Dhammatalks, Chanting, Precepts and Meditation with Ajahn Dhammasiha and other Experienced Senior Buddhist Monks in the Theravada Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. Recorded at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane, Australia. NEXT LIVE PODCASTS: For joining the Live Podcasts you have to download the castbox app here: https://castbox.fm/download We're simultaneously livestreaming the Sunday noon sessions on video here: https://vimeo.com/dhammatalks Every Saturday 07.30 am - Triple Refuge & Precepts 12.00 pm - Dhamma-Discussion, Q&A Every Sunday: 12.00 pm - Dhamma Talk & Discussion 03.00 pm - Chanting, Guided Meditation and Dhamma-Reflection www.dhammagiri.org.au https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJw www.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitage www.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about the meaning of Saddhanusari and Dhammanusari. Both are considered 'Noble Individuals' by the Buddha, although they have not yet attained stream entry. However, their spiritual faculties have matured so much that they will definitely experience sotāpatti in this life, at the latest at death. Their distinction is that one has an emphasis on the faith faculty ('saddh'indriya'), whereas the other one has wisdom ('paññ'indriya') as the driving force. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddhism #theravada #foresttradition #enlightenment #streamentry #sotapanna #sotapatti #faith #wisdom
Ajahn Dhammasīha describes monasteries of the Ajahn Chah tradition that he's going to visit on his travels from 13 May to 21 June. Talking about the 'Incineration Toilets' they have installed at Skiptvet Monastery in Norway leads Ajahn onto a little sidenote about 'Asubha Bhāvanā', contemplating the unattractive nature of the human body. Asubha is a very important meditation object, menitoned by the Buddha for example in the first section of the famous Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (Sutta on the Foundations of Mindfulness), i.e. Kāyānupassana = Contemplation of the Body. You can find Ajahn Dhammasīha's full travel schedule, and links to the monasteries he visits, here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/ajahn-dhammasiha-travel-itineraryDhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterTravel Photos Ajahn Dhammasihahttps://travel-pics-ajahn-2.dhammagiri.net/Our Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#travel #buddhistmonasteries #buddhistmonk #ajahnchahtradition #buddhismineurope
There is no objectively 'right' of 'wrong' way how we perceive and experience the breath in Ānāpānasati (Mindfulness of In & Out Breath) meditation. Perception of internal phenomena is entirely subjective. However, there are ways of perceiving and feeling the breath that are conducive to deepening our samādhi & insight, and there are other ways of perceiving that have the opposite effect. Therefore, when doing breath meditation, we deliberately cultivate those perceptions and feelings that are helpful for us to deepen the meditiaton. The Buddha in particular advised to feel and experience our whole physical body when doing Anapanasati, and to cultivate contentment, gladness, joy, rapture, bliss and happiness with every inbreath and every outbreath. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#breath #breathmeditation #anapanasati #meditation #buddhistmeditation #mindfulness #samadhi #samatha
Have you ever deliberately broken social conventions to follow your own true conviction? We can't realize awakening by just following the norms and expectations of society. Enlightenment, realizing the Dhamma, is a complete flip-over of all conventionality. We have to become aware how much we're conditioned by what's conventionally expected from us by society and family. Only once we're aware how much of our life we're doing not out of real conviction, understanding or insight, but simply due to following conventions, will we be able to transcend that conditioning and realize the Dhamma. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#awakening #enlightenment #awareness #conditioning #socialconditioning #mindfulness #insight
Ajahn Dhammasīha cites the following short Pali quote at the beginning of his Dhamma Talk : "Yena yena hi maññanti, tato taṃ hoti aññathā." "By whatever they conceive, that is becoming otherwise." = "Whatever they use as support for their illusion of identity, that is all changing and becoming otherwise" (Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses #113, "Sappurisa Sutta" / "Discourse on the Authentic Person") In order to build up and maintain an illusion of self ('Entity View'/'Sakkāyadiṭṭhi'), we need prop ups. The self illusion has to be based on some foundation. In a profound sense, we try to make the five groups of clinging the foundation for our illusionary sense of self. On a more basic level, we use our name, title, degree, address, status symbols, knowledge, clothing, possessions, and so on as prop ups for our supposed identity. But whether on the profound level, or in the more basic manifestations, all these prop ups are actually impermanent and unsatisfactory themselves, and thus any self illusion based on them is unstable and liable to collapse as well, leading to constant anxiety (vicikicchā saṃyojana) and desperate attempts to stabilize and sustain the delusion against the onslaught of impermanence. Which necessarily leads to a whole lot of suffering. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#self #anatta #nonself #illusion #delusion #conceit #attachment #upadana #clinging #ego #identity
