Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

The essential act that makes one a Buddhist is Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Then oneand#8217;s life begins to centre on spiritual, not mundane values. Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called Not Just a Matter of Recitation by Sangharakshita from the talk Going for Refuge given in 1965. This talk is part of the series The Meaning of Conversion in Buddhism.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called Misapprehensions and Misunderstandings. What if all of our emotional and spiritual problems were caused by an incorrect understanding of our true nature? Vajrapriya explores the Buddhaand#8217;s insight that our commonsense assumptions about ourselves are the source of our suffering.

Unpicking those assumptions is the first step to the arising of a wisdom that leads to an expansive and liberating way of relating to others and the world. From the talk, The Selfless Mind, talk 2 in a series of 4 talks entitled and#8216;Powers of the Mindand#8217; given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, April 2011.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today drops us into the realm of ritual with a No Labels in Reality. One of the dominant themes in The Diamond Sutra is animitta samadhi, no-thing is supported by any other thing, there is no gift, no giver, no receiver.

Excerpted from The Diamond Sutra, a gem of a talk by Abhaya. With his customary dry wit and sharp eye he leads us on the crazy paving path through the Diamond Sutra and#8211; a text guaranteed to turn your world upside-down. Some very funny parts to this talk and#8211; and some excellent evocations of rigorous Dharma practice as part of the everyday business of life. Watch out too for an intriguing discussion of the sutra as Vajrapani and as a zen masterand#8230; Great stuff! Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order national Order weekend 2003

Avalokitesvara plays a key role in the Heart Sutra. In our FBA Dharmabyte today, Avalokitesvara in the Heart Sutra , Taranita charts the history and symbolism of this archetypal figure across Buddhist history and cultures.

Our FBA Dharmabytetoday is an introduction to Padmasambhava:: Overcoming Demons. Padmasambhava, often known as the and#8216;Second Buddhaand#8217;, is famous for converting the demons of Tibet. From the talk Padmasambhava: Tantric Guru of Tibet by Sangharakshita, 1972.

Our FBA Dharmabytetoday is from Vajratara entitled: Ksitigarbha's Jewel. If you really want to have everything, the teaching of Ksitigarbha is not to just give you what you want, but rather to help you change your mind. That state of mind is the bodhicitta, the heart-mind of enlightenment. From the talk, Ksitigarbha given by Vajratara at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre (2nd May 2006), as part of a series on the Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today drops us into the realm of ritual with a Manjusri Mantra with Harmonies. From a special Sevenfold Puja recorded on at Jikoji Retreat Center, California, 2008 on a Triratna Buddhist Order Convention. This excerpt is lovely harmonic chanting of the Manjushri (Manjugosha) mantra.

Listen to the full puja and#8211; itand#8217;s unusual to hear these rituals performed in Sanskrit and English, so a real treat for all ritual lovers courtesy of Satyadhana, the puja leader. Thereand#8217;s also a special section of chanting at the end, wishing long life for Punya, a much-loved member of the Order who was seriously ill at the time of recording.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called Receiving the Green Tara Sadhana. Hereand#8217;s an excerpt from a great treat from Taraloka Retreat Centre, where Sangharakshita inaugurates their new shrine cabin dedicated to Tara and#8211; the radiant Bodhisattva of compassion, inspiration to many who lead a Buddhist life aspiring to beauty and a steady openness in the face of the mysteries of existence. From the talk, On Tara, by Sangharakshita.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Conversion of Shariputra by Sangharakshita, from the talk The Meaning of the Dharma given in 1968.

Dharma is the experience of reality, and also the expression of that experience in the form of the Buddhaand#8217;s teaching, especially the law of conditionality. It is the raft that carries you to Enlightenment, the further shore; it is whatever helps you to develop spiritually.

This talk is part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

Even more storytelling! Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Mystery of the Buddha, the beginning of a short talk by Khemasuri where she Khemasuri tells the story of Angulimalaand#8217;s meeting with the Buddha. From a talk of the same title, The Mystery of the Buddha.