Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

The essential act that makes one a Buddhist is Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Then one's life begins to centre on spiritual, not mundane values. Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called Not Just a Matter of Recitation by Sangharakshita from the talk Going for Refuge given in 1965. This talk is part of the series The Meaning of Conversion in Buddhism.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called Misapprehensions and Misunderstandings. What if all of our emotional and spiritual problems were caused by an incorrect understanding of our true nature? Vajrapriya explores the Buddha's insight that our commonsense assumptions about ourselves are the source of our suffering. Unpicking those assumptions is the first step to the arising of a wisdom that leads to an expansive and liberating way of relating to others and the world. From the talk, The Selfless Mind, talk 2 in a series of 4 talks entitled 'Powers of the Mind' given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, April 2011.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today drops us into the realm of ritual with a No Labels in Reality. One of the dominant themes in The Diamond Sutra is animitta samadhi, no-thing is supported by any other thing, there is no gift, no giver, no receiver. Excerpted from The Diamond Sutra, a gem of a talk by Abhaya. With his customary dry wit and sharp eye he leads us on the crazy paving path through the Diamond Sutra - a text guaranteed to turn your world upside-down. Some very funny parts to this talk - and some excellent evocations of rigorous Dharma practice as part of the everyday business of life. Watch out too for an intriguing discussion of the sutra as Vajrapani and as a zen master... Great stuff! Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order national Order weekend 2003

Avalokitesvara plays a key role in the Heart Sutra. In our FBA Dharmabyte today, Avalokitesvara in the Heart Sutra , Taranita charts the history and symbolism of this archetypal figure across Buddhist history and cultures.

Our FBA Dharmabytetoday is an introduction to Padmasambhava:: Overcoming Demons. Padmasambhava, often known as the 'Second Buddha', is famous for converting the demons of Tibet. From the talk Padmasambhava: Tantric Guru of Tibet by Sangharakshita, 1972.

Our FBA Dharmabytetoday is from Vajratara entitled: Ksitigarbha’s Jewel. If you really want to have everything, the teaching of Ksitigarbha is not to just give you what you want, but rather to help you change your mind. That state of mind is the bodhicitta, the heart-mind of enlightenment. From the talk, Ksitigarbha given by Vajratara at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre (2nd May 2006), as part of a series on the Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today drops us into the realm of ritual with a Manjusri Mantra with Harmonies. From a special Sevenfold Puja recorded on at Jikoji Retreat Center, California, 2008 on a Triratna Buddhist Order Convention. This excerpt is lovely harmonic chanting of the Manjushri (Manjugosha) mantra. Listen to the full puja - it's unusual to hear these rituals performed in Sanskrit and English, so a real treat for all ritual lovers courtesy of Satyadhana, the puja leader. There's also a special section of chanting at the end, wishing long life for Punya, a much-loved member of the Order who was seriously ill at the time of recording.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called Receiving the Green Tara Sadhana. Here's an excerpt from a great treat from Taraloka Retreat Centre, where Sangharakshita inaugurates their new shrine cabin dedicated to Tara - the radiant Bodhisattva of compassion, inspiration to many who lead a Buddhist life aspiring to beauty and a steady openness in the face of the mysteries of existence. From the talk, On Tara, by Sangharakshita.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Conversion of Shariputra by Sangharakshita, from the talk The Meaning of the Dharma given in 1968. Dharma is the experience of reality, and also the expression of that experience in the form of the Buddha's teaching, especially the law of conditionality. It is the raft that carries you to Enlightenment, the further shore; it is whatever helps you to develop spiritually. This talk is part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

Even more storytelling! Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Mystery of the Buddha, the beginning of a short talk by Khemasuri where she Khemasuri tells the story of Angulimala's meeting with the Buddha. From a talk of the same title, The Mystery of the Buddha.

More storytelling! Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Story of Hatthaka an excerpt from the talk of the same title by Ratnaprabha. A brilliantly told story from the Pali Canon, about Hatthaka, who used the 4 sangraha vastus, the four means of creating a sangha, to do exactly that. The four are: generosity, kindly speech, good works or action and exemplification. Ratnaprabha explains these in the companion talk: The 4 Sangraha vastus.

Best-known stories brought together humour and lightness in Buddhist scriptures. Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Story of Little Ugly from the talk, Encounters with Enlightenment, by Saddhaloka, the author of a book of re-tellings of stories from the Pali Canon, the oldest collection of texts about the life and teachings of the Buddha. Here Saddhaloka talks about the tradition of storytelling in Buddhism, and recounts some of his own favourites. His obvious love of the tales comes shining through - sit back and enjoy... Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2001

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Opening of the Buddha Eye by Sangharakshita. This excerpt, from the lecture, The New Man Speaks, celebrates the anniversary of the Buddha's decision to teach, with an account of the events just after his Enlightenment, given in 1971.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called The Praise of Pinghiya, an excerpt from, "Pinghiya's Praises Of The Way To The Beyond", a talk given by Vadanya at Sangha Night, Sheffield Buddhist Centre on 19th February 2008. Part of a series on stories and symbols.

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called Becoming a Sage - On Faith by Paramananda. Faith, or confidence, not in the Buddha as a supernatural power, but rather recognizing him as a human being, even on the archetypal level. The Buddha represents us and our quest for Enlightenment. From the talk Becoming a Sage - the Buddha's Struggle, a talk for Buddha Day at the West London Buddhist Centre, celebrating the Buddha's long struggle leading up to his Enlightenment.