MP3s
These are audio talks available for downloading or listening to directly from our website. They are recorded in MP3 format. Click on a track name for more information and a link to download. For information about having new talks downloaded to your computer automatically, check out our Podcast page.
| Title | Author |
| Dana Parami -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| From the retreat on the Paramis this talk covers DANA, the very first parami and the parami of charity and giving. | |
| The Five Spiritual Faculties -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| Discussion of the five faculties: faith, determination, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. | |
| Wisdom Parami -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| From the retreat on the Paramis this talk covers Wisdom, the parami of understanding and insight. | |
| Overview of the Paramis -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| General overview of the subject of the Paramis. | |
| Renunciation Parami -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| From the retreat on the Paramis this talk covers Renunciation, the parami giving up the unskillful in our lives. | |
| Introduction to Paramis Retreat -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| Introductory talk to the 13 part Paramis Retreat held in Ottawa 2008. | |
| Sila Parami -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| From the retreat on the Paramis this talk covers SILA, or morality. | |
| The Upali Sutta Part Two -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The concluding part of an exposition of the Upali Suttta, MN 56, from the 2008 Sutta Study Retreat. In this sutta the layman, Upali, attempts to defeat the Buddha in verbal debate about the relative importance of intention, action, and speech. | |
| The Upali Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The first part of a two part exposition of the Upali Suttta, MN 56, from the 2008 Sutta Study Retreat. In this sutta the layman, Upali, attempts to defeat the Buddha in verbal debate about the relative importance of intention, action, and speech. | |
| The Middle Path -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| What does the term Middle Path mean in relation to our practice? Meanings of the term Middle Path. | |
| The Deathless -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| The concept of "The Deathless" applied to our meditation practice, both on and off the cushion. | |
| Happiness Through the Dhamma -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The varieties of happiness found in the practice of Dhamma. | |
| What is Kamma? -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Bhante Gunaratana offers an explanation of Kamma. | |
| The Four Vipers -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The story containing the similes of the four vipers, robbers, village, stream and so on are found in the Samyutta Nikaya. in the last chapter of the section entitled The Six Sense Bases (Salayatanasamyutta). | |
| Kalama Sutta Part II -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The second of two discourses on the Kalama Sutta, AN III.66, from the 2008 Sutta Retreat. | |
| Abhayarajakumara Sutta Part II -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The second and concluding discourse on the Abhayarajakumara Sutta, MN 58, (9.21.08). from the 2008 Sutta Retreat. | |
| Abhayarajakumara Sutta Part I -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The Abhayarajakumara Sutta, MN 58, from 9.21.08 is the first of nine suttas discussed in the 2008 Sutta Retreat. | |
| Kalama Sutta Part I -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The first of two discourses on the Kalama Sutta, AN III.66, from the 2008 Sutta Retreat. | |
| What Next? Practicing at Home -Download- | Bhante Rahula |
| The last of seven dhamma talks by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula from The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Retreat of 2008. Please note: Future podcasts will be posted weekly. | |
| Momentary Rebirth -Download- | Bhante Rahula |
| The sixth of seven dhamma talks by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula from The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Retreat of 2008. | |
| Vipassana -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The fifth of seven dhamma talks by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula from The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Retreat of 2008. | |
| Cleanse the Mind with Mindfulness -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The fourth of seven dhamma talks by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula from The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Retreat of 2008. | |
| Feeling and Perception -Download- | Bhante Rahula |
| The third of seven dhamma talks by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula from The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Retreat of 2008. | |
| Mindfulness of the Body and Feelings -Download- | Bhante Rahula |
| The second of seven dhamma talks by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula from The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Retreat of 2008. | |
| The Basics of Mindfulness -Download- | Bhante Rahula |
