Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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

“One who sees dependent origination sees the Dhamma; one who sees the Dhamma sees dependent origination.” (MN 28)

Come and take a deep dive with Ajahn Brahmali in the exploration of Dependent Origination. Dependent origination is one of the core teachings of the Buddha on conditionality: how conditions arise and how they cease, and is key to liberating wisdom. Ajahn Brahmali’s practical and down-to-earth approach makes this complex teaching accessible and applicable to our daily lives.

‘When this exists, that comes to be; with the arising of this, that arises. When this does not exist, that does not come to be; with the cessation of this, that ceases… with the remainderless fading away and cessation of ignorance comes cessation of volitional formations; with the cessation of volitional formations, cessation of consciousness…. Such is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.” (SN 12.37)

This special event will include 30 mins of meditation, 1 hr talk, and 30 mins Q&A.

0:00 - Introduction
2:54 - Integrating one's work with spiritual practice
4:07 - Meditation
25:01 - Talk
26:43 - What is Buddhism?
31:15 - Simile of a handful of leaves
32:28 - Dangers of "philosophising"
34:53 - Buddhism as a positive psychology
36:38 - Dependent Origination intro
38:05 - First Noble Truth & rebirth
40:59 - Second Noble Truth
42:39 - Alternative formulation of the Second Noble Truth
43:49 - Craving, rebirth, suffering
48:32 - Craving leading to taking up
50:01 - Psychological insights
56:18 - Grasping skilfully
59:54 - Insights into our life
1:05:51 - Kamma and rebirth
1:07:22 - Causes of craving
1:09:37 - Feeling
1:10:41 - Contact (experience) and senses
1:11:42 - Consciousness
1:18:00 - Willed activities
1:20:21 - Delusions
1:24:37 - Self
1:27:07 - Overcoming ignorance
1:30:29 - Question: Sankara vs Bhava
1:34:13 - Question: Criminality, conditioning, repentance
1:38:41 - Question: Ignorance as the root of rebirth
1:40:02 - Question: Does rebirth require unknown physics?
1:43:31 - Question: Making choices
1:47:44 - Question: Descriptions of Dependent Origination
1:53:53 - Question: Aṅgulimāla
1:56:08 - Closing

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 south of Perth, and has been there since 1994. He later received higher ordination with Ajahn Brahm as his preceptor.

Ajahn Brahmali’s knowledge of the Pali language and the Suttas is excellent. He has completed the only full translation of the Vinaya Piṭaka (Monastic Law) into English. It is available on the SuttaCentral website and will be published as a proper 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

The monastics at Bodhinyana Monastery greatly appreciate Ajahn Brahmali’s Sutta and Pali classes, and often rely on him to clarify the Vinaya (Monastic Law) or Suttas. Since 2013, Ajahn Brahmali has been giving regular talks at Dhammaloka Centre in Perth, and led ongoing courses on the Early Buddhist Teachings. 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.

Facilitator: Tina Ng

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 proof of reincarnation and stresses the importance of growing wholesome inner qualities.

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.

In this final part of the Right Stillness Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali and Venerable Sunyo looks at understanding the power and profundity of jhāna.

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 this final part of the Right Stillness Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali and Venerable Sunyo looks at understanding the power and profundity of jhāna.

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 this second part of the Right Stillness Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali and Venerable Sunyo looks at the controversies and misconceptions of Sammasamadhi.

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.

*There is a brief silence at 1:02-1:13 - the missing audio for the first 15 minutes has now been restored*

In this second part of the Right Stillness Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali and Venerable Sunyo looks at the controversies and misconceptions of Sammasamadhi.

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 explains how having an open heart can lead to being patient, caring and inner peace.

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.

Published with permission of Treasure Mountain Podcast. Please visit Treasure Mountain Podcast, Treasure Mountain website and Treasure Mountain Facebook page. 

In this episode of Sage Advice we have as our guest, Ajahn Nissarano who is coming to us from Newbury Monastery, which is just north-west of Melbourne, Australia.

Ajahn Nissarano was born in 1952 in Perth, Western Australia. In 1997, he was ordained by Ajahn Brahm as a novice monk and a year later took full ordination. This year will be his 25th Rains Retreat, Vassa. He lived in Sri Lanka from 2006 to 2019, for a total of 13 and half years. During that time, he lived for 8 years in a cave on the side of a mountain, surrounded by forest and going for alms round to the village below. He returned to Australia regularly to teach, primarily at the Buddhist Society of Victoria. In January 2021 he became the Senior Monk at Newbury Buddhist Monastery, outside Melbourne, which is run by the Buddhist Society of Victoria.

