Free Buddhist Audio

This week's FBA Podcast, by Padmavajra, was given during the 2013 Young men's retreat at Padmaloka.

Entitled "The Way of the Dharma Warrior", Padmavajra describes the qualities of the Dharma Warrior and how Dharma Warriors are fighting in the great battle between the spiritual community and the group – fighting for the liberation of the truly human individual against the forces of mediocrity and uniformity – the battle with Mara who embodies those forces. Padmavajra concludes with David Jones' magnificent evocation of a warrior in his poem 'The Hunt'.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte entitled "Young People and the Dharma" is from Lindsay Hannah in an address to members of the European Buddhist Union gathered at Taraloka. Here she shares an array of thought-provoking practical ways that Centres could inspire more young people to practice the Dharma.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is one of several short segments about the New Society from the talk "New Society Weekend 2011" given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre. In it, thoughts on various topics were offered by young people in the Triratna Buddhist Community. In this segment, entitled "Starting a Young Person's Group," Ben Niblock speaks on a personal level about his experiences with developing programs for young sangha members - the doubt and uncertainty of teaching the Dharma, discovering oneself by building

This week's FBA Podcast, by Vajratara, is a tour-de-force of a talk entitled "Young People, the Bodhisattva Ideal, and Padmasambhava".

Vajratara weaves together her first contact with meditation and the Dharma (being forced to go by her best-friend's Mum!), early explorations with drugs, her love of teaching, how to build a spiritual community, Padmasambhava, and the Bodhisattva Ideal.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is one of three short talks on the topic of "Inspiring Young People with the Dharma" given at given at Sheffield. Entitled "Choice in Young People's Practice," Vidyaruci speaks on the wealth of choice for young people and the importance of getting clear on making the right choices in order to seize every opportunity available to practice well going forward in life.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is one of three short talks on the topic of "Inspiring Young People with the Dharma" given at given at Sheffield. Entitled "Inspiring Young People," Kate, a member of the young sangha, offers her thoughts on being a young person in the Triratna Buddhist Community and about getting engaged in the workings of the sangha.

This week's FBA Podcast, by Dhammagita, is entitled "Dads and Mums, Truth and Lies".

Given at a Dharma Day festival talk at the West London Buddhist Centre in July 2011, here Dhammagita celebrates the Dharma – emphasising the importance of truth and authenticity – and ends with a heartfelt expression of gratitude to her own teachers.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is a set of closing remarks from Padmavajra following Guhyavajra's talk "Concepts, Symbol and Dharma as Sambhogakaya" given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre on a Going for Refuge Retreat in 2001. Entitled "The Dharma is Received" Padmavajra reflects on Dharma Day and the importance of that moment of the first full understanding of the Buddha's teachings by Kondanna.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is a segment from Sangharakshita's talk "The New Man Speaks" given in 1971. Entitled "What Do We Celebrate on Dharma Day?" here Sangharakshita speaks to the meaning of the Buddhist Dharma Day festival - a commemoration of the first impact of the enlightened man on the unenlightened world.

This week's FBA Podcast, by Sanghamani, and given during the Buddhafield East "Buddhism and the Natural World" retreat, is entitled "May All Your Weeds Be Wildflowers".

Sanghamani draws inspiration from the use of images in nature linked to the Buddhas Enlightenment, Maras assault, and calling the earth goddess to witness and how we can use them to help us contact our own fearlessness and confidence. She encourages us to see our weeds as wildflowers and use metta to plant new seeds in order to create our own Buddhafields. She also speaks personally about the Buddhafields as places that offer the perfect conditions for spiritual growth.

Listen out for and be patient with the creaking mast of the Rainbow Tent ship!