Hear about the spiritual quest for awakening of the Buddha - His noble search for peace & liberation beyond birth, ageing and death. What motivated the Buddha to leave behind his life in luxury as prince and his family and kingdom and become a spiritual seeker?
A few discourses where the Buddha himself relates his life story that are quoted in the Dhammatalk:Middle Lenght Discourses of the Buddha (Majjhima Nikaya) Sutta No. 26 and 36
https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN...https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN...
Numerical Dicourses of the Buddha (Anguttara Nikaya) Sutta No. 3:39, 5:57https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN...https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN...
Sutta Nipata SN 3:1, Verses 407-426https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN...
For more Dhammatalks about the life of the Buddha click on the link below:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0N6FD5zQpY&list=PLbxbuMjfRsvxKRNGf2OpxFD322oyZzfWk
Two recommended Sutta Anthologies about the life of the Buddha are available for free download:"The Life of the Buddha according to the Pali Canon" by Bhikkhu Nyanamoli Therahttps://www.bps.lk/library-search-sel...
"Noble Warrior" by Ajahn Thanissarohttps://www.dhammatalks.org/books/#No...
If you are interested to visit the places where the Buddha lived, walked and taught you can read "Middle Land, Middle Way" by Ven. S. Dhammika, the best travel guide about the buddhist holy sites in India:
https://www.bps.lk/library-search-sel...
MORE INFO:
Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net
Dhammagiri YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724
Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter
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The story of the birth of the Bodhisatta (the being who would become the Buddha) in Lumbini told by Ajahn Moneyyo.
The appearance of a Buddha, a perfectly awakened one who teached the path to liberation is the rarest event in the universe. The Buddha says from his recollection of previous lives that sometimes for 30 or 60 eons no Buddha will arise in the universe. So it is not surprising that his conception and birth was accompanied by special events.
This is a summary of the account of the conception and birth of the Bodhisatta according to the Middle Length DIscourses of the Buddha (Majjhima Nikaya) Sutta Nr. 123:This Dhammatalk is part of "The Life of the Buddha" series by Ajahn Moneyyo. For a complete playlist click on the link below.
It will be gradually expanded to about 20 talks that recollect the life and outstanding qualities of the Buddha: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbxbuMjfRsvxKRNGf2OpxFD322oyZzfWk
Two recommended Sutta Anthologies about the life of the Buddha are available for free download:"The Life of the Buddha according to the Pali Canon" by Bhikkhu Nyanamoli Therahttps://www.bps.lk/library-search-sel...
"Noble Warrior" by Ajahn Thanissaro
https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/#No...
If you are interested to visit the places where the Buddha lived, walked and taught you can read "Middle Land, Middle Way" by Ven. S. Dhammika, the best travel guide about the buddhist holy sites in India:
https://www.bps.lk/library-search-sel...
MORE INFO:
Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net
Dhammagiri YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724
Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter
Before his supreme awakening, the Bodhisatta tried to reach enlightenment by extreme self mortification. He becomes so emaciated and weakened that he collapses and almost dies.
At this crisis moment, he remembers how he attained the first jhāna as a child, and recognizes that the rapture and bliss of samādhi are actually the way to enlightenment.
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#buddha #bodhisatta #enlightenment #awakening #middleway #majjhimapatipada #asceticism #samadhi #jhana
Ajahn Dhammasiha leads a guided Buddhist meditation on the subject of Buddhānussati, recollection of the Buddha and his unique qualities.
Ajahn suggests to use his favourite Buddha-mantra, silently repeating:
"Bhagavā, Araham, Buddho - Buddho Araham Bhagavā"
Ajahn explains that it's not about the words that we're repeating, but that it's really about the emotion of faith / confidence / devotion / conviction that the words are meant to generate in our mind.
This emotion is wholesome and uplifting, and connected with a very pleasant feeling. As the emotion of faith/confidence in the Buddha grows, the pleasant feeling gets stronger, developing into rapture and bliss.
The expereince of rapture and bliss allows our mind to let go of the external senses und to unify internally in samādhi.
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#meditation #buddhismeditation #guidedmeditation #samadhi #concentration #buddha #buddhanussati
On occasion of the consecration of our Saddhamma Cetiya and Relic Enshrinement Ceremony, Ajahn Kalyano shares the story how Buddha Relics appeared in Ajahn Anan's shoulder bag while meditating on top of Sri Pada (Adam's Peak), the famous pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka with a footprint of the Buddha on top of a steep mountain.
