Our Dharmabyte today takes us into the heart of Buddhist ritual, into the heart of the sevenfold puja, with a special chanting of the “Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra” – The Heart Sutra – in Sanskrit. The entire puja is recited in both Sanskrit and English, a real treat for all ritual lovers courtesy of Satyadhana, the puja leader. 

This Sevenfold Puja (http://freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=OM788)was recorded at the North American Order Convention in 2008.

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Dharmabytes Podcast #24 - "Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra (The Heart Sutra) in Sanskrit" by Various

A beautiful invocation to the bodhisattva Tara by Dayanandi. This is the third part of an early talk at Taraloka entitled "The Symbolism of Tara" in which Dayanandi discusses the deeper meaning and symbolism used in visualizing Tara and other archetypal figures.

Talk given at Taraloka.

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"Invocation to Tara" by Dayanandi

War, destruction and conflict are on the increase in the world, as are conflicted and destructive individual lives. How do we live in a way that brings about a less conflicted world and a more creative, integrated way of being? Suryagupta explores this complex topic at London Buddhist Centre, 2016.

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On War

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Podcast #652 "On War"

Viveka introduces the spirit and context of the Anapanasati Sutta, beginning with the first tetrad: Inquiry Into the Experience of Body given on retreat as part of the series Anapanasati Sutta: Instructions for Awakening, Adhisthana, 2019.

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Inquiry Into the Experience of Body

Dharmabytes Podcast #1201 "Imagine We Are Enough"

Padmavajra delves into the true nature of conflict and harmony by exploring two significant episodes in the life of the Buddha, one of which features disharmony from within the Sangha of monks itself. Excerpted from the talk The Quarrelsome Monks of Kosambi which was streamed from the Padmaloka shrine room to around 30 people tuning in via Zoom to the Mid Essex Buddhist Centre, 2020.

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The Quarrelsome Monks of Kosambi

Dharmabytes Podcast #1203 "True to Something Deeper"

Padmavajra first met Sangharakshita when he was 17 and in this talk he shares some of his own most cherished memories of Bhante, including his experiences of being with him in India when he returned there in the 1970's to found the Order there. Urgyen Sangharakshita - Bhante - who died in 2018, is not only the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community, but also teacher and spiritual friend to Padmavajra. Excerpted from the talk entitled Urgyen Sangharakshita: The Bodhisattva's Reply given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2019. 

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Urgyen Sangharakshita: The Bodhisattva's Reply

A Positive Longing (Dharmabytes Podcast)

Mahamati talks on actualizing the myth of the Order- symbolised in the 1000 armed Avalokiteshvara. Excerpted from the talk Actualizing the 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara given on a Triratna Buddhist Order weekend at Padmaloka, 2010. 

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Actualizing the 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara

A Context for Working on Oneself (Dharmabytes Podcast)

How do we move towards creating friendships that are less transactional and more transformative? Singhashri speaks on the topic of spiritual friendship, specifically the practice of generosity, and it’s effect on opening the heart. Excerpted from the talk entitled We Are Not Broken. We Are Alive - the Koan of Kalyanamitrata given on an Order weekend at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2013.

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We Are Not Broken. We Are Alive - the Koan of Kalyanamitrata

Unobstructed Generosity (Dharmabytes Podcast)

Kalyanaprabha shares some of her own recollections of Bhante Sangharakshita going back to their first encounter in 1984, stories both humorous and serious, evoking some of his unique qualities. Drawing on an unpublished fragment, ‘What I learned from my gurus’, she reminds us of some of the fundamental aspects of his teaching. This talk was given as part of a series entitled Triratna Day Weekend: Is a Guru Necessary? Given at Adhisthana for the Triratna Day celebrations, 2023. 

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Bhante, His Gurus and Us

Bhante, his "Gurus" and Us (FBA Podcast)

Paraga offers some reflections on his personal experience of being in the Order. Excerpted from the talk Reflections On the Benefits of Being In the Order given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2016.

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Reflections On the Benefits of Being In the Order

Getting Lost (Dharmabytes Podcast)

Ratnaprabha looks at what motivated the Buddha to leave a comfortable life for an uncertain quest in the Jungle: the Four Sights of Old Age, Illness, Death, and the inspiring figure of the wanderer seeking liberation.
Excerpted from the talk What Started the Buddha Off given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2016. 

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What Started the Buddha Off

The Fourth Sight (Dharmabytes Podcast)

After an account of the Buddha's life, Sangharakshita asks how, if at all, such a man can be defined or categorised. This talk was given in 1968 as part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

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Who Is the Buddha?

Who is the Buddha? (FBA Podcast)

Suryamati shares a parable from the Udana to illustrate why the Buddha spoke so little about the nature of Enlightenment. From the talk The Mystery of Enlightenment In the Udana given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2007.