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked to give examples of attachment to Self, clinging to the illusion of an identity, called Sakkāyadiṭṭhi = Entity View by the Buddha. The quote Ajahn mentions: "Yena yena hi maññanti, tato taṃ hoti aññathā." "By whatever they conceive, that is becoming otherwise." = "Whatever they use as support for their illusion of identity, that is all changing and becoming otherwise" (Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses #113, "Sappurisa Sutta" / "Discourse on the Authentic Person") In other words, the prop ups we're using to build our delusion of entity will always fail, causing a threat to the illusion, and thus leading to anxiety, fear, worry and suffering, as we're deperately trying to maintain the illusion, despite its foundation crumbling right in front of us.Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#self #anatta #nonself #illusion #delusion #conceit #attachment #upadana #clinging #ego #identity
Our education system is set up to learn almost exclusively about external processes. But we don't learn about what's going on in our mind internally, we don't understand all these different feelings and emotions, we're not educated how to become aware or them and how to deal with them. For example, most people have a good knowledge how to use their mobile phone. They know how to use Youtube, how to publish a reel on Insta, how to upload a TikTok video, how to post on facebook, and so on... But are they aware what is the effect on their mind when they do all of the above? Do they understand their internal feelings and emotions that are caused by their posting & liking & disliking; and being liked & shared & going viral; or being disliked & staying unpopular and obscure? The quote Ajahn mentions in his talk is from the 'Xin Xin Ming' ('Faith in Mind'), the famous verses attributed to the Third Patriarch of the Chinese Chan (Zen) School, Jianzhi Sengcan . It opens with the well known first two lines: "The Perfect Way is easy for those who who not pick and choose; Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear..."Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#internet #mobilephone #onlineaddiction #socialmedia #liking #rating #disliking #dhammatalk
This is the concluding session of our 1 Day Meditation Retreat at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage with Ajahn Medhino. Venerable Ajahn Medhino has been ordained as a bhikkhu for 33 years. Originally from the Netherlands, he received his ordination as a Buddhist monk at Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand. However, for the last 12 years he has lived in Sri Lanka, where he has established a hermitage in Badulla district, at Udakiruwa Forest, located roughly between Bibile and Monaragala. Ajahn plans to develop the hermitage into a full fledged monastery that will be called Mahāvana Aranya Senasanaya / Wat Pa Mahavana. Luang Por Medhino speaks fluent English, Sinhala and Thai; and also some French and German (and native Dutch, of course
This is the initial session of our 1 Day Meditation Retreat at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage with Ajahn Medhino. Ajahn explains the program and provides instructions for meditation, including a guided meditation. He also leads the community in taking the Triple Refuge and the five or eight precepts. Venerable Ajahn Medhino has been ordained as a bhikkhu for 33 years. Originally from the Netherlands, he received his ordination as a Buddhist monk at Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand. However, for the last 12 years he has lived in Sri Lanka, where he has established a hermitage in Badulla district, at Udakiruwa Forest, located roughly between Bibile and Monaragala. Ajahn plans to develop the hermitage into a full fledged monastery that will be called Mahāvana Aranya Senasanaya / Wat Pa Mahavana. Luang Por Medhino speaks fluent English, Sinhala and Thai; and also some French and German (and native Dutch, of course
Ajahn Dhammasiha explains suitable meditation objects for investigation (vipassana/insight/wisdom) that we can direct our attention to, after the mind emerges from Samatha/Samādhi meditation. Samādhi/Concentration imbues the mind with calm, tranquillity, hightened mindfulness, brightness and radiant awareness, as well as wholesome joy, rapture and bliss. At the same time, the five hindrances of sensual desire, aversion, laziness, restlessness and doubt are suppressed (or at least reduced). Of course, all these things are desirable and very pleasant to experience in and by themselves. However, even more important is that they provide the conditions for profound insight to arise. Whenever our mind has developed a certain level of calm/samatha, we should these mental qualities to develop insight/vispassana. We're not merely enjoying the bright and blissful qualities of samādhi, we're using them to do the work of developing wisdom, to see things as they really are (yathā-bhūta-ñāṇadassana), to investigate and analyse. So what are the areas of investigation the Buddha recommended for that purpose? And how are we to investigate them, in which way should we contemplate them? In this reflection, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the 5 groups of clinging (pañcupādānakkhandhā) as suitable objects for profound insight contemplation: Rūpa = Form Vedanā = Feeling (pleasant of unpleasant of neutral) Saññā = Perception (Recognizing, labelling) Sankhārā = Mental formations, in particular intention (cetana) & thinking (vitakka)Viññāṇa = ConsciousnessAjahn also mentions the four foundations of mindfulness, which are highly suitable meditation objects for developing insight as well, and which tend to be easier to contemplate than the 5 groups of clinging.
