Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is entitled: "Three Facets of Imagination," an excerpt from the beginning of a two-part series by Maitreyabandhu called "A Further Reach - Imagination and the Radical." Drawing on his experience as an artist, poet and Buddhist practitioner, in these two improvised talks Maitreyabandhu shares his reflections on the role of the imagination on the spiritual life.

OurFBA Dharmabyte today is entitled: "Three Propositions.'" Candradasa presents he Buddha's three basic propositions: the nature of reality; how we see things and suffering; and transforming yourself. From Religion Without God, Part 1 - A Radical Community of Values The first talk in a four-part series looking at how you can have a full spiritual life as a 21st Century person without recourse to blind faith or setting yourself against the rational world we find ourselves in.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Dakini, the 'Lady of Space,'" Sangharakshita evokes the image of space, the sky, infinite, deep blue, and perfectly pure and introduces us to the Dakini, a strong symbol of freedom. A Dharma jewel within a Dharma jewel: from the talk "A Taste of Freedom" given in 1979. Just as the mighty ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, even so the Dharma-vinaya (Buddhism) has but one taste, the taste of Freedom. (from 'The Udana'). This brilliant and rousing tour-de-force on transcendental freedom is one of Sangharakshita's best-loved lectures.

Vajratara delivers today's DharmabyteFBA Dharmabyte, "The Things We Bow Down To." We've got this nagging feeling that things are just not right. What do we go for refuge from? What do we go for refuge to? From the talk, "Padmasambhava and the King of Tibet" given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007.

Find magic and ritual in today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Padmasambhava at Work." Parami shares what it's like ordaining someone - a channel to the transcendental. She talks about her personal link with Sangharakshita and the birth story of Padmasambhava and his taking Buddhism to Tibet - the marriage of cognition, feeling and emotion. From the talk "Energy At Its Most Abundant" by Parami given as part of a three talk series at Windhorse:Evolution, a large and successful Buddhist team-based right livelihood business.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "What is freedom?" Sagaraghosa offers a pithy talk exploring the Buddha's practical suggestions to find greater freedom in one's life - genuine freedom that does not rely on external factors to give a sense of freedom. From the talk, "The Liberated Mind," third in a series of four talks given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre in 2011 on the theme 'The Powers of Mind.'

According to Tibetan tradition, in the bardo, an 'intermediate state' in the endless round of birth and death, we are free for an instant from that round. The Tibetan book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol) describes six of these opportunities for escape from reactivity. In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Bardo of Dream," Sangharakshita describes the second of the six bardos, the bardo of dreams. From the "Psycho-Spiritual Symbolism in the Tibetan Book of the Dead" given in 1967 in the series "Aspects of Buddhist Psychology."

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Moon and Flowers," Ratnadharini beautifully explores the concepts of karma - our effect on others, and on the world. Includes a quote from Ryokan on the moon and flowers. From the talk "Karma and the Consequences of Our Actions," given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, 2005, the fourth talk in a five-part series from Tiratanaloka's retreat on the "The Four Mind-Turning Reflections".

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Unifying Symbolism of the Vajra," Sangharakshita describes the symbolism of samsara and nirvana in the vajra. From the talk "The Symbolism of the Sacred Thunderbolt or Diamond Sceptre of the Lamas" from the "Creative Symbols of the Tantric Path to Enlightenment" series given in 1971.

Forgetfulness and distraction are the rule in ordinary life, but awareness and a 'fullness of mind' is at the heart of human growth and development. Sangharakshita gives us today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Unmindfulness Defined," from the 1968 talk "Levels of Awareness: Right Mindfulness." This talk is part of the series The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Taking Awareness Deeper," Paramabandhu draws on many years of experience as a consultant psychiatrist and Dharma teacher. He invites us to consider the lessons Buddhist techniques around meditation and mindfulness training can bring to the field of mental health - especially to problems with depression and addiction. In this excerpt, he talks about taking awareness deeper to really get a sense of impermanence ‘in our bones’. From the talk, "Mindfulness for Just About Everything," given at San Francisco Buddhist Center, 2006

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Fill your Heart with Love," Vanaraji shares a personal story of learning that if you fill your heart with love, there’s no room for anything else. The full talk, "The Metta Sutta" was given at the Women's Night Class at the LBC on July 12th 2012 and includes a lovely reading of the sutra.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Be Here Now, Is It Enough?" Ratnaprabha reminds us that discomfort is caused by avoiding discomfort. Relief from suffering is found when we drop our concerns and are present in this moment. But is mindfulness alone enough structure for complete transformation? A systematic approach to changing ones habits and engaging with sangha are both important in our approach to practice. An excerpt from the talk titled "The Structure of Buddhism." West London Sangha night, May 2012.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Breath is Essential to Life" is an excerpt from the talk titled "Anatomy of the Breath." This talk provides a really good working context to help your meditation practice. Best to lie down comfortably as you listen to Padmadharshini's description of the anatomical and physiological processes involved in breathing. She's a yoga teacher as well as a meditation teacher and she draws on both those sets of skills to give this talk. And as you lie there, she'll help you tune into your own own body with some very simple exercises and suggestions. Expect to come away with some very practical tips on how to become more aware of your breathing body. The talk was given on "One Moment at a Time" retreat at Taraloka and is a companion talk to the body scan meditation led by Vidyamala.

Life's unfair, what can we do about it? We can practice the Dharma and follow the Buddha's teachings. Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "It's Not Fair!" is an excerpt from the talk "What to Do In An Unfair World" by Kalyanaprabha. A sober yet uplifting talk encourages us to practice the Dharma in the face of unfairness.