Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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.

Craving is at the root of our sufferings. But overcoming craving is easier said than done. Ajahn Brahm offers sage advice on how to find happiness wanting for nothing.

Relationships are never going to be perfect, however, Bhikkhuni  Hasapanna discusses how we can relate to people around us with trust, kindness, compassion and forgiveness which will  foster good relationships, and in turn, lessen our suffering.

More importantly though we can relate to our own emotions by being mindful and meditation is the key to mindfulness.

Also, listen to some refreshing jokes.

According to Ajahn Brahm, everyone deserves a 'retreat' - to pause mentally and physically. Retreating from the busyness of life leads to moments of silence, peace and contentment. This in turns helps to instill qualities that make one’s life more meaningful and fulfilled.

To quote from Ajahn’s book, Opening The Door of Your Heart,

“Grant yourself a moment of peace

and you will understand

how foolishly you  have scurried about."

So plan for yourself a retreat today.

We often strive to live up to our own expectations and those imposed on us by our associates and society at large. This pursuit of the unachievable causes enormous stress and a sense of failure followed by low self-esteem.

We can raise our self-esteem by recognizing and rejecting the increasing and unrealistic nature of these expectations, and replacing them with an acceptance of the fact that we are not perfect. If we can accept ourselves then others will accept and welcome us.

When we are at ease with ourselves and have good self-esteem, chances are that we can take it further and develop ‘no-self esteem’. This is when we do not define ourselves, but are who we are at the present moment. We are not ‘locked’ in our past and we are not anxious about the future, but are free to enjoy what life has to offer. This is ‘no-self esteem’.

We may be good talkers but not necessarily willing listeners. Alternatively, we may be good listeners but not necessarily good hearers as we are preoccupied with our own inner chatter. On occasions, when we do hear, we have the tendency to filter what we hear.

In contrast, ‘total listening’, refers to listening with mindfulness, attentiveness, compassion, kindness and all in silence. ‘Total listening’ is also about listening to our body, our mind and most of all, listening to life.

According to Ajahn Brahm, to love is to listen deeply. He encourages us to respect the power of silence and to develop the art of total listening.

Often we assume that if we are NOT 'in control', things will go wrong. So we attempt to control our mind, our body and the people we associate with.

The Buddha said, "Craving leads to suffering and letting go leads to peace.” Craving to control and to instil fear in people does not always produce the outcomes that were originally intended.

Ajahn Brahm encourages us to open the door of our heart; to place freedom, trust, respect, kindness and compassion in others and ourselves. Often this will yield outcomes opposite to what we imagine as  'out of control'.

When the sky is dull and grey, when the day is cold and miserable, when feelings of hopelessness prevail or when revenge and ill will take hold, performing a spontaneous act of kindness will put a different spin on your world.

The impact of such acts can be profound and far-reaching. It may restore one's faith in humanity and make the world warm and bright in the cold, overcast days of winter.

Ajahn Brahmali talks about how purity of mind, purity of heart and a strong sense of morality is the basis for developing the practice of mindfulness.

Often we argue because our personal viewpoints are challenged and we want to be 'right' and we want others to see the 'truth'. Arguments, however, do not always lead to truth and often there is no absolute truth. It is also acceptable to be wrong from time to time.

According to Ajahn Brahm, we should not argue for the sake of truth, instead we should FEEL truth. Feelings such as contentment, peace, freedom, stillness and joy transcend time, culture and arguments themselves.

Ajahn Brahm discusses what to do when everything goes wrong and falls to pieces in your life.

Want to improve the emotional and physical qualities of your life? According to Ajahn Brahm, you will need to practise mindfulness along with compassion and kindness. Listen on to find out more…

We all have a bit of a fascination with evil - dictators, murderers, con men, etc - and most great stories are interesting because they deal with the topic of evil. But what really is evil? Bhante Sujato investigates what evil really is from a Buddhist perspective.