Free Buddhist Audio

In this talk "This Precious Human Life" Kulaprabha skillfully points out that it's not every human life that is precious. Preciousness comes when our human life has arrived at the unique occasion of the 'Eight Freedoms' and at the right juncture of the 'Ten Endowments' – and when we have a faithful heart.

Given at Taraloka Retreat Center, February 2008 this talk is one of a series of talks on the Four Reminders or Four Mind-Turnings inspired by Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation'.

Today's Dharmabyte, Benefits of our Human Life is the opening track from the talk "This Precious Human Life" by Kulaprabha. Given at Taraloka Retreat Center, February 2008, this series of talks on the Four Reminders or Four Mind-Turnings are inspired by Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation'.

In this star Dharmabyte, an extract from the talk:Mindfulness of Reality, Kulananda takes us into the heart of the matter: everything is change. It's enough to make anyone think twice. Or a thousand times. And still get nowhere. But fear not - this is a clear, concise, eminently human and straightforward tour of the last of the traditional four levels of mindfulness. And Kulananda's approach is born of his experience of over twenty year's teaching on just this kind of thing. Ready? Then in we go... Kulanan

In "The Meaning of Parinirvana", Sangharakshita gives a lecture celebrating the anniversary of the Parinirvana or 'death' of the Buddha. It outlines six basic meditation practices crucial to the attainment of the 'Deathless': Enlightenment.

N.B. Last few words missing. Talk given in 1972 by Urgyen Sangharakshita.

In today's Dharmabyte, The Recollection of Death, Sangharakshita leads us with mindfulness into the practice of recollecting Death to overcome craving. From the lecture "The Meaning of Parinirvana," our next full length podcast feature. Talk given in 1972 by Urgyen Sangharakshita.

Today's Dharmabyte brings you a special reading of the story of Bahiya of the Bark Garment from the Pali Canon. Read to us by Srivati in the context of her talk "Becoming a Citizen of the Present." Talk given to the Western Buddhist Order national Order weekend, 2001

In this thoughtful, sympathetic talk, "Becoming a Citizen of the Present", Srivati expounds on the most delicate of tasks in any life – how to live in the present moment. Exploring the subtle aspects of past and present, of memory and expectation, we encounter impermanence as the touchstone of our experience through storytelling (Bahiya of the Bark Garment) and the practice of writing – especially poetry. A lovely set of challenges to become 'citizens of the present' and inhabit properly our own potential for change.

Talk given to the Triratna (Western) Buddhist Order National Order Weekend, 2001

Our Dharmabyte today reminds us that Life is Too Short to Waste. Brought to us by the dynamic and passionate Padmavajra from the talk titled "Death and Desire" part II of a three-part series titled "The Alchemy of Love". Using Shantideva's 'Bodhicharyavatara' as a root text, he brings us face to face with the big questions implicit in any life that seeks to embrace change and impermanence as facts of Reality. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004

Today's Dharmabyte features the lovely Vajradharshini in an excerpt from her talk "The Transitoriness of Life and the Certainty of Death." In "Dying with Fearlessness" we are reminded that at the time of death only the Dharma is of benefit. Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre 2005.

In this talk, "Dying to Live" Vidyamala gives a strong account of working with suffering and sorrow in life, and of transforming your experience into one characterized by contentment and a sense of meaning. From her own practice of living with chronic pain comes a sane and unsentimental perspective that affords us all a measure of genuine optimism as we meet the trials of the world: bereavements and losses of all kinds can be met with a kindness and awareness that gently ease the burden, allowing something of peace to enter our lives again.

Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order Women's Convention 2003