Ajahn Dhammasiha is asked about supportive conditions to make our Metta Meditation (Loving Kindness) stronger and more successful: 1. Loving Kindness to Oneself Make sure you really include yourself when you extend Mettā to all beings 2. Compassion (Karuna) Use other Divine Abidings (Brahmavihāra) as appropriate, in particular Compassion/Karunā. If we struggle to extend metta to anyone, we may be more successful with Karuna. The most difficult people often have a lot of pain themselves. Once we see that, it's easier to have compassion to them. 3. Contemplating Karma (Kamma) What I experience is the result of my own karma, my own actions, including actions in past lives. On a deeper level, the person hurting me is simply returning my own bad karma to me. Also, they will have to bear the painful result of their own karma in future, no need for me the avenger or punisher, they will get their karma anyhow. 4. Contemplating Impermanence (Anicca-Saññā) What we're so upset with today, we may not even be able to remember in a years time. Why getting worked up about anything so evanescent 5. Contemplating Death If I were to die today, would I really bother about all these irritations I experience? Compared to the reality of our & our 'enymies'' mortality, what we're angry about appears so irrelevant. 6. Sense Retraint (Indriya-samvara/Indriyesu Guttadvāra) Simply avoid persons and situations that make you angry, and don't even think about or remember them. Don't look at the tweets of a politician you can't stand. Don't watch that video, or those news, if they make you angry. 7. Wise Attention (Yoniso Manasikāra) Focus on what's beautiful in others and yourself. Give attention to your own and others' kind and admirable qualities and actions. 8. Contentment Count your blessings. Appreciate what you have already, rather than hankering after things other have, and which may be difficult to obtain. 9. Gratitude (Kataññū-Katavedi) Remember all the good you have received from others. Focus on that, rather than on the hard times other have given you. AUDIO PODCASTS In addition to these videos, we also publish about two new Dhamma talks and guided meditations every week as audio podcasts. The latest podcasts, and some 300 earlier ones on a wide variety of subjects, are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/itunes, Castbox, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast apps. Just search for "Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts" on your favourite podcast app. Or you can simply listen with with your browser directly from the Dhammagiri podcasts page: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast MORE INFORMATION Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Photos: https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net 3 Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #metta #mettameditation #lovingkindnessmeditation #contentment #karma .

Take a walk through the meditation hall at Wat Marp Jan (วัดมาบจันทร์) - Ajahn Anan Akiñcano's forest monastery in Rayong province, Thailand. Ajahn Anan took full ordination as buddhist monk in 1975 under his preceptor and teacher, the Venerable Ajahn Chah and was given the Pali name Akiñcano. He spent the next four years practicing meditation at Ajahn Chah’s main monastery, Wat Nong Pah Pong, and associated branches, developing a close relationship as Ajahn Chah’s personal attendant. In 1984, Ajahn Anan ended his wandering to found a monastery on a newly-offered section of uninhabited land on the coast of Central Thailand. Accompanied by two other monks and a novice, the group settled in the dense forest of Rayong province at what is now known as Wat Marp Jan, or “Monastery of the Moonlit Mountain”. Over thirty years later, Ajahn Anan’s reputation as an accomplished meditation teacher has grown, along with the number of monks coming to live under him. While his teachings stress the fundamentals of day-to-day meditation and mindfulness practice, Ajahn Anan is also known for his ability to articulate the Buddhist path in terms that practitioners of varied backgrounds can understand.  His instruction has attracted a large following of foreigners, with monks from Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka and elsewhere residing at Wat Marp Jan and its branches. Today, Ajahn Anan attends to his duties as abbot and teacher, looking after a growing number of branch monasteries in Thailand and overseas, teaching visiting laity, and instructing the monks who practice under his guidance. More information about the monastery and teachings of Ajahn Anan are available here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/ AUDIO PODCASTS In addition to these videos, we also publish about two new Dhamma talks and guided meditations every week as audio podcasts. The latest podcasts, and some 300 earlier ones on a wide variety of subjects, are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/itunes, Castbox, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast apps. Just search for "Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts" on your favourite podcast app. Or you can simply listen with with your browser directly from the Dhammagiri podcasts page: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast MORE INFO: Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #monastery #buddhism #meditation #ajahnchah #thailand

The Mahabodhi Temple ("The Temple of the Great Awakening") at Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world visited by millions of people every year. Since the Buddha realized awakening at the place 2500 years ago it has inspired and attracted countless pilgrims to recollect the significance of his awakening and his teaching. Learn about the spiritual significance of the Buddha's awakening and history of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya in this video. Chapter: 0:00 Chapter 1 - The awakening of the Buddha The story of his awakening told by the Buddha himself in "he middle length discourses of the Buddha" (Majjhima Nikaya), Discourses Nr. 4 and 26 0:40 The 4 Jhanas (meditative attainments) 1:53 The 1. True Knowledge - Recollection of past Lives 3:05 The 2. True Knowledge - Seeing how beings pass on according to their actions (Kamma) 4:46 The 3. True Knowledge - The four noble truth 6:31 Chapter 2 - The 1. Temple at Bodhgaya 8:16 Chapter 3 - The Discovery of the Diamond Throne of the Buddha AUDIO PODCASTS In addition to these videos, we also publish about two new Dhamma talks and guided meditations every week as audio podcasts. The latest podcasts, and some 300 earlier ones on a wide variety of subjects, are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/itunes, Castbox, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast apps. Just search for "Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts" on your favourite podcast app. Or you can simply listen with with your browser directly from the Dhammagiri podcasts page: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast MORE INFO: Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #bodhgaya #mahabodhitemple #indiatravel #indianhistory

