This is the first in an excellent series of talks by Dayanandi on the five great stages of spiritual experience that develop and unfold as we progress on the Path to Enlightenment

In this talk Dayanandi gives an overview of the whole Path and how it has arise in the Buddhist tradition.

Talk given at Manchester Buddhist Centre.

The first in a major new series of talks by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: 'Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One' (Quercus, 2011).

Vishvapani is a well known figure in the Triratna Buddhist Community and is a regular contributor on the BBC's 'Thought for the Day'.

In this talk we meet the Buddha set firmly in his own historical context, with space too for the legendary and particular reference to the natural world. Vishvapani explores the presence of nature in the Pali suttas, exploring its significance in the texts, in our own contemporary mental landscapes and in the imaginative life of a country and its people. Ancient India comes alive as we wander with the Buddha, facing his fears amongst the ghosts of the jungle. There is much that is important for reflection here - the Dharma made fascinating by dint of the author's depth of engagement with Buddhist practice and the sheer breadth of his cultural reference.

Features an extended question-and-answer session (NB, poor sound quality on the questions themselves).

Talk given at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, January 2011.

From a 2 part seminar on Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakirika during a Perfection of Wisdom retreat at Dhanakosa.

Why Read the Sutta Nipata?

The talk starts by looking at why we read the suttas. Suriyavamsa evokes how sutta were traditionally passed on through the ages, attending to the spirit of the text. He makes the point, quoting Ch'an master Shen Yen that Ch'an and Zen hold their sutras in high regard, contrary to the modern western view that Zen is 'beyond words and letters'. For us, studying texts is a matter of retraining our minds.

He makes the distinction between sutras and their commentaries - primary and secondary texts. Commentaries move from being new and fashionable to old and outdated but the suttas and sutras themselves remain fresh.

He then uses Kukai's description of the Mahavairocana Sutra to describe how a sutra works on different levels, including a rational level, an imaginative and a cosmic mythological level.

Suriyavamsa then goes on to talk about the Sutta Nipata itself, locating it's place within the Pali Canon as one of the earliest body of text. The sutta is a record of lives lived in the spirit of renunciation, practising meditation and insight.

He runs through the structure of the text, outling the five chapters and then reads some selected verses on the following themes: skillful speech, grief and fearing death, humility, pleasure, avoiding arguments, worldly desire.

The tone of the sutta is of non-clinging. It leads to an atmosphere of quietness and simplicity.

Suriyavamsa tells the story in the last chapter of Bavari the Brahmin who seeks the Buddha's advice after he has been threatened with death. The text ends with 'Pingiya's Praises of the Way to the Beyond.'

In this talk he draws on two translations; one by Saddhatissa and one by KR Norman.

From a 4 part seminar on The Heart Sutra during a Heart Sutra retreat at Dhanakosa. Pasada has studied and meditated upon this text in depth over many years. Here he is referrring to Conze's translation.