Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

By Dhammagiri Forest HermitageReligion & Spirituality Buddhism

Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts episodes

July 02, 2021 Get Your Mind out of the www. and Back into the Body | Ajahn Dhammasiha
So many of us are now regularly 'losing' their mind in the www. Immersed in the virtual reality of images, videos, and endless information. But with awareness lost in proliferation on the internet, we can not establish any foundation in our meditative development. To truly cultivate mindfulness ('sati'), samādhi and wisdom ('paññā'), we have to bring awareness back into this physical body. We have to establish 'kāya-gatā sati', 'mindfulness connected with the body.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
26 min
June 24, 2021 "Don't Try to Be Anything" | Reflections by Ajahn Dhammasiha on a Quote by Ajahn Chah
At Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Ajahn Dhammsiha offers some reflections on one of his favourite quotes by Luang Por Chah:"Do not try to become anything.Do not try to be anything.Do not make yourself into anything.Do not be a meditator.Do not try to become enlightened.When you sit, just let it be.When you walk, just let it be.Grasp at nothing.Cling to nothing.Resist nothing."Ajahn Chahwww.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
27 min
June 22, 2021 "Ajahn Chah's Amazing Parami" | Reflections by Ajahn Dhammasiha on Luang Por Chah's Birthday
On occasion of the annual commemoration of Ajahn Chah's birthday, Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some reflections at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage about the exceptional 'Pāramī' ('Spiritual Perfections') of Luang Por Chah.
Nowadays, it tends to be rare to find individuals who have Pāramī mature enough that they can realize full Nibbāna in this very life. But it is even rarer that the same person additional has the talent to be an effective teacher, someone who can explain the Dhamma successfully and in a way that others get inspired to really take up the practice.
Ajahn Chah could do so!
Additionally, he could not only inspire and instruct people of his own cultural and social background, but he could relate to virtually everyone. Whether subsistance farmers of the Isan (undeveloped North-East region of Thailand) or university professors; whether hippie high school drop-outs or ministers and generals; whether Thai or Western or various other nationalites and cultures; whether rich or poor; old or young; advanced practitioners or complete newcomers to Buddhism & Meditation... Luang Por Chah could relate and inspire all of them.
On top of this exceptional combination of abilities, he was also an accomplished 'manager'/'CEO', who established a large and still growing community of hundreds of branch monasteries in 4 continents. He founded Wat Pah Nanachat as a unique monastery dedicated for training foreigners, but located in Thailand in the heart of the Forest Tradion, close to his own monastery Wat Nong Pah Pong, and providing the same style of training. He succeeded in bringing the forest tradition to Britain and other countries, with the amazing result that we now have preceptors and ordinations regularly happening in Europe, Australia and America.Let us all celebrate and recollect in gratitude the exceptional qualities of Ajahn Chah - and most importantly, let us practise diligently the teaching and training that he has left behind for us!
www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
41 min
June 18, 2021 Contemplation of Pairs/Dvayatanupassana, Suttanipata 729f | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Buddhist Pali Chanting
Pali recitation of Dvayatānupassanā Sutta ('Contemplation of Pairs') from Suttanipāta ('Group of Discourses') 2.12, Verses #729 to #771.
Chanted by Ajahn Dhammasīha in the ancient language Pāli, the language of the Buddha and the Theravāda Scriptures. The prose portions of the sutta are omitted, only the verses are chanted.
This is one of Ajahn Dhammasiha's favourite suttas. An exposition of Paṭicca-Samuppāda ('Dependent Origination') expressed in beautiful poetry, showing the Buddha in his supreme mastery of conveying an exceedingly difficult and profound subject in metric verses. The text also provides some interesting variations and additions to the standard 12 or 10 link formula of dependent origination.
An English translation by Ajahn Ṭhanissaro can be found here: https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.3.12.than.html
www.dhammagiri.net
www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJw
11 min
June 15, 2021 Reflecting on the Dangers of Sensuality to Develop Samādhi - Ajahn Dhammasiha