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The Mystery of Enlightenment In the Udana

The Parable of the Elephant (Dharmabytes Podcast)

Here, Bhadra evokes the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice in his description of the Middle Way. From the talk Finding the Middle Way Between the Psychological and the Spiritual given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2022.

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Finding the Middle Way Between the Psychological and the Spiritual

Dissolving Restricted Views (Dharmabytes Podcast)

Amitasuri explores what can happen when faced with well-being, illness, ageing and death, and looks at how the Dharma might influence our response. Amitasuri takes her Dharma practice to her work as a Buddhist Hospital Chaplain, where she supports health and well-being through pastoral, religious and spiritual care for staff, patients and their families in a number of hospitals in Greater Manchester. This talk was given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2015.

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Living What We Love - a Response to the Four Sights

Living what we Love (FBA Podcast)

According to the Buddha we see permanence where there is impermanence, substantiality where there is insubstantiality, see the unlovely as beautiful and the unpleasant as pleasant. How does this affect us? And even more importantly, what can we do about this? Yashobodhi makes the simple yet profound connection between ignorance and suffering. Excerpted from  the talk Distortions of the Mind given at West London Buddhist Centre, 2017.

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Distortions of the Mind

A Sure Sign of Ignorance (Dharmabytes Podcast)

A beautiful introduction by Ratnavandana to the Brahma Viharas as an integrated set of practices flowing from metta - loving kindness. Her central image is that of a tree, deep rooted and spreading its canopy wide as she evokes a profound, personal connection to the cultivation of the ‘sublime abodes’: loving kindness, compassion, joy with others, and equanimity.

Ratnavandana also leads a guided meditation on cultivating a connection to the Brahma Viharas.

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07 Uppekha - Equanimity; Lukewarm Indifference, Neutrality

06 Mudita - Joy With Others; Vicarious Pleasure And Intoxication

05 Karuna; Over - Identification With Suffering; Horrified Anxiety And Sentimental Pity

04 The Near - Enemy Of Metta; Metta As Consciousness - Alan Wallace On Metta

01 The Brahma Viharas As A Tree

The 100-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva, the Buddhist bodhisattva figure associated with purification of the heart and mind as we cultivate wisdom and compassion.

Recorded at the 2015 Pan-American Triratna Buddhist Order Convention in Mexico.

For more: thebuddhistcentre.com/tags/pan-american-2015

Vajrasttva Mantra

The mantra of Akshobhya, archetypal blue Buddha of the eastern quarter. 

OM Vajra Akshobhya Hum.

Chanted by members of the Triratna Buddhist Community in Bristol.

Akshobhya Mantra

A rousing recording of the Avalokiteshvara Mantra from the Triratna European Chairs Assembly in January 2014. The harmony is led by Amalamati from Valencia.

Avalokiteshvara is the Bodhisattva of compassion, and his thousand-armed form is the symbol for the Triratna Buddhist Order at work in the world.

Recorded live during the 'Offerings' section of the Sevenfold Puja at Adhisthana Retreat Centre in Herefordshire, UK.

Avalokiteshvara Mantra

The mantra of Padmasambhava, the great guru credited with having brought the Buddha's Dharma to Tibet...

Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum

Recorded at a puja on the Young Buddhist weekend retreat at Adhisthana, 2013. 

Padmasambhava Mantra

The mantra of Amoghasiddhi, the archetypal green Buddha of the northern quarter, associated with fearlessness.

Om Amoghasiddhi Ah Hum

Chanted by the Triratna Buddhist Community in Bristol, UK.

Amoghasiddhi Mantra

The mantra of Ratnasambhava, archetypal golden Buddha of the southern quarter associated with spiritual riches...

Om Ratnasambhava Tram (Trang)

Chanted by the Triratna Buddhist Community in Bristol, UK.

Ratnasambhava Mantra

Here are the meditations and introductions for day 1 of the 2015 Triratna International Urban Retreat on the theme of 'Living In The Greater Mandala'.

www.thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat

This set comprises:

01 Kamalashila introducing and leading through the Mindfulness of Breathing meditation practice. Suitable for those new to meditation.

02 Rijumitra introducing the Brahma Vicars series of Buddhist meditation practices. These are: the Metta Bhavana (Cultivation of Loving Kindness), the Karuna Bhavana (Cultivation of Compassion in response to suffering), the Mudita Bhavana (Cultivation of Sympathetic Joy with others), Upekkha Bhavana (Cultivation of Equanimity).

03 Rijumitra introducing the first of the Brahma Viharas series of Buddhist meditations - the Metta Bhavana (Cultivation of Loving Kindness).

04 Tejananda introducing and leads through a Just Sitting meditation practice.

Recorded for the Triratna International Urban Retreat 2015 in London.

Kamalashila - Introduction And Lead-Through Of The Mindfulness Of Breathing

As a companion piece to his talk exploring the correlation between Akshobhya, the archetypal Buddha of the eastern quarter, and metta (loving kindness), Tejananda leads a rousing harmonized chant of the Akshobhya mantra itself. 

