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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1,442 episodes
Updated July 27

Episodes1442

Newest first

Jun 23, 2011 · 6 min
A Creative Response
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte,, and#8220;A Creative Responseand#8221; comes to us from the comprehensive and thought-provoking series of talks on the Tibetan text: and#8216;Eight Verses for Training the Mindand#8217; by Kadampa Geshe Langri Tangpa. This excerpt is from fourth and final talk in the series. and#8220;In brief, directly or indirectly, May I give all help and joy to my mothers, And may I take all their harm and pain Secretly upon myself.and#8221; and#8220;May none of this ever be sullied By thoughts of the eight worldly concerns. May I see all things as illusions And, without attachment, gain freedom from bondage.and#8221; Talk given as part of a series, and#8216;Eight Verses for Training the Mindand#8217;, at Madhyamaloka, Birmingham, 2004
Jun 20, 2011 · 3 min
Giving Attention to Experience
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, comes to us from the talk and#8220;Simplicityand#8221; by Kamalashila: and#8220;Giving Attention to Experienceand#8221;. Meditation is kind of a prayer for authenticity and truthand#8230; it is the Buddhist path of becoming more natural. Talk given at FWBO Day, 2004
Jun 16, 2011 · 7 min
Virya/Energy and The New Society
The Bodhisattvas descend, the Bodhichitta is called down, and Parami is off and rolling on her favourite subjectand#8230; and#8220;Energy andamp; The New Societyand#8221; is todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte. and#8220;We must remember to remember to not forget what to remember.and#8221; Exploring Shantidevaand#8217;s and#8216;Bodhicharyavataraand#8217; in relation to the creation of The New Society from the talk and#8220;Energy At Its Most Abundantand#8221;. Talk given in Cambridge, 2002
Jun 13, 2011 · 4 min
Maturing Mindfulness
What happens when mindfulness matures? Weand#8217;re completely familiar with mindfulness, and weand#8217;ve hardly scratched the surface. What connects us to our own unfolding nature? Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Maturing Mindfulness, is an intimate look into the Anapanasati Sutra with Dhammarati in the sparkling talk Breaking the Mould, an indispensable exploration of everyday practice of the Dharma in the beautiful light of the Tathagathagarbha Sutra. Talk given at FWBO Day, London 2003
Jun 9, 2011 · 7 min
Manjughosha's Sword
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Manjughoshaand#8217;s Swordand#8221; is an excerpt from the talk and#8220;Cutting Away the Oldand#8221; by the very dynamic Dharmachari Abhaya. Swords and#8211; lots of swords and#8211; as he explores the deep significance of Manjughosha/Manjushri and the blade he uses to cut deep into ignorance and the suffering it leads us into. In this track we are invited to visualize the symbols of swords as we are reminded of Zorro, Excalibur and other sword fights in films. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2003
Jun 6, 2011 · 11 min
The Five Spiritual Faculties
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte,, and#8220;The Five Spiritual Facultiesand#8221; is from one of our earliest recordings of Sangharakshita: and#8220;A Special Transmission Outside the Scripturesand#8221;, 1965. How does Faith, Wisdom, Energy, Concentration and Mindfulness manifest in our lives? How do they relate to each other in our experience? This excerpt is from a talk in the series and#8220;The Essence of Zenand#8221;.
Jun 2, 2011 · 18 min
Marking the New Name: Triratna Buddhist Community (2010)
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Marking the New Name: Triratna Buddhist Communityand#8221;, is a short talk by Padmavajra before leading the seven-fold puja at the International Sangha Gathering, Taraloka, May 2010 marking our movementand#8217;s name from the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order to the Triratna Buddhist Community. The Community of the Three Jewels: The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha.
May 30, 2011 · 2 min
With Mindfulness, Strive
With Mindfulness, Strive. Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, is a verse chanted within the context of A Western [Triratna] Buddhist Order Ordination Ceremony. Conducted by Sangharakshita, this talk is part of the series Ritual and Devotion in Buddhism.
