Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Dhamma Talk ‘What Makes Buddhism Unique’ and Questions and Answers by Ajahn Brahmali given on the 24^th September 2023 via video conference for Anukampa.

Anukampa is a UK Charity and pioneering project that is raising funds to develop the first Theravada Bhikkhuni Monastery in the UK, where women can train towards full ordination. Donations of any amount are very gratefully received to help us achieve this noble aim, welcome you as guests and continue to spread the priceless Dhamma teachings.

Please visit www.anukampaproject.org/donate for more information.

Teaching retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwkXh2KWUXs (YouTube Channel: Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project)

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

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

Monday Night Meditation at Wat Dhammayanaram, Cambodian Society of WA (CBSWA) with Venerable Sunyo on 24 July 2023. These weekly teachings give an introduction into Meditation and some guidance and basics into the practice of the Buddhist Path. They usually consist of a short talk, thirty minute meditation and then questions & answers.

Venerable Sunyo was born in the Netherlands and became interested in Buddhism and meditation near the end of high school. In 2013, after finishing University, he moved to Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia to become a monk.

Please support BSWA in making these teachings available by donating via Patreon or our General Expenses Fund.

To download the audio, click on the audio track’s title to open it up in Podbean.

More dhamma teachings are available from:

• BSWA Podcast Channel (Dharma talks and guided meditations)
• BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel (retreats and suttas)
• BSWA YouTube Playlists
• Books and articles are available on our website.

Teaching retrieved from CBSWA please visit https://thecbswa.org to find out how to attend the monastery in person.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

This teaching includes a 30 minute guided meditation, followed by a Dhamma talk by Dennis. Dennis Sheppard has been involved with the Buddhist community since 1976, joining the Buddhist Society of Western Australia in 1978 as a young man interested in meditation and spiritual practice. He went on to serve multiple terms as president, as well as serving in several other capacities including designing several buildings for both monastics and the lay community. Dennis's talks delve deep to explore reality, deep meditation and the meaning of life. Dennis was recently awarded life membership for his services.  

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

Apologies, the audio is rather soft - please use headphones. Steven Towler has been a Buddhist for over fifty years and is a Dhamma Group facilitator at Wat Dhammayanaram managed by the Cambodian Buddhist Society WA. Steven spent 7 rains as a monk in the Thai Forest Tradition learning from teachers including Acharn Fun, Acharn Baen and Acharn Tate. Steven has skillfully translated text from teachers such as Luang Poo Tate, Luang Ta Maha Boowa and Acharn Piak from Thai to English.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.
While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2023). Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

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

Monday Night Meditation at Wat Dhammayanaram, Cambodian Society of WA (CBSWA) with Venerable Sunyo on 17 July 2023. These weekly teachings give an introduction into Meditation and some guidance and basics into the practice of the Buddhist Path. They usually consist of a short talk, thirty minute meditation and then questions & answers.

Venerable Sunyo was born in the Netherlands and became interested in Buddhism and meditation near the end of high school. In 2013, after finishing University, he moved to Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia to become a monk.

Please support BSWA in making these teachings available by donating via Patreon or our General Expenses Fund.

To download the audio, click on the audio track’s title to open it up in Podbean.

More dhamma teachings are available from:

• BSWA Podcast Channel (Dharma talks and guided meditations)
• BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel (retreats and suttas)
• BSWA YouTube Playlists
• Books and articles are available on our website.

Teaching retrieved from CBSWA please visit https://thecbswa.org to find out how to attend the monastery in person.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

Sutta References for this talk:
(A) Meditation
1. Body Scan - Kāyagatāsati sutta (Mindfulness of the Body) MN 119 
2. Two essential factors for Meditation: Well purified ethics & correct view – Bhikkhu Sutta (A Monk) SN 47:3
3. Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (Two Kinds of Thoughts) MN 19
4. Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (Stopping/Calming of Thoughts) MN 20

(B) First Part of the Talk: Turning Points
1. Buddha’s Autobiography - Ariyapariyesanā Sutta (Noble Search) MN 26
2. First Dhamma Discourse – Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Rolling Forth the Wheel of Dhamma) SN 56:11
3. Establishment of Bhikkhuni Order – Gotamī Sutta (With Gotamī) AN 8:51

(C) Second Part of the Talk: Dhamma Bonus Points for our Welfare & Happiness
1. Five Aggregates
a. Maha Punnamā Sutta (The greater Discourse on the Full-Moon Night) MN 109
b. Dutiyagaddulabaddha Sutta (A leash) SN 22:100

2. Five Hindrances
a. Maha Assapura Sutta (The greater Discourse at Assapura) MN39
b. Saṅgārava sutta (With Saṅgārava) SN 46:55

3. Five Precepts / Purification of Ethics
a. Pañcaverabhaya Sutta (Dangers and Threats) SN12:41 - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=sn12.41
b. Velāma Sutta (About Velāma) AN 9:20
c. Lonakapalla Sutta (A Lump of Salt) AN 3:100
d. Sappurisa Sutta (A True Person) AN 5:42
e. Dhammapada Verse 173

4. Five Benefits of Offering Food / Generosity
a. Bhojana Sutta (Food) AN 5:37
b. Dānānisaṁsa Sutta (The benefits of Giving) AN 5:35
c. Dhammapada Verse 118

5. Five Practice Factors for planning for a Favourable Rebirth
Saṅkhārupapatti Sutta (Rebirth by Aspiration) MN 120

Notes: MN= Majjhima Nikāya; AN= Anguttara Nikāya; SN= Samyutta Nikāya

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

This talk is republished with permission by Metta Centre, teaching retrieved from http://Dhamma Talks – Metta Centre.

