When cultivating bhāvanā (meditation), naturally we have to be mindful of and focussed upon our meditation object; for instance 'Buddho', or the breath, or mettā; and so on... However, if we try to exclusively focus only on the meditation object with all we've got, the effort quickly becomes ineffective, or even couterproductive. Instead, while meditating, we always have to check out: How our mind relates to the meditation object How the mind relates to the process of meditating How...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to the question how Karuṇā (Compassion) differs from Mettā (Loving Kindness). Compassion is the wish for all beings to be free from pain and suffering in any form. Loving Kindness is the wish for all beings to be happy and well. Though both belong to the 4 'Divine Abidings' (4 Brahmaviharas), and are closely related, in actual experience they feel quite distinct when developing them: Developing compassion retains a stronger awareness of suffering. It can be...

Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to connect with nature, and to contemplate the 4 Great Elements externally as we experience them in the natural environment. Earth Element (Hardness, Rocks, Stones, Sand, Feeling the Ground while Walking or Sitting) Water Element (Wet soil or grass or sand or beach; Ocean; Rain; Streams/Rivers) Fire/Heat Element (Sunshine, warm air, warm breeze) Wind Element/Energy Movement (Wind, Energy of Rocks and Trees, 'Chi') It's difficult to contemplate only in...

Ven Jinaratana There offers guidance how we can experience and contemplate the four elements ('Cātu-mahā-bhūtikā') in in our own bodies. Paṭhavī-dhātu = Earth Element /Solidity Āpo-dhātu = Water Element / Liquidity Tejo-dhātu = Fire Element / Heat (or lack of heat, i.e. cold) Vāyo-dhātu = Wind Element (energy movement) Bhante Jinaratana was born in Toronto, Canada. He became interested in meditation as a student at the University of Toronto, and began attending intensive retreats in...

In this sutta, the Buddha compares the work of a goldsmith to the work of a meditator trying to purify their mind. Both have to pay attention to 3 qualities at the appropriate time, without overdoing any of them: Calming the mind with samādhi / cooling the gold in the smelter Arousing the mind with energetic effort / heating the gold Looking on with equanimity / observing the gold with equanimity Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special...

Bhante Jinaratana explains how we can starve the 5 hindrances ('anāhāra pañca-nīvaraṇa') in order to gradually weaken and overcome their obstructive influence on our mental development. Like all sankhāras, the five hindrances are conditioned, i.e. they depend on some form of nutriment for their existence. If we reduce the nutriment that's feeding the hindrances, they will become weaker and weaker, allowing our samādhi and wisdom faculty to overcome and finally completey eradicate...

Ajahn Thee Sabbajayanto shares his experience of arriving in Australia at age 16 for school and further studies. He didn't know any English, and had to start learning it by 'being thrown in at the deep end'. Naturally, it wasn't easy, and although he liked Australia a lot, he had to work very hard to adjust to a language and culture very different from Thailand. After school, he finished flight school and became a fully licensed commercial pilot, and could have applied for permanent...

On occasion of Easter, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about a subject that is common to virtually all religions: Loving Kindness. Loving Kindness, in Pali known as 'Mettā', is the intention of unconditional good will to all beings without exeception or discrimination. Whatever religion, or no religion at all, whatever race or nationality or sex or age or colour, whether they like us or hate us, the Buddha urges to have loving kindness to absolutely all beings, without exception, without expecting...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question on the meaning of Bhava Taṇhā & Vibhava Taṇhā. In the four Noble Truths, the Buddha explains three forms of craving (taṇhā): Sensual Craving (Kāma Taṇhā) Carving for Existence/Being/Becoming (Bhava Taṇhā) Craving for Annihilation/Non Existence (Vibhava Taṇhā) Craving is the cause of suffering, so we have to abandon all three types of craving to realize freedom from death and dukkha. Ajahn Dhammasiha offers some reflections especially on the...

For our Full Moon Program, a student group from University of Queensland ('UQBUDS') has joined with many interesting questions. Subjects brought up include: Anxiety about Uncertainty Overindulgence 'Good' attachements? Benefits of Samatha and Vipassana How can we always feel happy? Helping others to improve themselves by Dhamma practice Teaching meditation to elderly, frail patients in nursing home Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about: Pariyatti = Study Paṭipatti = Practice Pativeda = Realization He offers reflections on this subject with an emphasis on the real meaning of 'study' as encouraged by the Buddha: Not just learning and intellectually proliferating about concepts/perceptions, but to find the meaning of the terms the Buddha is using in one's own conscious experience. The Dhamma is about our body and mind, it's about our feelings & emotions, our happiness and...

Ajahn Dhammasiha shares fond memories of one of his personal spiritual heros, who has strongly influenced his approach to Dhamma practice right at the start of his monastic life in Sri Lanka. He provides some background info about Ven. Nyanavimala, one of the early Western Buddhist monks, who lived in Sri Lanka for +50 years from the mid 1950ies. When he passed away in 2006, he was the most senior Westen monk in the world with more than 50 'vassa' (rains retreats). Ven Ñāṇavimala was well...

