Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabytes features bite-sized dharma, three times a week, from the Free Buddhist Audio archives. Themed in conjunction with our weekly full length talk podcast, these are inspiring short extracts from over 5,000 talks on Buddhism, meditation and mindfulness!

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1,444 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes1444

Newest first

Feb 16, 2015 · 8 min
Reading the Sukhavativyuha Sutra
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is an excerpt from the talk and#8220;Pure and Impure Buddhalands and#8211; This Very Place, the Lotus Paradiseand#8221; by Taranita. He begins the talk by and#8220;Reading the Sukhavativyuha Sutraand#8221;, a text that expounds on the grandeur and wealth of riches available in the Pure Land. Taranita addresses the practical skepticism that often comes up in the face of the flowery language of the sutra, and suggests we look at it symbolically and mythically. Talk given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2015
Feb 12, 2015 · 16 min
Death Has 10,000 Doors
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, is from the rather fabulous talk and#8220;Death and the Buddhistand#8221; by Danavira. Weand#8217;ve titled this and#8220;Death Has 10,000 Doorsand#8221;. Danavira is one of the best speakers we know and#8211; he is very funny, can do poetic and profound, tends to the chaotic in his style, and has a particular genius for this kind of thing; this kind of thing being talking about death. The whole talk is a kind of respectful joyride through the hardest subject of all and#8211; sit back and enjoy a thoroughly adult treat thatand#8217;s likely to blow the heart wide open. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, Menand#8217;s Event 2000
Feb 9, 2015 · 36 min
The Finite Nature of Life
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Finite Nature of Lifeand#8221; is from Paramananda. Beginning the talk with a poem, he explores the importance of coming into relation with suffering, especially regarding our own and othersand#8217; death. If we do not take on the finite nature of our lives, we cannot practise effectively.
Feb 5, 2015 · 6 min
One Big Mistake
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte,and#8220;One Big Mistakeand#8221; Padmakumara gives us much to consider in the areas of existential suffering, incompleteness, and the wrong view that external things can be relied on for happiness. From the talk and#8220;I Read the News Today, Oh Boyand#8221; and#8211; A talk on real practice in the sometimes painfully real worldand#8230;
Feb 2, 2015 · 8 min
Making the Best Use of Our Time – Practice the Dharma!
Sangharakshita rouses us with todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, entitled and#8220;Making the Best Use of Our Time and#8211; Practice the Dharma!and#8221;. From the 1996 talk and#8220;Intellect, Emotion, and Willand#8221; given at the opening of the Manchester Buddhist Centre.
Jan 29, 2015 · 4 min
Sangha as Bodhicitta Practice
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Sangha as Bodhicitta Practiceand#8221;, Vajratara suggests that of the Bodhicitta practises we might take up and#8211; the puja or the various reflections on the suffering of beings and#8211; the most useful and effective Bodhichitta practice is the practice of sangha, of spiritual community. Now thereand#8217;s a thought! From the talk, and#8220;Generating Bodhi Mindand#8221; given at Taraloka, May 2009.
Jan 26, 2015 · 5 min
Our Reaction to Suffering
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Our Reaction to Sufferingand#8221;, Kulaprabha offers quite personal reflections on our responses to suffering. From the talk and#8220;Contemplating the Suffering of Beingsand#8221; given at Taraloka.
Jan 22, 2015 · 9 min
Hiding the Dharma in Story
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Hiding the Dharma in Story,and#8221; Vajratara reminds us how the lifeand#8217;s inspirations our found in the stories passed on to us. From the talk, Purna and the Perfumed Chamber and#8211; Stories From Early Sanskrit Buddhism, given on March 2012 UK Women National Order Weekend. The theme of the weekend was Delighting in the Buddha through Story and#8211; from dreadlocked ascetics, the taming of dragons, lost in the desert, and conversing with gods.
Jan 19, 2015 · 11 min
Downwards and Backwards
In todayand#8217;sFBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Downwards and Backwards,and#8221; Maitridevi shares the myth of Persephone as pathway of moving backwards and downwards into the depths of oneand#8217;s being. From the talk, and#8220;The Tender Gravity of Kindnessand#8221; that explores how this myth can influence our practice of the metta bhavana.