Venerable Ariyananda Thero explains fundmental Buddhist contemplations. We have been circling through Saṃsāra, the wheel of repeated death and rebirth, since beginningless time. We don't know where we came from (what was our last rebirth?), we don't know where we're going (what will be our next rebirth?), and still we pretend everything's fine and try to be merry. Instead, the Buddha ecourages us to contemplate death and impermanence, so that we don't get lost in negligence, but make the effort to escape the round of death and birth through practising the Buddha's teaching and realizing the supreme securtity from bondage, the Deathless Element, Nibbāna. Venerable Angulgamuwa Ariyananda Mahāthera is the abbot of Na Uyana Aranya, the largest forest monastery in Sri Lanka: https://nauyana.org/ He has kindly accepted our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 2nd to 4th April. You can find all details of his program with us here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/visiting-senior-monk-at-dhammagiri-buddhist-monastery Bhante will be accompanied by Bhante Pāsādika Thera (abbot of Dhamsuwa Forest Monastery near Melbourne), Bhante Buddhavihārī Thera, and Bhante Jinaratana Thera. Bhante has been a monk for 33 years. He has visited Dhammagiri once before in November/December 2010, giving special blessings to our newly arrived main Buddha statue. This visit was actually the first time Bhante Ariyananda gave formal teachings in English ourside of Sri Lanka. Bhante Ariyananda and Ajahn Dhammasiha have known each other for 31 years. Bhante has been a true Kalyāna Mitta to Ajahn Dhammasiha during his arrival at Nissaraṇa Vana: preparing him for ordination, helping him with his visa, teaching him some Sinhala, and introducing him to his Upajjhāya, Most Venerable Kadawedduwe Jinavaṃsa Mahāthera. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk #buddhistmonk #buddhistmeditation #meditation #death #impermanence
Ven. Ariyananda Thera explains fundmental priciples of Buddhist meditative practice, emphasising that the Buddha uses a scientific method that doesn't require belief based on pure faith, but that is open to and actually inviting investigation. Venerable Angulgamuwa Ariyananda Mahāthera is the abbot of Na Uyana Aranya, the largest forest monastery in Sri Lanka: https://nauyana.org/ He has kindly accepted our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 2nd to 4th April. You can find all details of his program with us here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/visiting-senior-monk-at-dhammagiri-buddhist-monastery Bhante will be accompanied by Bhante Pāsādika Thera (abbot of Dhamsuwa Forest Monastery near Melbourne), Bhante Buddhavihārī Thera, and Bhante Jinaratana Thera. Bhante has been a monk for 33 years. He has visited Dhammagiri once before in November/December 2010, giving special blessings to our newly arrived main Buddha statue. This visit was actually the first time Bhante Ariyananda gave formal teachings in English ourside of Sri Lanka. Bhante Ariyananda and Ajahn Dhammasiha have known each other for 31 years. Bhante has been a true Kalyāna Mitta to Ajahn Dhammasiha during his arrival at Nissaraṇa Vana: preparing him for ordination, helping him with his visa, teaching him some Sinhala, and introducing him to his Upajjhāya, Most Venerable Kadawedduwe Jinavaṃsa Mahāthera. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#science #buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk #buddhistmonk #buddhistphilosophy
Venerable Ajahn Medhino has been ordained as a bhikkhu for 33 years. Originally from the Netherlands, he received his ordination as a Buddhist monk at Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand. However, for the last 12 years he has lived in Sri Lanka, where he has established a hermitage in Badulla district, at Udakiruwa Forest, located roughly between Bibile and Monaragala. Ajahn plans to develop the hermitage into a full fledged monastery that will be called Mahāvana Aranya Senasanaya / Wat Pa Mahavana. Luang Por Medhino speaks fluent English, Sinhala and Thai; and also some French and German (and native Dutch, of course
In response to a question about the supernatural psychic powers and unique knowledge of the Buddha, Ajahn Dhammasiha examines a passage from 'Mahā Sīhanāda Sutta' ('The Greater Discourse on the Lion's Roar'), Majjhima Nikāya / Middle Length Discourses No 12. In this passage on the 'Tathāgata Bala' , the Buddha himself describes 10 powers he is endowed with, and 4 unshakeabilities. You can read and download the whole sutta in English here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN12.htmlDhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddha #buddhism #sutta #sutra #suttaexploration #palicanon #majjhimanikaya
With the visit of Bhante Ariyananda coming up, Ajahn Dhammasiha reminds us all: When it comes to listening to Dhamma, it's not about quantity of input. It's about quality, and in particular about the quality of the mind of the listener. Many of us have heard the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (First Discourse of Buddha) receited many times. But did we have the vision of Dhamma arising, did we attain stream entry like Ven. Aññā Kondañña did while listening to it only once? All the listening and reading and studying will not lead to awakening if the mind is not ready. We have to reduce the hindrances/defilements (nīvaraṇā), and increase the spiritual faculties (indriya), to boost our pāramī up to a level sufficient that we can realize the Dhamma we hear of contemplate. Like a 3G phone will not be able to connec to 5G signals, we won't be able to comprehend the Dhamma on a deep level if the foundations are still too week. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#dhammatalk #listening #spriritualteacher #buddhism #dhamma #buddhistmonk
Ajahn Nyanadipo is the abbot of Bodhipala monastery, the Ajahn Chah monastery near Adelaide. https://www.bodhipalamonastery.orgHe has recently passed the formal Thai examinations to qualify as an upajjhāya (preceptor who can ordain monks), being only the second foreign monks to do so. Ajahn shares inspiring stories of his monastic life, in particular meeting senior monks of our tradition and attending the Ajahn Chah commemoration at Wat Nong Pah Pong. Ajahn also talks about the large stupa project that he's overseeing: the construction of the 'Subhadda Cetiya', a 15 meter high stupa dedicated to Ajahn Chah, at Bodhipala monastery. Ajahn has visited Dhammagiri before, for instance in March 2021 he joined us for Magha Puja, when he gave the following Dhamma TalkDhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#dhammatalk #buddhistmonk #stupa #ajahnchah #buddhiststory #buddhistwisdom #buddhism
