Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Questions and Answers for the Buddha Dhamma talk "Keeping a Cool Heart in the Times of Global Warming", given by Ajahn Brahm in Thailand during 2008. 

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Ajahn Brahm shares what he believes will help to solve the problem of global warming. Ajahn begins by offering advice on how to live life without any worries and questions why we waste so much time worrying about the future when it’s uncertain. Ajahn Brahm points out that more we worry about something, the less we are doing something useful right now. Ajahn explains how we can create a cool world by practising properly and how we can use the Buddha Dhamma to solve the problems in the world. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given in Thailand during 2008.

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Ajahn Brahm talks about a core teaching of Buddhism ‘The Four Noble Truths’. Ajahn describes what the four noble truths are and adapts them to our experience of our everyday life, in order for us to have some understanding of what life truly is, what we can expect from it and how to deal with life. So that we don’t get really disappointed, disillusioned, frustrated and have all of the suffering which these emotions bring to us. Last talk before rains retreat. We apologise for the quality of this audio, this Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 1998.

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Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for approximately 30 minutes. 

Ajahn Brahm offers a talk on the development of faith and the benefit of having faith in goodness. Ajahn explains the meaning of faith by using a metaphor of a baby and child and points out how having faith, trust and confidence brings security, comfort, relaxation and peace. Ajahn also discusses how our lack of faith in different areas of our modern society causes us problems. We apologise for the quality of this audio, this Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 1999.

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This talk by Ajahn Brahm gets to the heart of the existential quest: What are we here for? What were we born for?

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Ajahn Brahm gives us the means to practise the art which we call meditation. During these four ‘Introduction to Meditation’ sessions Ajahn expands on the different types of meditation, their purpose and the way to practise them.

Part 4 – Ajahn Brahm shares the story of his teacher Ajahn Chah’s answers to the four questions: What is meditation? How do you meditate? Why do you meditate? And what do you get out of meditation? Ajahn Brahm talks about training the mind to become clear and penetrating so that you can understand yourself and your world, which is called insight meditation.

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

Ajahn Brahm gives us the means to practise the art which we call meditation. During these four ‘Introduction to Meditation’ sessions Ajahn expands on the different types of meditation, their purpose and the way to practise them.

Part 3 – Ajahn Brahm shares experiences of the benefits of meditation and explains how to let go of our problems and past and future. We apologise for the quality of this audio. Ajahn continues to talk about how to calm the mind and reduce stress.

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

Ajahn Brahm gives us the means to practise the art which we call meditation. During these four ‘Introduction to Meditation’ sessions Ajahn expands on the different types of meditation, their purpose and the way to practise them.

Part 2 –In this session Ajahn Brahm talks about some of the difficulties you might encounter in mediation, such as the wandering mind. We apologise for the quality of this audio.

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

Ajahn Brahm gives us the means to practise the art which we call meditation. During these four ‘Introduction to Meditation’ sessions Ajahn expands on the different types of meditation, their purpose and the way to practise them.

Part 1 - Ajahn Brahm begins by teaching us to meditate on the breath which he says is used to carry people into very relaxed, peaceful and clear states of mind and is a very old type of meditation used by the Buddha himself.

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In Ajahn Brahm's first talk for 2015 he talks about both outer space and inner space and what it all means.

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Believe it or not the mind is naturally still, says Ajahn Brahm. It only moves because we want something or want to get rid of something. Ajahn teaches us how to relax and be kind in order to still the mind.

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Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for approximately 30 minutes. 

Ajahn Brahm talks about the reasons why the monks live simply and do simplistic retreats and how hard it is in religious life to keep things simple. Ajahn points out this is similar in our world culture, in that we can’t allow things to be, just simplicity and instead we complicate things. Ajahn talks about how we are afraid of simplicity and how we complicate things because we think it will solve our problems.

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Ajahn Brahm offers a talk on finding ways of creating harmony in this world. Ajahn describes how all we need for harmony in our divided world is to see some commonality which we have, because when we see what we share together and what is in our interest then harmony flows very easily. Ajahn points out that competition is one of the greatest causes of disharmony and offers advice on how we can create a balance between competition and cooperation in order to have a more peaceful and prosperous world.

This Buddha Dhamma talk and question and answers session was given in Malaysia during 2005.

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Change is inherent in all things, but we take stability instead as the truth.  Ajahn Brahm explains how if we fully understood the Dhamma, the truth, and the nature of impermanence we would become enlightened. Ajahn says because we don’t want to see it or we think it’s so apparent, we take it for granted and we don’t notice it. Ajahn Brahm looks at the element of impermanence or change in all levels of our experience such as our internal and external world. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 1994.

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10th Global Conference on Buddhism - Toronto, Canada. Pre-conference session by Ajahn Brahm - Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond - June 16, 2017

In this talk Ajahn Brahm discussed the step by step approach to the blissful deep meditative experiences, known as the Jhānas. This included the basic methods of meditation, hindrances to meditation, the qualities of right mindfulness, the Jhānas and the nature of deep insight.

"There's no jhana for one with no discernment, no discernment for one with no jhana. But one with both jhana & discernment: he's on the verge of unbinding" - Buddha (Dhammapada-372)

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Ajahn regaled us with his usual wit and humour for the final time before the Rains Retreat.  We look forward to his return in three months.

Ajahn used his stories and jokes to both relax us and move us to a more happy state of mind before leading us in a beginners meditation.

Ajahn used his stories to show us what we unconsciously do to ourselves all day, every day, especially when we are dealing with stressful situations and or health issues.

Following the meditation Ajahn talked about anxiety, relating it to his annual visit to the Cancer Clinic in Cottesloe.  Ajahn explained to us that our anxiety is our own mind imagining what may, or may not, happen in the future.  We focus our attention on our own "two bad bricks" to such an extent that we don't see all the other perfectly laid bricks.  We spend so much time trying to control our minds and being unkind to ourselves that we don't see what's good in life.

As Ajahn has said to us many times “Stop looking into the past, reliving bad things that have happened, or imagining a future that may never happen, and live in the moment”.

Ajahn Brahm shares his experience of being busy and how to react to the stress that comes with it. Ajahn talks about dealing with the stress of life by making peace and being kind and gentle. Ajahn says instead of complaining you learn to let go, enjoy life and be selfless, kind and happy.

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Ajahn Brahm talks about enjoying our possessions like family, relationships and identity without being attached to them. Attachment comes from fear and enjoyment comes from letting go of fear.

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