After the meditation session, Ajahn Dhammasiha offers reflections on the realationship of Samatha/Samādhi (Calmness/Concentration) & Vipassana (Insight). After the samatha meditation has weakened the mental hindrances, and suffused our mind with joy and brightness, we can develop insight by simply obesrving phenomena as they truly are. If we are not distorting our experience of feelings, emotions, thoughts and perceptions due to delusion, but observe them as they really are, we...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about the rules prohibiting shows, entertainments and music for monks and nuns; and how that would relate to lay life. What to do if we come back after a hard days work, and are feeling very tired - is it fine to indulge in just watching Youtube or TV, or doing online games simply to relax? Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast More about...

Luang Por Vajiro is asked how one can maintain motivation in one's daily Dhamma practice, without getting distracted by the numerous duties, responsibilities and issues inherent in lay life. Luang Por also responds to a variety of other questions. One particular interesting reflection he offers is about our urge to make others happy. On closer reflection, wanting to make others happy may not be as selfless as it superficially appears. Sometimes the true motivation is actually discontent...

Ajahn Vajiro is asked what to do when we experience pain in the body while meditating: Should we pay attention to the pain, or should we just change posture to be comfortable again? From that, a lively Dhamma discussion develops about different approaches to contemplate pain to deepen our understanding of 'vedanā', so that we can overcome aversion, attachement and identification with feelings. Ven. Ajahn Vajiro was born in Malaysia in 1953 and has been a Buddhist monk for over 40...

On the occasion of Māgha Puja 2024, Ajahn Vajiro shares from his experience living with Ajahn Chah in the early 1980ies. Luang Por Chah put strong emphasis on the Sangha doing work together, to maintain harmony in the community. Regular daily ooperation establishes the concord so essential for the long term stability of the Sangha. Ajahn also discusses the topic of 'nutriment' (āhāra), providing insightful relflections on the four kinds of nutriment expounded by the Buddha. Our Podcast...

Luang Por Vajiro talks about 'Mindfulness of Breathing' (Ānāpāṇasati), and responds to questions from the audience, during his visit to Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. Ven. Ajahn Vajiro was born in Malaysia in 1953 and has been a Buddhist monk for over 40 years. In 1979, he met Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho when they made a visit to Hampstead Vihara in Oakenholt, England. He received higher ordination from Ajahn Chah personally in Thailand in 1980 at Wat Nong Pah Pong. After helping with...

Ajahn Dhammasiha presents a short teaching of the Buddha explaining that Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha are supreme, and that those with faith/conviction in what is supreme will receive supreme results. Anguttara Nikāya/Numerical Discourses, Book of Fours, 'Aggappasāda Sutta'/'Supreme Confidence Discourse' Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any browser: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast More about Dhammagiri Forest...

One of the most eagerly anticipated fashion events of 2024 is going to take place during our Magha Puja Event at Dhammagiri 😉: We're launching our free distribution Dhammagiri T-Shirt! Ajahn Dhammasiha gives a little sneak preview of the shirt, and talks about the meaning of the Tiratana symbol that's printed on it. The top of the symbol represents the Triple Gem of Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha. Below that (the little triangular structures sticking out to the sides) is a 'Vajira', the...

The best thing we can possibly do for the benefit of all other beings is to free our heart from greed, hatred and delusion, and realize Nibbāna. When we are generous, we generate good karma for ourselves, and at the same time others receive material benefits from our gifts. When we keep precepts, we protect ourselves from creating bad karma, and we give the gift to fearlessness to countless beings. Whenever we reduce toxic emotions like anger or greed, we become less likely to harm anyone,...

Celebrating Chinese/Vietnamese New Year, everyone is usually hoping for good luck, health, long life, beauty, success and happiness for the new year. However, can we really achieve these things by means of blessings, auspicious times, fortune telling, and so on? The Buddha strongly encouraged us not to depend on 'auspicious objects' / 'blessings' / 'good fortune'. Instead, he encourages us to rely on KARMA. Karma (Pāli: Kamma) means action. It is our intentional actions that generate karma,...

Sunday evening Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Dhammasiha during his visit to Singapore at Wat Palelai. We can all relate to the problem of suffering, as we all know the experience of pain, frustration and hurt in our own heart. That's why the Buddha's teaching is timeless and universal. So is his analysis that the deep cause of suffering is craving (tanhā), which we can also experience directly ourselves in our mind. If we abandon craving, we can free our heart from all suffering, including old age...

The final goal of our practice, release, is not something that can be described in words, as it lies beyond the range of thoughts, perceptions and concepts. In fact, the final goal is to experience the complete cessation of thoughts and all other conditioned phenomena. Consequently, the teachings of the Buddha are are not the final goal itself. Instead, they are simply tools to guide us towards this final goal. They have to be used as a raft, helping us to cross the ocean of Saṃsāra and...