Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Bhante Sujato has been absent from Australia for 2 1/2 years, so when he arrived at Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) on Tuesday everyone was interested to know where he'd been and what he’d been doing. Therefore, this session is quite different to our normal AMG evenings. Bhante gladly started the evening by recounting his time spent on a tiny island in the South China seas just off the coast of Taiwan for 2 1/2 years, translating the Buddha’s texts into plain English.

To see and read the good work being done by Bhante Sujato and his team, please visit Sutta Central.

Bhante, having spoken very little during his time away, started to lose his voice early in the evening and so the meditation, rather than the usual guided meditation, was a silent one. With the majority of us, on the night, well practised, this was a chance for us to do, as a group, our own favourite meditations. Some prefer breath meditation while others prefer metta meditation. It made for a very pleasant meditation greatly appreciated by all.

After the meditation Bhante opened to questions relating to meditation and gave us a talk on the five hindrances that the Buddha detailed in the very early suttas. Very sadly all too soon we ran out of time. We would all have happily stayed for several more hours. One doubts whether Bhante's voice would have held out that long though.  Especially when we consider that since returning to Australia, he has had to speak a great deal.  Bhante was recently on ABC Radio National, to listen to or download his interview, please click here.

An excellent evening with Bhante Sujato appreciated by all and one we hope Bhante will be willing and able to to repeat soon.

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Ajahn Sujato discusses one of the most commonly taught Dhammas or group of Buddhist teachings known as the Five Spiritual Faculties: Faith, Energy, Mindfulness, Samadhi and Wisdom or Understanding. Ajahn talks about what they mean and how to practice them.

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Ajahn Sujato offers us a reflection on Buddhism and the environment. Ajahn points out that the breath we are breathing is the same breath we are all breathing; the atmosphere. Ajahn reflects on the consequences of our actions and his concern for the future generations. Ajahn emphasises that we are we not powerless and as a Buddhist community we have a voice and we should speak for the good interest of others, our environment, nature and our planet as a whole.

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This question and answers session follows the teaching given by Ajahn Sujato entitled ‘Training the Mind to Be Happy with Metta Meditation’, given in Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Why do people give up everything they thought they wanted to attend meditation retreats?

Ajahn Sujato reflects on what it is that is causing us suffering when we sit and meditate? Why it is so difficult to have peace of mind? What is disturbing our mind? In this talk, Ajahn teaches us how to let go of our worries. 

This Buddha Dhamma talk was given in Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Following on from the audience electing to do a contemplation of death meditation, Bhante Sujato discusses the Buddhist attitude to death and how to use the contemplation of death to find greater peace and understanding in life.

Ajahn Sujato reflects on what is meant by a new year and how we can make it a happy one. Ajahn talks about how we always have choices in life and how our choices make our future and destroy countless other futures. Ajahn teaches us how to make the right choices and encourages us to consider very carefully the choices we make because they have consequences which are far beyond what we can imagine and conceive. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given by Ajahn Sujato in Colombo, Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Ajahn Sujato describes what Dhamma practitioners mean by a good time compared to most other people. Ajahn discusses how meditation teaches us what true and real happiness really is and Ajahn looks at where this happiness and peace in meditation comes from. “Holding on leads to suffering and letting go leads to peace”. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given in Colombo, Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Bhante Sujato discusses how consciousness evolves, from a raw consciousness, to an awareness of consciousness itself, to understanding the elements and conditions of consciousness.

Qustion and Answers Session folloing the Buddha Dhamma talk "Untangling Buddhist History from Legend Based on Suttas," given by Ajahn Sujato at the Royal College in Colombo during 2014.

What does the Dhamma mean for us here and now? Who was the Buddha and what relevance does he have in our spiritual practise? Ajahn Sujato reflects on how to make the Dhamma meaningful and real here and now in today’s rapidly changing world. Ajahn looks at the different texts from Buddhist traditions and distinguishes history from mythology within them. 

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

What does the Dhamma mean for us here and now?

Who was the Buddha and what relevance does he have in our spiritual practise?

Ajahn Sujato reflects on how to make the Dhamma meaningful and real here and now in today’s rapidly changing world. Ajahn looks at the different texts from Buddhist traditions and distinguishes history from mythology within them. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given at the Royal College in Colombo during 2014.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Ajahn Sujato tells the story of what happened after the Buddha became enlightened and Ajahn reflects on what people do once they become enlightened. Ajahn explains how the Buddha worked and helped people to understand the Dhamma teachings.

Ajahn points out that each one of us has the quality of goodness, wisdom, love, caring, letting go, contentment, understanding and compassion. But the question is how do we find, manifest and draw out these seeds so we can use any situation?

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Ajahn Sujato gives a Dhamma talk the evening before Australia Day and therefore talks about what it means to him to be an Australian practising Buddhism and whether there is such a thing as Australian Dhamma. Ajahn looks at the characteristics of Buddhism in Australian culture.

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Ajahn Sujato talks about some common problems we face in meditation, such as taking idioms too literary, trying to stop our mind from thinking and also worrying about reaching meditation stages and using meditation techniques. Ajahn looks at the process of breath meditation and explains how this is not about making your mind peaceful because that is doing and controlling.

“The breath wants you to calm down. If you only will let it, get out of the way, stop trying to control and let the breath soothe you, let peace come to you.”

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Ajahn Sujato discusses the fundamental, essential teaching of the Buddha ‘The Noble Eightfold Path’. In this talk, Ajahn discusses not just what the Noble Eightfold Path comprises but also what is not in the Noble Eightfold Path such as rituals.

The Noble Eightfold Path (The Middle Way)

1. Right view
2. Right intention
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right samadhi or concentration

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Ajahn Sujato speaks about how the Sangha works. Ajahn describes how the Buddhist monastic community lives and functions and how the organisation’s principles and structure teaches us to apply the Dhamma in all kinds of practical ways.

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Ajahn Sujato explores what universal loving-kindness really means and makes this Dhamma talk more fun by talking about aliens.

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Ajahn Sujato uses this opportunity to describe his recently published book entitled ‘The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Text’, written by himself and Ajahn Brahmali. Ajahn explains what the book’s about and why they produced it.

Ajahn talks about the benefits of reading and discussing the suttas, but points out that the most important thing is your own experience of the Dhamma, understanding suffering and practising the eight fold path to overcome suffering. 

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Ajahn Sujato talks about the relationship or connection between our environment, climate change and the Dhamma, Buddhism. Ajahn takes a close look at how our existence is interdependent with our environment and everything going on around us and reflects upon how to deal with our emotions about climate change such as despair, depression and fear of the future.

Little did we know until his arrival that this would be the last time Bhante would teach at the Armadale Meditation Group, at least for the forseeable future.  Despite his leaving for duties elsewhere, he gave us a sound explanation of meditation and an excelent guided beginners meditation.  The Q&A included questions about where he was going and why.  A most important task and a task worthy of his stature.  He is missed by all and we await his return.