Many meditators find it difficult to experience calm, peace and bliss in their meditation. They often come to the conclusion that they need a better 'technique', or more flexibility to sit more comfortably, or that they have to sit longer or more frequently. That's not wrong, but the most important condition to attain samādhi is not technique, but gradually and persistently weakening the defilements in one's heart. And the first and most important hindrance to samadhi is sensuality.In his reflections, Ajahn Dhammasiha explains seven similes given by the Buddha to elucidate the dangers inherent in sensual desire (Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses #54, 'Potaliya-Sutta'):https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.054x.than.htmlIf we reflect on the danger and drawbacks of sensuality, we weaken sensual desire ('kāmacchanda'). Once sensual desire is overcome, the biggest obstacle to samādhi is removed, and the mind will settle in calm, peace in bliss much more easily.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
45 min
June 09, 2021 Alone against 10 Armies of Māra, the Buddha Won't Budge an Inch.
Ajahn Dhammasiha explains that a general needs to know his enemy very well, if he is to win the war. Fortunately, when Māra assaulted the Buddha under the Bodhi Tree with his ten armies, the Buddha knew exactly what he is dealing with. By understanding which defilements the ten armies represent, the Buddha could subue them internally in his heart, and Māra had to retreat in defeat.SensualityDiscontentHunger & ThirstCravingTiredness & LazynessFearDoubtHypocrisy & StubbornessGain, Honour, Veneration & ill-gained FamePraising Oneself & Disparaging OthersThe encounter is described in 'Padhana-Sutta' ('Exertion') in Suttanipāta ('Group of Discourses) 3.2; Verses #425-#449Translation by John D Ireland:https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.3.02.irel.htmlTranslation by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro:https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.3.02.than.htmlhttps://www.dhammagiri.org.au
39 min
June 09, 2021 AJAHN MONEYYO: "4 Poisonous Vipers - Contemplating the 4 Elements"
Our bodies and all material things are made up of the four elements:Earth ('paṭhavī-dhātu')Water ('āpo-dhātu')Fire ('tejo-dhātu')Wind (vāyo-dhātu')We are very attached to them, and try to manipulate and control them all the time. But the Buddha compares these four elements to four poisonous snakes: However much we look after and nurture them, at any time they may turn against us and 'bite' us - just like the 4 elements may at any time get out of control in sickness, accidents, attacks and 'bite' us resulting in pain, illness and death.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
52 min
June 03, 2021 Spiritual Martial Arts: Knock Out Māra - Ajahn Dhammasiha
Māra is the evil spirit who can't stand anyone escaping from his influence, and thus tries his very best to stop everyone from attaining Nibbāna. At the same time, 'Māra' is also used by the Buddha as a metaphor for the defilements in our heart, greed, hatred and delusion, that prevent us internally from reaching liberation.We can symbolically describe our spiritual practice as a martial arts fight with Māra/defilements. Just like one has to build up strength in a professional boxer, before sending him into the ring to fight the reigning world champion, so we have to gradually build up strength in our spiritual struggle. Whenever anger, lust and confusion arise in our mind, we see it as an opportunity to do some 'sparring' with defilements, to build up strength and technique for the big championship fight one day.However, as someone in the audience points out, it feels very painful to get knocked out in a real boxing fight. On the other hand, getting defeated by Māra/defilements can feel so sweet! But we should never surrender to that 'sweet defeat', as bitter regret will follow later on. Instead, we have to get up again and continue to fight back.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
20 min
June 02, 2021 AJAHN MONEYYO Vesak Reflections: Marvellous Qualities of the Bodhisatta
On occasion of Vesak, commemorating the birth, supreme awakening and final Parinibbāna of the Buddha, Ajahn Moneyyo offers reflections on the marvellous qualities of the Bodhisatta. The Bodhisatta's birth was accompanied by several miraculous events, but his extraordinary qualities extend far back into the past into previous lifes.A description of his birth in the Buddha's own words can be found in Majjhima Nikaya/Middle Length Discourses, #123 "Wonderful and Marvellous".www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
27 min
June 01, 2021Buddho - Recollection of the Buddha | Guided Buddhist Meditation | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri | Buddhanussati
On occasion of Vesak Full Moon, which commemorates the birth, supreme awakening and final Parinibbāna of the Buddha, Ajahn Dhammasiha guides a meditation on 'Buddhānussati', recollection of the Buddha.
An easy way of maintaining mindfulness on the Buddha is simply by mentally repeating 'Buddho' continuously, like a mantra.
However, the point of the meditation is not just the repetition of this word, but the emotions and feelings that are aroused in our heart while repeating the mantra:
Faith
Devotion
Conficence
Conviction
Spiritual affection to the Buddha
By keeping the mind focussed on the mantra, these emotions will naturally grow, become stronger, and ultimately carry our mind into internal, blissful unification ('samādhī').

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#meditation #buddha #buddhistmeditation #samadhi #samatha
40 min