After our guided mettā meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some strategies how to overcome typical difficulties in our development of Loving Kindness, and to deepen our meditation.Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#metta #lovingkindness #meditation #buddhistmeditation #empathy #compassion
Ajahn Dhammasiha praises participants of our One Day Meditation Retreat for their commitment to virtue and unshakable ethical principles. By committing ourselves, without any if or when, to non-violence; to commit ourselves to abstain in all possible circumstance from any act of killing, we're making a powerful statement against war, and remove ourselves from any participation in war and violence. By developing bhāvanā to weaken and ultimately abandon greed, hatred and delusion, we work on removing the deep causes of any forms of war and violence. Ajahn shares several stories of persons who decided not to kill/not to shoot in very challenging situations, some of them possibly even saving the world from global nuclear war through their courageous decisions. These heros of not-killing and non-violence are unfortunately much less famous and much less appreciated than "heros" who receive the Victoria Cross and similar medals of "bravery" for killing. Often their steadfastness in obeying their conscience goes completely unnoticed, or worse, it may even lead to them being denigrated and attacked. Similar for those who dare to state the truth in challenging circumstances. Stating a simple truth, though it is disagreeable to those in power, can be a truly heroic act with far-reaching consequences. It may break the spell of false narratives and propaganda, and be of great long term benefit to many beings, even though the truth tellers may be attacked, or may even end up sacrificing their life for their act of truthfulness. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#nonviolence #precepts #notkilling #commitment #ethics #buddhism #compassion
Ajahn Dhammasiha was asked via email to talk about bringing peace to ourselves regarding Iran, Israel and US war, and all the other evil and insanity we witness being committed globally. As Brisbane just witnessed a total lunar eclipse ('Blood Moon') on Magha Puja Full Moon day, Ajahn shares the ancient Indian myth how Rāhu the evil demon swallows the moon deity Chandimā during an eclipse. In his distress, Chandimā remembers the Buddha and takes refuge in him. The Buddha chants a verse to Rāhu requesting him to release Chandimā, and Rāhu indeed lets go of the moon. Although this myth totally contradicts our astronomical understanding how an eclipse works, Ajahn Dhammasiha declares himself a true believer in its truth: meaning his is convinced of the metaphorical truth of the matter, not the literal meaning
At our Pa Ba Ceremony of Offering Forest Cloth on Magha Puja Full Moon, Ajahn Dhammasiha gives a Dhamma Talk about the Ovādapātimokkha:Abstain from any evil deed accomplish what is good and true, And fully purify your mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. Enduring patience is the best of all ascetic practices; The best of everything at all is called Nibbāna by the sage. If you cause harm to anyone you can't be called a genuine monk! Refrain from harming and abuse, and strictly keep the Buddha's rules; Be moderate when taking food, and dwell alone in solitude devoted to the Higher Mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. The Buddha recited this concise summary of the whole practice leading to Nibbāna on the full moon of Magha, at the 'Sāvaka-sannipāta', the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 Arahant Bhikkhus, all of them ordained by the Buddha himself. Ajahn Dhammasiha also explains that the Veluvana (Bamboo Grove Monastery), the location of Magha Puja, was the first monastery ever offered to the Buddha. King Bimbisāra of the Kingdom of Magadha offered a park to the sangha, located outside the gates of his capital Rajagah. The Buddha accepted it and declared that the monks are now allowed to accept property the to be owned by the sangha communally (but not by individual monks). However, the monks continued to live in the open and under trees even in the newly offered monastery. The billionaire banker of Rajagaha saw the monks still living in the open, and asked the Buddha for permission to erect buildings for them. The Buddha granted permission, and from then on numerous structures were erected and offered to the sangha.Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddhism #buddha #buddhistmonastery #rajagaha #rajgir #maghapuja #ovadapatimokkha
Abstain from any evil deed accomplish what is good and true, And fully purify your mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. Enduring patience is the best of all ascetic practices; The best of everything at all is called Nibbāna by the sage. If you cause harm to anyone you can't be called a genuine monk! Refrain from harming and abuse, and strictly keep the Buddha's rules; Be moderate when taking food, and dwell alone in solitude devoted to the Higher Mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. The Buddha recited this concise summary of the whole practice leading to Nibbāna on the full moon of Magha, at the 'Sāvaka-sannipāta', the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 Arahant Bhikkhus, all of them ordained by the Buddha himself. Ajahn Dhammasiha introduces us to the location of the event, the Bamboo Grove Monastery ('Veḷuvana') at Rājagaha, and goes through the Ovādapātimokkha line by line (By the way, it's actually 14 lines of verse in the Pāli. When Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about 16 lines, he was thinking about the English translation, which has two lines more. It can be difficult to express meaning in English as succinct as in Pali, often one requires more words in modern languages to get the meaning accross)Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddhism #buddha #arahants #magha #maghapuja #ovadapatimokkha
Chanting starts at 0.32 min.The sangha of Dhammagiri Buddhist Monastery recites auspicious paritta for Vietnamese/Chinese New Year of the Firehorse. Ajahn Moneyyo leads the chanting Tan Adicco recites the formal invitation to all devas & spirits Ajahn Dhammasiha joins the chanting as well. Spotify sometimes classifies our chanting podcasts as 'music' and then deletes them, as pure music tracks are not allowed on their podcast platform. To prevent that from happening, we have included a spoken intro, and some explanations about horse similes at the end, by Ajahn Dhammasiha. Being born in the year of the firehorse himself, Ajahn Dhammasiha enjoyed sharing quotes mentioning horses at the event, including his own translations. Read the horse quotes here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/horse-similes-in-pali-canonDhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#paritta #palichanting #buddhistchanting #chinesenewyear #firehorse2026 #firehorse #lunarnewyear #buddhism #dhamma
