Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Fear creates so much suffering and unnecessary problems in our lives, and for many people a key aim is to overcome fear and experience a state of fearlessness. Ajahn Brahm explains how it's important to understand fear and even to understand why we are addicted to fear.

In a world where there is so much conflict and disharmony - between governments, between religions, between co-workers, between family members and even in our own minds - there is a deep yearning for peace and harmony in the world. Ajahn Brahm uses this talk to highlight the topic of harmony and how to create it in our world, and within ourselves.

Ajahn Khemavaro starts out with the simile of digging a well to find water and how this requires persistent digging in the same spot in order to hit water. He then goes on to talk about how we need to be dedicated in our practice focusing on our chosen practices to find the profound liberating happiness that can be found on the spiritual path.

Venerable Hasapanna talks about the nature of self, and how it motivates our actions and drives the underlying causes of attachment which lead to suffering. Realising how the attachment to the sense of self leads to unhappiness can help us to let go of the attachment to what we think is "me", "mine" and "myself".

One of the keys to finding success in meditation - and in life generally - is in learning how to overcome the Five Hindrances. Ajahn Dhiravamso gives advice on how to get to know our minds and how to identify and overcome the Five Hindrances.

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.

We keep hearing about all the benefits of being positive, but now Ajahn Brahm gives practical advice on how to be positive.

Ajahn Brahm gives an unexpected view on the topic of Buddhism and Politics.

Ajahn Brahm explain how Right View in Buddhism doesn't mean believing in a fixed dogma, but rather how to perceive things in life in order to bring our views into line with reality and to find inner peace. Ajahn Brahm focuses on not "what" to believe, but "where" to look, and "how" to look for it.

Reflecting upon the great many changes that have occurred on this very same day, creating a real sense of uncertainty, Ajahn Khemavaro discusses how to deal with that pervasive sense of uncertainty and the anxiety it can induce. Ajahn Khemavaro explains how to cultivate a sense that everything will be alright, and to be at peace with whatever happens next.

Ajahn Brahm challenges the notion of "revealed religion" and prophets from a supreme deity. He goes on to say that we are all on a spiritual journey and it's up to us all to realise deeper spiritual truths directly for ourselves.

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 Brahm discusses the principle of kamma and how we can use it skilfully in our meditation practice.

If you want to hear all the latest gossip that Ajahn Brahm has heard on the grapevine, then you really need to listen to this talk.

Ayye Vayama discusses how knowledge and practice of the Buddha Dharma  develops the mind in the direction of liberation.

Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on how we can approach decision making in our lives with more wisdom.

The plague of the age in our "always-on", 24/7 society is that people are often - even constantly - feeling tired. This is a difficult feeling to deal with and detracts from our happiness and well-being. Ajahn Brahm offers a fresh perspective and useful advice on how to deal with tiredness.

Ajahn Brahm starts out by distinguishing between happiness and peace, then goes on to make the case that peace is the highest happiness, and what we should all be striving for.

Ayye Vayama talks about setting up of sacred spaces - in time and place - where people can come into for the purposes of remembrance, or for calm and contemplation.