Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Brahm talks about how to find meaning in life.

In this talk Ajahn Brahm debunks and demystifies religious rituals, asking us to take a sceptical approach to rituals and understand how rituals can be abused.

When Ajahn Brahm was a young man first interested in Buddhism, he had no interest whatsoever in chanting, which appeared to be a useless ritual associated with a rational religion. These days, as he explains, he has a greater appreciation of the power of chanting - in fact he does it nearly every day. Having never given a talk on this topic before, Ajahn Brahm opens up about the power of chanting.

Ajahn Dhiravamso discusses a core teaching of Buddhism that if often misconstrued by popular culture - the law of kamma. In this talk Ajahn Dhiravamso picks apart the confused idea in popular culture and clarifies how the law of kamma (action) really works.

This talk, given in 2009, occurred in the week after Ajahn Brahm was expelled from the tradition of monasteries in Thailand that he ordained in for his role in ordination of bhikkhunis (fully ordained nuns). It starts with an explanation of what occurred, and then Ajahn Brahm goes on to explain why and how to look forward to the future with happiness.

All the problems of life are ultimately relationship problems. Not just with spouses and significant others, but also with our families, friends, work colleagues, and also with ourselves and with life itself. Ajahn Brahm offers wise advice on how to deal with the problems in relationships but also to cultivate happy, healthy relationships.

On the auspicious occasion of ordaining the first four Theravadan Buddhist bhikkhunis (fully ordained nuns) in 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere - part of the move to reconstitute the bhikkhuni sangha into the Theravadan Buddhist world - Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on the topic of courageous decision-making.

To understand Buddhism and to understand life, we must understand the truth of suffering in life. The Four Noble Truths are oriented around suffering, it's cause and freedom from suffering. Ajahn Brahmali uses this talk to put things into perspective and understand the problem of suffering.

What is peace? How is it caused? And what are the obstacles to peace in our modern world? Ajahn Brahm talks all about peace.

This talk begins with a guided meditation. At 27.50 the dharma talk on the topic of the meaning and power of generosity (dana) in life.

Sometimes when things are going wrong in life, we end up asking "Why me?" Ajahn Brahm looks into the origins of this attitude to tragedies (big and small), and how to develop a more realistic and resilient attitude to life.

Ajahn Brahm talks about the beauty of dying well, and how this can be most effectively achieved by living well.

In response to a request Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on the value of skillful speech and how to develop it.

According to the Buddha, patience is the highest of spiritual qualities. Ajahn Brahm explains the spiritual logic of developing patience, and along the way gives tips on how to develop it.

Oftentimes having to making so many choices makes us tired and stressed. Ajahn Brahm talks about how to make choices without getting so tired and stressed, and maintaining a happy, positive frame of mind.

This talk by Ajahn Sujato came at a watershed moment in 2009 when the first fully ordained nuns (bhikkhunis) were ordained in Western Australia. Ajahn Sujato explains what it means to be fully ordained, why it is important, and why it is important to have fully ordained nuns in the contemporary world so that there are equal opportunities for both women and men to follow the whole of the Buddhist path, just as was the case in the time of the Buddha.

Ajahn Brahm talks about the source of wisdom and how we can all find out about the true nature of reality through direct experience.

Realizing that many people get upset about themselves, their relationships, the economy, the government and most everything else that goes on, Ajahn Brahm talks about hope and how to restore it.

Ajahn Brahm talks about how limiting expectations can be, and how to let go of expectations in order to give all you've got to whatever you're doing in the here and now.

Ajahn Brahm talks about how to re-orient our values in order to attain greater value (peace, satisfaction, happiness) in life.