Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "'Faith' Followers and 'Doctrine' Followers" Suvarnaprabha explores the variety of styles of practice and individuality withint the sangha. From the talk "What is the Sangha?" a wonderful introduction to the idea of spiritual community in Buddhism, one of its greatest potential gifts to the West.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte titled: "Talking About Sunyata" Nagapriya explores the style of thought involved in conceptualizing sunyata - speaking in terms of what it isn't so as not to limit its definition. Excerpted from the talk, The Philosophy of Emptiness given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2009 as part of the series Visions of Mahayana Buddhism.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, comes to us from the talk "Simplicity" by Kamalashila titled: "Seeing Emptiness". Here he suggests a direct approach to emptiness by seeing the free and spacious nature of things, watching the motion in the mind and recognizing the elusive nature of thoughts. Talk given at FWBO Day, 2004

Beginning to Notice

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is from the talk "The Transitoriness of Life and the Certainty of Death" by Vajradarshini titled Sadness and Awakening." This is a beautiful piece on the hardest of subjects. Using zen poetry and a happily wide-ranging series of quotations (from Tibetan lamas to Ezra Pound), Vajradarshini explores her own father's death as a way to approach attitudes to death and dying.

Continuous Spiritual Death – Continuous Spiritual Rebirth

The Finger Pointing at the Moon

Amidst the complexity of Buddhist teachings, we can discern a distinctive essence lying behind the various historical forms which developed to convey the Buddha's oral message. In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Parable of the Raft" Sangharakshita describes the essence of Buddhism: the parable of the raft and the advice to Mahaprajapati Gotami. Excerpted from the talk "The Nature and Development of Buddhism."

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Four Means of Unification of the Sangha" Suvarnaprabha offers a thoroughly delightful guide as she explores the subject "What is the Sangha?" with a depth of feeling that comes startling through at times. An introduction to the idea of spiritual community in Buddhism this is a human and grounded presentation of one of the Dharma's best kept secrets, one of its greatest potential gifts to the West.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Unsupported Practice of Generosity" is an inspiring excerpt from the third in a sparkling, wide-ranging, thoroughly comprehensive ten talk series by Padmavajra on 'The Diamond Sutra' given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004. This talk is part of the series "The Diamond Sutra - Taking Mind to its Limits."

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Sharing Without Reservation " is an inspiring short talk by Sue Susnik, a mitra in the Triratna Buddhist Community. This was given on a New Society Weekend 2011 from members in the Young Buddhist's Sangha.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Four Sanghrahavastus" takes us into the heart of the Mahayana tradition - the Four Means of Unification - generosity, kindly speech, beneficial activity, and exemplifying. The Sutra's hero, Vimalakirti, was a master of the Bodhisattva's 'Skilful Means.' From the talk "On Being All Things to All Men" by Sangharakshita, given in the series: "The Inconceivable Emancipation - Themes from the Vimalakirti Nirdesha."

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Who Can We Trust?" Saddharaja poses the question in the face of the three things mankind has traditionally relied upon: God, the Father, the group, and material possessions. He then explores what we really need... a mountain of confidence embodied in the figure of Akshobya. Includes a description of Akshobya's appearance in the Bardo. From the talk, "Akshobya," given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Winter Retreat 2001

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Show of Wealth," is an excerpt from the talk "Padmasambhava and the King of Tibet" another tour-de-force from Vajratara. Looking to approach the great figure of Padmasambhava - the 'Second Buddha' - through his famous meeting with the King of Tibet. As ever, a provocative, fully engaged and fully engaging take on the Dharma and the challenges that face us on the Path. Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Bodhisattva's Gifts," by Padmavjra, is from the third talk in the series: "The Diamond Sutra - Taking Mind to its Limits." Padmavajra takes a look into the world of the Bodhisattva and the six Perfections of Wisdom, especially dana - generosity which forms an essential basis of Buddhist practice and of life.