Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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.

Ajahn Nissarano guides a meditation session. First 30 minutes of the session was not recorded so this audio  track starts midway through the session.

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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 Nissarano guides a meditation for approximately 30 minutes.

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

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.

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Some excellent questions and wise responses on many contemporary issues.

On the invitation of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ajahn Brahm delivers an interview at the 7th World Buddhist Summit in Sri Lanka in November 2017. Recorded at the Temple Trees Auditorium by Dharmavahini Foundation.

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Ajahn Brahmali firstly describes what meditation is all about, nothing weird, nothing too complicated.  Ajahn encourages us to watch what is happening in our own mind as we meditate to see what we are thinking about.  This will allow us to establish what we personally prioritise in our lives.  We will often find that the things we personally prioritise such as work, hobbies and our terrible boss, are the things hindering our meditation.  By identifying what is actually distracting us, what we have unknowingly made our first priority, we can shift our thinking to things that will improve our entire lives.  Compassion for ourselves and our families.

Ajahn then guided us in a 30 minute meditation well suited to beginners and the more experienced of us [everyone
benefits from a refresher now and then].

After the meditation Ajahn continued the talk of the need for us all to have a long-term investment in meditation and our inner world. He said how important it is that we care for and develop our inner reactions to the world rather than spending so much time trying to collect possessions, change the world or grumble about the things we cannot change.


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Whenever we meditate there are disturbances. Ajahn Brahm teaches us that we shouldn't give them importance and eventually they will disappear.

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In our society we are encouraged to debate who is right, however Ajahn Brahm encourages us to live together in harmony. Ajahn shares his beautiful experiences of working together in harmony with his fellow monks.

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Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for approximately 30 minutes.

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

Venerable Hasapanna responds to the question “how do you really let go of someone in your life?” Venerable reflects on what letting go means and how we have to train our mind to let go by developing wisdom, because the reason we attach and hold on to things is due to lack of wisdom. Venerable ponders where is the source of the suffering? Where does the attachment come from? What are we letting go of? Is the object of our attachment the source of our happiness and suffering?

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Ajahn Vayama talks about the power of the Buddhist teachings and the path of practise to transform our suffering into happiness, particularly how we work with the mind in meditation to accomplish this. Ajahn explains the statement the Buddha made when he was asked what the Buddhist path was about and how this is very valid and important in our practise of meditation and our daily life. ‘The teaching of all the Buddhas is the same. That is to refrain from doing what is evil, harmful and unwholesome and unskillful. To actively cultivate what is good, wholesome, helpful and skillful and to purify the mind.’

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Ajahn Nissarano completes his talk on the values and attitudes that lead to happiness and success.

This talk was arranged by Ajahn Brahm Society Sri Lanka and recorded by Dharmavahini Foundation, Sri Lanka.

Ajahn Nissarano is a Western Australian monk who ordained with Ajahn Brahm in the 1990s. In this talk and guided meditation he gives advice on how to develop values and attitudes that lead to happiness and success.

This talk was arranged by Ajahn Brahm Society Sri Lanka and recorded by Dharmavahini Foundation, Sri Lanka.

Ajahn uses humour, jokes, funny stories and common sense to teach us how to meditate.  We forget that being physically comfortable is very important to a good meditation.  If we are physically uncomfortable it is difficult to be mentally comfortable, we can't focus.  Talk to your body, ask it if it is comfortable, fidget, squirm, cough but get comfortable.  Then move on to relaxing mentally.  Leave your heavy past in the past, forget your concerns about your future and just live in the moment.

Focus your attention on your breath and breath in "peace", out "let go".

After the guided meditation, Ajahn talks about mental health as well as general health and the benefits of meditation.

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Ajahn Santutthi says that meditation is like marinating an olive. It takes time for the olives to become delicious. In the same way, it takes time and patience for our mind to settle down.

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