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...

Lively Question and Answer session with Young Working Adults (DAYWA) in Singapore, Wat Palelai. Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a range of questions: How to balance ambition and Dhamma practice? Dealing with Loneliness Is Travel good or bad for Progress in Dhamma? 3rd Precept in the context of Internet and Dating Apps Present Moment Awareness vs Planning/Thinking ... Our Podcast is also available on our own Dhammagiri Website, no need for any special app, just listen in any...

A guided Meditation for practicing mindfulness of breathing. More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive⁠⁠⁠ Our Podcasts on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD⁠⁠⁠ Our Podcasts on...

A guided meditation to develop compassion (Karunā). More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive⁠⁠ Our Podcasts on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD⁠⁠ Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834⁠⁠ .

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked: "What's the process to develop Jhāna?" He explains that it's not so much a particular technique or method that will lead to the attainment of jhāna (full 'absorption' samādhi/'concentration' ), but that we have to gradually weaken the 5 hindrances (5 Nīvaraṇā): 1. Sensual Desire 2. Ill Will / Aversion 3. Laziness / Sleepiness / 'Sloth & Torpor' 4. Restlessness & Remorse 5. Doubt If these 5 hindrances are very strong, whatever technique or method we're...

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠https://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive⁠ Our Podcasts on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD⁠ Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834⁠ .

Ajahn Kevali has just returned to resume his abbotship of Wat Pah Nanachat after his one year sabbatical. We're using the occasion to publish a Dhamma discussion he has had with our community at Dhammagiri some time ago, and which ended up being the most viewed video on our Youtube channel. However, it has never been published on our podcast, and to prevent our podcast listeners to miss out on this much appreciated talk, we make it available now. Our Podcast is also available on our...

More about Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net Our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 Our Podcasts on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0SHWfWEGkO8OAtSWNJlqyD⁠ Our Podcasts on Apple/itunes: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dhammagiri-buddhist-podcasts/id1534539834⁠

Ajahn Dhammasiha explains that 'attaining' samādhi is not just a questions of technique or sitting a lot. The crucial factor is the suspension of the 5 hindrances: Sensual Desire Ill Will/Aversion Laziness/Sleepiness Restlessness & Remorse Doubt We have to consistently work against these 5 hindrances, in our formal meditation as well as in daily life, to weaken them to such an extend that our heart can experience the rapture and bliss resulting from their...

Auspicious and protective Paritta Chanting at midnight of last year's new year's eve, at Wat Pah Nanachat, Ajahn Chah's monastery for Western monks. This paritta is recited by a very large sangha, including many Western & Thai senior monks, who were attending the Sima opening cermony. As it's sounds powerful and sonorous, we're republishing it today, to get you into the new year with lots of Dhamma inspiration. https://www.dhammagiri.net .

Many struggle with feelings of guilt. Some even berate themselves, self-criticize, and continue to beat themselves down until they loose all self esteem and start hating themselves due to unskilfull, harmful actions they have done. But that serves no benefit to anyone: It doesnt help the person we may have harmed It's bad for ourselves It's of no use to anyone at all. Ajahn Dhammasiha explains what the Buddha advised us to do if we have committed harm: First, we have to...

Evening chanting on the Quarter Moon Day at Wat Phra Jao Ton Luang, Luang Por Tongdang's monastery near Chiang Mai, Thailand. Ajahn Dhammasiha is visiting, and Luang Por Tong Daeng (Tan Chao Khun Phrarajvachirakhun) has kindly granted permission for the evening chanting to be recorded and published on our podcast. After paying respects and reciting homage to the Buddha, the sangha of about 20 monks chants the traditional Thai evening chanting, the exhaultation of the noble qualities of...

Ajahn Dhammasiha encourages us to "be a good Santa". A good Santa Claus will give all the gifts to the kids. A bad Santa may cheat and keep the most expensive presents for himself. Similarly, our task as followers of the Sakyan Sage is to not hold back, but to give absolutely everything away. Not literally giving away, but letting go of absolutely everything: Whether it's material objects, or relationships, loved ones, or our own feelings, emotions, thoughts, views, intentions,...

Mindfully observing impermanence ('anicca') of all conditioned phenomena, whether loved ones, material objects, or our own mindstates, thoughts and emotions, can be challenging, even frightening. Ajahn Dhammasiha points out that the aim of contemplating impermanence is not to get sad or frustated, or to resign oneself to the inevitable loss of everything dear. The real aim of our meditation is to completely let go, and thus to experience what is beyond all impermanent phenomena: The...

In this guided meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha uses Santa Claus as a metaphor for the process of emptying the mind. Santa's  job is to give gifts to all the kids for Christmas. He's working very  hard to fulfill this task, travelling on his sleigh carrying a very big  and heavy sack with all the presents. Similarly, our mind is carrying  around the heavy load of all kinds of different emotions, feelings,  moods, worries, desires, hopes, concerns, phantasies, images,  thoughts... and so...

A family came to share merits with their father/grandfather, who they lost 3 months ago. Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the process of rebirth. He explains how we can contemplate the impermanence of all conditioned phenomena, and develop insight to let go of attachment. 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...

Is there a way to overcome the negative consequences of bad karma we may have committed in the past, even in previous lifes? Is karma related to causality? Do I make much bad karma by having angry thoughts? Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to these and related questions. Our Podcast is also 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...

Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked: "What's the process to develop Jhāna?" He explains that it's not so much a particular technique or method that will lead to the attainment of jhāna (full 'absorption' samādhi/'concentration' ), but that we have to gradually weaken the 5 hindrances (5 Nīvaraṇā): Sensual Desire Ill Will / Aversion Laziness / Sleepiness / 'Sloth & Torpor' Restlessness & Remorse Doubt If these 5 hindrances are very strong, whatever technique or method we're using in...

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question of a retreatant at Dhammagiri: How can we stop worrying about the future when we try to settle our mind in meditation? Ajahn describes several approaches and reflections we can apply to weaken the hold such thoughts have on our mind. Our Podcast 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...

Ajahn Dhammasiha provides a simile for the process of rebirth: Intercontinental Air Travel. When we travel to a distant, exotic country, before we take off at the airport, we better make sure that we have all the essentials with us: Flight Ticket 🎫✈️ Visa 🛂 Credit Card💳 Knowledge 🎓 Similar, for the journey to the next life, which we all will have to travel one day, we better check we've got the following four: Faith / Confidence in Triple Gem. Our 'Flight Ticket' to make our...

At our Robe Offering Ceremony at Dhammagiri, our Sangha of 7 Buddhist monks recites 'Paritta'. These auspicious protective verses are believed to ward off misfortune, protect from various dangers, and bestow blessings on all those listening. Paritta verses have been recited in Pali, the language of the Buddha, for more than 2,000 years. The most important ones are still in their original form, as originally spoken by the Buddha himself some 2,500 years ago. Ajahn Saengchai Ratananyano from...

Ajahn Varadhammo is the abbot of Bodhisaddha Monastery, Wilton near Sydney. He has kindly accepted our invitation to our robe offering ceremony in the Kathina month here at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. Ajahn Varadhammo is a disciple of Tan Ajahn Anan of Wat Marp Jan, Thailand. He has trained with Tan Ajahn Anan for more than 10 years, until he was invited to lead the establishment of Bodhisaddha monastery. Even now, he keeps in close contact with his teacher, visiting him regularly, and...