Luang Por Kalyano very kindly offered nine of these precious Buddha relics to Dhammagiri for enshrinement in our Stupa.
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#buddha #relics #buddharelics #sripada #stupa #contentment
Ajahn Dhammasiha leads our community on Vesak Day in asking forgiveness from Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha;
and in reciting the passage in Anguttara Nikaya / Numerical Discourses, Book of Ones, extolling the uniqueness of the Buddha:
"There is one person, who arises in the world, for the welfare or the multitude..."
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#buddha #vesak #visakhapuja #forgiveness #buddhism
Today is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar: Vesak / Visakha Puja, celebrating the birth, Supreme Awakening, and final Parinibbāna of the Buddha.
As it's also Mother's Day in the Western calendar, Ajahn Dhammasiha speaks about the birth of the Bodhisatta, and the marvellous qualities of the Bodhisatta and his mother.
Strictly speaking, we shouldn't refer to him as the 'Buddha' at his birth, but rather as the 'Bodhisatta', as he wasn't enlightened yet. However, the little baby could walk 7 steps and announce that it's his last birth immediately after delivery.
You can read how the Buddha himself described the events surrounding his birth in:
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#buddha #babybuddha #vesak #dhammatalk #buddhism
Dhamma Talk by Luang Por Anan on occasion of the relic enshrinement ceremony at our Saddhamma Cetiya on the summit of Dhammagiri hill, Friday 2nd May 2025.
The talk was delivered after the Paritta chanting and directly before the relic enshrinement.
English translation by Ajahn Stuart Suddhiko, a long term disciple of Luang Por. He's a native English speaker who has much experience in interpreting for Luang Por, with an amazing skill to provide accurate, fluent translations on the spot, working on handwritten notes taken during Luang Por's talk.
Venerable Ajahn Anan, abbot of Wat Marp Jan, Rayong, Thailand, has kindly agreed to lead the proceedings for our Stupa Consecration and Relic Enshrinement Cermony. He is a direct senior disciple of Ajahn Chah, and one of the most respected living meditation masters in Thailand.
Details about the stupa project and special features can be found here
Financial donations to the considerable costs of this event, including building of stupa and all associated features, can be made on our website here
Photo Gallery of Stupa Ceremony Events
Learn more about Luang Por Anan & his monastery Wat Marp Jan
#stupa #buddhistrituals #dhammatalk #relics #buddhism
Dhamma Talk by Luang Por Anan.
English translation by Ajahn Varadhammo, abbot of Bodhisaddha Monastery, Wilton near Sydney.
Venerable Ajahn Anan, abbot of Wat Marp Jan, Rayong, Thailand, has kindly agreed to lead the proceedings for our Stupa Consecration and Relic Enshrinement Cermony. He is a direct senior disciple of Ajahn Chah, and one of the most respected living meditation masters in Thailand.
Details about the stupa project and special features can be found here
Financial donations to the considerable costs of this event, including building of stupa and all associated features, can be made on our website here
Photo Gallery of Stupa Ceremony Events
Learn more about Luang Por Anan & his monastery Wat Marp Jan
Website of Translator Ajahn Varadhammo's Monastery, Bodhisaddha
#stupa #buddhist #buddhism #buddhistceremony #buddhistritual
Ajahn Dhammasiha explains about the upcoming Inauguration and Relic Enshrinement Events for our Saddhamma Cetiya with LP Anan & LP Kalyano & LP Lai next week, Fri 2nd, Sat 3rd & Sun 4th of May.
He also goes back describing the first origins that ultimately lead to the development of our Stupa, starting with LP Plien's visit just after we acquired the first property on top of hill in March 2007.
Detailed Program for Dhammagiri Stupa Inauguration Events 2nd to 4th May can be found here:
Dhammagiri Website
#stupa #chedi #relics #buddhism #buddhiststory #buddhistmonk
This guided meditation prepares our mind to enjoy the full benefits of having 15 monks lead by Luang Por Anan visiting for our Stupa Relic Enshrinement Ceremony next week, 2nd to 4th of May.
Download Flyer Stupa Inauguration 2nd to 4th May
Ajahn Dhammasiha leads us to recollect the community of awakened disciples of the Buddha. This meditation object was one of the moast frequently taught by the Buddha, especially to the lay community.
'Sangha' in the context of this meditation does not refer only to the monastic sangha, as the object of contemplation is all those individuals who have realized one of 4 stages of enlightenment ('phala'/'fruit'), or have their faculties matured to such an extend that they will definitely realize the corresponding stage of enlightenment in this life ('magga'/'path').
