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.

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79 episodes
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Episodes79

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Jul 19, 2024 · 32 min
Guided Meditation: Five Reflections for Everyone
The Buddha's five reflections for everyone, to help us be in touch with the reality of our lives, and in doing so, cultivate more awareness, meaning, perspective, and kindness Includes reflections on impermanence and karma. Led by Ksantikara. Donate to the London Buddhist Centre: https://www.londonbuddhistcentre.com/donate
Jul 12, 2024 · 52 min
The Power of Sound | Suryagupta
A three-part series on 'The Language of the Depths' by Suryagupta, the Chair of the London Buddhist Centre. Listen for an exploration of what is beyond the conscious mind, beyond our current awareness, and below the surface of our experience -- accessing our most essential nature. The language of the depths includes the power of stories, symbols and sound. These powers enable us to grow by accessing the depths quickly and connecting to what's most important. In this third episode, hear about the power of sound. Suryagupta begins with a reflection that everything has a sound, everything has a vibration. During this talk, Suryagupta was joined by Matt, a musician, who offered live percussion. A rich discussion on how sound can reveal meaning, support transformation, and open up the depths in our experience.
Jul 5, 2024 · 1 hr
The Power of Symbols | Suryagupta
A three-part series on 'The Language of the Depths' by Suryagupta, the Chair of the London Buddhist Centre. Listen for an exploration of what is beyond the conscious mind, beyond our current awareness, and below the surface of our experience -- accessing our most essential nature. The language of the depths includes the power of stories, symbols and sound. These powers enable us to grow by accessing the depths quickly and connecting to what's most important. In this episode, hear about the power of symbols. Through symbols, we can access, express, and transform our inner worlds, helping us to unleash our truest potential. Suryagupta introduces us to a Buddhist symbol that has significance to her, and what it might mean for how we live.
Jun 28, 2024 · 58 min
The Power of Stories | Suryagupta
A three-part series on 'The Language of the Depths' by Suryagupta, the Chair of the London Buddhist Centre. Listen for an exploration of what is beyond the conscious mind, beyond our current awareness, and below the surface of our experience -- accessing our most essential nature. The language of the depths includes the power of stories, symbols and sound. These powers enable us to grow by accessing the depths quickly and connecting to what's most important. In this episode, hear about the power of stories, and how stories help us make meaning of our experiences. We can choose the stories we tell ourselves, from stories that constrict us to stories which set us free. Listen in for a mythical, archetypal story with messages for our lives today. Donate to the London Buddhist Centre: https://www.londonbuddhistcentre.com/donate
Apr 5, 2024 · 51 min
The Myth of the Return Journey - Prajnamanas
Prajnamanas on the Myth of the Return Journey, from Dharma Night at the London Buddhist Centre.
Oct 2, 2019 · 56 min
Turning towards the Enlightened mind
In Buddhist Puja we ritually evoke the many qualities of the Enlightened mind. We use our imagination to open up to a higher vision of reality. In this talk Jnanavaca argues that engaging with devotion, worship and beauty will help us open up to those moments where we experience something 'more'... more than self, more than our usual view of the world, more than the day to day mundane rhythm of daily life.
Sep 3, 2019 · 52 min
The agonising pincer-jaws of Heaven
Prajnamanas expertly navigates us around the twelve links of the wheel of life. Proving to us that this ancient Buddhist image of the wheel of life is still as relevant as ever. A life spent circling round and round the twelve links is indeed a life if agonising repetition. But what is there that we can do? How can we take a creative step and get off of the wheel? To be a poet and not know the trade To be a lover and repel all women Twin ironies by which great saints are made The agonising pincer-jaws of Heaven -Patrick Kavanagh
Aug 6, 2019 · 46 min
It All Starts Here - The Story of the Buddha’s Awakening
"The Buddha's enlightenment is the most important moment in the history of the planet from the point of view of a Buddhist". Ratnaprabha describes, explores and evokes the moment where the Buddha overcame all craving and hatred and illumined the path to liberation for others.
Jul 20, 2019 · 52 min
Suffering, The Spiritual Life and The Human Realm
Danayutta looks at the inevitability of suffering to the human condition. She makes the case that the more we turn towards suffering and take responsibility for the suffering we cause ourselves, the more we can engage positively with that fundamental aspect of human experience.
Jul 4, 2019 · 41 min
Watching the Gap
Central to the Buddha's vision was the idea that we could get off the wheel of our repetitive behaviour, repetitive behaviour driven by craving and aversion. There is a gap, a doorway, off the wheel of reactivity and on to the spiral of more and more positive mental states. Vidyadaka talks on where we can find that doorway and how to open it.
Jun 22, 2019 · 52 min
From Reactivity to Creativity
Subhadramati explores the reactive, mechanical knee jerk mind of our normal unenlightened states. But she says we can transition to a mind with more choice and more freedom to choose how we respond to what life challenges us with. The talk makes the point that we are not destined to repeat our habits for evermore.
May 29, 2019 · 54 min
Invoking Padmasambhava
Highly respected teacher Padmavajra invokes Padmasambahava, the great Guru of the Tibetan tradition. Using mantra and story from Padmasmbhava's life the talk makes the case for symbol, myth and vision in our dharma lives.
May 15, 2019 · 51 min
The Tiny Splash of a Raindrop
Dhammadinna points to the fleetingness and preciousness of this human life in this talk on impermanence. Looking at the Buddhas death as recorded in the Buddhist scriptures, the talk is a reminder that all things that are dear to us we must be separated from. The talk was given on Parinirvana Day 2019, a day dedicated to remembering the passing away of the historical Buddha.
Apr 24, 2019 · 48 min
Facing Fear
Devamitra evokes the archetypal guru Padmasambhava on this funny and engaging talk on fearlessness. Drawing from several instances from his life Devamitra reminds that "no one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going"
Mar 11, 2019 · 1 hr 1 min
Urgyen Sangharakshita as teacher (Who is Urgyen Sangharakshita? - Part 3)
Sangharakshita’s last two papers, completed just over two weeks before he died, examine the three main paths of Buddhism, among other things, and thereby offer three different ways of understanding his own role as teacher. This helps us to understand both his human personality and his significance for us. In this set of three rambles, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita (founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order) on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.
Mar 11, 2019 · 53 min
Character, Personality & Individuality (Who is Urgyen Sangharakshita? - Part 2)
Subhuti, one of the most senior and respected members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, explores a distinction made by Sangharakshita that helps to understand some of the paradoxes that Sangharakshita has left us with, as well as helping us to understand how we too can be so uneven in our Dharma lives. In this set of three rambles, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita (founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order) on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.
Mar 11, 2019 · 55 min
Humanity & Perfection (Who is Urgyen Sangharakshita? - Part 1)
Subhuti, one of the most senior and respected members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, reflects on his own experience on the relationship between inspiration, spiritual experience, and human fallibility. In this set of three rambles, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita (founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order) on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.
Feb 21, 2019 · 51 min
The Infinite Light of Exemplification
The social and political landscape is changing. Societies are, on the one hand, fragmenting whilst, on the other, unifying within a growing culture of consumerism and individualism. How can we create a community that is unified and diverse, exemplifying real values and being a force for good in the world? A keynote talk from Suryagupta to launch 2019.
Feb 18, 2019 · 1 hr 1 min
The Drunkard and the Guide
A drunkard walks home from a pub along a muddy track. To his right and left are steep ravines. With great wit, intelligence and experience, Maitreyabandhu explores this rich Buddhist parable.