I can't believe how much calm, peace and love I feel with every talk I hear. I live in the UK and have been a militant atheist since I was 14. Every week I am feeling my old life let go towards the love shown by Ajahn Brahm
Yes sir, I definitely needed to hear this again. I've been trying to change my sister instead of accepting her and loving her for who she is with all the weeds and rubbish. Thank you AB.
That's certainly true of some of the suttas I've read! (and I was just thinking the same after I made my post). Also, if it's not irreverent (probably quite suitable for the "Seinfeld of Buddhism") I was also thinking of how stand up comedians usually take ages getting together an hour or so of good material and then just repeat it numerous times in different venues. But AB has to come up with new talks all the time (and you get comedy and spiritual insight for the price of one!),
@drav1dan what a great comment. As ex army myself and now a practising buddhist, i am so grateful i never had to take a life. Your comments are everything that i feel,i have seen a lot of damaged people coming back from conflicts such as Iraq. Violence solves nothing. Peace and loving kindness to you all.
I love all his talks. His talks are like 'lighthouse' for me. There are many times, I was confused and lost. Somehow, his talks offer some useful insights which help me out from the 'valley'. No doubt, I do not accept and agree with ALL his points and opinions. But, I guess it alright. I am not aiming for perfection. I am happy when I am able to derive just two or three useful insights. His stories always somehow make the suffering less painful. Saddhu Saddhu
i know Buddhism doesn't teach fate or any of that, but I'm leaving for basic training for the us army tomorrow, this dhamma talk really sunk in, especially that first story you told! I am a big fan of your dhamma talks! Keep it up Thank you Saddhu Saddhu
I did not say "british comedian" in disrespect. On the contrary, My respect for Ajahn Brahm is profound. I've been listening to his talks for a while now and I truly believe he represents among others Buddhism for the new millenium.
@AkiraOni: What happens after death is also part of the "illusion", they are not outside of the realm of illusion as you think. It is by understanding that our situation after death depends on past actions & thoughts, that we start to improve ourselves. It is important that we have a full understanding of all things that impact our existence, including death.
I loved Ajahn Brahm's quote about they loved him at parties because he was the designated driver... that has been my position since I took the five precepts and became a lay Buddhist as well hahah. I'm an American and I don't know any Buddhists near me, not Theravada Buddhists anyways. Nearest monastery for Theravada is an hour+ from me. It's still great to go to a Friday night meditation and talk, although where I go it's just a few monks and a handful of people, very different from BSWA
I'm a new Buddhist..living with non-Buddhists.. and I'm vegan for 2 months... I'm practicing non-judgment...who is to say which path is right??? ? My path lead me to where I am after I accidentally stumbled on Ajahn Brahm talks on RUclips last year. :)
I initially planned to only watch the first 10 minutes, but ended up completing the talk. Ajahn Brahm's personal story on "loving animals and hating people" and the message to his former girlfriend at 42:40 really stood out as the very deep regret really showed on his face.
That last part is really hitting hard. I just can't sit back idly, I'm young I have fire inside. I want to change the world. I want to solve peoples problems. I just I understand how buddhism does it slowly over generations, but I want more instant gratification. Meh, I'll change as I get older I suppose, but for now I'll just apply abit of buddhism in my activist life style.
+Meunster Chease +Lord Byron In the pursuit of change, one must realize change is made yet rarely obtained. As you grown in world thats growing, you learn how the world is learning. Teaching becomes an art form , idolized by many, understood by few. The forms of love that multiply into what the world can be, is calming in its cingularity as its working all for free. Be who you can be for those, you grace your mind to see, and be the change, you know the world, has the chance to be.
You are, of course, entirely right. I may indeed have spoken too soon and with too much emotion. In my defence I did so out of a genuine love for love, as it were. In metta / J
@nealezumm He spends his whole life going around doing talks - how could he not repeat himself a bit? And does it really matter if you hear the same saying or story a few times? And isn't it inevitable he returns to similar themes often - there are certain key points in Buddhism after all
@AnonymousPsych I would sorta argue my point, but it'd be pointless. Saying the Dhamma has limits is incorrect. The Dhamma is endless all-encompassing. The Buddha was a practical teacher, he didn't expect everyone to be able to drop everything there is and become monks. I'll send you a link, it's pretty interesting, and it will further explain the role of buddhism and soldiers. I would've posted it here, but it wouldnt let me lol.
Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance, it does make sense to split the thinking and the doing up, division of labor etc.. Ignorance is bliss, but not when it's the ignorance of others. When taking a multiple choice test, don't change the first answer you put down, on average it's usually right compared to the one you change it too.
@Ashitanoyuki the Buddha was also known to talk figuratively not liberally. I suppose the difference is between knowledge and wisdom, by truth/the past and change, in that nothing is dual, but in dualism there is no nothing. Reality is not dual, since it is in part flux, nothing is forever, but not in terms of dualism hence 'nothing in this world: is perfect'
@Ashitanoyuki: I was not criticizing soldiers. Soldiers are brave, so are admirable. I was telling him not to throw away his life for worthless leaders, lords, corporations etc. All wars were caused by the so called leaders. We will have an even better life if we just did not have these leaders & brave soldiers wouldn't have to die. It is a myth that wars are fought to protect lives of citizens; actually soldiers are duped into fighting for the benefit of just a few elites on both sides.
Ajahn Brahm! I can't stop laughing at some of his stories! Living proof he comes from that ancient lineage of british comedians. Greetings from Motherland, Peter. May you be free from suffering, mate.
These talks are great. They have given me a lot. But regarding not thinking that much before you do things and just doing them, I would like to comment that it is many time hard to know how to do something. Even if you don't moan, you have to know how to go about with things, that causes me a lot of suffering.
@karlcheah Odd that his girlfriend at the time didn't realize he was a vegetarian. I enjoyed the talk, though. I always appreciate a different his different, rather unconventional POV on various topics.
@justinvengeance: I wanted to join the army &I started reading about wars from 2500BC to WW2. When I read about the Christmas truce of 1914 in WW1, I asked these questions:Would the British & German soldiers have any real enmity if they hadn't been indoctrinated? Did 99.99% of the soldiers in any war benefit from it or suffer? Did their families benefit or suffer?Who, other than kings, lords, bankers, financiers, arms merchants, generals, corporations etc ever benefit from even a single war?
@talyesin3 I think human life is fairly sad, if you look at it, and Buddhism is one approach to facing up to that and developing peace despite the sad and frustrating aspects. It claims to offer inner happiness and freedom through less selfishness and materialism and using meditation etc. I find atheism/humanism don't offer that much help, just tell you to look on the bright side. And I don't think it's sad compared to Christianity and Islam where most people are destined for eternal torture
@justinvengeance Wishing you the best but must ask... why would you join an army - any army? Utterly incompatible with dhamma. Or morality. Or religion. Or, I would argue, sanity. I do not mean this as an attack, I just don't get it. In metta / J
@justinvengeance No, sorry, that won'nt do. This is like people arguing that christianity and, say, capital punishment (or war, for that matter) are compatible; it takes an odd form of sophistry that goes against the heart of the teaching. The buddha made it vary clear, over and over again, that he suffered no follower of his to cause pain harm, either directly or indirectly (hence the focus on kamma). The dhamma is not all-encompassing. How could it be, it would be pointless?
@Ajahn Brahm , what when the thing you thought was going to happen did, and specifically and when everyone else said it wouldn't.. I do believe that none-resistance is the best way to show the absurd as the absurd though, When you understand something you will no longer need to think about it.
You cannot be certain that everything that a soldier does involves pain & harm. For all you know he may be sent to help clear up after a natural disaster. If he is sent to a war zone, maybe he will make a positive impact on the people there. I think what does go against the heart of the teaching is viewing things in strictly black and white.
These talks are great. They have given me a lot. But regarding not thinking that much before you do things and just doing them, I would like to comment that it is many time hard to know how to do something. Even if you don't moan, you have to know how to go about with things, that causes me a lot of suffering.
what a beautiful quote to end this enlightening lecture: "where everybody thinks the same, no one thinks at all"
I can't believe how much calm, peace and love I feel with every talk I hear. I live in the UK and have been a militant atheist since I was 14. Every week I am feeling my old life let go towards the love shown by Ajahn Brahm
Yes sir, I definitely needed to hear this again. I've been trying to change my sister instead of accepting her and loving her for who she is with all the weeds and rubbish. Thank you AB.