The Mauryan period in India (about 250 BC) is one of the most inspiring periods in the history of Buddhism. After his victory in Kalinga King Ashoka turned from a cruel, ambitious conqueror who's wars killed more than 100 000 people into a King who followed the Cakkavatti-Ideal taught by the Buddha: A King who rules by the power of his noble qualities and righteousness for the welfare of his people. Although King Ashoka was tolerant to all religions in his kingdom he became a follower of Buddhism and worked to promote it in various ways: He distributed the relics of the first original relic stupas of the Buddha into many stupas that he built in his whole kingdom. He had large stone pillars erected to mark important buddhist holy sites for future millenia. In Bodhgaya he had a large decorated sandstoneslab erected, to mark the place where the Buddha attained awakening, the Vajirasana, which is the center of the temple of the most important buddhist holy site in the world up to the present day. King Ashoka also expressed his concern for the unity of the Sangha in several of his rock and pillar edicts and his faith in the triple gem and that the teaching of the Buddha may last a long time. As patron of the 3rd buddhist council he built a large hall with 80 pillars outside of his capital Pataliputra (today: Patna) where the monks would assemble to convey the council. After the thrid buddhist council King Ashoka and the leading senior monk of the council, Ven. Moggalliputta Tissa, made a decision that led to one of the most important events in the history of Buddhism: They sent groups buddhist monks to distant counties "on the borders, [and] even six thousand km away, where the Greek king Antiochos rules, beyond there where the four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas and Alexander rule (Egypt, Greece, Turkey/Middle east, Lybia), and as far as Sri Lanka." in order to establish the teaching of the Buddha there. The most sucessful Dhamma-Missions of King Ashoka were the ones to Bactria, Thailand and Burma and Sri Lanka. His own crown prince Mahinda, who became a buddhist monk, he sent as leader of the Mission to establish the teaching of the Buddha in Sri Lanka. An occasion which is still remembered in one of the most important holy days in the country: Poson Poya. Hear more about how King Ashoka's Dhamma-Missions turned a local religion in India into a world religion in this video. AUDIO PODCASTS In addition to these videos, we also publish about two new Dhamma talks and guided meditations every week as audio podcasts. The latest podcasts, and some 300 earlier ones on a wide variety of subjects, are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/itunes, Castbox, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast apps. Just search for "Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts" on your favourite podcast app. Or you can simply listen with with your browser directly from the Dhammagiri podcasts page: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast MORE INFORMATION Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #ashoka #indianhistory #historyofindia #history .

The story of Prince Dighavu and how he makes peace with his archenemy, King Brahmadatta, who conquered his kingdom and executed his parents brutally. The Buddha uses the story as a last teaching to the monks at the occasion of the quarrel of Kosambi, when two fractions of monks form in the community, arguing whether a certain monk has committed a very minor offence against the monastic rules or not. The Buddha tells the story to illustrate the meaning of the Dhammapada Verses 3-6: "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred. "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred. Hatred is never ended by hatred. Hatred is ended by non-hatred. This is an eternal law. There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die. But those who do realize this settle their quarrels. A literal translation of the story can be read here online: https://www.dhammatalks.org./vinaya/Mv/MvX.html#burmese272 (Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavagga, X. Kosambivagga) AUDIO PODCASTS In addition to these videos, we also publish about two new Dhamma talks and guided meditations every week as audio podcasts. The latest podcasts, and some 300 earlier ones on a wide variety of subjects, are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/itunes, Castbox, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast apps. Just search for "Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts" on your favourite podcast app. Or you can simply listen with with your browser directly from the Dhammagiri podcasts page: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast MORE INFORMATION Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #war #peace #peaceful #buddhism .

One of the important qualities that the Buddha teaches is non-violence. This talk explains the causes for violence and how one can apply the teaching of the Buddha to abandon them and how one can develop the mind and inner strength to be committed to non-violence in any situation. 0:00 Non-Violence - A very relevant topic 2:44 The Buddha teaching non-violence to children 10:44 The causes for violence 25:04 How we can abandon the causes for violence in our heart 41:10 Developing inner strength and power instead of external strength 42:38 Inner happiness by non-violence 52:03 Is it possible to abandon the tendency for aversion completely? 56:35 How to get closer to that goal? 1:03:58 What to do in times of war and other extreme situations? AUDIO PODCASTS In addition to these videos, we also publish about two new Dhamma talks and guided meditations every week as audio podcasts. The latest podcasts, and some 300 earlier ones on a wide variety of subjects, are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/itunes, Castbox, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast apps. Just search for "Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts" on your favourite podcast app. Or you can simply listen with with your browser directly from the Dhammagiri podcasts page: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast MORE INFO: Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #peace #war #peaceful #buddhism .