Ajahn Nissarano joins us on this episode of Sage Advice to discuss the topic “our most urgent task”. We are so busy these days, we often lose sight of the big picture. And we can become so distracting that we don't even see what our most urgent task in life is. In this interview Ajahn Nissarano offers advice on what is most essential and urgent for us to focus on if we are to really develop the spiritual qualities.

Links from this episode:

• Newbury Monastery, Victoria - https://www.bsv.net.au/monastery/

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 this first part of the Right Stillness Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali looks at the contexts and definition of Sammasamadhi.

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 this first part of the Right Stillness Workshop, Ajahn Brahmali looks at the contexts and definition of Sammasamadhi.

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 Brahmali reflects on the Buddha and teaches us how to enhance our Buddhist practice.

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.

Ajahn Brahmali reminds us about the impermanent nature of relationships and teaches us how to have good relationships with others. Ajahn also explains the benefits of having positive relationships.

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.

Ajahn Brahmali gives a teaching on the importance of harmony, that is how to get along peacefully with others and have beautiful relationships.

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.

Published with permission of Treasure Mountain Podcast. Please visit Treasure Mountain Podcast, Treasure Mountain website and Treasure Mountain Facebook page. 

• Welcome to Treasure Mountain, the podcast that inspires and guides people to find the the treasure within human experience. I’m your host Sol Hanna.
• In this episode of Spirit Stories we have as our returning guest, Ayya Tathālokā from Dhammadharini Monastery and Aranya Bodhi Forest Hermitage in California.
• Last week when we spoke with Ayya Tathālokā we found out about her journey from discovering Buddhism through many trials until finally being able to achieve her ideal of full ordination as a bhikkhuni. It’s a really interesting story of overcoming obstacles with some unexpected twists, and if you want to listen to that episode you can click on this link.
• Ayya Tathālokā has a number of achievements and been actively involved in establishing and extending the opportunities for women to go forth and also take higher ordination in the Buddhist sangha. In this episode we are going to find out about her journey since higher ordination and the work she has done and continues to do to expand opportunities for women to ordain and practice in an authentic manner that is true to the bhikkhuni vinaya - the monastic rules for Buddhist nuns. In the process we will also find out about the rapidly evolving opportunities for women within Buddhism as a result of the work being done by leaders like Ayya Tathālokā.

Links from this episode:

• Dhammadharini Monastery - https://www.dhammadharini.net/
• Donate to Dhammadharini Monastery - https://www.dhammadharini.net/support
• Ayya Tathālokā's biography - https://www.treasuremountain.info/guests/ayya-tathaloka/

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 teaches about the dangers of fear and how we can overcome it and become fearless.

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.

Published with permission of Treasure Mountain Podcast. Please visit Treasure Mountain Podcast, Treasure Mountain website and Treasure Mountain Facebook page. 

On this episode of Spirit Stories we have as our guest, Ayya Tathālokā from Aranya Bodhi Awakening Forest Hermitage in California. Ayya Tathālokā was born in Washington, DC in 1968 to environmentally-minded scientist parents. In 1988, at age nineteen, urgently inspired by the sudden death of an associate, she left her Pre-naturopathic Medical studies in university and made her way first to Europe and then on to India, entering monastic life as an white robed anagarika and then two years later undertaking ten-precept nuns ordination. Wishing to connect with the ancient lineage of the Bhikkhuni Sangha, she sought and found her female mentor in Buddhist monastic life in South Korea, the most venerable bhikkhuni elder Myeong Seong Sunim (和法界 明星), who gave her the name "Tatha-alokā", and went on to train under her mentorship for ten years.

