Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Vayama responds to the request to talk about the Nun’s life; where they begin, their purpose or goal and how they live and practise. Ajahn Vayama reminds us that the Nun’s Sangha was created by the Buddha himself and is not a modern invention. Ajahn describes the nun’s monastery Dhammasara, its plans and the importance of having a Nun’s monastery for women to join the monastic life and attain Nirvana. As well as have female role models in the monastic life to inspire others. We apologise for the static in this audio, this Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 2000.

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Ajahn Brahm discusses death, dying and end of life issues.

This talk was recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria. You can subscribe to their Youtube channel here.

Ajahn Brahm offers wise counsel on how to keep smiling when everything in life seems to be going wrong.

This talk was recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria. You can subscribe to their Youtube channel here.

Questions asked:

1. How to handle depression?
2. Meditation (vipassana and samatha, what the difference? or the same?)
3. Happiness, including the story about "don't worry be grumpy"
4. Emotional skill and meditation
5. Five Aggregates
6. Transferring merits Found this video useful?

This talk was recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria. You can subscribe to their Youtube channel here.

Venerable Hasapanna answers the question "how can I find freedom when I am in a situation that I cannot escape?" Venerable shares with us her experiences and insights.

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

Ajahn Visuddhi offers a teaching on dana, generosity or giving which he says is the foundation of Buddhism. Ajahn looks at why dana is one of the foundations of Buddhist practise? Why it is vital part of Buddhism? What are the benefits and reasons for practising generosity in Buddhism? Ajahn shares stories on dana and generosity.

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

Ajahn Brahm talks about: Methods of Relaxation; Handling Unwholesome Thoughts; Powerful Force of Kindness

This talk was recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria.

The prison is a scary place, our mental prisons that we've created are no less terrifying.

Buddhist Congress and Angulimala Fellowship bring us Ajahn Brahm as he shares his insights and wisdom on this prison-break, peppered distinctively with Ajahn's trademark Brahm Humor.

Dogs are much wiser than you might think. Ajahn Brahm says that they can teach us a lot about kindness, compassion and faithfulness.

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

A talk on how to use mindfulness to counter stress and develop calm.

Recorded by the Buddhist Society of Victoria.

Known for his wit and wisdom, Ajahn Brahm is the bestselling author of "Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond"; "Don’t Worry, Be Grumpy"; "Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung?"; and "Kindfulness". A self-described meditation junkie, Ajahn Brahm will share his knowledge and experience of the jhanas and insight, which constitute the heart of the Buddha's original teachings. Never before has this material been approached in such an empowering way by a teacher of such authority and popularity.

"We should walk the talk" says Ajahn Brahm. Ajahn Brahm teaches us how to be authentic and to have a healthy relationship with others and ourselves.

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Ajahn Visuddhi talks about our unconscious hidden conceit and need to compete and defend our individuality, status, uniqueness, identity or self. As well as our inner need to conform and be the same. Ajahn also reflects on how we can have an insidious wish for others to fail so we don’t feel like failures. Why do we feel we must keep up with Jones’ and be equal to others? Finally how do we overcome this, so we can relax and just live in a friendly community?

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

Ajahn Sujato discusses one of the most commonly taught Dhammas or group of Buddhist teachings known as the Five Spiritual Faculties: Faith, Energy, Mindfulness, Samadhi and Wisdom or Understanding. Ajahn talks about what they mean and how to practice them.

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Each year we are blessed with a visit and teaching by Bhante Nissarano. Bhante is based in Sri Lanka, visiting his home city of Perth once every year or two. On such visits, Bhante is usually in high demand, so we at AMG are very grateful for his time.

Bhante started the night by encouraging us to make our bodies physically comfortable first. If our body isn't comfortable our mind will not relax, let alone get comfortable. Bhante continues to encourage us to do our physical exercise first and then to work with our minds to further relax the body. Only after we are relaxed and comfortable can we then move onto relaxing the mind. For some the breath is neither exciting nor important enough for us to use as a meditation object. Bhante suggests that we encourage our minds to be positive and use "giving" to bring our emotions to a positive position. Bhante encourages us to find a positive mind state as a habit, not just for our meditation but our daily lives.

Bhante then guided the group through a 30 minute meditation suited to all, beginners to experienced alike.

After the meditation Bhante opened the floor to "comments, questions or complaints". Bhante then related an occasion when he did get a complaint from a meditator. Bhante used this example to encourage us to look at why this has happened. Once we identify the reason we can then deal with it and move onto thoughts and emotions that help us enjoy our lives.

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Ajahn Brahm explains how we can let go of guilt and punishment and become best friends with ourselves.

Ajahn Brahm is one of the most insightful, unpredictable, and popular Dhamma teachers in Australia and internationally. This is a teaching he gave in Sydney at the Roselea Community Centre.

What sort of world do you want to live in? Ajahn Nissarano teaches us how our ethical behavior affects our world.

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Ajahn Brahm gives an interesting talk on monogamy, polygamy and the third option solitude. Ajahn discusses the benefits of a committed monogamous relationship and the qualities that support it. Ajahn stresses that it is the way we do things that is most important, not so much what we do. Are you doing it kindly, compassionately, wisely or selfishly with no concern for the other person?

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

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

Ajahn Vayama offers some reflections on the Buddhist teachings on living in the present, in the here in now. Ajahn Vayama says “The Buddha recited a poem to his disciples which he encouraged them to learn by heart and to use in their daily life to focus on the present moment. Part of the poem goes like this “One should not trace back the past, nor on the future builds ones hopes, the past is just the left behind, the future the yet unreached, rather with insight one should watch each mind moment as it arises now, to know and to be sure of that today the effort must be made, tomorrow death may come, who knows.” This poem is a summary of the Buddha’s teaching on living in the present moment.” We apologise for the quality of this audio, this Buddha Dhamma talk was given in 2000.

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