OM VAJRA AKSHOBHYA HUM

Recorded for the International Urban Retreat 2015 at Vajraloka Meditation Retreat Centre, Wales.

Here is the guided introduction and guided meditation for day 6 of the 2015 Triratna International Urban Retreat on the theme of 'Living In The Greater Mandala'.

www.thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat

This set comprises:

01 Rijumitra guides through a full-length Mudita Bhavana meditation (Cultivation of Sympathetic Joy), the third of the Brahma Viharas series of Buddhist practices.

02 In his third short talk on mantra, Tejananda looks at Amitabha and discusses the relationship between his Discriminating Wisdom and the intimacy of a joyful approach to all things that arise in conditioned existence.

03 As a companion piece to Tejananda's talk exploring the correlation between Amitabha, the archetypal red Buddha of the western quarter, and mudita, here is a harmonized chant of the Amitabha mantra. 

OM AMIDEVA HRI

Recorded for the Triratna International Urban Retreat 2015 at Vajraloka Retreat Centre, Wales.

Amitabha Mantra

Beautifully read by Sangharakshita, these readings are taken from the oldest scriptural texts and evoke the real spirit of early Buddhism - the struggles, the joys and the triumphs of ordinary people who followed the path to Truth.

Recorded in 2000 to mark the Digital Legacy project to begin transferring Dharmachakra's archive to digital format!

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Mangala Sutta

Dr B. R. Ambedkar (1891-1956) was one of the most extraordinary figures in the history of India. He was born in poor circumstances as an Untouchable – high castes regarded physical contact with Untouchables as polluting and condemned them to do the dirtiest of jobs, sweeping and the collection of human detritus. But Dr Ambedkar’s natural ability and determination (and some good fortune) enabled him to rise above caste prejudice and become one of the founding fathers of modern India. He was the chief architect of the Indian constitution introduced at Independence in 1947 and saw the concept of Untouchability made illegal. But he had campaigned for decades. In 1936 Dr Ambedkar wrote a speech – famously not delivered – in which he outlined the case against the whole existence of caste divisions in India. In Annihilation of Caste, rationally and methodically, he takes apart the basis on which caste exists, and which has delivered harm, pain and misery on untold generations – and continues to do so. Individuals such as Mahatma Gandhi shamefully continued to defend caste distinctions (his response is included here). Even today, in modern India, many of the 200 million Dalits (as the ex-Untouchables now call themselves) experience severe prejudice and violence. Annihilation of Caste is as important a political statement concerning basic human rights as The Rights of Man or The Communist Manifesto, and is just as relevant in the 21st century where caste and class still exercise a baleful effect on society. In 1956, despairing of true justice for the ex-Untouchables within Hinduism, Dr Ambedkar, and millions of his followers, converted to Buddhism.

Read by Sagar Agya

With thanks to Dharma Audiobooks: http://dharmaaudiobooks.com

Annihilation of Caste - Part3

Annihilation of Caste - Part 2

Annihilation of Caste - Part 1

Annihilation of Caste - Introduction

Vajradevi leads a beautiful sevenfold puja compiled by Maitrisiddhi from the Pali Canon, with the Shakyamuni mantra and a new version of the 'sabbe satta sukhi hontu' mantra at the end.

Puja to the Buddha Drawn From the Pali Canon

Refuges And Precepts

Going For Refuge

Naravira begins by sharing some reflections on the sevenfold puja and its nearest parallel in western culture with opera as a multi-sensory experience with sight, sound and action all being included - tho' puja also has the additional sensory impression of smell, and everyone gets to take part! The puja includes the Avalokitesvara, Padmasambhava and concluding mantras and a reading from Dilgo Khyentse on the intrinsic nature of mind.

This talk is part of the series Pathways to the Beautiful Mind: Bristol Rains Retreat 2019: https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/series/details?ser=X167

Classic Sevenfold Puja Introduced and Led by Naravira

The last in a series of talks from the 2019 Triratna International Council. This year's theme is major elements from the Dharma biography of Sangharakshita, Triratna's founder, which are of wider relevance to anyone endeavouring to lead a Buddhist life.

This talk begins with Dhammarati's intimate account of his immediate personal experience of the death of his teacher. From there, this talk blossoms into a deeply felt manifesto about the practice of harmony as way to cultivate insight into the nature of reality as a community, and as an individual within a community. It's also about how sanghas can survive the death of their founder and flourish. 

Taking in Sangharakshita himself on the future of the Order he founded, William Blake, the Cetokhila Sutta, and the Karaniya Metta Sutta, Dhammarati offers a condensed, down-to-earth guide to working with others as a practice that conduces to the good of all.

For more, follow https://thebuddhistcentre.com/internationalcouncil

Dhammarati - Looking Ahead A Little Way

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