| The first of seven dhamma talks by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula from The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Retreat of 2008. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Nine -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Nine -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Sumation of the Jhana retreat. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Eight -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Eight -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Technical definition of Jhanas with formulas. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Seven -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Seven -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Mindfulness and clear comprehension are explored in relation to Jhana attainment. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Six -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Six -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The hindrances are defined and explained. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Five -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Five -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Jhana Factors are found in each of the seven categories which compose the Buddha's core teaching on the enlightenment path. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Four -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Four -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Various views held by people about the necessity of attaining Jhana before enlightenment. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Three -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Walking Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Three -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| This talk discusses right and wrong concentration. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation Two -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk Two -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| This talk begins with the clearing up of misconceptions about Jhanas and continues with a discussion of the hindrances. | |
| Jhana Retreat Guided Meditation One -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Metta Meditation. | |
| Jhana Retreat Talk One -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The first of nine Dhamma talks on Jhanas, this talk focuses on the theory of concentration meditation, Samadhi. The Buddha's early training and experience with Jhanas is described. | |
| Jhana Retreat Introductory -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| This talk introduces a series of nine talks and guided meditations from the 2008 Jhana Retreat held at IMS. The Dhamma talks will be posted on Tuesdays and the meditations on Wednesday of each of the next nine weeks. | |
| Integrating the Practice -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| Practice in daily life is discussed. | |
| The Seven Purifications -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| The overall path of spiritual awakening is described. | |
| Dependent Origination -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| How dependent origination works. | |
| The First Noble Truth -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| Suffering, The First Noble Truth, is explained. | |
| Vesak Talk Three -Download- | Matt Flickstein |
| The third Vesak talk features Bhante Gunaratana's student, well known Dhamma and meditation teacher, Matt Flickstein. Questions and answers follow the talk. | |
| Body-Scan Meditation -Download- | Bhante Y. Rahula |
| A guided meditation from the 2008 Vipassana with Yoga Retreat. | |
| Vesak Talk Two -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The second Vesak talk continues discussion of the significance of this important Buddhist celebration. | |
| The Basic Teaching of Suffering -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Why does the Buddha concentrate on suffering in his teaching? People are so immersed in suffering that they take suffering as joy and pleasure. | |
| Vesak Talk One -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Bonus this week and next, three Vesak talks. This first talk introduces the significance of Vesak. | |
| The Heart of Buddhist Wisdom -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The Buddha discovered that meditation on the breath lead to more than mere concentration. He saw the impermanence, suffering and non-self aspects of reality in the breath and attained enlightenment. | |
| The Dvedhavitakka Sutta, Part Two -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this discourse, "Two Kinds of Thought", MN 19, the Buddha shows how he himself used thoughts as objects of meditation by dividing them into two groups, and replacing unwholesome with wholesome thoughts. Part one of this topic is at the end of the previous talk. | |
| The Madhupindika Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In the "Honeyball Sutta", MN 18, the weighty subject of conceptual proliferation is discussed. A discussion of the "Dvedhavitakka Sutta", MN 9 was begun and is completed in the next talk | |
| The Maharahulovada Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this sutta, MN 62, the Buddha instructed Ven. Rahula to meditate on a variety of objects including: the emptiness of the five aggregates, the four Brahmaviharas, foulness, impermanence and mindfulness of breathing. | |
| The Canki Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this sutta, number 95 MN, the Buddha refuted blind faith and showed us how to preserve the Truth, approach the Truth and attain the Truth. | |
| The Alagaddupama Sutta Part Two -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| This talk is a continuation of the previous talk on MN 22 "The Simile of the Snake Sutta." | |
| The Alagaddupama Sutta Part One -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this sutta (MN 22) compares the danger of wrong grasp of the Dhamma to catching a snake by the tail. | |
| The Kakacupama Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this discourse (MN 21) the Buddha shows how one should meditate and practice with qualities seen in the earth element, space, the Ganges River and a soft cat-skin bag: imperturbable, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility and ill-will. | |
| The Mahahatthipadopama Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| "The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint" | |
| The Vitakkasanthana Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this discourse the Buddha teaches five ways of overcoming distracting thoughts that may arise during meditation. | |
| The Sabbasava Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The Buddha lists seven methods of abandoning the taints from our minds. | |
| The Rathavinita Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this sutta, The Relay Chariots, the seven stages of purification leading to the attainment of enlightenment are discussed. | |