Identity politics often revolves around the idea that people have fixed identities defined by their race, gender, religion, socio-economic standing, etc. This understanding can sometimes lead to social division and animosity. From a Buddhist point of view, however, it is a mistake. People are ever-changing, especially when one takes account of rebirth. True social harmony and brotherhood emerges from seeing identity as an ever-evolving construct without real essence.

Ajahn Brahmali will also be participating in a fun Buddhist Trivia session as part of Metta Convention Week! For more info and to register please visit https://www.mettacentre.com/the-metta...

** Outline **

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:33 - Meditation
00:10:30 - The Buddha's advice on teachers
00:13:47 - Changeability of identity
00:15:25 - Change leading to connections & commonality
00:16:21 - Rebirth
00:19:08 - Separation / "othering" is artificial
00:21:54 - Create unity
00:23:05 - Compassion and non-self
00:23:58 - Simile of the sick person
00:28:56 - Transforming identity
00:31:18 - Identifying with good qualities
00:32:37 - Meditation
00:34:09 - Ladder of more wholesome identities
00:35:28 - Finally overcoming identity
00:36:56 - Identity Politics conclusion
00:40:59 - Q: Self-compassion
00:43:42 - Q: Main insight of Enlightenment
00:45:12 - Q: Pride, the 3 conceits
00:48:33 - Q: Hindrances leading to pride
00:50:57 - Q: Disadvantaged groups, compassion
00:54:18 - Q: Balance between compassion & self-protection?
00:55:42 - Conclusion & dedication
00:57:25 - Announcements

** About the presenter **
Ajahn Brahmali was born in Norway in 1964. His interest in Buddhism and meditation started after a visit to Japan. Having completed degrees in engineering and finance, he began his monastic training as an Anagarika in England at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries. Listening to the teachings of Ajahn Brahm, he decided to travel to Bodhinyana Monastery, located near Perth, and has been there since 1994. He later received higher ordination under Ajahn Brahm.

Ajahn Brahmali’s knowledge of the Pali language and the Suttas is excellent. He completed the only full English translation of the Vinaya Piṭaka (Monastic Law). It is available on the SuttaCentral website and will be published as a book in the next few years. Bhikkhu Bodhi, who translated most of the Pali Canon into English, called Ajahn Brahmali one of his major helpers for the recent translation of the “Numerical Discourses of the Buddha”. Ajahn Brahmali has also published a number of essays, including the book “The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts” in collaboration with Bhante Sujato. Most of his publications are available online at bswa.org.

Ajahn Brahmali’s clear and thoughtful talks make the teachings of the Buddha easily accessible to all. He travels extensively in Australia, Asia and Europe to share his knowledge and experience through teachings and retreats.

** About Metta Centre **
To find out more about the Metta Centre & how you can support us you can visit https://www.mettacentre.com
#buddhism #dhammatalk #dharmatalk #meditation #identity #compassion

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

Dhamma talk by Ajahn Brahm on the 9th May 2023, at the Box Hill Town Hall on behalf of the Buddhist Society of Victoria (BSV).

Please visit the BSV Podcast Channel and BSV YouTube Channel

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

Published with permission of Treasure Mountain Podcast. Please visit Treasure Mountain Podcast, Everyday Dhamma Network and Treasure Mountain Facebook page. 

Joining us on this episode is a return guest, Ajahn Kovilo who is joining us from Dharma Realm Buddhist University in California. Ajahn Kovilo is an Ohio-born monk who, having been introduced to meditation through the Goenka tradition, first entered the monastery in 2006. After receiving full ordination from Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California in 2010, Ajahn Kovilo spent the next decade training at monasteries in the Ajahn Chah tradition in America and Thailand. In 2020, after a year practicing at a Pa Auk Sayadaw monastery, Ajahn Kovilo enrolled at the Dharma Realm Buddhist University in Ukiah, California where he is currently studying Pali and Sanskrit among other courses. Until the end of his formal studies, Ajahn Kovilo will be participating in the growing Clear Mountain Monastery community remotely and during Winter and Summer breaks. After finishing his studies, Ajahn Kovilo will join the community in person on a more regular basis.