May 26, 2011 · 3 min
'Knowing' the Buddha
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we preview our next podcast, and#8220;The Buddhaand#8217;s Personalityand#8221; by Vishvapani with the segment: and#8220;and#8216;Knowingand#8217; the Buddhaand#8221;. This is from the third talk in the Vishvapaniand#8217;s new series launching the book and#8220;Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened Oneand#8221;. (Quercus, 2011) and#8220;The suttas give us a vividly real Buddha who walks the roads, inhabits the cities and the plains, an untamed free spirit, a powerful presence who we can know but we cannot necessarily comprehend.and#8221; Vishvapani is a well known figure in the Triratna Buddhist Community and is a regular contributor on the BBCand#8217;s and#8216;Thought for the Dayand#8217;. Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre, February 2011.
May 23, 2011 · 5 min
Mara's Attack on the Buddha
In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we continue our theme on the Buddhaand#8217;s Enlightenment with and#8220;Maraand#8217;s Attack on the Buddhaand#8221;. This Dharambyte is from the quietly passionate talk, and#8220;What is Enlightenment?and#8221; by Jinapriya on the quicksilver nature of the Enlightenment experience and#8211; impossible to pin down, utterly transformative. Here we meet Mara, the demon or trickster who represents our deepest fears, our doubts, our lack of confidence. We are met with a thoughtful series of reflections, stories and images that all look to open up the gates of perception, and prepare the heart for the biggest change imaginable and possible for all. Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2003
May 19, 2011 · 4 min
The Buddha: Legend and History
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;The Buddha: Legend andamp; Historyand#8221; offers us a glimpse of the talk, Imaging Gautama, from the major new series of talks by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: and#8216;Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened Oneand#8217; (Quercus, 2011). Vishvapani recollects his religious studies and lessons on the Four Sights, which is not found in the suttas relating to Gautama. Does this mean it didnand#8217;t happen? Here Vishvapani traces the the development of a legendary story and other examples of details in the Buddha legend missing from the Pali Canon. Talk given at the Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2011.
May 16, 2011 · 10 min
What is Enlightenment?
In celebration of Wesak, the Buddhaand#8217;s Awakening, todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte takes us right to the heart of the matter: What is Enlightenment? and#8216; From the 1975 lecture by Sangharakshita titled and#8220;The Ideal of Human Enlightenmentand#8221;, we are concisely and beautifully reminded of the three aspects of Awakening in the Buddhist tradition: i. radiant, pure clear awareness entirely transcending duality; ii. an intense, overflowing love and compassion for all that lives; iii. an inexhaustible mental and spiritual energy, absolute spontaneity and creativity continuously bubbling up. This talk is part of the series and#8220;Human Enlightenmentand#8221;.
May 12, 2011 · 6 min
The Buddha's Time and Place
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, we highlight a major new series of talks by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: and#8216;Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened Oneand#8217; (Quercus, 2011). and#8220;The Buddhaand#8217;s Time and Placeand#8221;, is an excerpt from the first talk, and#8220;Searching for the Buddhaand#8221;, from a major new series by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: and#8216;Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened Oneand#8217; (Quercus, 2011). Vishvapani is a well known figure in the Triratna Buddhist Community and is a regular contributer on the BBCand#8217;s and#8216;Thought for the Dayand#8217;. Here we meet the Buddha set firmly in his own historical context, with space too for the legendary and particular reference to the natural world. The Buddha discovered the natural world and made it accessible to his disciples. If we return the Buddha to his time and place then we can find out the lessons that are relevant now: Life is uncontrollable and we find Wisdom in opening to that; To heal our relationship with nature, we must first heal ourselves, and that the transformation that occurs is on every level, not just the conscious. Ancient India comes alive as we wander with the Buddha, facing his fears amongst the ghosts of the jungle. There is much that is important for reflection here and#8211; the Dharma made fascinating by dint of the authorand#8217;s depth of engagement with Buddhist practice and the sheer breadth of his cultural reference. Talk given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, January 2011.
