Dharmabytes From Free Buddhist Audio

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, takes us further into the archetypal realm of the Buddhaand#8217;s and Bodhisattvas. Here Sangharakshita introduces us to and#8220;Vajrasattva – The Aspect of Purityand#8221;. This is an excerpt from the talk and#8220;The Bodhisattva Hierarchyand#8221; by Sangharakshita given in 1969.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyteand#8220;The Diamond Sutra as Zen Masterand#8221; we hear Abhaya in an an intriguing discussion of the sutra as Vajrapani and as a zen master. From the talk and#8220;The Diamond Sutraand#8221; where Abhaya leads us on the crazy paving path through the Diamond Sutra and#8211; a text guaranteed to turn your world upside-down. Some very funny parts to this talk and#8211; and some excellent evocations of rigorous Dharma practice as part of the everyday business of life. Talk given at the Western Buddhist Order national Order weekend 2003

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte and#8220;Vajrapani: The Power Aspectand#8221; is an excerpt from and#8220;The Bodhisattva Hierarchyand#8221; by Sangharakshita. After a full explanation of the importance of being receptive to those more developed than ourselves, we are introduced to the ten stages (bhumis) of the Bodhisattva path and to the four principal types of Bodhisattva who embody this path. Here we meet: Vajrapani.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is a ritual chant of devotion: and#8220;Mantra von Amitabhaand#8221; by Nagadakini recorded in Essen, Germany.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte and#8220;The Qualities of Amitabha and#8220; Sangharakshita gives voice to the poetic Buddhist scripture The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra describing the wonderful Pureland of the Buddha Amitabha.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte and#8220;The Jewel of the Mandalaand#8221; is an excerpt from the fourth talk in a six-part series on the figures on the Wheel of Life. Saddhaloka introduces us to Amitabha, the red Buddha of the West who represents and inspires the highest love of alland#8230; Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, winter retreat, 1997

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is a tribute to and#8220;The Bodhisattva Taraand#8221; by Kamalashila. From a series about the final mantras of the sevenfold puja, Kamalashila talks about the birth and significance of the bodhisattva Tara.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is titled and#8220;Tara and#8211; The Quintessence of Compassionand#8221; by Sangharakshita. From a thorough and thought-provoking talk explaining the Bodhisattva Path we are introduced to several Bodhisattvas, in this excerpt we meet Tara. From the talk and#8220;The Bodhisattva Hierarchyand#8221; given in 1969.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is titled and#8220;Bodhisattva as Dharma Teacher and#8220; by Padmavajra from the 7th talk in and#8220;The Diamond Sutra and#8211; Taking Mind to its Limitsand#8221; series. Here Padmavajra talks about Diamond Sutra logic and giving the Dharma. He includes a quote from Sangharakshita from Wisdom Beoynd Words that elucidates the Bodhisattva as Dharma teacher.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is titled and#8220;Not Mere Socialisingand#8221; by Sangharakshita from the talk and#8220;Intellect, Emotion, and Willand#8221; given at opening of the Manchester Buddhist Centre in 1996. In this excerpt Sangharakshita talks about kalyana mitrata and people coming to Centres forming sangha as being much deeper than mere socialising.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is titled and#8220;Sangha as Coral Reef and#8220; by Saddhanandi. In this excerpt from the talk and#8220;Spiritual Transmission and Lineageand#8221; we hear a comparison of the sangha with a coral reef and#8211; delicate, beautiful and very sensitive to pollution. Saddhanandi explores the nature of the Sangha as the possible ground for insight itself to arise.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is titled and#8220;The Voice That Says and#8216;Be Generousand#8217;and#8221; by Vajratara. To have friends, we need to learn to be a friend. Friendship is an active practice, not to be left to chance. In this excerpt from the talk and#8220;How to Be a Friendand#8221; Vajratara points out the a friend reminds us of our own ethical values.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabytetitled and#8220;Sangharakshita: A Friend to the Order,and#8221; Bhante is making good his intention to follow up and#8216;The History of My Going For Refugeand#8217; with another lecture looking at his relation to the rest of the Order titled and#8220;My Relation to the Orderand#8220;. He considers his position as the WBOand#8217;s [Triratna's] founder and what his continuing role will be, as others take on the responsibility of conferring ordinations themselves. Talk given in 1990.

In todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte titled and#8220;A Community of Hearers,and#8221; Parami starts off the International Womenand#8217;s Order Convention with an inspiring window into the practice of Sangha, of gathering together in harmonious relationship with one another that keeps third jewel shining. In this excerpt she describes the sangha as a community of hearers and#8211; those who engage in the action of listening and the action of receptivity. From the talk titled and#8220;Sangha Vandanaand#8221; given at the Womenand#8217;s International Order Convention 2011.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte is a lovely description of Sangharakshita weand#8217;re calling and#8220;A Single Stream of Dharma Activityand#8221; given by his editor Kalyanaprabha on the occasion of launching his recent book and#8216;Dear Dinoo: Letters to a Friendand#8216;. She shares two remarkable aspects about Sangharakshita: the ordinary and the extraordinary along with reflections on kindness and his embodiment of a single stream of Dharma activity.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Compassion: An Intrinsic Part of Reality,and#8221; by Vijayamala is an excerpt from an excellent, personal set of reflections entitled and#8220;Compassionate Koans and#8211; the Heart of the Matterand#8221;. Here she shares her thoughts on compassion as an intrinsic part of reality referring to Mandarava in and#8216;The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhavaand#8217; and describing how Bodhisattvas, messengers of the Dharma and embodiments of compassion, continue to suffer for lifetimes.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Dakinis: Forces To Be Integrated,and#8221; is an excerpt from the previously unreleased talk from 1979 entitled simply and#8220;Padmasambhavaand#8221; by Sangharakshita. In this short excerpt of the full talk, rather famously, given off-the-cuff at the London Buddhist Centre, Sangharakshita gives us a lively description of the dakini as a force to be integrated.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Padmasambhavaand#8217;s Song,and#8221; is an excerpt from the talk and#8220;Padmasambhava and the King of Tibetand#8221; by Vajratara. Hereand#8217;s another tour-de-force from Vajratara, looking to approach the great figure of Padmasambhava and#8211; the and#8216;Second Buddhaand#8217; and#8211; through his famous meeting with the King of Tibet. As ever, a provocative, fully engaged and fully engaging take on the Dharma and the challenges that face us on the Path. Talk given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Padmasambhavaand#8217;s Teachings,and#8221; is an excerpt from the talk and#8220;Padmasambhava: Tantric Guru of Tibetand#8221; by Sangharakshita given in 1972. Padmasambhava, often known as the and#8216;Second Buddhaand#8217;, is famous for converting the demons of Tibet. In this lecture we are given a brief biography of Padmasambhava and an outline of the progressive Nyingmapa practices attributed to him.

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Death is Certain,and#8221; is an excerpt from the talk and#8220;The Transitoriness of Life and the Certainty of Deathand#8221; by Vajradarshini. Here she talks about disassociating from our own death and how our death really is not that significant. In imagining this, knowing this, there is freedom. The third talk in a five-part series from Tiratanalokaand#8217;s retreat on the and#8216;Four Mind Turningsand#8217; of the Tibetan tradition.