| The Mahakammavibhanga Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The Mahakammavibhanga Sutta, MN 136, explains that kamma works in subtle ways. | |
| Dhammacakkappavattana (Part Two) and Anattalakkhana Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The concluding talk on "Turning the Wheel of Dhamma," is followed by a discussion of the "Anattalakkhana Sutta." | |
| Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Explanation of the Buddha's first talk to the five original bhikkhus. | |
| Ariyapariyesana Sutta MN 26 Part 2 -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Continuation of the previous talk with emphasis on the Buddha's experience of enlightenment. | |
| Ariyapariyesana Sutta MN 26 -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| In this sutta, MN 26, The Noble Search, the Buddha describes events leading up to his enlightenment, attaining Nibbana and the beginnings of his teaching. | |
| Questions and Answers from October 5, 2007 -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| A very good Q and A session in which the nature of emotions is explained in some detail. | |
| Message to the World -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Reasons why there is no peace in the world. Why there are so many religions in the world. Interesting question and answer session. | |
| Ordinary and Noble Persons -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The ordinary unlearned and the learned persons are explained using the Buddha's definitions. | |
| Goals of Meditation -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The importance of watching the mind carefully in order to see our distorted perceptions is stressed. | |
| The Path to Nibbana -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The three knowledges that the Buddha attained on his Enlightenment. | |
| The Classes of Speech -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Is it wrong to tell the truth even if it makes another person uncomfortable? The various kinds of speech are categorized. | |
| Eliminating the Taints by Restraint -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Purifying the mind by eliminating the taints or asavas. | |
| Teaching Different Types of People -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The Buddha used different similes, stories, systems, parables, examples and methods to suit each person's mental state. | |
| Five Difficult Subjects -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Why it is difficult to talk about these five subjects: Faith, Morality, Generosity, Learning and Wisdom. | |
| Ten Protective Teachings -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Dhammas that gives security: Moral Shame, Moral Dread, Learning, Teach Others, Respect Teaching, Help and Support Others, Love to Learn Dhamma, Effort, Contentment, Mindfulness, Revulsion. | |
| What Did the Tathagata Teach? -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Removal of sense desire from the five aggregates of clinging and benefits explained. | |
| Ten Topics of Noble Conversation -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Unskillful types of talk and the Buddha's list of ten topics of skillful conversation are explained. | |
| Teaching the Dhamma Without Conflicts -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| How to teach the Middle Path without creating conflict. | |
| Aspects of Four Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Some aspects of Four Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation are explained. | |
| Terms of Four Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Explanation of various terms used in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness meditation method. | |
| The Direct Way -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Four Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation is called The Direct Way to Enlightenment. | |
| What is Dhamma? -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The meaning of the word "Dhamma" or "Dharma". | |
| Samatha and Vipassana Meditation -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Samatha or concentration meditation and Vipassana meditation work together. | |
| Precepts and Meditation -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| The importance of skillful conduct for meditation. | |
| Mindfulness and Meditation -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| A talk on the relationship of mindfulness and meditation. | |
| The Cause of Jealousy -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Trace jealousy back through stinginess, likes and dislikes, attachment, thinking and conceptual proliferation | |
| Q & A with Bhante G -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Inter-faith discussions, Col. Olcott, Rebirth, Imponderables and more | |
| Nama Controls -Download- | Bhante G |
| Thinking is controlled by the names we give things | |
| Ten Armies of Mara -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Bhante Gunaratana discusses the ten armies of Mara as defined in the Sutta Nipata. | |
| The Eight Thoughts of a Great Person -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Bhante Gunarantana enumerates the eight thoughts of a great person and focuses on thoughts associated with perseverance. | |
| The Resurgence of Buddhism in India in the Last 50 Years -Download- | Bhante Rahula |
| The resurgence of Buddhism in India is compared and contrasted to the Buddhist movement in the United States in the 1960s. | |
| 2007 Brahmavihara Retreat: Developing Wholesome Habits to Deal With Anger -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Bhante Gunaratana continues the discussion on how to deal with anger | |
| 2007 Brahmavihara Retreat: Overcoming Anger -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Bhante Gunaratana teaches how a person can overcome anger and replace it with metta. | |
| 2007 Brahmavihara Retreat: A general discussion of metta and the Brahmaviharas -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| A wide variety of topics related to the brahma viharas. | |
| 2007 Brahmavihara Retreat: The Karaniyametta Sutta, Stanza Ten Cont. and Use of Metta -Download- | Bhante Gunaratana |
| Bhante Gunaratana discusses the final stanza of the Metta Sutta | |