Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is titled "Sangha as Coral Reef " by Saddhanandi. In this excerpt from the talk "Spiritual Transmission and Lineage" we hear a comparison of the sangha with a coral reef - delicate, beautiful and very sensitive to pollution. Saddhanandi explores the nature of the Sangha as the possible ground for insight itself to arise.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is titled "The Voice That Says 'Be Generous'" 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 "How to Be a Friend" Vajratara points out the a friend reminds us of our own ethical values.

In today's FBA Dharmabytetitled "Sangharakshita: A Friend to the Order," Bhante is making good his intention to follow up 'The History of My Going For Refuge' with another lecture looking at his relation to the rest of the Order titled "My Relation to the Order". He considers his position as the WBO'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 today's FBA Dharmabyte titled "A Community of Hearers," Parami starts off the International Women'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 - those who engage in the action of listening and the action of receptivity. From the talk titled "Sangha Vandana" given at the Women's International Order Convention 2011.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte is a lovely description of Sangharakshita we're calling "A Single Stream of Dharma Activity" given by his editor Kalyanaprabha on the occasion of launching his recent book 'Dear Dinoo: Letters to a Friend'. 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.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Compassion: An Intrinsic Part of Reality," by Vijayamala is an excerpt from an excellent, personal set of reflections entitled "Compassionate Koans - the Heart of the Matter". Here she shares her thoughts on compassion as an intrinsic part of reality referring to Mandarava in 'The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava' and describing how Bodhisattvas, messengers of the Dharma and embodiments of compassion, continue to suffer for lifetimes.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Dakinis: Forces To Be Integrated," is an excerpt from the previously unreleased talk from 1979 entitled simply "Padmasambhava" 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.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Padmasambhava's Song," is an excerpt from the talk "Padmasambhava and the King of Tibet" by Vajratara. Here's another tour-de-force from Vajratara, looking to approach the great figure of Padmasambhava - the 'Second Buddha' - 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

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Padmasambhava's Teachings," is an excerpt from the talk "Padmasambhava: Tantric Guru of Tibet" by Sangharakshita given in 1972. Padmasambhava, often known as the 'Second Buddha', 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.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Death is Certain," is an excerpt from the talk "The Transitoriness of Life and the Certainty of Death" 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 Tiratanaloka's retreat on the 'Four Mind Turnings' of the Tibetan tradition.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Cutting the Rope," is an excerpt from the talk "Touching the Void" by Jnanavaca. Here he talks about the analogy of 'cutting the rope' and taking responsibility. In the full talk Jnanavaca relates events in Joe Simpson's popular mountaineering book 'Touching the Void' to aspects of Buddhist practice. Look out for some wonderful quotes - from T.E. Lawrence to Einstein. Inspiring stuff all round... Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Why Are We So Afraid?," is an excerpt from the talk "Dying to Live" by Vidyamala. Here she talks about being present with fear in the face of impermanence. In the full talk, Vidyamala gives a strong account of working with suffering and sorrow in life, and of transforming experience into one characterized by contentment and a sense of meaning. From her own practice of living with chronic pain comes a sane and unsentimental perspective that affords us all a measure of genuine optimism as we meet the trials of the world: bereavements and losses of all kinds can be met with a kindness and awareness that gently ease the burden, allowing something of peace to enter our lives again.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "When Reality Knocks...," is an excerpt from the talk "What is Enlightenment?" by Jinapriya. When Reality knocks at the door we sometimes need to own painful experience and surrender. His main theme within the frame of such a big question - 'What is Enlightenment?' - is the struggle to live our lives in the present moment, especially in the face of pain.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Gesture of Fearlessness," is a short talk by Lokeshvara given during the Buddhafield East Green Man of Buddhism Retreat where he shows that benefiting others overcomes fear.

Today's FBA Dharmabyte, "Tasting Fear," by Kulaprabha is an an excerpt from the talk "Spiritual Death, Fear and Fearlessness." Spiritual Death is about death of our fixed, bounded self, the self that is made up of bundled habits and preferences and views - especially views about existence and non-existence. So don't be surprised if, when contemplating the impermanence and unreliability of that small self, you taste fear. It's natural enough in the circumstances. After all, fine to talk loftily about 'dying to one's ego', but who will be left after that's done? Where will 'I' be?