At the celebration of Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the importance of 'Beautiful, Admirable Friendship' (Kalyānamittatā) for our Dhamma progress. "Having good spiritual friends is 100% of the holy life" (The Buddha, Saṃyutta Nikāya/Connected Discourses 45.2)Ajahn points out the connection with the 4 Factors of Stream Entry (Sotāpattiyangāni):Association with Good Persons (Sappurisa-saṃseva) Hearing the True Dhamma (Saddhamma-savanaṃ)Wise Attention (Yoniso Manasikāra) Practising Dhamma in Line with Dhamma (Dhammānudhamma-patipatti)Number one is personal contact with someone who has realized the Dhamma. Personal association with an Arahant or Streamenterer, even if only for a short time, is the first of four conditions to realize the Dhamma oneself. Ajahn Dhammasīha encourages us not to completely substitute that personal association with youtube, reading and listening to recordings. Without the personal contact, we may miss out on a crucial factor for gaining the vision of Dhamma ourselves.Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddhism #friendship #goodfriends #buddhistwisdom #dhammatalk #dhamma #streamentry #sotapatti
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the importance of 'Admirable Friendship' for our spiritual progress. 'Kaḷyāṇa Mittatā' can be translated as 'Beautiful Friendship', 'Noble Friendship' or 'Good Spiritual Friendship'. It means a friend who causes our wholesome qualities like virtue, generosity, kindness and wisdom to increase when we associate with them, because they have developed these qualities themselves. Such a friend in a 'Kaḷyāṇa Mitta'. The opposite, a bad friend that causes us to get more angry, stingy and deluded, is called a 'Pāpa Mitta'. Bad Friendship is 'Pāpa Mittatā'. Underlining the crucial importance of good friendship for our Dhamma practice, the Buddha once famously said to Venerable Ānanda: "Having good spiritual friends is 100% of the holy life" (Saṃyutta Nikāya/Connected Discourses 45.2)Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddhism #friendship #goodfriends #buddhistwisdom #dhammatalk #dhamma
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about a quote in Dhammapada Verses #3 to #5: He struck me, he defeated me, he hurt, abused, offended me! If we hold on to vengeful thoughts - our anger never fades away.He struck me, he defeated me,he hurt, abused, offended me! If we let go of vengeful thoughts - our anger surely fades away. More hatred will not calm down hate, it simply doesn't work like that. The opposite of hate alone will calm down hatred - that's the truth! Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#anger #irritation #aversion #metta #lovingkindness #equanimity #buddhism #buddhistwisdom
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the 4 kinds of Karma the Buddha has expounded: Dark Karma (Sanskrit 'Karma' = Pāli 'Kamma'): Bad actions like killing, stealing etc Bright Karma: Compassion, Kindness, Contentment, Truthfulness etc. Mixed Karma: A blend of various dark & bright actions. Karma that leads to the end of Karma The last one is the most profound and difficult to understand: Karma that's neither dark nor bright, but leads to the ending of Karma, awakening, the realisation of Nibbāna. "Kammaṃ akaṇhāsukkaṃ akaṇhāsukkavipākaṃ kammakkhayāya saṃvattati" See Anguttara Nikāya / Numerical Discourses, Book of Fours #233Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#karma #kamma #badkarma #goodkarma #endofkarma #goodness #awakening #enlightenment
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the emotion that is called 'Saṃvega' in Pali, 'Spiritual Shock'. Saṃvega, spiritual urgency, doesn't feel nice, it's not a pleasant feeling. However, it is beneficial, as it urges us to practise the Dhamma with commitment and dedication. When we're experiencing pain and grief from loss and disappointments, we can transform this painful emotion into Saṃvega by contemplating the Buddha's teaching: We contemplate that, indeed, all conditioned formations are impermanent and thus ultimately disappointing. We contemplate that the Buddha has shown us the method, the Noble 8fold Path, to go beyond all conditioned phenomena and experience the total freedom from old age, sickness, death & suffering, Nibbāna. Contemplating thus, the grief is transformed into saṃvega, and we feel strong urgency to practise Dhamma to free ourselves from suffering.Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsOur email Newsletter:https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletterLatest Photoshttps://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netOur Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#suffering #grief #loss #bereavement #spiritualurgency #buddhism #buddhistwisdom
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked how we can practise mettā (loving kindness) and at the same time still set boundaries and protect ourselves from being harmed by others.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#metta #lovingkindness #selfpreservation #selfprotection #settingboundaries
Be skeptical if there's really any spirit involved, and first investigate other possible explanations Do NOT use 'black magic' or any other negative energy based on anger of fear against the spirit The best protection is very pure 5 precepts and stong mettā (loving kindness). This is good for ourselves always and in any case, whether the 'ghosts' are real or not Sharing merits & chanting Dhamma dedicated to the ghost can help them to move on to a better plane of existence Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked if someone we know could be reborn as a ghost and then cause us problems. When we hear such stories, or experience something strange ourselves, we shouldn't immediately assume that there's really a spirit around. Often, when people think they are troubled by ghosts or evil spirits, the real reason for their problems is actually something else. For example mental disorders, even psychosis, or simply projection of internal psychological tensions to an imaginary external cause. However, if after careful analysis of any other possible causes one still is convinced that there is a ghost or spirit causing issues, the protection is very pure 5 precepts and strong loving kindness. Purtiy of virtue manifests in the spiritual real much more visible and physical than in the human world, and it would be difficult for a ghost to cause any harm to a truly virtuous person. Well developed mettā can manifest as a blinding light to malicious spirits, they can't even get close. In fact, it's very difficult for ghosts to influence the coarse physical reality we live in as humans at all, other than perhaps a strange sound, or an apparition of some hazy shape (in particular to those sensitive to extrasensory perception), or similar quite subtle manifestations. Ghosts rather deserve our compassion, as they are in a rebirth caused by stinginess, egotism and materialism, and now suffer from deprivation of fundmental needs like food and drink, that can only be relieved by the compassion of others. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#ghosts #spirits #ghost #spirit #metta #dhammatalk #buddhism #precepts
