let go of excessive thinking.Ajahn Kāruṇiko has been a Bhikkhu for 37 years. He ordained at Cittaviveka Monastery as a disciple of Luang Por Sumedho in the early 80ies, and has served as abbot of Cittaviveka from 2015 to 2020. He has also spent 3 years with Luang Por Anan at Wat Marp Jan in Tailand.You can learn more about Chithurst Monastery here:https://www.cittaviveka.orgMore info about Dhammagiri and Luang Por's visit in Brisbane is here:https://www.dhammagiri.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwhttps://www.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive.
25 min
May 03, 2022 AJAHN KARUNIKO | GUIDED MEDITATION at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage
During his visit at Dhammagiri, Luang Por Kāruṇiko kindly agreed to lead a guided meditation for our regular Sunday afternoon program.He begins by reminding us to be aware of our intention when we meditate:Are we trying to get something out of it?Are we trying to repeat a previous very pleasant experience?Ajahn Kāruṇiko has been a Bhikkhu for 37 years. He ordained in Cittaviveka Monastery as a disciple of Luang Por Sumedho in the early 80ies, and has served as abbot of Cittaviveka from 2015 to 2020. He has also spent 3 years with Luang Por Anan at Wat Marp Jan in Tailand.You can learn more about Chithurst Monastery here:https://www.cittaviveka.org/More info about Dhammagiri and Luang Por's visit in Brisbane is here:https://www.dhammagiri.nethttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwhttps:/www.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive.
31 min
April 26, 2022 The Chithurst Story: George Sharp's Commitment to Cittaviveka | Ajahn Dhammasiha
On occasion of Ajahn Karuniko's visit, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the foundation of Cittaviveka Monastery in 1979.
Cittaviveka, in Sussex, England, is the first monastery of the tradition of Ajahn Chah in a Western country. Ajahn Dhammasiha relates crucial events of its establishment, as described in the book "The Chithurst Story" by George Sharp. It required great courage and dedication from George Sharp as secretary of the 'English Sangha Trust', and very hard work and sacrifice by the sangha and countless volunteers, to turn a derelict English country manor into beautiful Chithurst monastery with a thriving community of monks, nuns and lay guests.
You can read the details in the free PDF version of book here:
https://amaravati.org/dhamma-books/the-chithurst-story-before-beyond/
There's also a BBC documentary on youtube, filmed in the early days of Cittaviveka and containing footage of Ajahn Chah during his visit there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K_AFgRgRu4
(this version contains Thai and Chinese subtitles, and is much better visual quality (720p) than the other versions available on youtube.)
There's another BBC Documentary, "The Mindful Way" from 1979, about life at Ajahn Chah's monastery Wat Nong Pah Pong (unfortunately only in 240p):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GOQp0fTIo4Info about Dhammagiri here:www.dhammagiri.net
58 min
April 18, 2022 We Have to Save Us Ourselves | Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Dhammasiha
"We ourselves have to be our own saviour,
No one else can be our saviour.
If we train ourselves well,
We have found a Saviour that's hard to find."
"Attā hi attano nātho,
Ko hi nātho paro siyā.
Attanā hi sudantena
Nāthaṃ labhati dullabhaṃ"
Dhammapada Verse #160
It is a hallmark of the Buddha Dhamma that it doesn't point to any external agency, any supreme god or deity, to effect deliverance for us. Instead, the Buddhas can only point out the path, but we have to walk it ourselves.
This is perhaps a bit inconvenient, as we have to do the work ourselves. But on the other hand, it means that we do not depend on anyone outside either. Together with the guidance of the Buddha, and the support of Dhamma and Sangha, we have the full potential in ourselves to discipline and develop our mind until we attain release from all suffering.
37 min
April 12, 2022 Body Contemplation - Hair, Nails, Teeth, Skin | Ajahn Dhammasiha
Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question about the nature of the human body, and how to contemplate it.
He brings up the first five mediation objects that are taught to every monk or nun at their novice ordination. The Buddha considered these five to be of such fundamental importance, that he made it a duty for the upajjhāya (preceptor) to teach them to each condidate as part of the ordination ceremony:
Kesā = Hair of the HeadLomā = Hair of the BodyNakhā = Nails (on fingers and toes)Dantā = TeethTaco = Skin
These five is actually all we see when we look at a human body!
Contemplating these five objects reduces the attraction, deisire and attachment we normally feel towards the body. The hair, nails, teeth and skin even of a beautiful model or handsome movie star are actually not really attractive.
Once we can abandon the attachment and desire towards the body, consciousness will not grasp at a new body after death, and the round of repeated birth and death, 'Saṃsāra', comes to an end, and our heart experiences release.www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
40 min