May 9, 2011 · 3 min
Engaging with the Historical Buddha
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Engaging with the Historical Buddhaand#8221; offers us a glimpse of the talk, Searching for the Buddha, from the major new series of talks by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: and#8216;Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened Oneand#8217; (Quercus, 2011). The act of engaging with the historical Buddha is an act of imagination. Discarded bits of rag, the texture of his face, the color of his skin, his physical form and his presence as it was compared to a Lionand#8217;s Roar, and other elements of the natural world. Talk given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2011.
May 5, 2011 · 6 min
Letting the Mind Go, Sitting with Mindfulness
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Letting the Mind Go is brought to us by Viveka in a talk titled and#8220;Mindfulness as Sadhanaand#8221;, given at the Womenand#8217;s Triratna Buddhist Order Convention in 2005. Touching in on our conditioning and confidence to become Enlightened, Viveka reminds us that there is nothing to be afraid of when letting go of the mind. Calling on the image of the vast ocean with references to Suzuki Roshi on water and waves and#8211; Big Mind and Milarepaand#8217;s Song of the Yogiand#8217;s Joy, this little Dharmabyte is sure to inspire.
May 2, 2011 · 3 min
Faith, from the Higher Evolution Series
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, elucidated by Sangharakshita himself, is titledFaith from the Higher Evolution Series, specifically the fifth talk: Buddhism and the Path of Higher Evolution. Faith in the context of Higher Evolution is the response of our total being responding to something higher, something beyond, something transcendental. The longing to give ourselves to the Three Jewels completelyand#8230;it is the response of what is ultimate in us with what is ultimate in the universe. This talk was delivered in 1969.
Apr 28, 2011 · 22 min
Faith that Enlightenment is Possible
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, Faith that Enlightenment is Possible, is a substantial extract from Saddhanandiand#8217;s very personal, humorous and inspiring talk: Enlightenment as Heart, Life as Whole. and#8220;She who delights in faithand#8221; shares many of her own stories from her life in the Order and her relationship to her belief in whether Enlightenment is possible. What is Enlightenment and what is our response to this possibility? Trembling with the potential to experience a state of pure, clear awareness extending in all directions, a state of knowledge and#8211; direct unmediated spiritual vision, a state of profound overflowing love and compassion for all beings, a state of inexhaustible mental and spiritual energy, a state of uninterrupted creativity, a state of perfect unconditioned freedom from all subjective limitations. Do you use faith as an authority in your life? This talk was given on the International Sangha Gathering for women who had asked for ordination in the Triratna Buddhist Order, held at Taraloka in 2005.
Apr 25, 2011 · 9 min
The Four Noble Truths and Perfect Vision
Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, The Four Noble Truths andamp; Perfect Vision, comes to us from one of Sangharakshitaand#8217;s earliest recordings. From the series: The Buddhaand#8217;s Noble Eightfold Path we offer you two tracks from the first talk in the series: The Nature of Existence: Right Understanding given in 1968. Sangharakshita illustrates how perfect vision can arise, explores the three levels of suffering and truths of conditioned existence, and how all of this can be transcended.
Apr 21, 2011 · 6 min
The Meaning of the Prajnaparamita Mantra
Continuing with our theme of The Heart Sutra, todayand#8217;s Dharmabyte leads us into and#8216;The Meaning of the Prajnaparamita Mantra.and#8217; Going beyond the unconditioned, going beyond even the distinction of the conditioned and the unconditioned, going, going, gone beyond. Selection from the talk titled and#8216;The Heart Sutraand#8217; by Sangharakshita, 1967.
Apr 18, 2011 · 8 min
Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra (The Heart Sutra) in Sanskrit
Our Dharmabyte today takes us into the heart of Buddhist ritual, into the heart of the sevenfold puja, with a special chanting of the and#8220;Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutraand#8221; and#8211; The Heart Sutra and#8211; in Sanskrit. The entire puja is recited in both Sanskrit and English, a real treat for all ritual lovers courtesy of Satyadhana, the puja leader. This Sevenfold Puja was recorded at the North American Order Convention in 2008.