That's certainly true of some of the suttas I've read! (and I was just thinking the same after I made my post). Also, if it's not irreverent (probably quite suitable for the "Seinfeld of Buddhism") I was also thinking of how stand up comedians usually take ages getting together an hour or so of good material and then just repeat it numerous times in different venues. But AB has to come up with new talks all the time (and you get comedy and spiritual insight for the price of one!),
I love the way Ajahn Brahm uses everyday examples to teach. My partner enjoys the talksand shes not even Buddhist. Many thanks for this talk.
Nice talk.
Thank you.
@drav1dan
what a great comment. As ex army myself and now a practising buddhist, i am so grateful i never had to take a life. Your comments are everything that i feel,i have seen a lot of damaged people coming back from conflicts such as Iraq. Violence solves nothing. Peace and loving kindness to you all.
I love all his talks. His talks are like 'lighthouse' for me. There are many times, I was confused and lost. Somehow, his talks offer some useful insights which help me out from the 'valley'. No doubt, I do not accept and agree with ALL his points and opinions. But, I guess it alright. I am not aiming for perfection. I am happy when I am able to derive just two or three useful insights. His stories always somehow make the suffering less painful. Saddhu Saddhu
i know Buddhism doesn't teach fate or any of that, but I'm leaving for basic training for the us army tomorrow, this dhamma talk really sunk in, especially that first story you told!
I am a big fan of your dhamma talks! Keep it up
Thank you
Saddhu Saddhu
As a Buddhist by choice, one of the first things that endeared me to Buddhism is that Buddhists do not proselytize. What a gift.
I did not say "british comedian" in disrespect. On the contrary, My respect for Ajahn Brahm is profound. I've been listening to his talks for a while now and I truly believe he represents among others Buddhism for the new millenium.
An hour well spent - thank you very much for the wonderful video!! :)
These talks are awesome
what a wonderful talk. thanks!
@AkiraOni: What happens after death is also part of the "illusion", they are not outside of the realm of illusion as you think. It is by understanding that our situation after death depends on past actions & thoughts, that we start to improve ourselves. It is important that we have a full understanding of all things that impact our existence, including death.
I loved Ajahn Brahm's quote about they loved him at parties because he was the designated driver... that has been my position since I took the five precepts and became a lay Buddhist as well hahah.
I'm an American and I don't know any Buddhists near me, not Theravada Buddhists anyways. Nearest monastery for Theravada is an hour+ from me. It's still great to go to a Friday night meditation and talk, although where I go it's just a few monks and a handful of people, very different from BSWA
Thank you for your video.
I always wondered what the room looked like.
Thank you Venerable 🌹💎
I'm a new Buddhist..living with non-Buddhists.. and I'm vegan for 2 months... I'm practicing non-judgment...who is to say which path is right??? ? My path lead me to where I am after I accidentally stumbled on Ajahn Brahm talks on RUclips last year. :)
I initially planned to only watch the first 10 minutes, but ended up completing the talk. Ajahn Brahm's personal story on "loving animals and hating people" and the message to his former girlfriend at 42:40 really stood out as the very deep regret really showed on his face.
That last part is really hitting hard. I just can't sit back idly, I'm young I have fire inside. I want to change the world. I want to solve peoples problems. I just I understand how buddhism does it slowly over generations, but I want more instant gratification. Meh, I'll change as I get older I suppose, but for now I'll just apply abit of buddhism in my activist life style.
+Meunster Chease +Lord Byron
In the pursuit of change, one must realize change is made yet rarely obtained. As you grown in world thats growing, you learn how the world is learning. Teaching becomes an art form , idolized by many, understood by few. The forms of love that multiply into what the world can be, is calming in its cingularity as its working all for free. Be who you can be for those, you grace your mind to see, and be the change, you know the world, has the chance to be.
Thank you!
Thank you very much
Sadhu sadhu..
Ajahn Brahm, beautiful mirrors...of a pure land, Saddhu Saddhu
Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance, it does make sense to split the thinking and the doing up, division of labor etc..
First viewer and comment....Yay Ajahn Brahm
You are, of course, entirely right. I may indeed have spoken too soon and with too much emotion. In my defence I did so out of a genuine love for love, as it were.
In metta / J
@nealezumm
He spends his whole life going around doing talks - how could he not repeat himself a bit? And does it really matter if you hear the same saying or story a few times? And isn't it inevitable he returns to similar themes often - there are certain key points in Buddhism after all
@AnonymousPsych I would sorta argue my point, but it'd be pointless. Saying the Dhamma has limits is incorrect. The Dhamma is endless all-encompassing. The Buddha was a practical teacher, he didn't expect everyone to be able to drop everything there is and become monks. I'll send you a link, it's pretty interesting, and it will further explain the role of buddhism and soldiers.