Ajahn Kovilo is joining us today to discuss an institution that is often misunderstood in Western countries, even by practicing Buddhists in the West. That is, the Sangha, the community of ordained bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (monks and nuns). There are some in the West who say that we don’t even need a Sangha! But there is no denying that the Sangha was an integral feature of the Buddha Sasana from the very beginning, and indeed, to be a Buddhist is to have taken personal refuge with the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha! So what do we mean by the Sangha? And more importantly, what is it for? Join us in finding out more about the meaning and purpose of the Sangha with Ajahn Kovilo as we seek for the treasure within…

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Clear Mountain Monastery 
• Clear Mountain Dhamma Youtube Channel
• Clear Mountain Dhamma Podcast
• Clear Mountain Monastery Facebook page

Treasure Mountain Podcast links:

• Treasure Mountain Podcast
• Treasure Mountain on Facebook
• Everyday Dhamma Network

Thank you for listening to the Treasure Mountain Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with you friends. If you'd like to support me to produce this type of content in future, you can support my work by offering a tip via the Ko-fi payment applet.

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023 Drew Bellamy

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

Dhamma talk by Ajahn Mudito on the 5 Feb 2023, at the Buddhist Society of Victoria (BSV). 

The Sutta that Ajahn Mudito references can be found here, MN87 Piyajātikasutta: https://suttacentral.net/mn87/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

Bhante Mudito was born in a remote village in Northern-Finland. After completing military service, he travelled to the United States where he attended chef school and worked in a high-end hotel for a few years. While living in New York his long-time interest in Buddhism evolved as he started meditating with different groups. He sought after many teachers and found many of them to be too lofty or simply too boring. But then the stars aligned when Ajahn Brahm wrote his hit book Open the Door of your Heart and on the book promotion tour he came to New York where Mudito fell in love with Ajahn and his simple teachings. He has followed Ajahn Brahm ever since and in 2010 he went to stay in Bodhinyana and ordained as a monk in 2012.

Please visit the BSV Podcast Channel and BSV YouTube Channel

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Dhamma talk by Ajahn Nissarano on the 23 July 2023, at the Buddhist Society of Victoria (BSV). 

Venerable Nissarano is an Australian monk who ordained under Ajahn Brahm 22 years ago. He currently resides at the Newbury Buddhist Monastery as the Senior Monastic.

Please visit the BSV Podcast Channel and BSV YouTube Channel

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023 Venerable Thubten Chokyi from Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

In the final part of the Right Knowledge and Right Liberation Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali, Ajahn Sujato and Venerable Sunyo discusses Right Liberation:

• Liberation from what exactly?
  o Defilements
  o Suffering = the five aggregates = existence
  o Liberation in both respects
• Liberation and Nibbāna (SN 23.1, SN 1.2)
• The meaning of “Nibbāna”
• The two types of Nibbāna (Iti 44, Thag 15.2)
  o Nibbāna at enlightenment
  o Nibbāna at passing away
• Nature of Nibbāna
  o Awakening vs. enlightenment
  o Only potsherds being left (SN 12.51)
  o All feelings become cool at the end of life (MN 140)
• Anattā: no entity comes to an end, only suffering (MN 72, SN 22.85)
• Conceit and enlightenment (MN 140, Ud 1.10)
• To help others, aim for enlightenment yourself; get out of the mud (MN 8)
• Some say Nibbāna is cessation, others that it is a kind of eternalism; so how do we choose?
  o We need to zoom out and take a bird’s eye view
  o The safe bet: let go of as much as possible. “Nothing is worth holding on to” (MN 37)
  o The view of cessation of existence is closer to non-clinging (MN 60)
• What’s the purpose of extinguishment? (SN 23.1)

Find the entire series and reading materials on bswa.org here.

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Ajahn Brahm talks about the joy of teaching Buddhism and helping others.

To find and download more Guided Meditations on Podcast, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the meditation you want and then type the date into the Podcast search box e.g. 01-09-2018 or try 1 September 2018.

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

In the 3rd part of the Right Knowledge and Right Liberation Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali, Ajahn Sujato and Venerable Sunyo discusses the myths and misconceptions:

• Myth 1: Nibbāna is a kind of consciousness
• Myth 2: Nibbāna is kind of mind
• Myth 3: Extinguished fires keep existing
• Myth 4: The Buddha/arahants do not suffer
• Myth 5: Cessation is just annihilation
• Myth 6: Only the clinging aggregates are suffering, not the pure aggregates
• Myth 7: Nibbāna is “the unborn” thing, the “deathless” thing
• Myth 8: Nibbāna is a state or sphere.

Find the entire series and reading materials on bswa.org here.

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

In the 3rd part of the Right Knowledge and Right Liberation Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali, Ajahn Sujato and Venerable Sunyo discusses the myths and misconceptions:

• Myth 1: Nibbāna is a kind of consciousness
• Myth 2: Nibbāna is kind of mind
• Myth 3: Extinguished fires keep existing
• Myth 4: The Buddha/arahants do not suffer
• Myth 5: Cessation is just annihilation
• Myth 6: Only the clinging aggregates are suffering, not the pure aggregates
• Myth 7: Nibbāna is “the unborn” thing, the “deathless” thing
• Myth 8: Nibbāna is a state or sphere.

Find the entire series and reading materials on bswa.org here.

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

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.