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about five conditions that slow the decline of the True Dhamma (Saddhamma): Respect and deference to the Buddha Respect and deference to the DhammaRespect and deference to the SanghaRespect and deference to the Training (Sikkha)Respect and deference to SamadhiIt's striking that the Buddha mentions respect for samādhi, but not repect for wisdom. There is no doubt that wisdom is the supreme quality to attain awakening and realize Nibbāna. However, wisdom appears less likely to be neglected. This is why the Buddha focusses on samādhi. In particular, we can see that 'cintamayā paññā', wisdom based on thinking, is practised a lot. We have endless amounts of Buddhist books, talks, videos, podcasts, and do read and listen and watch and think about the content. But without wisdom, thinking tends to be under the power of the defilements. We think according to our desires, likes, dislikes and aversions. Only samādhi can suppress the defilements, so that wisdom can see things as the truly are and realize the Dhamma.But how many persons are truly practising samādhi, compared to the very many who read and study and watch and listen and think a lot? That's why the Buddha emphasized the importance of Samādhi! WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhammatalk #samadhi #concentration #buddha #saddhamma #dhamma #respect
Ajahn Cattamalo responds to questions and comments of the audience after the meditation session, at the end of our One Day Full Moon Retreat.Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanachat and in various monasteries throughout Thailand practising and studying with different meditation teachers of the forest traditionSince 2008 he is the founding senior monk of Muttodaya Waldkloster (Muttodaya Forest Monastery) in Germany. Associated both with the tradition of Ajahn Chah and the Dhammayut tradition, in particular Luang Por Tongdaeng, Muttodaya is located in the beautiful spruce forest of the Fichtelgebirge in Frankonia, Bavaria. Ajahn Cattamalo and Ajahn Dhammasiha know each other for over 30 years. They met first at Island Hermitage, Polgasduwa, Sri Lanka in April 1994, when Ajahn Dhammasiha was still a lay person during his first ever stay in a Buddhist monastery. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhammatalk #buddhism #buddhistmonk #buddhistwisdom #mindfulness #insight #vipassana
Ajahn Dhammasiha shares the story how Ven Mahakassapa first met the Buddha. Later, closer to the time of the Buddha's Parinibana, Ven Mahakassapa approches the Buddha and asks: "In the beginning, we had few rules and many persons attaining awakening. Now we have so many rules, but only few persons realize the Dhamma: What's the reason for that?"The Buddha explains that it's a natural process of impermancence for the True Dhamma (Saddhamma) to gradually vanish. However, monks, nuns, male & female lay followers can extend the lifespan of the True Dhamma if they establish five conditions: Respect and deference to the Buddha Respect and deference to the DhammaRespect and deference to the SanghaRespect and deference to the Training (Sikkha)Respect and deference to SamadhiWebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhammatalk #buddhiststory #mahakassapa #buddha #saddhamma #dhamma #respect
Ajahn Cattamalo shares Dhamma and answers questions from the audience during our One Day Full Moon Retreat at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane.Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanachat and in various monasteries throughout Thailand practising and studying with different meditation teachers of the forest traditionSince 2008 he is the founding senior monk of Muttodaya Waldkloster (Muttodaya Forest Monastery) in Germany. Associated both with the tradition of Ajahn Chah and the Dhammayut tradition, in particular Luang Por Tongdaeng, Muttodaya is located in the beautiful spruce forest of the Fichtelgebirge in Frankonia, Bavaria. Ajahn Cattamalo and Ajahn Dhammasiha know each other for over 30 years. They met first at Island Hermitage, Polgasduwa, Sri Lanka in April 1994, when Ajahn Dhammasiha was still a lay person during his first ever stay in a Buddhist monastery. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#mind #dhammatalk #buddhism #buddhistmonk #buddhistwisdom #mindfulness #insight #vipassana
Ajahn Cattamalo leads a 25 min guided Buddhist meditation on Anapanasati (Mindfulness of the Breath) during the New Year's Eve event at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane.Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanachat and in various monasteries throughout Thailand practising and studying with different meditation teachers of the forest traditionSince 2008 he is the founding senior monk of Muttodaya Waldkloster (Muttodaya Forest Monastery) in Germany. Associated both with the tradition of Ajahn Chah and the Dhammayut tradition, in particular Luang Por Tongdaeng, Muttodaya is located in the beautiful spruce forest of the Fichtelgebirge in Frankonia, Bavaria. Ajahn Cattamalo and Ajahn Dhammasiha know each other for over 30 years. They met first at Island Hermitage, Polgasduwa, Sri Lanka in April 1994, when Ajahn Dhammasiha was still a lay person during his first ever stay in a Buddhist monastery. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#meditation #buddhistmeditation #breathmeditation #guidedmeditation #anapanasati #mindfulness #sati #samadhi #samatha #vipassana
