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
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
During an all-night meditation, or during a retreat period, we tend to exert maximum effort. However, no one can maintain maximum effort for a very long time. Unfortunately, once we can't maintain the high level anymore, we often end up relaxing too much. Unfortunately, it's much easier and faster to regress in our bhāvanā, than to quickly progress. So we may end up losing hard earned 3 months of progress within just one week of carelessness.Therefore, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to look at the minimum standard we maintain throughout. A high minimum level of effort, which we never fall below, can have a more powerful impact on our total progress than occasional spurts of extreme effort. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#effort #meditation #dhamma #bhavana #dhammatalk #buddhism #mindfulness
Right after the end of the rains retreat period, the Dhammagiri monks had been invited to visit the iconic Australia Zoo. Ajahn Dhammasiha uses the occasion to share reflections on Dhamma teachings about animals. Of all the major religions, Buddhism has the clearest and most impactful teachings about showing compassion and loving kindness to animals. For example, the first precept to abstain from killing refers to animals just as to humans. As a follower of the Buddha, we should never intentionally kill even an ant of mozzie. Ajahn also shares stories of animal encounters between the Buddha & famous monks, and animals like elephants and tigers. You can see some photos of our encounters with koalas, tigers, giraffes and echidnas here: https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.netWebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#animals #animalprotection #kindness #dhammatalk #dhamma #buddhism
Dhamma talk by Ajahn Dhammasiha on occasion of Pavarana Full Moon. It is important to be able to receive feedback on our actions. We can learn much from constructive criticism, if it is done with good will, by knowledgeable persons. Is is so difficult to see one's own weaknesses and shortcomings, but quite easy to recognize them in others. Consequently, feedback and criticism based on loving kindness, compassion & thorough knowledge of the Buddha's teaching and discipline can be an invaluable opportunity to see through one's own delusions and actually improve oneself. However, for feedback to be effective, it has to be experessed in the correct manner, and at the right time. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#feedback #criticism #dhammatalk #buddhism #buddhistmonks #buddhistmonastery #buddhistwisdom
In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to simply be aware of what we experience in the present moment. Observing, knowing, being mindful of what is, without trying to change the experience, without trying to achieve or attain anything. However, though we are aware and mindful, we do not 'engage' with what we observe. We don't react, we don't take it up, we see it as impemanent and not me, not mine, not self. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#meditation #buddhistmeditation #vipassana #guidedmeditation #insight #mindfulness
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the benefits of Buddhānussati, recollecting the Buddha. This meditation object can be particular helpful if we're finding ourselves overwhelmed by emotions. Reciting "Iti pi so..." or "Buddho" loudly, and totally focussing the mind on the Buddha, can cut through strong defilements or emotional turmoil, and bring our mind back to a more wholesome state. Ajahn also answers a question on ānāpānasati (mindfulness of the breath):What to do when the breath becomes so refined that I can't feel the breath anymore in my meditation?WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#buddha #meditation #dhammatalk #emotions #mentalcrisis #buddhanussati #recollectionofbuddha
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the 4 'Agati', the 4 wrong courses of action: Chanda-Gāmini = Going in Direction of DesireDosa-Gāmini = Going in Direction of AversionMoha-Gāmini = Going in Direction of ConfusionBhaya-Gāmini = Going in Direction of FearIf we move in the direction of lust, anger, delusion and anxiety, we're moving in the wrong direction: Not away from suffering, but into more and more suffering. If we're influenced by the 4 Agati, we will not be able to make the right decisions. If they are based on desire, anger, confusion or fear, our actions will not be beneficial for ourselves and others. Recent events around the assassination of Charlie Kirk show how many people are influenced in their reaction by the 4 Agatis. Once we're overcome by such strong emotions, we can easily be manipulated to do things that are actually against our own welfare. Others may use these negative emotions coming up in our mind to direct us towards their own agendas. If we can step back and free our mind from desire, aversion, confusion and fear, we regain the ability to discern the best course of action for our own and other beings' true longterm happiness and welfare, and we can't be highjacked or gaslighted by others to serve their agendas. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhammatalk #wrongdirection #fear #confusion #gaslighting #emotions
