Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Which is the best Buddhist tradition and how can you find out? Does it even matter? Ajahn Brahm blows apart notions of spiritual elitism - about comparing people and traditions, measuring who's best, and etceteras - and points the attention back to where it is most needed for us to make spiritual progress.

What is desire really? Is all desire bad and to be gotten rid of? How are we to tell? And when we figure out which types of desire are harmful, how do we overcome it? Ajahn Brahm explains how...

Ajahn Brahmali talks on the universal quest to find happiness, and some secrets on how to find happiness in life.

How are we to cope when there is a crisis in our lives? What to do when it all goes wrong? Ajahn Brahm gives a talk on what to do when we're really in deep trouble.

Buddhism isn't a book-based or idea-based religion, but a religion based on observing our human experience first-hand. So studying books is not the emphasis of the teaching, but practice in order to get direct knowledge of the truth within ourselves. Ajahn Brahm explains using the story of the pyramid in the jungle.

Having just returned from pilgrimage to the Buddhist Holy Sites in India and Nepal, Ajahn Vayama responds to a request from the audience to talk about how cause and effect operate in our daily lives.

How should we make a living without hurting others and making bad karma? Referring to the Eightfold Path factor of Right Livelihood, Ajahn Brahm explains how to live skilfully and well.

How should Buddhists respond to the injustice that they encounter in the world? Ajahn Brahm explains...

The ego - the sense of "I" and "mine" - is the source of so much suffering in this world. And in reality it doesn't even exist! So discovering the reality of non-self is a huge relief.

What does it mean to be married? How does a couple develop a happy marriage? And what advice did the Buddha have for those wanting to get married, and those who are already married? Ayye Vayama discusses the topic of marriage from a Buddhist perspective.

What do Buddhists believe? Do Buddhists believe in a dogma, or is it more like a framework for finding out? Ajahn Brahm discusses the practice of the first step of the Eightfold Path - Right View.

The main quality of Buddhism is that it's not about belief so much as about practice - what to do to achieve happiness and end suffering. Ajahn Brahmali teaches us that it's the Noble Eightfold Path that is a practical method for achieving Awakening.

We know the future is uncertain, yet we carry around the heavy baggage of expectations about the future with us every day. Expectations can be a burden and also make us inflexible in our approach to life. Ajahn Brahm explains how the best place to be on the edge between the past and the future, in the present moment.

Busy-ness is the curse of our age the puts stress and strain on our minds and mental health, our bodies and physical health, and our relationships. This is a problem and there is a solution related to developing the right attitude to life so that whilst there is busy-ness all around us we can cultivate a space of peace within in ourselves. Ajahn Brahm explains how...

There was quite a buzz online that the end of the world would happen on the 21st December 2012 - the date this talk was given. Despite the erroneous prediction, the world will end sooner or later, if only for us individually at the end of our lives. So what state of mind would you like to be in at the end of your world? Ayye Hasapanna addresses just this topic, of how to let go of that which doesn't matter and settle conflicts to create a peaceful state of mind.

We've all had to endure difficult people whether at work, home or leisure. But how to deal with them skillfully? Ayye Hasapanna gives us a guide to dealing with difficult people.

Did you know that Buddhism introduced dieting and abseiling to the world? Bhante Sujato is a serious Buddhist scholar with a sense of humour, introducing the ancient world of the Buddha to a modern audience.

In response to a question about the emergence of a Western form of Buddhism, Ajahn Brahm goes on to speak about the role of Buddhism in the modern world, and how ultimately the Dhamma taught by the Lord Buddha must have a universal appeal that is directly applicable to the human experience. After all, human beings are much the same wherever we may go, bound together by common experiences, and answering the common questions and problems of human experience is what Buddhism is all about.

The way to develop the path in Buddhism is not about pretences or appearances, but rather about being true to oneself and others, and about genuine inner growth over time. Leaving aside praise and blame and seeking to develop the purity of mind is the way to peace and happiness.

How do we respond to our heartaches, illnesses, pain and various forms of suffering in life? Ajahn Brahm explains how the most skillful response is to love our sufferings.