Returning to the United States in 1996, with her bhikkhuni mentor's blessings, in 1997 in Los Angeles, with an international gathering of bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, Dharma teachers and supporters in attendance, she received bhikkhuni higher ordination from the Sri Lankan bhikkhu sangha led by her preceptor, the Venerable Dr. Havanpola Ratanasara Nayaka Mahathero. Since then Venerable Tathālokā has focused on meditation, and on both the study and practice of Dhamma & Vinaya. Her meditation training in Theravada Buddhism has been largely with the masters of the Thai forest traditions stemming from Ajahn Mun Buridatta: Ajahn Maha Bua Nyanasampanno and teachers of the Ajahn Chah tradition, together with the Burmese mindfulness and insight masters of Sayadaw U Pandita's tradition and meditation master Pa-auk Sayadaw. Overall, her practice and teachings are profoundly influenced by the Buddha's own advice and injunctions as contained in the Early Buddhist suttas.

Recognizing the growing number of Theravadin bhikkhunis and samaneris in the United States and the true value of coming together in harmony, Ayya Tathālokā proposed and participated in the founding of the North American Bhikkhuni Association (NABA) in 2004. Several months later, she also participated in founding the first residential community for bhikkhunis in the western United States named "Dhammadharini”. Ayya Tathālokā is the first Western woman to be appointed as a Theravada Bhikkhuni Preceptor, and she has contributed to the going forth and full ordination of more than 50 women as nuns in the USA, Australia, India, and Thailand.

Ayya Tathālokā’s primary role is as the founding abbess and preceptor of both the Dhammadharini Monastery at the western foot of Sonoma Mountain in Penngrove and the Aranya Bodhi Awakening Forest Hermitage on the Sonoma Coast in Northern California, where she provides Dhamma and meditation teaching and guidance, and monastic mentorship. And since 2021, she has been actively invovled in the United Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha International working group together with other international bhikkhuni preceptors and leaders of Theravada traditions.

Links from this episode:

• Dhammadharini Monastery - https://www.dhammadharini.net/

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 Santutthi offers a teaching on how to develop peace and contentment.

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.

Published with permission of Treasure Mountain Podcast. Please visit Treasure Mountain Podcast, Treasure Mountain website and Treasure Mountain Facebook page. 

On this episode of Sage Advice we have as our guest, Ajahn Brahmali from Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia. Ajahn Brahmali was born in Norway in 1964 and first became interested in Buddhism when travelling to Japan in his 20s. After completing university degrees in finance and engineering he decided that his true calling was the dedicated spiritual life of a bhikkhu - a Buddhist monk. Having heard the teachings of Ajahn Brahm he travelled to Western Australia in 1994 and took higher ordination in 1996.

Ajahn Brahmali is both a dedicated meditator and has a love for the teachings of the Buddha, and he has become widely respected for his work in both translating Buddhist texts, but also explaining the context of Early Buddhism to modern audiences. He has co-authored the book ‘The Authenticity of Early Buddhist Texts’ with Bhikkhu Sujato.

Ajahn Brahmali’s clear and thoughtful talks make the teachings of the Buddha easily accessible to all. And I personally recommend the Early Buddhism Series of teachings that I’ll be linking to in the description below.

Bearing in mind that Ajahn Brahmali has a degree in finance, in this episode he will be sharing his wisdom and experience on what the greatest investment of a lifetime really is.

Links relevant to this episode:

• Ajahn Brahmali's Biography - https://bswa.org/teachers/ajahn-brahmali/
• Bodhinyana Monastery - https://bswa.org/location/bodhinyana-monastery/
• Early Buddhism Course with Ajahn Brahmali and Ajahn Sujato - https://bswa.org/teaching/early-buddhism-class-workshop-6-with-ajahn-brahmali-ajahn-sujato/

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.

Venerable Sunyo reflects on his experience of how to turn frustrations into opportunities to practice Buddhism. For example, instead of feeling unhappy and frustrated about having to clean the gutter with a broom, he decided to see this as a great opportunity to practice, such as make merit, practice mindfulness and so on. 

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, Treasure Mountain website and Treasure Mountain facebook page.

On this episode of Treasure Mountain we have Ajahn Kovilo and Venerable Nisabho who are both American monks that have trained in the Thai Forest Tradition in Asia and the United States. Together Ajahn Kovilo and Venerable Nisabho have the shared aspiration of establishing Clear Mountain Monastery in the vicinity of Seattle in the north-west United States. They have also set up a top quality online teaching presence through their Clear Mountain Dhamma youtube channel and podcast, and we’re going to find out about how they hope to take their experience of authentic Buddhist communities based around the principles of Early Buddhism and apply them in modern America.

Links referred to in this episode:

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

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.