Buddhist Society of Western Australia

"Meditation is better than sex!" So says Ajahn Brahm who is happy to celebrate the benefits of celibacy.

People often want to take the easy way. This includes in Buddhism where there are no shortage of "short cuts to Enlightenment". However, as Ajahn Brahm explains, there are no effective short cuts, only the Eightfold Path. And whilst we may not always get what we want, we usually get what we need.

Is it really possible to be happy in the world? Or is there something inherently wrong with the system, and no matter what we do with our relationships, with our circumstances, with our mind, that we can't really be happy? Ajahn Brahm takes us deeper into the notion of what happiness really is, and how true happiness can be found.

Often we feel disappointed with how our lives are progressing and how our progress on the spiritual path is going. Ajahn Vayama tries to put this all in perspective by seeing the bigger picture of where we are at on our spiritual journey.

Often we are tempted to try to take charge of things in the world and fix the world's problems. Ajahn Brahm queries this urge to control, and says that another way is to understand and adapt. Indeed control freakery is very much the cause of the problems of the world and being another control freak is not necessarily the answer at all. Ajahn Brahm also refers to the example of the Buddha who could have become a "wheel turning monarch" ruling over much of the world, but instead chose to become the world's wisest teacher.

Ajahn Brahm points out that there's really nothing very wrong with procrastination, and that it's our perfectionism and constant doing that is the real problem. So why do today what we can put off for tomorrow? Just be happy for now. And if you can be happy you're on the track to understanding the meaning of life.

Ajahn Brahm explains why guilt is pointless and often very emotionally damaging, and how becoming aware of this helps us to let go of guilt and experience a greater sense of peace.

Where does wisdom come from? Not from universities - they teach old knowledge. Wisdom comes from a deep, all-round knowing in the present moment - it is empowered by a mind stabilized by the deep silence and peace of meditation. Ajahn Brahm how silence is the source of deepest wisdom.