Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Brahmali gives a fascinating talk on the future of Buddhism, citing what the Buddha himself said on this topic, and connecting it with what it means to practice in the current age.

Dependent Origination is a profound explanation of how life works at the core of the Buddha's Teachings. Ajahn Brahmali offers a practical and easy to understand overview of the teaching on Dependent Origination.

Ajahn Brahmali points out that if you want to be happy it is much wiser to work directly on the mind rather than trying to find happiness indirectly via external stimuli. To work with the source of happiness (the mind) is much more efficient, and in this way we can change the mind directly which we never can through manipulating external things like possessions or fame, etc. Working to develop the mind is a much wiser, more direct and more far reaching method for developing happiness in life.

If were are able to see impermanence in the world we are able to see life as it really is. However, really seeing and understanding the quality of permanence in life is harder than we think. Ajahn Brahmali discusses what the problem of impermanence really means and how seeing it clearly can lead to greater freedom.

Many people - even many Buddhists - know very little about, or have mistaken ideas, about who the historical Buddha really is. Ajahn Brahmali sets aside the myths and legends and gives an historical account of the life of Siddhartha Gautama - the Buddha, and connects this to how it can enhance our practice in the here and now.

As Ajahn Brahmali explains, the pali word anicca is usually translated in english as "impermanence", in can also mean unreliable or uncertainty. These english words can all describe this concept of 'anicca', which is central to the Buddhist teaching, that ALL phenomena are anicca. Whilst this may seem obvious to many, to really see the truth of the full extent of anicca in our lives is very difficult. To really understand anicca is to be free of all attachment and suffering.

Ajahn Brahmali talks about what loving kindness (metta) is, how it is useful for our practice, and how we are to develop the quality of loving kindness in the heart.

Ajahn Brahmali discusses the ultimate question: What is the meaning of life?

Ajahn Brahmali gives a talk to provide insight into the profound topic of dependent origination, and how this applies to the spiritual practice.

Ajahn Brahmali explains how the central mental development teachings of samatha (calm) and vipassana (insight) as well as how these qualities are closely related to each and how they work together to enhance the spiritual practice.

Ajahn Brahmali discusses the causes that give rise to mindfulness and what the main purpose of mindfulness.

Ajahn Brahmali reflects upon what a pilgrimage is and how it can be beneficial to Buddhist practice.

Ajahn Brahmali gives an accessible and easy to understand talk on rebirth - how we live life after life.

Ajahn Brahmali discusses Right View and good companionship at the Buddhist Society of Victoria.

Ajahn Brahmali talks about how our actions (karma) bring about future results (vipaka) which impacts upon our well-being. He gives a broad ranging talk on what it really means to make "good karma" or "bad karma".

Ajahn Brahmali reflects upon both how fundamental morality is to Buddhist practice and life, and also how inspiring the practice of morality can truly be.

Ajahn Brahmali gives a big-picture outline of how the Buddhist teachings understand the nature of the universe to operate, and points out the numerous parallels to the contemporary scientific understanding of the universe. However, he goes further to say that science in future will catch up with the Buddhist understanding by discovering that there are a sequence of multiple universes - a big bang followed by a period of universe expansion, then a period of universe contraction, and finally a big crunch.... and then a new universe being born again (big bang) - entire universes being reborn.

Ajahn Brahmali discusses the dangers of religious cults, including in Buddhism - how we can recognise them, and how to react to cults in society.

Anger and ill-will is a range emotions that goes from minor irritation all the way up to a furious rage. We've all experienced this emotion and it can be both intoxicating and very unpleasant. It's also a major obstacle on the path of Buddhist practice. Ajahn Brahmali discusses the problems with ill-will, and how to overcome it.

Ajahn Brahmali outlines a brief history of Buddhism, the impact on Buddhist scriptures, and how this has come to influence our understanding of Buddhism in the modern era.