Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

The five precepts are an expression of position emotion - they are like poetry in motion. Today's FBA Dharmabyte, Precepts as Poetry is an excerpt is from the talk Generosity As A Foundation Of Positive Emotion. Vijayasri considers how having generosity at the centre of a mandala, based on the positive precepts, can help us to develop positive emotion. This talk was given at Croydon Buddhist Centre in February 2016 as part of the Dharma study group on The Journey and The Guide by Maitreyabandhu

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, Kusala Karma = Skillful Action Vajragupta explores the meaning of kusula karma, that being skillful action. It’s not about being right, it’s about what’s human, what’s kind, what’s mindful. From the talk Positive Emotion given at Croydon Buddhist Centre in January 2016 in a study group on The Journey and The Guide by Maitreyabandhu.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, Fear, Terror, and Heroic Virtues is an exploration of the cremation ground as a symbol of transformation. Are we ready to face our own death, and the total transformation it symbolises? From the talk “The Symbolism of the Cremation Ground and the Celestial Maidens” by Sangharakshita given in 1971.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte explores four reasons Why We Fear Death drawn by Kulaprabha from the Abhaya Sutta in the Pali Canon. It's a lovely segment from a larger talk looking at the roots of fear, how it relates to change and transformation in spiritual practice, and how we can live more fearlessly. From the talk System of Meditation Retreats - Spiritual Death, Fear and Fearlessness.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte speaks here on the challenge of building a Buddhist movement. In What is a Committed Buddhist? he discusses the need for Buddhist movements to be run only by committed Buddhists and who actually practice the Buddha's teachings, not by those who merely have an intellectual interest. But how can one know who is a committed Buddhist? From the talk "Commitment and Spiritual Community", part of a series entitled "A New Buddhist Movement - the Meaning of the FWBO".

Today's FBA Dharmabyte features Dhammarati on the topic of Going for Refuge. In Mind and the Nature of Commitment he talks about setting the mind to purified intention and making correction after failure - crucial aspects in cultivating a committed Buddhist practice. From the talk "A System of Training".

Today's FBA Dharmabyte gives a short introduction by Sangharakshita to the Pali Canon in "A Passage from the Mahaparinibbana Sutta" - one of the earliest and most well-known Buddhist texts. From the talk "The Disappearing Buddha".

Padmavajra brings us into contact with the depths of the Diamond Sutra in today's FBA Dharmabyte, with this segment entitled "The Buddha's Parinirvana". Drawing on the story of the Buddha's final days, he illustrates the principle of practicing perfect generosity by giving of oneself freely and unsupported. From the talk "The Diamond Sutra - Taking Mind to its Limits: Talk 3", part of the series "The Diamond Sutra - Taking Mind to its Limits".

Today's FBA Dharmabyte brings us around to our final podcast on the Five Buddha Mandala. In Have We Really Arrived?. Kamalashila brings it all right back into this present moment. From the talk Absorption - After the Enlightenment. How do you get used to being Enlightened? What happened to the Buddha in the weeks after his breakthrough experience? Kamalasila explores these questions in two ways - using the framework of the system of meditation to shed light on the process that unfolded in the Bodhisattva's mind and body as Enlightenment dawned; and connecting us imaginatively with the symbolism and image of Muchalinda, the great serpent, coiling his body protectively round the meditating Buddha.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is titled Waking up to Cosmic Consciousness from a talk by Vajratara called The White Sovereign Buddha Vairocana. Keep your head down and carry on, don’t look into the light! If we do look up and see reality, it’s not bleak as we fear it will be but rather absolutely beautiful. When you wake up to cosmic consciousness it’s a joy and celebration.

We continue our exploration of the Five Buddha Mandala in the northern realm. Today's FBA Dharmabyte is an excerpt from the talk Touching the Void by Jnanavaca. In Falling Into Space: Amoghasiddhi Jnanavaca relates events in Joe Simpson's popular mountaineering book 'Touching the Void' to aspects of Buddhist practice. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, Amoghasiddhi: The Practical Aspect of Enlightenment, Sangharakshita introduces us to Amoghasiddhi, described as the practical aspect of enlightenment, the mysterious activity of the enlightened mind. It may be an activity of non-activity, but very efficacious none-the-less. An excerpt from The Mandala: Tantric Symbol of Integration by Sangharakshita, 1967, part of the series Aspects of Buddhist Psychology.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, The Buddha's Introduction to the Worship of Amitabha, Sangharakshita gives voice to this poetic Buddhist scripture describing the wonderful Pureland of the Buddha Amitabha. From the talk The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra by Sangharakshita

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, Amitabha's Acceptance, Saddhaloka introduces us to Amitabha, the red Buddha of the West who represents and inspires the highest love of all... The full talk entitled Amitabha was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, winter retreat, 1997

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is an Invocation to Ratnasambhava recited by Gambhiranandi, written by Vessantara, to open a Full Moon Puja dedicated to Ratnasambhava. Given at the Croydon Buddhist Centre in August 2015 as part of the regular Saturday Sangha Morning class.