Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

Ajahn Dhammasiha reminds us that death is not the end. We do not suddenly cease to exist at the moment of death.What we call 'mind', or 'consciousness', or 'the heart' in a metaphorical sense, actually survives the death of the body, and will move on to a new rebirth depending on one's karma and desires.There is even good evidence available for survival of consciousness beyond death: There are meny cases where modern medicine succeeds in resuscitate persons who have been clinically dead already. They have no more measurable heart or brain funciton, even for several minutes, but are revived with electroshocks to the heart, artificial respiration, strong medications etc.Amazingly, a considerable number of those resuscitated report conscious experiences during the time while they were 'clinically dead'. Some even see their own body in the operating theater, and describe what doctors said or did while they were 'clinically' dead! They may also see a beautiful light that they are floating towards, travers heavenly landscapes, or meet and talk to previously deceased friends and relatives.This is know as 'Near Death Experience' (NDE). Ajahn relates some examples of such stories, and members of the audience mention events in their own circle of friends and relatives.www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive.

Ajahn offers a short (11min) reflection on the theme of 'Paccavekkhana', reviewing one's own meditation.From time to time, we have to make our own meditation our meditation object:How does our mind relate to our regular meditation objects?Are wholesome states increasing, and unwholesome states diminishing? Of perhaps the opposite?Is there mindfulness and awareness?Do we enjoy our meditation?and so on...www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive.

Nibbāna is the unshakable liberation of the heart, when all desire, aversion and delusion have been completely and irreversibly abandoned. By this realisation the heart has attained complete peace and liberation, and found the true refuge.In Saṃyutta Nikāya (Connected Discourses) #43 the Buddha gives 32 inspiring synonyms for Nibbāna (Nirvāna), the ultimate goal of our spiritual practice, and explains the way leading there.

The path leading to Nibbāna is mindfulness directed to the body, as explained in detail by the Buddha in Majjhima Nikāya #10 and #118, the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta and the Ānāpānasati Sutta.

In this recording, Ajahn Moneyyo reads abbreviated sections from the Saṃyutta #43 ('Asaṅkhata Saṁyutta') of the Saṃyutta Nikāya in English.www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

A mother asks Ajahn Dhammasiha if he could explain the benefits of meditation to her kids.Ajahn explains that meditation ('bhāvanā') can provide us with the highest benefit possible at all: Freedom from death, rebirth, and any problem we might suffer from.But even on the beginning and intermediate stages we already derive profound benefits from meditation:We experience wholesome happiness and joy internallyWe are calm and relaxedWe become more aware and mindfulWe see clearly and develop insight Additionally, Ajahn goes through the meaning of the five precepts, as they are a necessary foundation to develop meditation successfully.www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

The normal tendency of the unenlightened mind is constantly directed outwards into the external world. The Dhamma of the Buddha points us in the opposite direction, right back into the mind itself, right back to our conscious experience.It's not an easy task to work with the mind internally, and to fully purify and release it. But at least it's a possible task, it has been done by millions of human beings. On the other hand, trying to turn this external world here on earth into perfection would be mission impossible. Fortunately, as we are working on internal purification, we have a wholesome, beneficial influence on other beings as well. And as we're transforming our mind, the external environment will transform accordingly: We are reborn in a realm of existence that is equivalent to our internal qualities. If we have the heart of an angel, we will be reborn in a heavenly world ('Devaloka').www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Most people are very careful that their mobile phone doesn't run out of battery. Or they worry that their Tesla is out of power before they reach the next charging station ('range anxiety'). They are concerned that thay run out of money, or that the suparmarket may run out of food with current global supply chain issues.

And sure enough, we should be careful and prepare so that we don't run into trouble.

However, even more important is that we don't run out of Good Karma!

All the good things in life we enjoy are part of our accumulated good karma ('puñña'). If we didn't have any good karma, we wouldn't have any happy experiences. But whenever we enjoy good food, material wealth, caring and friendly relationships, we're using up some of the accumulated puñña. If we don't create any new puñña, we will run out one day, and will be in much bigger trouble than being stranded with an empty tank in our car.

Our concern to constantly 'recharge' good karma should be even stronger than our worries about keeping the cell phone charged!www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

When we see reports and videos of war and violence, we may experience feelings of helplessness that there's no possibility for us to stop all the carnage from happening.

However, there is one thing we always can do, which no one can take away from us:We ourselves can remain unwaveringly committed not to harm any being;Not to go to war ourselves;Not to kill, but to remain peaceful and to continue developing loving kindness.

Hatred can never be overcome by hatred, as the Buddha expounded in Dhammapada Verse #5

We can't allow the anger, violence and aggression of others to cause us to become angry and aggressive ourselves. Only if we can continue to practice non-violence and kindness will we be able to reduce the negative energy of anger in this world.www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

We have just experienced heavy flooding in Brisbane, and at the same time the war in Ukraine started. With twitter, facebook, TV and whole internet flooded by live reporting of all disasters and wars, our minds easily become flooded as well by fear, depression or anger.We have to apply the principle of the 'Middle Way' ('Majjhima-Paṭipadā') to our media consumption:One extreme is that we're glued to the screen and watch all day footage from war and disaster zones. The result is being overwhelmed by unwholesome mindstates.The other extreme would be to go into denial and completely ignore and refuse all information about disasters and war. The result would be lack of knowledge. If we don't know anything, we might even miss to evacuate in time, or we might fail to contribute to prevention of wars.The Middle Way is to know the right time, and the right measure, of media consumption.We have to pracise sense restraint, we have to guard the doors of the senses, so that we only watch as much as required to be sufficiently informed.Just so much that we know enough to take appropriate action.www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

Brisbane has just experienced the most extreme rains event in decades, with more than 600 mm precipitation in three days! (For comparison, London receives about the same amount in a whole year). Very surprisingly though, when we had outings with our visiting senior monk Ajahn X on Wednesday and Friday, we walked for hours without any rain at all.Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to not always believe the 'weather report': Sometimes the mind feels like there will be only darkness in the future. But if we don't buy it, and we go ahead and practise generosity, virtue and meditation nevertheless, our mind may surprise us by suddenly turning radiant again; just like we had two beautiful outings when the prediction was 100% likelihood of showers and rain.Never give up on the Dhamma, never lose hope in the internal radiance of your own mind! Just like the sun is always there once we fly above the clouds, so our mind can soar above all depressive mind states and shine brighly again, if we dedicate ourselves to the Dhamma with full faith and commitment.www.dhammagiri.netwww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive

As we have just experienced heavy flooding in Brisbane, Ajahn Dhammasiha discusses Suttanipāta Verses 1092 - 1095:[Kappa's question]Lost in the fearful flood that drownsus all in ageing and in death - Amidst this sea of misery where is the island that is safe?Direct me to that island, please,where I shall never drown again. [The Buddha's answer] Lost in the fearful flood that drownsyou all in ageing and in death - Amidst this sea of miseryI point an island out to you:'Own Nothing, Don't Attach to Anything'that is the island unsurpassed;It's called 'Nibbāna', and it isthe end of ageing and of death. All those who know, the mindful ones,their heart is cool right here and now.They have escaped the Evil One,he can't control them anymore. www.dhammagiri.net