Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts

By Dhammagiri Forest HermitageReligion & Spirituality Buddhism

Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts episodes

August 14, 2020 Pouring Water to Share Good Karma in Buddhism
When Buddhist make good Karma ('puñña') by offering almsfood to the monastic community ('Sangha'), they traditionally invite departed relatives to join and receive a share of the merits. While the monks chant the blessing, the donors think of their relatives and simultaneously pour water from a small bronze vessel into a receptacle.Ajahn Dhammasiha explains the symbolic meaning of the act of pouring water. The discussion is very lively, as two 10 and 11 year old kids come up with all kinds of amazing ideas what water could symbolize:Pouring from one vessel to the next like good karma transferred from this world to the plane where the relatives are rebornPouring from one vessel to the next like consciousness connecting form one life to the next rebirthWater is a cleansing agent and thus a symbol for mental purificationWater is the most important nutriment, we can't live without it.Water serves to cool us down - like the Dhamma cools our passions and anger, till we reach the supreme coolness of NibbānaWater is used in cooking/baking/concrete mixing - As a binding agent of disparate ingredients it is a symbol for harmonyWater symbolizes strength and energy, like the turbines in a huge damWater doesn't stay in any place forever, it evaporates and changes and moves all the time. Thus it's a simile for impermanencewww.castbox.fm/ch/2744970www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks
45 min
August 12, 2020 The Miracle of Compassion in Buddhism - Short Reflection by Ajahn Dhammasiha
Compassion ('Karuṇā') has the miraculous, transformative power to uplift our mind, keep it bright and whoesome and confident, and raise it above the pain and distress we experience when we witness intense suffering in other beings.The Buddha himself radiated such strong compassion that everyone meeting him felt a sense of relief and unburdening from whatever suffering ('dukkha') they were experiencing.Similar, albeit on a more modest level, we all can use the power of compassion in our heart and direct it to others, in order to provide some subtle and subconsciously felt alleviation of their pain.www.castbox.fm/ch/2744970www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks
8 min
August 11, 2020Breath and 4th Satipatthana | Guided Buddhist Meditation | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri | Anapanasati & 4th Foundation of Mindfulness
The Buddha explained that Mindfulness of In and Out Breath (Ānāpāṇasati) can develop all 4 Satipaṭṭhāna (Foundations of Mindfulness).
In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha uses the instructions of the Buddha as given in Ānāpāṇasati Sutta (Middle Length Discourses/Majjima Nikāya #118) to lead us in developing the 4th Foundation of Mindfulness, 'Contemplation of Dhamma':
We train ourselves to breathe in and our contemplating impermanence