Amazingly, the Buddha stated in Pāsādika Sutta (Dīgha Nikāya/Long Discourses #29) that his followers are devoted to the persuit of happiness. However, it has to be qualified what kind of happiness we're after:We're not persuing happiness based on evil and unwholesome actionsWe're not persuing pleasures of the senses However, we are devoted to persue the joy, rapture and bliss of samādhi/jhānaAjahn Dhammasiha points out that mettā/loving-kindness is for many meditators the easiest way to get access to non-sensual happiness; and he encourages us to cultivate mettā throughout daily life.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#happiness #joy #gladness #metta #lovingkindness #dhammatalk
Ajahn Dhammasiha shares reflections how to cultivate mindfulness (Sati) in daily life. He points out the importance of being aware/mindful of our intentions, as intention (cetana) is what creates karma. We also have to be mindful of our emotions and feelings (3rd & 2nd Satipaṭṭhāna/Foundation of Mindfulness). Pleasant and unpleasant feeling (vedanā) is the primary motivator for all our actions. Finally, it's so important to develop mindfulness of our body, re-connecting with out body, feeling our body, instead of being stuck in mental proliferations and mobile phone screens.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#mindfulness #satipatthana #buddhism #buddhist #dhamma #dhammatalk
What we consider a 'bad' meditation session, e.g. the mind can't settle down and is struggling with strong emotions like anger, lust and anxiety, can be very useful to gain insight into our own character. Rather than being upset with ourselves thinking 'I can't really meditate'; or becoming frustrated and demotivated; we investigate the obstructions to gain insight and understanding into our own character and the working of our mind. Once we've identified them, we can apply wisdom and skilful means to overcome them, contemplating them to let go of them.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#meditation #buddhistmeditation #insight #vipassana #wisdom #kilesa #defilements.
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about one of the most profound aspects of the Buddha's teaching: Emptiness (Sunyata / Suññatā) On the most profound level, Emptiness means empty of Self, Me, Mine and I. An enlightend person, an arahant, has seen through and abandoned all delusions of I, me, mine and self. The Stream-Enterer (Sotāpanna, first of four stages of Awakening) has abandoned the delusion of Sakkāya-Diṭṭhi (Entity-View), he is empty of any view or doctrine of Self, though he still has thoughts & perceptions of me, mine and I. Emptiness on the most profound level also refers to an Arahant being empty of greed, hate and delusion. However, we can cultivate emptiness already at much more basic levels, for instance: Emptying our calendar - less events is better, more empty is better. Emptying our house, shelf and cupboards - less stuff is better, more empty is better. Emptying our behaviour from unwholesome action and speech - less bad actions makes life much easier and peaceful. Emptying our life from an endless stream of experiences and exitements - less drama is better and more peaceful. Emptying our mind from endless thinking - a mind empty of thought is blissful ...WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#emptiness #sunyata #dhammatalk #dhamma #buddhism #buddhadhamma #buddhistphilosophy
Ajahn Dhammasiha guides us through a Buddhist meditation on Mindfulness of the In and Out Breath (ānāpānasati). He specially emphasizes the following points: 1. Feeling the whole physical body with every breath. 2. Calming and relaxing all bodily tensions with every breath. 3. Enjoying the meditation. Developing feelings of gladness, rapture and bliss with every breath. 4. Brightening the mind with every breath. 5. Though we're calm, we're not going to sleep. Becoming more aware, more awake, more mindful with every breath. 6. We're not meditating to get anything, we're meditation to let go. Letting go with every breath. 7. After the bell, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to use the same techniques for our walking meditation.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#meditation #buddhistmeditation #guidedmeditation #breathmeditation #anapanasati #mindfulness #sati