After the Buddha realized awakening he remained for several weeks meditating at Bodhgaya to fathom his realization in all aspects. Hear more about how the Buddha reflected, how he saw the cosmos and who were the beings who met the Buddha first after his awakening. 0:00 The first week after awakening: The Buddha reflects about dependent origination. 15:54 The second week after awakening: The Buddha surveys the cosmos and sees all beings burning with desire, aversion and delusion and afflicted by becoming. 24:25 The third week: The Buddha meets a Brahmin and gives him a short teaching about how to become a true Brahmin. 26:02 The fourth week: A great rainstorm comes and the Naga-King Mucalinda (A Serpent or Dragon like spirit from the lowest heavenly realm) protects the Buddha from the weather. 28:24 The fifth week: Two Merchants, Bhallika & Tapussa, meet the Buddha, offer him the first meal after his awakening and become the first two male lay disciples of the Buddha. 31:46 The sixth week: Mara, the evil one tries to challenge the Buddha, but has to leave sad and dejected because he has been defeated. 33:56 The seventh week: The Buddha reflects about the practice that lead him to awakening The five spiritual faculties (Indriyas) and the four foundations of mindfulness (Satipatthana). Brahma Sahampati, a non-returner from Suddhavasa realm appears to the Buddha and expresses his approval. 42:53 The Buddha sees that there is no other being with a higher spiritual attainment than him that he could honour, so he decides to dwell honouring and venerating the Dhamma, the law of nature that he discovered and taught. 47:41 Brahma Sahampati requests the Buddha to teach. He surveys the cosmos with the eyes of a Buddha out of compassion and sees that there are being that are easy to teach and difficult to teach, some with good attributes and some with bad attributes. Just like lotus plants in a pond where some lotus plants are growing under the water and some have emerged from the water and stand unsullied by the water. After the Buddha sees that there are beings who are capable to understand him, he makes the momentous decision to teach the path to awakening that he found himself to others out of compassion, which influenced the lives of billions of people in the last 2500 years. The Suttas can be found in Udana 1;1-4, Udana 2;1 and Udana 3;10. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/index.html In the Mahavagga of the Vinaya Pitaka: https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/Mv/MvI.html#burmese4 Samyutta Nikaya 4;1 and S 4;24 and 25 https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN4_1.html https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN4_24.html https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN4_25.html Samyutta Nikaya 47;43 and 48;57 where the Buddha reflects about the practice that led him to awakening Samyutta Nikaya 6;2 where the Buddha decides to live revering the Dhamma itself https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN6_2.html AUDIO PODCASTS In addition to these videos, we also publish about two new Dhamma talks and guided meditations every week as audio podcasts. The latest podcasts, and some 300 earlier ones on a wide variety of subjects, are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/itunes, Castbox, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast apps. Just search for "Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts" on your favourite podcast app. Or you can simply listen with with your browser directly from the Dhammagiri podcasts page: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast MORE INFO: Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #buddha #enlightenment #awakening #nibbana #inspiration #faith #India #history #historyofindia #nirvana .

Tody is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar: Vesak, celebrating the birth, Supreme Awakening, and final Parinibbāna of the Buddha. Naturally, we did a guided meditation on Buddhānussati (Recollection of the Buddha), for which Ajahn Dhammasiha used his favourite Buddha-Mantra: "Bhagavā Arahaṃ Buddho - Buddho Arahaṃ Bhagavā; Bhagavā Arahaṃ Buddho - Buddho Arahaṃ Bhagavā; Bhagavā Arahaṃ Buddho - Buddho Arahaṃ Bhagavā..." Our meditation ended earlier than normal, around 4.10 pm, and was followed by a reflection on the Buddha's Supreme Awakening. Ajahn Dhammasiha focussed in particular the Bodhisatta's crucial insight that self-torment does not lead to awakening. Instead, the Bodhisatta remembered his attainment of First Jhāna as a child, and recognized that the non-sensual rapture and bliss of samādhi is actually the way to awakening, providing the foundation for developing vipassana and profound insight. At around 4.30 pm we asked forgiveness from Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, and then did our Vesak recitation of 'There is one person...' passage in Anguttara Nikāya, elucidating the unique position of the Buddha in his own words. Finally, we did our Vesak circumambulation, this time up the hill around the newly consecrated ctuap on Dhammagiri summit. However for technical reasons we were unable to provide live coverage of the stupa site circumambulation. MORE INFORMATION Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri New Photos: https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast (or 'Dhammagiri Buddhist Podcasts' on any good podcast app) #buddha #meditation #chanting #vesak2025 #awakening #enlightenment