The final goal of Dhamma practice, what it's all about, is to realize Nibbāna (Nirvāṇa). It's important to have an accurate understanding of our final objective, otherwise it would be difficult to develop our mind in the right direction. However, as Nibbana / Nirvana is totally beyond all concepts, words, notions and thoughts, even the Buddha can not possibly describe it accurately by means of language. He can only provide similies to inspire us, or he describes what Nibbāna in NOT. For example, the Buddha has stated many times that Nibbana is the end of birth, ageing and death; it's the cessation of suffering; it's the end of greed, hatred and delusion. Unfortunately, in our modern materialist society, these 'negative' descriptions of Nibbana easily get misinterpreted as meaning that Nibbana is simply nothing. This is false and misleading. Ajahn Dhammasiha therefore quote a statement directly from the Buddha that makes it unambiguously clear that Nibbāna should NOT be understood as 'nothing' - Udāna No 73 (Inspired Exclamations No 73): “There is, monks, an unborn, unbecome, uncreated, unconditioned. ("Atthi bhikkhave ajātaṁ abhūtaṁ akataṁ asaṅkhataṁ.) If, monks there were not that unborn, unbecome, uncreated, unconditioned, (No ce taṁ bhikkhave abhavissā ajātaṁ abhūtaṁ akataṁ asaṅkhataṁ,) you could not know an escape here from the born, become, created, and conditioned. (na-y-idha jātassa bhūtassa katassa saṅkhatassa nissaraṇaṁ paññāyetha.) But because there is an unborn, unbecome, uncreated, unconditioned (Yasmā ca kho bhikkhave atthi ajātaṁ abhūtaṁ akataṁ asaṅkhataṁ,) therefore you do know an escape from the born, become, made, and conditioned.” (tasmā jātassa bhūtassa katassa saṅkhatassa nissaraṇaṁ paññāyatī ti.") You can read and download this quote (and all other 'Inspired Exclamations') in the translation of Ajahn Geoff Thanissaro for free here: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/udana.pdf Or a more literal line by line translation giving also the Pali text: https://ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Texts-and-Translations/Udana/Exalted-Utterances.pdf 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 Pics: https://www.dhammagiri.net/photo-albums Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #nibbana #nirvana #awareness #enlightenment #buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk

Our Ajahn Chah monastery in Italy is located about an hour's drive from Rome in Sabina province, Italy. Acquired in 1997, this monastery is a branch of Wat Nong Pah Pong/Lineage of Ajahn Chah, part of the Thai Theravada Forest Tradition. Ajahn Chandapalo (originally from Britain, 44 vassa) has served as the abbot for three decades, supported by Ajahn Preechar Jutindharo (originally from Thailand, 39 vassa). https://santacittarama.org/?lang=en There's a reason for the well-known expression 'Bella Italia!', and it applies fully to the monastery as well: The new Temple with large meditation hall, the Buddha statue greeting us right on arrival at Santacittarama, the Olive trees and other fruit trees throughout the gardens, the Italian landscape and architecture in the surrounding countryside, the blue skies, the dense oak forest with rushing stream, and the remains of ancient ruins found near the monks' kutis; it's all stunningly beautiful! 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 Photos: https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #monastery #buddhism #buddhistmonastery #ajahnchah #buddhisttemple #buddhistmonks

To develop insight, vipassana, we have to learn to observe uninterested. We have to be like an objective researcher. We know what we experience, without reacting, interfering and manipulating. We shift our identification towards the 'Knower', rather than the 'Doer'. What we take up as object of our observation, we no longer identify with. We just mindfully know the emotion we're experiencing, we don't have to react to it. It's like watching a movie, and knowing that we're watching a movie. We're not getting sucked into the action, we're aware that we're just looking at images of actors projected onto a screen. We don't take it for real. 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 #awareness #meditation #vipassana #mindfulness #mindfulnessmeditation #insight

Some people think: "When I do something good, I just do it and then forget about it. That's what the Buddha would want us to do." No, this is not what the Buddha teaches! The Buddha teaches the exact opposite: We should remember our good actions, we should recollect our generosity, we should be mindful of our virtue. Ajahn Dhammasiha explains why. 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 #buddhism #meditation #generosity #mindfulness #mindfulnessmeditation #dhammatalk