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked how to apply the Buddha's teaching of Four Noble Truths in our daily life. The 4 Noble Truths are a core teaching of the Buddha, that is acknowledged as fundmental in all Buddhist traditions, including Therevada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. These thruths do not constitute a philosophical thought excercise, but are directly applicable to our experience of pain, disappointment and suffering. They show us a practical method in the Noble Eightfold Path to completely extricate ourselves from pain, frustration, depression, old age sickness, death and repeated birth. Ajahn points out that we usually blame external causes for any pain and disappointment we experience: "It's because of this person that I'm so miserable!" However, we can never get out of suffering by trying to eliminate all external causes. There's just too many of them, and often they are beyond our control. Instead, the Buddha points us to the internal causes of suffering: Craving; Attachment; Desire; Anger; and the Delusion of I, Me, Mine and Self. If we can abandon the internal causes of our suffering, we can overcome it once and forever. We can experience the state beyond all suffering: Freedom, Release, the Deathleath Element, Nibbāna.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#buddhism #meditation #dhammatalk #fournobletruths #buddhistmeditation #buddhistwisdom #buddhistteachings
Mindfulness of the In-and-Out-Breath, Ānāpānasati, was the favourite meditation object of the Buddha himself. He has given us very comprehensive and detailed instructions how to develop this form of meditation. However, many meditators, often even those practising regularly for many years, are not fully aware, or at least do not really apply, the instructions as provided by the Buddha. To encourage everyone to receive the full results of their Breath Meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha goes through all 16 steps of Mindfulness of Breathing, as expounded by the Buddha; e.g. in Ānāpānasati Sutta, Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses, No. 118Each of the four Tetrads develops one of the Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna) (i) BODY (KĀYA) (ii) FEELINGS (VEDANĀ) (iii) CITTA (MIND) (iv) DHAMMA (TRUTH) [i] 1. He breathes in mindfully, and he breathes out mindfully2.Breathing in long, he knows: ‘I'm breathing in long'; or breathing out long, he knows: ‘I' breathing out long.' Or breathing in short, he knows: ‘I'm breathing in short'; or breathing out short, he knows: ‘I am breathing out short.' 3. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in feeling the whole body.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out feeling the whole body.' 4. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in calming all bodily activity' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out calming all bodily activity.'[ii]5. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in experiencing rapture.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out experiencing rapture.' 6. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in experiencing bliss.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in experiencing bliss.' 7. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in experiencing mental activity.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out experiencing mental activity.' 8.He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in calming mental activity.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out calming mental activity.'(iii)9. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in experiencing the mind.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out experiencing the mind.' 10. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in gladdening the mind.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out gladdening the mind.' 11. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in unifying the mind.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out unifying the mind.' 12. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in releasing the mind.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out releasing the mind.'(iv)13. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in focussing on impermanence.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out focussing on inconstancy.' 14. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in focussing on dispassion / fading away.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out focussing on dispassion / fading away.' 15. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in focussing on cessation.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out focussing on cessation.' 16. He trains himself: ‘I will breathe in focussing on letting go.' He trains himself: ‘I will breathe out focussing on letting go.'WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#anapanasati #satipatthana #mindfulness #mindfulnessmeditation #sati #breathmeditation
Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question by someone just getting started in their Dhamma practise. Ajahn talks about karma, generosity and kindness; and the future results of our karma. He mentions rebirth, the fact that our mind doesn't just vanish at death, but will connect with a new body in one of the different realms of existence, according to our karma and attachments. Ajahn recommends to go back to what the Buddha himself actually taught, and explains that in the oldest part of the Theravada Pali Canon we can find the most authentic record of the Buddha's own words. He passes on two books summarizing the Noble Eight Fold Path based on these early suttas: Venerable Nyanatiloka, 'The Word of the Buddha', Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi, 'The Noble Eightfold Path' Ajahn also recommends to establish a little shrine, and to keep that area 'sacred', by not doing any other activity than chanting and meditation there. He recommends to start a regular practice of Buddhist Chanting, and passes on our Amaravati Chanting Book, that includes both Pali and English Chants: Ajahn encourages the newcomer to regularly continue his practice of Ānāpānasati (Meditation on Mindfulness of Breathing'), that he has already gathered some experience with.