Before the auspicious paritta chanting on New Year's Day, Ajahn Cattamalo shares some short Dhamma reflections at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. Venerable Ajahn Cattamalo has been a monk for 37 years. Born in Germany, he was ordained in the Wat Nong Pa Pong tradition of Venerable Ajahn Chah, North East Thailand in the year 1988. He spent 7 years at Wat Pah Nanachat and in various monasteries throughout Thailand practising and studying with different meditation teachers of the forest traditionSince 2008 he is the founding senior monk of Muttodaya Waldkloster (Muttodaya Forest Monastery) in Germany. Associated both with the tradition of Ajahn Chah and the Dhammayut tradition, in particular Luang Por Tongdaeng, Muttodaya is located in the beautiful spruce forest of the Fichtelgebirge in Frankonia, Bavaria. Ajahn Cattamalo and Ajahn Dhammasiha know each other for over 30 years. They met first at Island Hermitage, Polgasduwa, Sri Lanka in April 1994, when Ajahn Dhammasiha was still a lay person during his first ever stay in a Buddhist monastery. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk #buddhistwisdom #buddhiststory #insight
Ven. Samvaro has stayed with us for here at Dhammagiri for one month in November to December 2025. In this short (10 min) video, recorded after the Saturday morning Changting and Refuge & Precepts Session, Tan Samvaro answers a question from the audience: With all the various Buddhist teachings we here about, what's the gist of them all? What do we really have to focus on in our practice? Venerable Saṃvaro is currently resident at Vimutti Monastery, Auckland, New Zealand, looking after the management of the monastery, and conducting most of the Dhamma teachings there: https://atba.nzWebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhammatalk #buddhism #meditation #buddhistmeditation #buddhistwisdom
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the 10 Foundations for Making Good Karma (Dasa Puñña-kiriya-vatthu):Generosity (Dāna) Virtue (Sīla) Mental Cultivation / Meditation (Bhāvanā) Reverence / Respect (Apaciti) Service, Offering One's Labour & Skills & Talents, e.g. our now monthly held Working Bees
Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to refocus our meditative effort on letting go. We can get overly obsessed with focussing on a particular meditation object, and lose sight of our general mindstate: We may fall back into the long established habit of acquiring things, of trying to get something. Instead, everything in our cultivation of bhāvanā should aim towards letting go. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhammatalk #buddhism #theravada #meditation #buddhistmeditation #lettinggo #buddhistwisdom
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about steps in the Buddha's 'Gradual Training' that lead on from fully established virtue to the develpment of samādhi. Sense Restraint / Indriya-saṃvara Contentment / Santuṭṭhi Maintaining full awareness of all bodily movements / Sampajāna-kārī Wakefulness / Jāgariyam-anuyutta Knowing the right measure when eating food / Bhojanasmiṃ Mattaññutā These steps form the necessary foundation for the next stage in the gradual training: Abandoning the five hindrances to develop samādhi in solitude. If we struggle to unify our mind in samādhi, we should give more attention to these five.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#buddhism #dhammatalk #contentment #wakefulness #awareness #buddhistwisdom #buddhistteachings #insight
In the last Tetrad of Ānāpānasati, the last four steps of Breath Meditation, the Buddha teaches us to breathe in and out focussing on: Anicca - ImpermanenceVirāga - Fading Away of Passion = Dispassion Nirodha - Ending/CessationPatinissagga - Letting GoHowever, these four contemplations do not apply only to breath meditation. In fact, they should be underlying principles of our whole Dhamma practice: Whether it's generosity and kindness, or purifying our ethical behaviour through keeping precepts, or practising sense restraint, or cultivating any meditation object - all of it should be done with these four modes, these four guidelines informing and directing our efforts in bhāvanā.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#lettinggo #ending #nirodha #viraga #dispassion #dhammatalk
Tan Jayadhamma has stayed at Dhammagiri for 7 months, spending the vassa (rains retreat) 2025 with us. Just before leaving, he kindly offered this comprehensive guided meditation as a parting gift. His one hour guided meditation consitsts of three parts on the theme of "tuning in": Part one explores the six sense spheres, based on the Buddha's simile of the six animals found at SN 35.247. Part two focuses on the five hindrances, with the Buddha's simile of the five bowls of water found at AN 5.193. Part three zooms in on the mind and how to remove distracting thoughts, with five different methods the Buddha taught at MN 20. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#meditation #buddhistmeditation #tuning #intune #balance #insight #wisdom
Tan Jayadhamma has stayed at Dhammagiri for 7 months, spending the vassa (rains retreat) 2025 with us. Just before leaving, he kindly offered these reflections on balance in practice, based on the Soṇa Sutta (AN 6.55) and the Buddha's simile of the lute. His talk explores the meaning of sama (“in tune”), the five spiritual faculties as five strings, and how to maintain harmony in practice.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhamma #dhammatalk #meditation #buddhistmeditation #tuning #intune #balance
Ajahn Dhammasiha provides advice to a newcomer to meditation. Although it was his first time visiting Dhammagiri, and only the second attempt in his life to practice formal meditation, he had sat through a full our of guided meditation forehand, and had also joined the almsfood offering earlier in the day. Ajahn Dhammasiha gives a broad outline of the development of the two main aspects of Buddhist meditation:Samatha / Samādhi / 'Concentration' Vipassana / Wisdom / Insight. Ajahn also gives some general encouragement helpful to establish a regular meditation practice.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#meditation #buddhistmeditation #introtomeditation #samatha #vipassana #insight
In this Dhamma discussion, Ajahn Nandiyo first shares some of his personal experiences at Bodhinyanarama Monastery, NZ, and in Thailand & Australia. Then he responds to a question about internal peace, and how disenchantment (nibbidā) through contemplating our experiences both high and low can lead to that peace. Ajahn Nandiyo is the abbot of Bodhinyanarama Monastery, Wellington, New Zealand: https://bodhinyanarama.net.nz/He accepted our invitation to attend our robe offering ceremony, and kindly agreed to conduct teachings for our One Day Retreat program on Sunday 16 November. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#buddhism #dhammatalk #peace #disenchantment #nibbida
