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Religion & Spirituality

London Buddhist Centre

London Buddhist Centre

Talks on Buddhism and meditation. Live recordings from the London Buddhist Centre exploring the Buddha’s teaching (Dharma) in a way that is relevant to contemporary life.

  • 78 episodes
  • Updated Friday

Episodes78

  • Friday · 51 min

    Imagination and Empathy | Sanghadharin

    Sanghadharin explores empathy as a trainable, imaginative faculty — distinct from pity — that grows through self-awareness, ethical practice and meditation. He looks at how empathy underpins spiritual friendship and the Brahma Viharas, and extends beyond people to the natural world.

  • Tuesday · 1 hr 17 min

    Imagination in the Dharma Life | Sthiramanas

    Sthiramanas explores the vital role of imagination in spiritual practice, defining it as the transformative faculty that bridges the gap between conceptual reason and the transcendental goal of enlightenment. By moving beyond the mechanical thinking of modern culture and embracing "useless" beauty, we are invited to cultivate an expansive and unified consciousness.

  • July 18 · 44 min

    A Blueprint for a New World | Prajnamanas

    Prajnamanas explores the vision of a "garden planted in the wilderness," offering a spiritual blueprint to transform society through collective practice and fellowship. This talk details practical steps for building this new world, from intentional community living and collaborative work to the life-changing impact of regular retreats.

  • July 15 · 1 hr 8 min

    The Nucleus of a New Society | Sthiramanas

    Sthiramanas explores the symbolic "Shepherd’s Round Dance," presenting a vision for a "nucleus of a new society" built on shared spiritual values rather than the reactive habits of traditional social groups. This talk outlines a transformative blueprint for the world, showing how individual commitment and collective fellowship can change the foundations of society from the ground up.

  • July 11 · 1 hr 11 min

    A Vision of Human Existence | Suryagupta

    Suryagupta explores "a vision of human existence" as a matter of direct perception rather than abstract philosophy, revealing how we can shift from a reactive cycle of habit to a creative spiral of growth. Drawing on a transformative near-death experience, she shows how embracing impermanence allows us to make conscious choices that unlock our limitless potential for clarity and connection.

  • July 4 · 1 hr 50 min

    The Focus of Faith | Jnanavaca

    Jnanavaca explores the Buddhist concept of Shraddha, defining faith as the resonance of "what is ultimate in us" with "what is ultimate in the universe". By examining the grounds of intuition, reason, and experience, this talk invites us to move beyond a "hollow" culture of consumption and align our lives with a deeper process of devotion and collective transformation.

  • July 2 · 1 hr 6 min

    An Upward Momentum | Sthiramanas

    Sthiramanas explores the model of the five Niyamas, illustrating how we can move beyond biological conditioning to consciously align ourselves with a natural "upward momentum" toward spiritual growth. By balancing personal effort in ethics and meditation with a receptive openness to the Dharma, we are invited to transcend the limitations of a fixed self and discover a more expansive, liberated consciousness.

  • May 19 · 54 min

    The Niyamas | Sanghadharin

    Sanghadharin explores the five Niyamas, a comprehensive teaching that maps the regularities of the universe from physical laws and biological instincts to the voluntary practice of ethics and transcendental enlightenment. By understanding the transition from instinctual drives to self-reflective choice, listeners are invited to align themselves with these natural processes to build a healthy foundation for spiritual growth and the eventual spontaneous unfoldment of wisdom.

  • May 16 · 50 min

    Wise Attention | Kusalasara

    In this episode, Kusalasara introduces the series "Revering and Relying on the Dharma," focusing on the practice of wise attention as a tool to perceive reality without the distortions of craving or bias. By exploring the parable of the blind men and the elephant, the talk illustrates how attachment to partial perspectives creates a "thicket of views" that can lead to conflict and a sense of isolation. We are invited to move beyond fixed certainties and conditioning to discover a more spacious, interconnected way of seeing.

  • May 12 · 55 min

    Levels of Going for Refuge | Jnanavaca

    Jnanavaca explores the Buddhist concept of "Going for Refuge," challenging us to move beyond the "default settings" of material pursuit and find true freedom by actively orienting our lives toward transcendental values. Jnanavaca invites us to train our inner awareness to perceive a deeper reality and align ourselves with a cosmic process of growth and awakening.

  • April 9 · 55 min

    Relying on the Sangha | Kusalasara

    Kusalara's leads us in exploring the Sangha, or spiritual community, as a vital refuge and "jewel" within the Buddhist tradition that offers support far beyond worldly treasures. Kusalasara explains how deep communication and the collective endeavor of practicing together allow us to move beyond the ego and inhabit the "realm of the dharma".

  • April 4 · 1 hr 11 min

    Relying on the Dharma | Sthiramanas

    In this talk, Sthiramanas explores the central Buddhist act of going for refuge to the Dharma, describing it as a search for a genuine place of safety and stability within a world defined by fragility and suffering,,. He defines the Dharma as both objective reality and a universal cosmic law, demonstrating how aligning our actions with the law of karma can transform our consciousness from painful constriction to a state of expansive openness.

  • March 30 · 1 hr 4 min

    Relying on the Buddha | Sanghadharin

    Sanghadharin explores the fundamental human search for safety and security in an inherently insecure world. While we often rely on "limited refuges"—such as careers, relationships, or material possessions—these things are impermanent and cannot provide ultimate satisfaction. Sanghadharin introduces the Buddha as a true and reliable refuge, representing the fully enlightened mind that has plucked out the "thorn" of greed, hatred, and delusion.

  • February 24 · 46 min

    Going Forth | Padmavajra

    In this talk, Padmavajra explores the profound Buddhist concept of "Going Forth" from home into homelessness, describing it as a vital turning point where one moves away from the "cramped" dust of habit toward a life of genuine individuality and spiritual freedom.