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked for advice to overcome ill will. Ajahn talks about the two fundamental approaches:Developing Loving Kindness, Compassion and Forgiveness to strengthen the opposite qualities in our mindUsing wisdom to contemplate and understand anger. For instance, if we're mindful, we can notice that ill will actually feels bad, and that we ourselves are the first 'victim' of our anger.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#illwill #anger #grudge #metta #lovingkindness #insight #vipassana #wisdom
Ajahn Dhammasiha explains the emotion of Saṃvega = Spiritual Shock/Spiritual Urgency. When we encounter Dukkha/Pain/Loss/Disappointment, the resulting sadness can make our heart dark and depressed. However, it's also possible to turn the pain we experience into a powerful motivation to practise the Buddha Dhamma with even more commitment and dedication, to ultimately free our heart from all suffering in the experience of the Deathless/Nibbāna.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#pain #loss #bereavement #buddhadhamma #dhammatalk
SHORT TALK 13 MINAjahn Dhammasiha encourages us to dedicate more attention to the quality of passive observation, rather than always being involved with doing things. We have to watch, observe, simply see how conditions unfold without interfering, in order to develop vipassana (insight).Yathābhūta Ñāṇadassana means seeing things as they really are, without distorting. We have to see the impermanent as impermanent, rather than distorting our perception towards permanence, in order to develop vipassana. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#seeing #observing #yathabhuta #nyanadassana #insight #vipassana
Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the meaning of: 'Ādi-kalyānam, majjhe-kalyānam, pariyosāna-kalyānam' (Beautiful in the Beginning, Beautiful in the Middle, Beautiful in the End), one of the unique qualities of the Buddha-Dhamma. He also reponds to a question about the most senior monk disciple of the Buddha, Ven Aññā-Kondañña, and how he got his name. Finally, Ajahn offers some reflections on the question which parts of the Dhamma are most important to humanity right now in our current global situation; and how we can share the Dhamma with all human beings. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#dhamma #dhammatalk #beauty #beautiful #buddhism #buddha
Loving kindness is simply the intention of unconditional good will to all beings, without any distinction. Ajahn Dhammasiha explains benefits of a well established practice of loving kindness ('Mettā'). When we experience benefits of our metta practice (for instance healthy, peaceful sleep and waking up happily), they are the most powerful motivation to continue to develop our loving kindness even further.WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#metta #lovingkindness #dhammatalk #buddhism #goodwill
Sometimes our mind may feel a bit dark, or frustated, or sad. If we can arouse the energy to do some act of kindness, some simple act of generosity or sharing, it will shine like a little star and illuminate our mind. As we accumulate more and more acts of good karma (puñña), we make our mind brighter and brighter, until it's illuminated like the star-spangled night sky. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#karma #punya #puñña #goodkarma #mind #nightsky
One of our retreatants noticed a crow attacking its mirror image in the glass sliding door. He doesn't reckognize that the image it actually himself. Instead, he thinks it's another crow intruding into his territory. Ajahn Dhammasiha uses this as a metaphor for unskilful effort in meditation. In particular, we can't overcome the delusion of self by fighting it. If we take it for real, and fight it, it will only 'fight back' harder. The successful approach is to wisely observe it, analyse it, and reckognize it as an illusion. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#mirror #self #sakkayaditthi #entityview #buddhism #dhamma.
Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about the importance of faith in the Buddha's teaching. The Pali term for the first of five spiritual faculties is 'saddha'. It could also be translated as 'confidence', 'conviction' or 'trust'. Ajahn discusses various conditions that nurture our conviction and make it very strong. He also explains that faith and knowledge are not contradictions, but can support each other in our Dhamma practice. WebsiteOur Spotify PlaylistsNewsletterDhammagiri Youtube ChannelPics#faith #saddha #buddhism #confidence #conviction #knowledge #dhammatalk
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