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about one of the more challenging teachings of the Buddha: "Grief, pain, sorrow, frustration, depression and despair are born from what is dear to us, they originate from what we love." You can find the sutta Ajahn mentions in his talk at: Majjhima Nikāya / Middle Length Discourses No. 87, 'Piyajātika Sutta' / 'Born from What is Dear' https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN87.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 INFORMATION Dhammagiri Website: https://www.dhammagiri.net Dhammagiri Newsletter: https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter Dhammagiri Podcasts: https://www.dhammagiri.net/podcast #attachment #clinging #grief #dhamma #dhammatalk #buddhism

Ajahn Dipako is spending vassa with us, and will be doing the Saturday morning session regularly during the retreat period. Ajahn Dīpako has visited Dhammagiri in 2023/2024 for a few months, when he helped us looking after Luang Por Vajiro: https://2024-pics.dhammagiri.net/ 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 #buddhism #chanting #buddhistchanting #palichanting #precepts #buddhistceremony #buddhistmonk

20 years ago on 13 August 2006, Brisbane Buddhist Vihara Inc (BBV) decided at a Special General Meeting to invite Ajahn Dhammasiha, to start a Forest Monastery associated with the tradition of Ajahn Chah in the Brisbane area. The next day on 14th August 2006, Dr Gamini Jayasinghe (President of BBV Inc) called Ajahn Dhammasiha to formally extend this invitation to him, and Ajahn accepted. Dr Gamini, his wife Rukmani, and the community of BBV made a very courageous decision with that invitation, as Ajahn had only 11 rains as a monk, was not well known at all, and lived at Vimokkharam, a small hermitage that was also quite unknown. BBV Inc would go on to sell their 3 acres large suburban property with nice house and granny-flat, and buy the property at 30 Ben Varden, which then would become Dhammagiri. This poperty had no water, no power, no sewage connection and no buildings, except a huge empty watertank (half million litres!). Only through the courage, determination, generosity and great faith of the very small group of early supporters could Dhammagiri be founded and ultimately flourish. In this video, Ajahn shares some stories of the early days... 14 August 2006 Ajahn Dhammasiha accepts the formal invitation by Dr Gamini, President of Brisbane Buddhist Vihara Inc, to lead the establishment of a Forest Monastery in the Brisbane area, associated with the lineage of Ajahn Chah 09 March 2007 Settlement of Purchasing Contract for Dhammagiri Property 30 Ben Varden Avenue, Kholo 15 March 2007 Luang Por Plien of Wat Aranyavivek, Chiang Mai, visits Dhammagiri property 30 Ben Varden Ave, und provides advice and encouragement (We will commemorate the 20th anniversary of this event on Sun 14 February 2027, together with our visiting guest Luang Por Vajiro) 28 & 29 April 2007 Moving to Dhammagiri property 30 Ben Varden Ave, and celebration of Vesak next day (We're planning the main event of our 20th Anniversary Celebrations for the weekend 15th & 16th May 2027. That's the weekend right before Vesak, just like we moved to Dhammagiri right before Vesak 20 years ago) 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 #buddhism #buddhistmonk #buddhistmonastery #buddhiststory #buddhismstory #dhamma

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about Nekkhamma = Letting Go To truly renounce, to truly let go, we have to investigate the process of attachment happening in our mind. We can observe and investigate this process when everytime we're shopping.For example, if we buy a new phone, or any other object. The moment we pay and take the phone, our mental attitude changes profoundly. Mine-making happens. We suddenly regard the phone as 'mine'. It's exactly the same phone, nothing has changed in the object after we bought it. But what has changed is our mental attitude, we now regard it as 'our possession', we cling and attach to it. However, if we clearly see with wisdom how this 'mine-making' actually leads to our pain & suffering (e.g. the phone breaks or malfunctions or gets stolen), we will abandon or at least weaken our sense of ownership. Ajahn also gives examples how ownership implies permanent possession. If we can't keep it forever, it's only 'rented', we don't really own it. But can we keep our body permanently, or is it just 'rented' from nature (earth, water, fire, wind) for a while? How about our feelings and emotions? Can we keep them forever? If not, why do we think we own them? 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 #lettinggo #buddhism #ownershipmindset #insight #attachment #clinging