After the Saturday morning Refuge and Precepts Ceremony, Ajahn Nandiyo guided a short meditation session. He encourages us to be in the witness position, to know and observe conditions, rather than trying to own and control them. Whether externally, like the severe thunderstorm with many fallen trees we've just experienced at the monastery; or internally, when various emotions arise in the mind and threaten to 'blow us over': We're simply the witness, knowing and observing it all, without identifying or owning any of it.Ajahn Nandiyo is the abbot of Bodhinyanarama Monastery, Wellington, New Zealand: https://bodhinyanarama.net.nz/He accepted our invitation to attend our robe offering ceremony, and kindly agreed to conduct teachings for our One Day Retreat program on Sunday 16 November. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#vipassana #insight #buddhistmeditation #guidedmeditation #knowing #awareness
Ajahn Dhammasiha's formal Dhamma Talk at the Robe Offering Ceremony at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. Ajahn reflects on the power of puñña (good karma/'merits'), and the importance of harmony and cooperation when making good karma together. He also goes through the five precepts forming the fundamental ethics of a Buddhist lay practitioner:We train ourselves to abstain from intentionally killing living beingsWe train ourselves to abstain from stealingWe train ourselves to abstain from sensual misconduct like adultaryWe train ourselves to abstain from lyingWe train ourselves to abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants that deminish the sense of shame, conscience & mindfulness, and are causing heedlessness.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#robeofferingceremony #karma #punya #puñña #goodkarma #harmony #concord
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked if there are procedures for laity after breaking precepts in the same way as for monks.Ajahn explains that the Buddha laid down eleborate procedures only in the Vinaya for the monks & nuns, but not for laity. However, we can always ask for forgiveness from the Triple Gem. In fact, the full version of the evening chanting includes asking forgiveness from Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha. Ajahn continues by sharing the story of King Ajatasattu confessing the murder of his own father, stream enterer King Bimbisāra, to the Buddha. He does that in full public with 1,250 arahant monks present, and also his own 500 wifes and whole court. You can read about that amazing story, a true Shakespearian drama, in the introductory section of the 'Sāmañña-phala-sutta' (Discourse on the Fruits of the Holy Life), Dīgha Nikāya/Long Discourses #2. The most important thing after a transgression is to fully recognize it as such, make amends as far as possible, and then to abstain from doing it again in the future. Then one lets go of the past, forgiving oneself, and rather than dwelling in guilt, one tries to make as much good karma as possible, to weaken and overcome the bad karma one has created.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#confession #forgiveness #dhammatalk #dhamma #buddhiststory
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked whether eating meat is causing bad karma. Ajahn explains that INTENTIONAL KILLING of other beings is bad karma. The crucial factor for bad karma is intention. Therefore, even if one's actions have a causal relationship with the death of other beings, but completely without intention, it's not breaking the first precept or causing bad karma. For example, in Queensland in summer it's virtually impossible to drive a car for an hour without causing the death of insects smashing against the windscreen. However, that's normally not the intention when driving the car, the intention is simply to get to one's destination. It would be totally impossible to live as a human, without ever being causally involved in the death of other beings. Even as a total vegan, and refraining from using leather or silk, even then the production of cotton for clothing, or the cultivation of vegan food, could still not be done without some beings dying. Therefore, intention is really the crucial factor to focus on. Usually, if someone buys meat of fish in a supermarket, there is no intention of killing. Consequently, buying and eating meat is not breaking the first precept. On the other hand, if someone deliberately becomes vegetarian or vegan, or simply reduces meat/fish consumption, with the intention that less beings will be slaughtered, this is good karma, because there's intention to reduce killing and suffering. If more humans were aware how much pain and torture and suffering animals have to endure, not only in the slaughterhouse, but actually for their whole life in unimaginably cruel factory farming, I believe many more would go vegetarian, or at least reduce their meat & fish consumption. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#vegan #vegetarian #veganism #buddhism #animals #dhammatalk
On the eve of the large Kathina Robe Offering event at Bodhisaddha Monastery, as the senior Ajahn of the 12 monks attending, Ajahn Dhammasiha was invited to share Dhamma for the occasion. Ajahn emphasizes the importance of harmony for the successful completion of the ceremony. Harmony within the sangha, harmony within the lay community, and harmony between lay and monastic communities. Monastics and laity depend on each other, neither could perform the Robe Offering Ceremony on their own, so they have to work in concord. Ajahn points out causal conditions for establishing, maintaining and strengthening harmony in the sangha. Naturally, the same conditions also apply to maintain harmony in lay communities, and they apply for harmony and concord in the family as well. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#harmony #concord #robeoffering #kathina #ajahnchah
Ajahn Moneyyo gives an introduction and practical instructions to develop mindfulness of the body by contemplating the 32 Bodyparts, the 9 cemetery contemplations and the 4 elements according to the discourse about the 4 foundations of mindfulness (4 Satipatthānā, Middle Length Discourses Nr. 10).https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN...By seeing the body as impermanent (Aniccā) and not-self (Anatta) our heart can become disenchanted and realize a peace and liberation beyond ageing and death.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#mindfulness #mindfulnessmeditation #meditation #insight #vipassana
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