Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Our FBA Dharmabyte today, "The Buddha & Imagination," is an excerpt from Kamalashila's talk "Tranquillity, Imagination and Insight", a book relaunching of Buddhist Meditation. Here, Kamalashila explores the Buddha's emphasis on mind, and the presence of imagination. "All solutions and all problems come from the mind." The full talk will be podcast next Saturday.

In the Pali scriptures, do we have a word for 'imagination?" In today's FBA Dharmabyte, Sangharakshita offers his thoughts in "The Divine Eye as Vertical Imagination." Vertical imagination is a creative force, enabling us to rise above ourselves. Quoting William Blake seeing the host of heavenly spirits in the sun, we are called to evoke the power of our imaginative faculty. This is an excerpt from the book launch of Living Ethically, available at Windhorse Publications.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte, "The Mystery of the Dhamma Niyama" Subhuti concludes the first talk in one of his Rambles Around Reality series. Here he describes the Dhamma Niyama as having it's own conditioned laws which are potentially working within us. Using the metaphor of the stream, our effort, our karma puts us in the current, but the current itself is the Dharma Niyama - mysterious patterns in conditionality that take us well beyond ourselves.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Beyond Ethics" is the introduction to the first talk in a series exploring how our ethical practice can extend toward that which would be the natural responses of an Enlightened Being, taking into consideration the Niyamas. From the talk: Beyond Ethics, Part I By Subhadramati and Silapiya given at the London Buddhist Centre.

Sunyata, (Sanskrit, also shunyata; Pali: suññat), in Buddhism, translated into English as emptiness, voidness, openness, spaciousness, is a Buddhist concept which has multiple meanings depending on its doctrinal context. (Wikipedia) Our FBA Dharmabyte today is simple. The "Sunyata Mantra" was recorded on retreat and is now being shared on Free Buddhist Audio. From the Anapanasati Web Extras provided by Viveka, from the retreat led in 2003.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, takes us further into the archetypal realm of the Buddha's and Bodhisattvas. Here Sangharakshita introduces us to "Vajrasattva – The Aspect of Purity". This is an excerpt from the talk "The Bodhisattva Hierarchy" by Sangharakshita given in 1969.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte"The Diamond Sutra as Zen Master" we hear Abhaya in an an intriguing discussion of the sutra as Vajrapani and as a zen master. From the talk "The Diamond Sutra" where Abhaya leads us on the crazy paving path through the Diamond Sutra - a text guaranteed to turn your world upside-down. Some very funny parts to this talk - 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

Today's FBA Dharmabyte "Vajrapani: The Power Aspect" is an excerpt from "The Bodhisattva Hierarchy" 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.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is a ritual chant of devotion: "Mantra von Amitabha" by Nagadakini recorded in Essen, Germany.

In today's FBA Dharmabyte "The Qualities of Amitabha " Sangharakshita gives voice to the poetic Buddhist scripture The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra describing the wonderful Pureland of the Buddha Amitabha.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte "The Jewel of the Mandala" 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 all... Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, winter retreat, 1997

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is a tribute to "The Bodhisattva Tara" by Kamalashila. From a series about the final mantras of the sevenfold puja, Kamalashila talks about the birth and significance of the bodhisattva Tara.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is titled "Tara - The Quintessence of Compassion" 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 "The Bodhisattva Hierarchy" given in 1969.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is titled "Bodhisattva as Dharma Teacher " by Padmavajra from the 7th talk in "The Diamond Sutra - Taking Mind to its Limits" 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.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is titled "Not Mere Socialising" by Sangharakshita from the talk "Intellect, Emotion, and Will" 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.