Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Brahm offers a Buddhist attitude and perspective towards climate change and the environment.

Ajahn gives this talk to help relieve people’s underlying fears about climate change and generate some solutions. Ajahn begins by talking about an interesting metaphor in the Jataka tales (suttas) about climate change. And Ajahn also talks about reincarnation being a good reason to care for the land we live on.

Ajahn Brahm dedicates this talk to those of us living alone or without a relationship, however he says this talk is also relevant to those in relationships. 

Ajahn elaborates on the Buddhist principle or the basic law of karma that what you are experiencing right now is the result of your karma from the past and you can’t do anything with it. The most important thing is not what you have to deal with in life, but how you deal with it. In other words what are you making out of what you have. 

Ajahn advises us to love and appreciate ourselves and others and stop trying to change and improve ourselves and others.

What if this is your last meditation?  Ajahn Brahmali begins by giving a short Dhamma talk on the skilful ways of establishing yourself in the present moment. Ajahn teaches us that by contemplating death, thoughts about past and future fade away. Ajahn suggests to contemplate death at the beginning of the meditation to remind us that the past and future are irrelevant and help remove restlessness and tiredness.

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

What is the Buddha’s advice to lay Buddhists?

Ajahn repeats some of the Buddha’s teachings he gave to laypeople and talks of the benefits of living life well. Ajahn begins by looking at the distinction between what the Buddha taught to laypeople and monastics. Ajahn covers many topics such as morality, generosity, kindness, solitude practise and meditation.

Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on how to find a way through the thicket of confusion. Ajahn talks about remaining open to the potentials and opportunities that life brings, rather than allowing ourselves to become overwhelmed and lost in confusion.

Ajahn Appichato reflects upon the benefits of meditation on the mind and body, such as meditations physical healing effects and the great sense of peace and well-being it brings to the mind.

Ajahn Cittapalo is always a welcome teacher at AMG, he never fails to fill the house. Tonight he encouraged us to be patient with our impatience. Thoughts arise during meditation whether we want them to or not. Don't be impatient with yourself, let them go and gently bring your mind back to your meditation object.

Ajahn guided us through a 30 minute meditation that was well suited to beginners and intermediates.  He then gave a Dharma talk that was both humorous and relevant to our habit of being impatient with our minds.

How can we development wisdom in our day to day experiences? How does wisdom manifest in our actions, thoughts and feelings?

Ajahn Appichato talks about the wisdom component of Buddhism which brings you to the truth. Ajahn points out that human beings have an insight faculty to develop a deep understanding of themselves and life in general. And Ajahn talks about the link between awareness or mindfulness and wisdom. 

Ajahn Brahm responds to the question “how should Buddhists relate to Anzac Day?,” which is the day Australians and New Zealander’s commemorate those Australians and New Zealander’s who served and died in wars.

Ajahn gives a talk on the Buddhist attitude to military, wars, fighting and conflicts. And reflects upon how to relate to days such as Anzac Day, why do people join the army, what to do if we are called to go to war and are there other alternatives to these conflicts?

Ajahn Brahm begins by talking about having gentleness and patience with our meditation. How to stay in this present moment by caring for and looking after this present moment and our body and mind; just as waiter cares for his customers. Ajahn also talks about why the mind does and doesn’t wander off.

For the 2011 New Year's Eve Dhamma Talk, Ajahn Brahm reminds us that learning how to put happiness into life is one of the great teachings and secrets of Buddhism. Ajahn talks about how for him the happiness principle of Buddhism, that is learning how to put happiness into whatever you’re doing and how to take away your suffering, pain, misery, guilt, fear and worries is more important than philosophising and theorising.

Ajahn Brahm ponders why it is we get into an unhealthy habit of blaming others for the suffering we experience in life?
Ajahn talks about why blaming others is a waste of time and creates more problems, pointing out that the suffering or problem is not from the other person but from you. 

Venerable Nirodha from Dhammasara Nun's Monastery gives a Dhamma talk on Christmas Eve. Venerable Nirodha tells us her story of what brought her Buddhism, how it all began and what made her change. Venerable points out that sharing and reflecting on our beginnings helps ourselves and others understand where we are now. Venerable strongly recommends we go through life with open eyes and not just rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. 

“All that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will one day become separated from me” the Buddha. Ajahn Brahm gives a teaching on anicca or change and the importance of coming to terms with change. Ajahn talks about understanding and accepting the constant changing nature of our world and life and how doing this gives rise to wisdom and compassion.

Ajahn Brahm tells the story of the Four Old Men: wealth, success, peace and harmony. The story teaches us about getting our priorities right because Ajahn says a lot of problems in life come from when we focus on something which is not worth very much and sacrifice things which are worth far, far more. Ajahn explains how when we get our priorities wrong we suffer and we create suffering for others.

Ajahn Brahm offers a teaching not on finding the meaning of life, but putting meaning into our life; that is making our life meaningful. Ajahn Brahm tells us how to put meaning into our lives and points out that when we don’t life does become quite meaningless. Ajahn talks about developing the right attitude that gives our life purpose and meaning and what does and doesn’t give meaning.

Venerable Nitho recounted his youth to us to show how trying too hard [craving] is counter productive to letting go and that this will make it more difficult to meditate.  Just as Venerable tried to hard to catch an elusive blue butterfly, we often try too hard too clear our minds to meditate.  We need to let go and just let it happen.

Tonight's meditation was focused on our bodies.  Starting at the feet, working upward.  Relaxing each area of the body helps immensely to clear the mind, shut out external distractions and simply relax.

Venerable concluded with a brief Dharma talk and Q&A.

Ajahn Brahm examines the place of love, lust, desire and affection in Buddhism. Ajahn asks; Is love an attachment? Is love something beautiful? Is love going to get you into trouble? What actually is the place of love in Buddhism? What is spiritual about your love in a relationship? Ajahn also looks at how you can make use of your understanding of the love you feel in a marriage or relationship.

Venerable Hasapanna gives a talk about how to integrate the Buddhist teachings into our practise and daily life. How to live the Dhamma; live the teachings. Venerable emphasises the importance of developing right understanding and wisdom to help us deal with the ups and downs, twists and turns and difficulties in life or the eight worldly conditions: praise and blame, gain and loss, happiness and unhappiness, honour and dishonour.

Ajahn Brahm begins by talking about what stops you from getting peaceful in meditation and seeing things clearly. Ajahn says the first two of the biggest obstacles or hindrances to meditation are wanting and ill-will/ aversion.