Free Buddhist Audio – Details, episodes & analysis

A clear and passionate talk, looking at bodhicitta and its twin aspects of love and letting go: wisdom and compassion. Maitrisiddhi explores the role of paradox and how we need to 'hold two necessary ideas together' without polarising between them. Given at Taraloka Retreat Centre as part of the Taraloka & Tiratanaloka online Great Gathering weekend, for women training for ordination and Order Members, 2021.

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 In his first talk on Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara Padmavajra speaks of Sangharakshita's evocation of the Bodhicitta. He goes on to talk about his discovery of the Bodhicarayavatara and what is known of the life of Shantideva. The main part of the talk is Padmavajra's discussion of some of the verses of the first chapter of the Bodhicaryavatara, especially of verse ten, in which the Bodhicitta is likened to the highly potent quicksilver elixir of the alchemist, capable of transforming the worst of things into the Bodhicitta. Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre as part of the series Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara, 2020.

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“Happy indeed we live, friendly amid the haters. Among those who hate we dwell free from hate. Happy indeed we live, healthy amid the sick. Among those who are sick we dwell free from sickness. Happy indeed we live, content amid the greedy. Among those who are greedy we dwell free from greed.” (The Dhammapada, chapter 14, ‘Happiness’, verses 197-199). Ratnaghosha explores the Buddha’s vision of spiritual community as it is expressed in three verses of the Dhammapada. This is a comprehensive survey of the Buddha's teaching but is also replete with practical advice about how we might apply this to our lives today - and finishes on a very encouraging note. Talk given at the Dublin Buddhist Centre, 2024.

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Vidyasakhi vividly draws us into the magical world of the Eight Cremation Grounds where Padmasambhava tamed demons and engaged in his Bodhisattva training. Vidyasakhi is a musician and Padmasambhava practitioner with a background in storytelling. She has used these skills to dramatise The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava and is a very good guide into the symbolism of this sacred space.

This talk was given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2017.

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Surata wanders delightfully all over the subject of 'freedom' in the context of life in a Buddhist Order. He discusses freedom of mind, freedom of choice, freedom of heart, as well as the dangers of group behaviour in communities and the joys of sharing in an ideal. Personable and disarming as ever...

Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2005

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Kusalasara explores the significance of the Dakinis - a strong symbol of freedom. This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre, 2017.

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The Buddha said that just as the taste of the ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, so the Buddha's teaching has one taste, the taste of freedom. Liberation, freedom or emancipation are the essence of the Buddha's vision. In this wide ranging talk Padmavajra explains the conditions necessary to secure this heart's release.

This talk is part of the series 'The Taste of Freedom' Revisited given at London Buddhist Centre, 2019.

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Spiritual freedom arises when your heart and mind is transformed. In order to live in a world that is harmonious, that’s loving, that’s enabling us to all fulfill our potential, then we all must be working for freedom in some way, working for our own and others, whoever they are. Suryagupta draws out the meaning of Freedom through the story of Nelson Mandela.

A two-week seminar with the (then) brand new chair of the London Buddhist Centre, 2017.

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Maitreyabandhu draws out the deeper meaning and finer detail of five different poems, each around the theme of death with the final poem focusing on spiritual rebirth.

By discussing the background of the poems and poets, the intricacies of their structure, and bringing in a Buddhist interpretation of the themes raised in the poems, Maitreyabandhu shows us the importance and profundity of poetry and how it can help us to explore Dharmic themes more deeply.

This talk was given Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the System of Dharma Training retreat, December 2018.

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Here and Now

Ratnaghosha explores the Buddha's teaching of Spiritual friendship being the whole of the spiritual life. The talk is wide ranging, going into what spiritual friendship is and also how Buddhism sees the nature of reality. This talk was given at Nottingham Buddhist Centre, 2016.

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