College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

A Koan for our Times: April - October 2024

By akasajoti on Thu, 21 Mar, 2024 - 12:18

A Koan for our Times: April - October 2024

By akasajoti on Thu, 21 Mar, 2024 - 12:18

Though the many beings are numberless, I vow to save them.
Though greed, hatred and ignorance rise endlessly, I vow to cut them off.
Though the dharma is vast and fathomless, I vow to understand it.
Though the Buddha’s way is beyond attainment, I vow to embody it fully.

- a formulation of the Bodhisattva Vow, quoted in Noble Friendship, Khantipalo

What does a Buddhist Order have to offer the world in times of conflict, violence and environmental destruction? How is the...

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Dharmabytes: The Flavour of Forbearance

By Zac on Thu, 23 Feb, 2023 - 06:00

This talk explores the emergence of the Bodhisattva Ideal in the Mahayana tradition. Nagapriya discusses the historical context in which this basic concept developed, its ties to early Buddhist texts, and what the bodhisattva’s life entails, on both the mundane and cosmic levels. Here, he shares a reading on forbearance from the Bodhicaryavatara by Shantideva. 

Excerpted from the The Ideal of Universal Awakening given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, as part of the series ...

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FBA Podcast: An Ordinary Person's Guide to Becoming a Bodhisattva

By Zac on Sat, 31 Dec, 2022 - 06:00

Advayasiddhi explores two chapters from Santideva’s passionate and challenging text: The Bodhicaryavatara. Chapter 4 focuses on Vigilance Regarding the Awakening Mind, while Chapter 5 explores The Guarding of Awareness.

This talk was recorded at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2022.

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Dharmabyte: The Ethics of Love

By Zac on Mon, 28 Nov, 2022 - 06:00

Buddhist ethics is practical, it’s to do with engagement with the world. Parami is an ideal guide for this sort of material, steeped as she is in study and practice engaged within the light of the ‘Bodhichitta’, and the Bodhisattva Ideal itself. 

From the talk entitled The Awakening Heart given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2006.

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Dharmabyte: What's Calling?

By Zac on Mon, 13 Jun, 2022 - 06:00

Atula, a long-time practicing Buddhist and psychotherapist, offers stimulating words around the role of myth, metaphor and all our ways of cognizing, thinking about and expressing experience in what we call ‘spiritual life’ – and a clear encouragement to see that process as one that is profoundly relational. 

In this excerpt we hear about the tendency to polarize and project onto others. From the talk Mending the Broken Ladder, London...

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Dharmabyte: Vision-Worlds Unveiled

By Zac on Thu, 9 Jun, 2022 - 06:00

Nagapriya encourages us to read Mahayana Sutras, when reading such a text, if we allow ourselves to really enter into it, we find ourselves transported into it. The scripture, through our participation in it, unveils a samadhi, a particular vision-world that a Bodhisattva dwells in. 

Excerpted from the talk Mahayana Buddhist Scriptures, part of the series Visions of Mahayana Buddhism, given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 2009.

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FBA Podcast: After the Enlightenment

By Zac on Sat, 4 Jun, 2022 - 06:00

Parami focuses on the significance of the seven weeks after the Buddha’s enlightenment and draws out the relevance for us today. When we experience the freedom from something that has held us back the energy that is released is extraordinary and requires time for absorption.
This talk was given on Buddha Day at North London Buddhist Centre, May 2018.

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Dharmabyte: Rooted In Compassion

By Zac on Mon, 30 May, 2022 - 06:00

Dhivan brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual, changing the world he took part in, stepping out of history “with the walk of a lion, the walk of a swan.”

From the talk What Do We Really Know About the Buddha? given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2008

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FBA Podcast: The Star Of Healing

By Zac on Sat, 28 May, 2022 - 06:00

In a talk for Buddha day, Ratnaprabha takes us through the realisations that came to the Buddha during his all night meditation under the Bodhi tree, culminating in the vision of the morning star, the Star of Healing. Its light was the first sight of the Awakened One, a light symbolising the illumination of awareness itself.

Talk given at the West London Buddhist Centre, 2014.

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Dharmabyte: Full Illumination Arose

By Zac on Thu, 26 May, 2022 - 06:00

Sangharakshita describes the moment of the Buddha’s Enlightenment. 

From the talk Who is the Buddha?, part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism, 1968.

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Bite-sized inspiration three times every week.

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