These are the 'Four Pairs of Persons', the 'Eight Kind of Individuals', whether monks, nuns, male of female lay followers. They are also known as 'Sāvaka-Sangha' (+Community of Awakened Disciples), or 'Ariya-Puggala' (= Noble Persons).
The ultimate aim of Sanghānussati is not just repetition of words in our mind, but the emotion of confidence, faith, devotion, conviction in the Sāvaka-Sangha. This emotion is associated with a wholesome joyful feeling, that we deliberately develop in our meditation until it grows into rapture and bliss. Once the rapture and bliss become powerful enough, our mind can drop the words of the mantra, and can unify in samādhi.
Dhammagiri Website
#faith #sangha #buddhistmonk #buddhism #meditation
On the occasion of Venerable Thaniyo's (Alex Oliver) passing away yesterday afternoon Thursday 24 April 2025, we're re-publishing this episode of LP Liem's last visit at Dhammagiri, with the translation provided by Alex Oliver Ṭhāniyo.
Ajahn Thaniyo was know for his outstanding translating and interpreting skills, in particular for his teacher LP Liem, who he attended on with great care & dedication for many years.
May all the merits of his many years as Buddhist monk, and his translations and other service to the Sāsanā, be a support for him now, so that he will be able to continue practising the Dhamma until her realizes the final freedom from suffering & death, Nibbāna!
"Yathā vārivahā pūrā.."
"Adāsi me akāsi me..."
If you prefer reading, we've also published a complete edited transcript of this talk on the 'Dhamma Reflections' blog of our Dhammagiri website here.
Luang Por Liem Thitadhammo (Phra Thepvajiranyan) is the successor of Ajahn Chah as the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong, Ubon, Thailand. He is the leading senior monk of the whole international lineage of Ajahn Chah, and one of the most revered meditation masters of the whole Thai Forest Tradtion.
Luang Por encourages us to move away from all that's evil and unwholesome, to clearly understand the disappointing nature of sensuality, and to mindfully observe liking and disliking arising and passing away, so that we can detach and let go of all that burdens our heart.
This talk was recorded at the public evening session with Luang Por at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. An excellent translation was provided by Alex Oliver, who had been ordained as a bhikkhu for more than 10 years, serving for many years as the attendent monk ('upatag') and interpretor for Luang Por. He kindly came specially for this occasion, to help looking after Luang Por and providing very fluent and accurate ad-hoc translations.
It is not easy to serve as interpretor for Luang Por Liem, as he usually speaks for a long time without interruption, in this talk actually for about 45 minutes. The interpretor has to take notes while Luang Por is speaking, and then translate the entire talk from his memory supported by the notes he has taken.
As our podcast is aimed at English speaking audience, we have put the English translation first. There's just a few words in Thai at the beginning, to give everyone a feel for the original and Luang Por's voice and speaking style.
However, for our Thai speaking followers, we have included the whole Thai original as well, starting from 22 min 17 sec.
Dhammagiri Website
#buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk #ajahnchah #insight #vipassana #wisdom
Please Note: Spotify deletes many of our Buddhist Chanting podcasts, claiming that they are 'Music', and that pure music tracks may not be uploaded to Spotify Podcasts. Personally, I disagree that our chanting constitutes 'Music', but there's not much point trying to argue with a bot.
Therefore, I have included a spoken introduction, to make it not exclusively 'music'. Similarly, after the paritta, I have added Luang Por Liem's advice to us while writing a short dedication on a copper sheet to enshrine in our stupa. Hope this helps that Spoti will not delete this episode.
The Sima Estalishment Ceremony at Bodhisaddha Monastery, Sydney, was the largest congregation of Bhikkhus in the Theravada tradtion in Australia ever. 40 of the monks had more than 40 rains retreats (years as monks). All 80+ together had spent more than 2,500 years in the robes.
You can hear the sonorous, full sound of this large sangha chanting clearly on the recording.
Luang Por Liem, the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong (Ajahn Chah's monastery) and leading monk of the whole lineage of Ajahn Chah, was the presiding senior monk at the Paritta Chanting
Ajahn Varadhammo, abbot of Bodhisaddha Monastery, was the host of the whole event, supporter by his own teacher, Luang Por Anan, the abbot of Wat Marp Jan and one of the most highly respected meditation masters in Thailand.
Dhammagiri Website
#palichanting #paritta #buddhistchanting #palirecitation #ajahnchah
We live in a world dominated by screens: Mobile Cell Phones, Tablets, Laptops, TV... When we look at these screens, our mind gets 'sucked in' and flows out into the www = "The Worldwide Net of Māra".
