Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Integrating Tensions in the Psyche

By Zac on Thu, 10 Mar, 2022 - 06:00

Saraha introduces us to Padmasambhava through his symbolism and the integration of all opposites. From the talk entitled Padmasambhava, Is He Real? What Is His Gift to the World. You, Are You Real, What Is Your Gift to the World given at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 2014.

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Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Cremation Ground as Sacred Space

By Zac on Mon, 7 Mar, 2022 - 06:00

Vidyasakhi evokes the symbolism of the sacred cremation grounds where Padmasambhava engaged in his Bodhisattva training - meditating on impermanence and taming wild energies. 

From the talk entitled The Tantric Path - The Cremation Ground given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2017.

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Bite-sized inspiration three times every week.

Subscribe to our...

Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Depth Charge! Tackling Primordial Forces Holding Us Back

By Zac on Thu, 3 Mar, 2022 - 06:00

Sangharakshita gave this previously unreleased and, rather famously, off-the-cuff talk at the London Buddhist Centre in 1979. In this excerpt we hear about Padmasambhava’s principle work of subduing the demons obstructing the establishment of the Dharma in Tibet. These demons are primordial forces existing in the depths of the human mind and collective consciousness - primordial forces holding us back need to be tackled with a depth charge! This is an enjoyable and stirring evocation of the great...

Adhisthana
Adhisthana

The Guru's Advice: Sub35 Festival Retreat

By Maitriyogini on Mon, 10 May, 2021 - 12:12

The Guru's Advice: Sub35 Festival Retreat

By Maitriyogini on Mon, 10 May, 2021 - 12:12

THU 26 AUGMON 30 AUG

Lived out fully, Buddhist practice is revolutionary. Its purpose is a complete transformation of every element of our lives and of the world around us. 

The legendary Tibetan Guru Padmasambhava is the archetype of this transformation. His mythic life story presents a conflict between the forces of light and the forces of darkness – a conflict that takes place within our own hearts and minds. Following his example, we can learn to...

Community Highlights
Free Buddhist Audio

The Twelve Days of FBA (2020) - Day 10: 'Padmasambhava' by Sangharakshita

By Free Buddhist Audio on Mon, 4 Jan, 2021 - 06:00

The Twelve Days of FBA (2020) - Day 10: 'Padmasambhava' by Sangharakshita

By Free Buddhist Audio on Mon, 4 Jan, 2021 - 06:00

On Day 10 Parami recommends a scintillating title by Sangharakshita entitled simply Padmasambhava. Originally unreleased (because it was given off-the-cuff after Sangharakshita lost his notes!), this inspired talk sees Triratna’s founder intrigued by the Great Guru’s ability to transform the demons of the world, especially in the West. 

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Parami, herself a brilliant speaker, shares her great love of FBA and Dharmachakra, both which have benefitted greatly from her...

Padmaloka Retreat Centre
Padmaloka Retreat Centre

Ordination Training Weekend - The Guru and the Dakini

By Satyakirti on Mon, 14 Sep, 2020 - 14:27

Ordination Training Weekend - The Guru and the Dakini

By Satyakirti on Mon, 14 Sep, 2020 - 14:27

Coming up on the 18th of September is the first online Ordination Training Weekend to happen yet.

Ordination Training Weekends have been one of the great highlights of the Padmaloka programme since the late nineteen-eighties; the purpose of them being to give men who’ve asked for Ordination an opportunity to gather together, with the Ordination Team and to explore and take inspiration from the riches of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

The weekend will be centred around the symbols and significance of the Guru...

Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Not to be Defined

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 27 Jun, 2019 - 14:00

Our FBA Dharmabyte today is entitled ‘Not to be Defined’ by Jnanavaca.

Excerpted from the talk Is A Guru Necessary? Jnanavaca revisits one of Sangharakshita’s classic talks from 1970 and gives his contemporary reflections on its abiding relevance.

This was given as part of the London Buddhist Centre Dharma Night Series, Bhante Classics, September 2012.

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Community Highlights
Community Highlights

Who is Urgyen Sangharakshita?: Highlighted Series from Subhuti

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 14 Mar, 2019 - 12:25

In this significant series of rambles given at the London Buddhist Centre, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.

Listen to Subhuti’s funeral oration

Listen to other ‘Rambles’ by Subhuti

Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Who is Urgyen Sangharakshita?: Highlighted Series from Subhuti

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 14 Mar, 2019 - 12:22

In this important series of rambles given at the London Buddhist Centre, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.

Listen to Subhuti’s funeral oration

Listen to other ‘Rambles’ by Subhuti

Triratna Resources
Triratna Resources

Dharma Teaching - Gurus of the Past from the Triratna Refuge Tree - A Six-Week Course (Achala)

By Centre Team on Sun, 17 Jul, 2016 - 21:14

Here you can download Achala’s notes for a six-week course on exemplary practitioners and teachers of the Dharma-selected teachers from the Triratna Refuge Tree.

This is what Achala said about his intentions when designing this course:

I tried to construct a course such that it:

  • covers what an average human being needs to effectively practice Buddhism.
     
  • doesn’t not have a scholastic bent (so a few Pali/Sanskrit terms seemed reasonable but not so many as to give the impression that the courses are oriented towards bookish
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