Ajahn Brahm speaks at his old alma mater as a guest of the Cambridge University Buddhist Society sharing his guidance on the topic of befriending inner fear. Talk given at Lady Mitchell Hall, University of Cambridge on 26th of October 2016. The event was organised by the Cambridge University Buddhist Society in collaboration with Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, of which Ajahn is Spiritual Adviser. Donations towards Anukampa's aim to develop a nuns' monastery in England are extremely welcome. Please visit https://anukampaproject.org/donate/
Teaching retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS09ESgPAVs&index=2&list=PLPxfnU-O-ZyeLHWATLqHA2_g13_MLhGPa (YouTube Channel: Cambridge University Buddhist Society)
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Ajahn Brahmali explains how he came across the Buddhist path and the various reasons why he decided to become a monk, in particular experiencing the peace of breath meditation led him to want to pursue this further. Ajahn explains how through experience you gain confidence in the teachings of the Buddha and he discusses the Kalama Sutta (AN3.65) on navigating among different spiritual options.
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Bhante Buddharakkhita was about to start the evening when he noticed that the Christmas lights were on in our room. Bhante asked that they be left on, and the main lights turned off, so as to mark the time of the year which, to those of us in western society, is Christmas. Such things, that may seem not to be an issue to us, are to others a trigger for anxiety and stress. As this was the case for some in our audience, Bhante explained that to run for a lifetime from such things does not make them better or resolve them. Sooner or later you have to face such triggers and where better than in a group of like minded people who are all learning to meditate. Bhante then further explained that to help resolve such issues in his own life he would reverse the process by acknowledging the event, and trigger, and instead of allowing it to stress him, he would tell himself to relax. In this way he managed to resolve his anxiety and simply relax.
Bhante continued his talk, returning to his subject of gratitude, prior to leading the group in a meditation with gratitude foremost in mind. Bhante used the image of floating in a swimming pool to relax and extend his gratitude to the universe before moving to a breath meditation.
After the meditation Bhante used his ample wit and humour to continue his subject of gratitude. Bhante encouraged us to look for gratitude in all situations and used, as examples, his experience in teaching meditation to a group of children of various ages. In doing so we can resolve situations that make us anxious or annoyed.
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This is the last dhamma talk by Ajahn Brahm prior to the 3 months of the Rains Retreat in 2015. The Rains Retreat is a tradition going back to the time of the Buddha when monks and nuns stop travelling and spend time developing the peace of their meditation practice. In this talk Ajahn Brahm talks about how we all need a place in time and space to retreat to and find peace within.
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Ajahn Brahmali is back after the rains retreat. Ajahn Brahmali revisits the basic teachings of Buddhism such as the Four Noble Truths because he says these help us to see what Buddhism is pointing to and is all about. Ajahn talks about the problems of our existence and shares a story from the suttas to help illustrate the point clearly. Ajahn describes how the Buddhist path is the path to purify ourselves so that we see things in the right way, get insights into the Four Noble Truths and ultimately eliminate our suffering once and for all.
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Ajahn Nissarano talks about paying respect to the Buddha through practicing loving-kindness (metta).
Recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria in Melbourne.
Ajahn Nissarano talks about using Right Speech (sama vaca) to prevent and overcome anger, and live more peacefully.
Recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria in Melbourne.
Ajahn Nissarano talks about the meaning of a chant; “I honour and pay respect to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha and by this practice according to Dhamma I will be freed from birth, old age, sickness and death.” Ajahn explains that the Buddhist path is our lives 24 hours a day and that the complete Buddhist path (which is also the short cut path) is the Noble Eightfold Path which takes us all the way to enlightenment because practicing it creates the conditions and causes for enlightenment.
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Each year we are blessed with a visit and teaching by Ajahn Nissarano. This year we have been fortunate enough to have him visit twice. Ajahn is based in Sri Lanka, visiting his home city of Perth once or twice every year or so. On such visits Ajahn is usually in high demand so we at AMG are very grateful of his time. On this occasion Ajahn began the night with an explanation of meditation and programing our minds before we start our meditation. Being aware of negative states of mind prior to our meditation will help immensely. The two most important states of mind being motivation and intention. Ajahn talked to us about these states of mind and how they affect our meditation as well as our daily lives.
Ajahn then guided the group through a 30 minute scanning [body sweep] meditation suited to all, beginners to experienced alike.
After the meditation Ajahn opened the floor to "comments, questions or complaints". Ajahn then continued his talk on programming our own minds and the external influences we are subjected to in modern life.
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Ajahn Nissarano talks about how to clear some of the emotional rubbish that has built up in our minds using tools like forgiveness and letting go.
Recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria in Melbourne.
Ajahn Nissarano talks about gratitude not just as a pleasant social grace, but as a key Buddhist practice that can be truly uplifting.
Recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria in Melbourne.
In the era of greater awareness of issues pertaining to sexual assault, Ajahn Nissarano discusses the Buddha's teachings on what is sexual misconduct, it's harm, and how to prevent such harm in the world.
Recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria in Melbourne.