Jan 15, 2015 · 34 min
What Money Can't Buy
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, entitled and#8220;What Money Canand#8217;t Buyand#8221;, Vaddhaka has a close look at the nature of capitalismand#8217;s economic theory. How are we as buddhists supposed to engage with an economic system that arguably elevates egoistic craving into the position of a high virtue?
Jan 12, 2015 · 9 min
What is Wrong Livelihood?
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte entitled and#8220;What is Wrong Livelihoodand#8221;, is excerpted from a 1968 talk by Sangharakshita, and#8220;The Ideal Society: Right Livelihoodand#8221;. Here he discusses what could be considered wrong livelihood, based on the Buddhaand#8217;s teachings in the scriptures.
Jan 8, 2015 · 4 min
The Spirit of Cooperative Work
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte entitled and#8220;The Spirit of Cooperative Workand#8221;, Parami looks at Sangharakshitaand#8217;s encouragement of cooperative work and Team-Based Right Livelihood businesses, examining the history of these types of businesses in the Triratna Buddhist Community as well as how we can keep the energy and momentum behind them alive.
Jan 5, 2015 · 8 min
Four Essential Features of Right Livelihood
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte Sangharakshita lays out the and#8220;Four Essential Features of Right Livelihoodand#8221;, particularly the team-based Right Livelihoods that are a distinct emphasis of the Triratna Buddhist Community. This excerpt is from a lovely 2001 talk by Sangharakshita that is well worth revisiting often, entitled and#8220;The Six Distinctive Emphases of the FWBOand#8221;.
Dec 31, 2014 · 8 min
Medical Work in India as Dhamma Practice
Starting the new year with a series on Right Livelihood, todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte entitled and#8220;Medical Work in India as Dhamma Practiceand#8221; features Karunaprabha, an Indian Order Member, who tells the story of how her medical work in the slums of Pune led to her becoming a Buddhist.
Dec 28, 2014 · 4 min
Altruistic Activity as Insight Practice
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte entitled and#8220;Altruistic Activity as Insight Practiceand#8221; draws from an evening of discussion with Sangharakshita in which he was asked to discuss whether one could see altruistic activity as a support for insight in light of the illness of the world.
Dec 25, 2014 · 34 min
Supports to Insight
Karunagita gives todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte entitled and#8220;Supports to Insightand#8221; . Given at the European Womenand#8217;s Convention at Adhisthana, one of a series of talks on the topic and#8220;The Bodhisattvaand#8217;s Reply: Triratna Paths to Insightand#8221;.
Dec 22, 2014 · 19 min
Transcending Paradigms
Continuing our exploration of Insight, todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is one from Khemasuri on and#8220;Transcending Paradigmsand#8221; . Given at the European Womenand#8217;s Convention at Adhisthana, one of a series of talks on the topic and#8220;The Bodhisattvaand#8217;s Reply: Triratna Paths to Insightand#8221;.
Dec 18, 2014 · 20 min
Living Dharma in South Africa
Another talk in our exploration of Insight, todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte from Dhammamegha entitled and#8220;Living Dharma in South Africaand#8221; was the second talk in a panel called and#8220;Spreading the Dharma as a Path to Insightand#8221;, given at the European Combined Order Convention held at Wymondham College on 23 August 2014.
Dec 15, 2014 · 17 min
Life is a Gift – Triratna in Barcelona
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Amalasiri gives a lovely talk entitled and#8220;Life is a Gift and#8211; Triratna in Barcelonaand#8221;, beginning a series of podcasts from now to the end of the year exploring the topic of insight. This talk was given at the European Combined Order Convention, the theme of which was and#8220;The Bodhisattvaand#8217;s Reply: Triratna Paths to Insightand#8221;.
Dec 11, 2014 · 16 min
The Buddha Prevents a War
Sangharakshita recounts for us in todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte the Rohini incident in which and#8220;The Buddha Prevents a Warand#8221;. The Buddhaand#8217;s lone voice of sanity in this story is a wonderful template for us to work from when considering realistic courses of action in the modern world to promote peace and end warfare. Excerpted from the talk and#8220;Buddhism, World Peace and Nuclear Warand#8221; given in 1984.