Our awareness disconnects form our physical body and gets lost in an external virtual dimension of images, videos, concepts and proliferations.
It's so important to bring awareness back into our physical body.
In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to re-establish body awareness.
Dhammagiri Website
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We can be so fussy about our carpet and all kinds of things we protect from dirt and clean immediately if anything spoils them.
But why are we not even more concerned if we notice any impurity in our mind?
Why don't we immediately apply the Buddha's Dhamma as a cleansing agent whenever unwholesome emotions arise?
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#purity #cleanliness #clean #cleaning #mind #mentalpurification
Asking Forgiveness from Triple Gem.
Pouring Rinsing Water on Buddha statue and Monks hands as a sign of respect, gratitude and affection on New Year's Day in Sri Lankan, Thai, Myanmar, Cambodian & Lao traditin (13 April).
Ajahn Dhammasiha guides community through ceremony, and provides explanations of the deeper meaning of our ritual.
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#songkran #newyear #water #purity #clean #cleanliness
Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question posed by the audience:
How to deal with dukkha and let it go?
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#dukkha #suffering #lettinggo #insight #vipassana
With Thai, Sri Lankan & Myanmar New Year coming up, including the ceremony of pouring water on Buddha statues and on the monks' hands, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the symbolism of this ritual:
Just as we use water to clean our bodies, so the Buddha has given us the Dhamma as a purifying agent for our mind.
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#water #cleaning #cleansing #purification #songkran #buddhistritual
During his visit to Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane, Australia, Ajahn Karuniko joined our silent afternoon meditation. After the walking meditation, he opened up for a Q&A session, as it was the last opportunity to receive any Dhamma from him, before his departure next day.
The first question is about the 5 Spiritual Faculties, and how they relate to developing the Noble 8-Fold Path.
Ajahn Karuniko was born in Greater Manchester, UK in 1953. After graduating in Electronic Engineering in 1975 he worked for several years before coming to take up residence as a novice at Cittaviveka in 1982.
He became a bhikkhu in 1984 at Cittaviveka with Ajahn Sumedho as his preceptor. He has also spent 3 years with Luang Por Anan at Wat Marp Jan in Tailand. From 2014 until 2019 Ajahn Karuniko served as the abbot of Cittaviveka.
Ajahn Moneyyo lived for several years with Ajahn Karuniko at Cittaviveka. He is looking forward to welcoming an old friend, who has been his 'Reciting Teacher' ('Kammavācariya') during his ordination as a monk, and who remained a senior 'Kalyāṇa Mitta' (Dhamma Friend) to him in his junior years as a bhikkhu.
Cittaviveka is the first monastery of the tradition of Ajahn Chah outside of Thailand. Ajahn Chah has personally visited the property, and provided guidance and encouragement to Ajahn Sumedho during the very difficult foundation and renovation period.
You can learn more about Chithurst Monastery here:
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#Q&A #question&answer #dhammadiscussion #spiritualfaculties #indriya
During his visit to Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane, Australia, Ajahn Karuniko gave a special blessing to the small Buddha statues that we will enshrine in the upper circular niches of our Saddhamma Cetiya. He also encouraged us to use our stupa to focus our faith and gain inspiration to practise Dhamma.
Ajahn Karuniko was born in Greater Manchester, UK in 1953. After graduating in Electronic Engineering in 1975 he worked for several years before coming to take up residence as a novice at Cittaviveka in 1982.
He became a bhikkhu in 1984 at Cittaviveka with Ajahn Sumedho as his preceptor. He has also spent 3 years with Luang Por Anan at Wat Marp Jan in Tailand. From 2014 until 2019 Ajahn Karuniko served as the abbot of Cittaviveka.
Ajahn Moneyyo lived for several years with Ajahn Karuniko at Cittaviveka. He is looking forward to welcoming an old friend, who has been his 'Reciting Teacher' ('Kammavācariya') during his ordination as a monk, and who remained a senior 'Kalyāṇa Mitta' (Dhamma Friend) to him in his junior years as a bhikkhu.
Cittaviveka is the first monastery of the tradition of Ajahn Chah outside of Thailand. Ajahn Chah has personally visited the property, and provided guidance and encouragement to Ajahn Sumedho during the very difficult foundation and renovation period.
You can learn more about Chithurst Monastery here:
Dhammagiri Website
Pics
#stupa #chedi #buddhism #cittaviveka #dhammatalk
