Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Dana = Generosity" is brought to us by Sangharakshita, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community. An excerpt describing the practice of dana from the brilliant talk "Altruism and Individualism in the Spiritual Life" given in 1969 as part of the pivotal series "Aspects of the Bodhisattva Ideal."

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Neither God Nor Man" is brought to us by Sangharakshita, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community. After an account of the Buddha's life, Sangharakshita asks how, if at all, such a man can be defined or categorised. The full talk, "Who is the Buddha?" is part of the series Introducing the "Three Jewels of Buddhism" given in 1968.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Why Choose Buddhism?," Sangharakshita points out possible potentially misleading assumptions concerning Buddhism, and describes three principal avenues to a practical spiritual life. This track is from the talk "The Approach to Buddhism" given in 1966 as part of the series "Introducing Buddhism."

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Facing the Truth," Vidyamala leads us through the art of being with change in the moment. From the beautifully strong and popular talk, "Dying to Live." Vidyamala shares 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.

Faith is longing for what is possible, lucidity to what has value, and conviction as to what is real. Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Faith as Surrender, Faith as Emergence", is a little gem from the talk: 'We Know What You've Studied, But What Have You Seen?' by Kulaprabha.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte "When Reality Knocks on the Door" is a selection from the talk "What is Enlightenment?" by Jinapriya. This is a quietly passionate talk on the quicksilver nature of the Enlightenment experience - impossible to pin down, utterly transformative. When Reality knocks at the door are we able to own painful experience and surrender? Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2003

Today's FBA Dharmabyte "Come and See for Yourself" is a selected Dharmabyte from the talk "Introducing Buddhism" delivered to teacher-training students in 1966. In this excerpt, Sangharakshita explores tolerance and the freedom to grow and shows that there is no place for God in Buddhism. The full talk serves as an excellent general introduction to Buddhism.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Taking Awareness Deeper," by Paramabandhu, is from the comprehensive and invaluable talk titled "Mindfulness For Just About Everything" given at the San Francisco Buddhist Center in 2006. Drawing 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. The talk evokes the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta to explore the four traditional foundations of mindfulness and discuss their potential use in therapeutic contexts.

The great ocean is strange and wonderful... "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"- The Udana. In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "What is Freedom?" Sangharakshita explores how the Dharma vinaya is both strange and wonderful. From the cracker of a talk, 'The Taste of Freedom' given in 1979.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Salutation to the Three Jewels - The Tiratana Vandana" is a classic Buddhist salute to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. This is chanted every day the world over by practitioners from different Buddhist communities - a true touchstone for practice. Chanted by Vipulakirti

We bring to you today's FBA Dharmabyte on the eve before the full moon in July: "Celebrating Dharma Day." Here Sangharakshita shares the story of the Buddha's first teaching, the Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma, or Dharmachakra. From the talk: "The Word of the Buddha" given in 1972.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "A Touch of Magic - The Dharanis" is another gem from the Vimalakirti Nirdesha Series: "The Inconceivable Emancipation" by Sangharakshita. The Sutra's hero, Vimalakirti, was a master of the Bodhisattva's 'Skilful Means', discussed here in terms of the Magical Formulae. From the talk "On Being All Things to All Men" given in 1979.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "What is 'Magical Action'?" is a little gem from the Vimalakirti Nirdesha Series: "The Inconceivable Emancipation". Sangharakshita reminds us that the aim of spiritual life is complete emancipation, but that this aim - and in fact the whole of existence - is inconceivable. From the talk "The Magic of a Mahayana Sutra" given in 1979.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Direct and Indirect Relationships with Reality" is a subtle exploration of the direct and indirect connections with the depths of Reality. From the talk "The Bodhisattva Hierarchy" by Sangharakshita given in 1969.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Mahayana Scriptures" by Nagapriya is an overview of the vast literature of Mahayana Buddhism. He discusses how the new texts emerged, why so many are still preserved, and how they found legitimacy in the larger Buddhist tradition. In the full talk, Mahayana Buddhist Scriptures, he further explores ow Mahayana texts are different than those of the Pali Canon, why they emphasize imagination and myth, and why it remains useful for modern Buddhists to explore them despite their length and repetition. Talk given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2009 This talk is part of the series Visions of Mahayana Buddhism.