I would've posted it here, but it wouldnt let me lol.
Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance, it does make sense to split the thinking and the doing up, division of labor etc.. Ignorance is bliss, but not when it's the ignorance of others. When taking a multiple choice test, don't change the first answer you put down, on average it's usually right compared to the one you change it too.
@Ashitanoyuki the Buddha was also known to talk figuratively not liberally. I suppose the difference is between knowledge and wisdom, by truth/the past and change, in that nothing is dual, but in dualism there is no nothing.
Reality is not dual, since it is in part flux, nothing is forever, but not in terms of dualism hence 'nothing in this world: is perfect'
@nealezumm
I agree :) And from what I've seen his teacher Ajahn Chah had a good sense of humour too.
@Ashitanoyuki: I was not criticizing soldiers. Soldiers are brave, so are admirable. I was telling him not to throw away his life for worthless leaders, lords, corporations etc. All wars were caused by the so called leaders. We will have an even better life if we just did not have these leaders & brave soldiers wouldn't have to die. It is a myth that wars are fought to protect lives of citizens; actually soldiers are duped into fighting for the benefit of just a few elites on both sides.
Wow!!!
Ajahn Brahm! I can't stop laughing at some of his stories! Living proof he comes from that ancient lineage of british comedians. Greetings from Motherland, Peter. May you be free from suffering, mate.
@Dopaminiac sadhu means excellent ... As in very good! Very good! Very good!
สาธุ
These talks are great. They have given me a lot. But regarding not thinking that much before you do things and just doing them, I would like to comment that it is many time hard to know how to do something. Even if you don't moan, you have to know how to go about with things, that causes me a lot of suffering.
@karlcheah Odd that his girlfriend at the time didn't realize he was a vegetarian. I enjoyed the talk, though. I always appreciate a different his different, rather unconventional POV on various topics.
@justinvengeance: I wanted to join the army &I started reading about wars from 2500BC to WW2. When I read about the Christmas truce of 1914 in WW1, I asked these questions:Would the British & German soldiers have any real enmity if they hadn't been indoctrinated? Did 99.99% of the soldiers in any war benefit from it or suffer? Did their families benefit or suffer?Who, other than kings, lords, bankers, financiers, arms merchants, generals, corporations etc ever benefit from even a single war?
@Ashitanoyuki When you do no know the limits of your understanding, you think you know something. When you find those limits, you know nothing.
"we must think for ourselves, we must think for ourselves, we must think for ourselves..." lol
@talyesin3
I think human life is fairly sad, if you look at it, and Buddhism is one approach to facing up to that and developing peace despite the sad and frustrating aspects. It claims to offer inner happiness and freedom through less selfishness and materialism and using meditation etc. I find atheism/humanism don't offer that much help, just tell you to look on the bright side. And I don't think it's sad compared to Christianity and Islam where most people are destined for eternal torture
@justinvengeance
Wishing you the best but must ask... why would you join an army - any army? Utterly incompatible with dhamma. Or morality. Or religion. Or, I would argue, sanity. I do not mean this as an attack, I just don't get it.
In metta / J
@justinvengeance No, sorry, that won'nt do. This is like people arguing that christianity and, say, capital punishment (or war, for that matter) are compatible; it takes an odd form of sophistry that goes against the heart of the teaching. The buddha made it vary clear, over and over again, that he suffered no follower of his to cause pain harm, either directly or indirectly (hence the focus on kamma). The dhamma is not all-encompassing. How could it be, it would be pointless?
pray buddhism
@Ajahn Brahm , what when the thing you thought was going to happen did, and specifically and when everyone else said it wouldn't.. I do believe that none-resistance is the best way to show the absurd as the absurd though, When you understand something you will no longer need to think about it.
@justinvengeance Good luck to you!
Satu
You cannot be certain that everything that a soldier does involves pain & harm. For all you know he may be sent to help clear up after a natural disaster. If he is sent to a war zone, maybe he will make a positive impact on the people there. I think what does go against the heart of the teaching is viewing things in strictly black and white.
You talking about your momma again.
These talks are great. They have given me a lot. But regarding not thinking that much before you do things and just doing them, I would like to comment that it is many time hard to know how to do something. Even if you don't moan, you have to know how to go about with things, that causes me a lot of suffering.