College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Eight Guidelines | Understanding the Dharma

By akasajoti on Thu, 15 Jul, 2021 - 12:27

Eight Guidelines | Understanding the Dharma

By akasajoti on Thu, 15 Jul, 2021 - 12:27

Jnanavaca and Maitreyabandhu, from London, UK, discuss the process of studying and understanding Sangharakshita’s distinctive presentation of the Dharma, in the third in a series of informal, personal, conversations between Public Preceptors about the Eight Guidelines for Ordination Training in Triratna.

The Eight Guidelines offer a framework through which Order Members and Mitras can reflect on and communicate about their going for refuge and process of training for Ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order. In this series, members of the Preceptors’...

Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: The Altruistic Aspect of the Bodhisattva

By Sadayasihi on Mon, 12 Jul, 2021 - 06:00

What’s in it for me? Our natural human tendency is to take, to grasp, to cling. If you can give though, there is hope, spiritually speaking. Generosity is an attitude of heart and of mind, an attitude of one’s whole being.

Sangharakshita describes the altruistic aspect of the Bodhisattva and the reconciliation of the apparent antithesis between the interests of others and of self by practising the first two of the six Perfections: dana (giving) and shila (ethics or ‘uprightness’).

From the...

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Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Abstention from Violence – Love

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 1 Jul, 2021 - 06:00

How can we decide between right and wrong? The Eastern criterion of ethics is psychological rather than theological: ethical behaviour is said to express higher orders of awareness.

Here, Sangharakshita details the first precept, that of abstention from all forms of violence and harm towards other beings. Cultivating the positive aspect of this precept is the embodiment of maitri, love, as expressed through our deeds of loving-kindness.

From the talk entitled The Principles of Ethics: Right Action given as...

Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Why have a Sangha?

By Sadayasihi on Sun, 27 Jun, 2021 - 06:00

Sangharakshita explores the nature of the Buddhist spiritual community and why it is so essential to spiritual life…

Excerpted from the talk entitled The Spiritual Community, part of the series Introducing Buddhism, 1966.

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FBA Podcast: Carrying the Flame of the Lineage of Inspiration

By Sadayasihi on Sat, 12 Jun, 2021 - 06:00

Parami introduces our four-fold lineage and shows how the lineage of inspiration underpins them all. Now that Bhante has died our responsibility to keep this flame burning is more important than ever.

This talk is part of the series Talks from Women’s Private Preceptors’ Retreat given at Adhisthana, 2019.

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FBA Podcast: The Bodhisattva Ideal In India

By Sadayasihi on Sat, 8 May, 2021 - 06:00

In this moving and rousing talk, Dhammachari Amoghasiddhi illustrates how the Dhamma can radically transform people’s lives, liberating them from a hellish existence, particularly in India.

Using the examples of his own life, as well as the lives of Bhante Sangharakshita, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and others, he explains that if we want to live a meaningful life, we must open up to the suffering of others and do everything we can to help alleviate their suffering.
...

Adhisthana
Adhisthana

Duty and Delight | Hidden Gems

By Maitriyogini on Sat, 24 Apr, 2021 - 10:14

Duty and Delight | Hidden Gems

By Maitriyogini on Sat, 24 Apr, 2021 - 10:14

What does it mean to really beleive that friendship is the whole of the spiritual life? How will that change how we act?

Being willing to help each other is part of the central enterprise of the spiritual life - to grow. By being with people who we are not hiding anything from, it can connect us to ourselves more, and point us toward the wonder and mystery of what it is to be a human being.

Dhammarati and Saddhaloka discuss some of the jewels to be found in this study material for the online...

Adhisthana
Adhisthana

Friendship: Duty, Delight and Freedom

By Maitriyogini on Sat, 17 Apr, 2021 - 12:50

Friendship: Duty, Delight and Freedom

By Maitriyogini on Sat, 17 Apr, 2021 - 12:50

What kind of friend are you? What kind of friend would you like to be?

Is there any limitation to the heights that faithful friendship can reach?

Explore the possibilities of friendship with brothers and sisters in the sangha, through looking at traditional understandings of friendship in society and the spiritual life.

We will draw primarily on The Duties of Brotherhood in Islam seminar, with supporting material from the seminar on the Sigalavada Sutta. Both texts were studied by Sangharakshita in 1983. With The Duties of Brotherhood in Islam, he took...

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Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Meditation and Mantra Recitation of Vajrasattva

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 15 Apr, 2021 - 07:00

Here Sangharakshita orientates us to Vajrasattva, the primordial Buddha of Innate Purity. He introduces the Vajrasattva practice as part of the four indispensable preparatory practices (mula-yogas) of the Vajrayana devotee.

From the talk entitled The Four Foundation Yogas of the Tibetan Buddhist Tantra, part of the series An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, 1968.

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