We train ourselves to breathe in and out contemplating fading away/dispassion

We train ourselves to breathe in and our contemplating ending/cessation

We train ourselves to breathe in and our contemplating letting go

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29 min
August 07, 2020 Essential Teachings of the Buddha: 'Not-Self' (Anattā) - Ajahn Dhammasiha
Ajahn Dhammasiha points out that the Buddha did not teach Not-Self to establish a theory or philosophy. The Buddha is not concerned with theorizing or arguing about philosophical views. His one and only concern is to get us out of suffering (dukkha); to teach us to end ageing, sickness, death and new rebirth; how to end all disappointment, frustration and pain. Not-Self if a meditative tool to achieve that through letting go.The Buddha explains that we actively create the delusion of Self, we generate the attitude of possessiveness, we regard things as me, mine and Self. Ownership can not be determined 'objectively', but we subjectively project it into our experience.The Buddha shows, however, that any such projection and delusion of me, mine & Self will ultimately create disappointment and suffering for us. The point is not to argue whether there's a Self or there's no Self. The point is what is the result of regarding things as self and mine. And that result is always suffering in the end.Once the mind can clearly see and understand that regarding form, feeling, perception, intention and consciousness results in suffering, then the mind will let go as a direct consequence of that insight, and our suffering will end.www.dhammagiri.org.au www.castbox.fm/ch/2744970 www.tinyletter.com/chammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks
45 min
August 05, 2020 Reflections on Anattā ('Not-Self') - Ajahn Dhammasiha
The only possible foundation for the delusion of Self, me and mine is the five groups of clinging ('pañcupādānakkhandhā'):Form (Rūpaṃ)Feeling (Vedanā)Perception (Saññā)Intention/volition (Sankhārā)Consciousness (Viññāṇa)If we contemplate these five as not me, not mine and not Self, we undermine and weaken the delusion. Once we can clearly see with proper wisdom as it truly is that they are not me, not mine and not Self, the delusion will be abandoned, and the heart is freed in the experience of Nibbāna.www.castbox.fm/ch/2744970www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks
23 min
August 05, 2020 Guidance for Full Moon Meditation - Ajahn Dhammadharo
After the ceremony of taking the Triple Refuge and the 8 or 5 precepts on our Full Moon Practice Day at Dhammagiri, Ajahn Dhammadharo provides words of encouragement for our meditation'Āmisa-Pūjā' (offering of flowers & incense to the Buddha) serves to bring up the right mood of faith and devotion in our mind. Then we're ready to move on to the more profound 'Patipatti-Pūjā': to give our internal effort in meditation as an offering to the Buddha.www.castbox.fm/ch/2744970www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks
19 min
August 04, 2020Not Me, Not Mine, Not I, Not Self | Guided Buddhist Meditation | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri
On the first Full Moon Practice Day in this year's rains retreat at Dhammagiri, Ajahn Dhammasiha leads a guided meditation on the theme of 'Not-Self' ('Anattā').
In the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta, the Buddha taught a short but pithy, meditative Pali formula to his first five disciples. Contemplating it wisely, the hearts of his disciples were released from all corruptions and attained Nibbāna.
However, even if our wisdom faculty is not yet developed enough to fully comprehend the meaning of this teaching, we can still apply it on the level of perception to at least point our mind in the right direction.
We're using the breath as anchor for our awareness. Then we apply this Mantra-like reflection on Not-Self to any distractions, thoughts, phantasies and so on that may arise in our mind:
"N'etaṃ mama, n'eso'ham-asmi, na m'eso attā'ti"

"This is not mine, I am not this/this isn't me, this is not my Self"
In fact, we can even apply Not-Self to the breath itself. If we don't hold on too tightly to our meditation object, our meditation will be so much smoother 😊

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

.
26 min
August 04, 2020 Setting Realistic Goals: What can we Achieve Today? - Ajahn Dhammadharo
Responding to a question from the audience, and explaining the meaning of the Pali term 'Attha' ('goal', 'purpose, 'meaning'), Ajahn Dhammadharo reminds us to set realistic goals for our Dhamma practice. Rather than aspiring to a very lofty, but distant and perhaps currently unreachable goal, we can ask ourselves: What can I achieve today?www.castbox.fm/ch/2744970www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks
25 min
July 30, 2020 Total Independence | Dhamma Talk at Dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha quotes from Udāna 3.74:"Someone dependent has wavering. Someone independent has no wavering. If there is no wavering, there is stillness. If there is stillness, there's no inclination. If there is no inclination, there's no more coming and going. If there is no more coming and going, there's no passing away and re-arising. If there is no passing away and re-arising, there's no here nor beyond nor in-between. This, just this, is the end of suffering."This terse, profound and somewhat cryptic inspired utterance of the Buddha refers to the experience of Nibbāna. Ajahn Dhammasiha offers some reflections how we can use the statement as a pointer to guide our practice towards true independence, stability, calm and freedom from suffering.castbox.fm/ch/2744970 dhammagiri.org.au tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive
46 min
July 28, 2020 Getting to Know Your Own Mind in Solitude
Ajahn Dhammasīha encourages us not to be afraid of 'being alone', but instead to actively search out solitude (at least occadionally ;-)We can train ourselves to actually enjoy solitude, and to use seclusion as a most valusble opportunity to become aquainted with our own mind.www.castbox.fm/ch/2744970www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks
31 min