With Mindfulness, Strive. Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, is a verse chanted within the context of  A Western [Triratna] Buddhist Order Ordination Ceremony.

Conducted by Sangharakshita, this talk is part of the series Ritual and Devotion in Buddhism.

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In today’s FBA Podcast, Vishvapani delivers “The Buddha’s Personality”, the third talk in his dynamic new series from the launch of the book “Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One”. (Quercus, 2011)

Great artists have tried and failed to grasp the essence of the Buddha’s character. Beyond the narrative and the drama, what was the Buddha actually like? And what can be gleaned from the diverse sources that tell us about him? In this reflective talk Vishavapani looks behind the veils of history, legend and the texts themselves to conjur a vivid, felt image of the Buddha’s personality. In a series of beautifully observed close-up drawings from the Pali Canon we are left with a portrait of spiritual genius that is both enigmatically distant and thoroughly human.

Vishvapani is a well known figure in the Triratna Buddhist Community and is a regular contributer on the BBC’s ‘Thought for the Day’.

Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre, February 2011.

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In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, we preview our next podcast, “The Buddha’s Personality” by Vishvapani with the segment: “‘Knowing’ the Buddha”. This is from the third talk in the Vishvapani’s new series launching the book “Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One”. (Quercus, 2011)

“The suttas give us a vividly real Buddha who walks the roads, inhabits the cities and the plains, an untamed free spirit, a powerful presence who we can know but we cannot necessarily comprehend.”

Vishvapani is a well known figure in the Triratna Buddhist Community and is a regular contributor on the BBC’s ‘Thought for the Day’.

Talk given at the London Buddhist Centre, February 2011.

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In today’s FBA Dharmabyte, we continue our theme on the Buddha’s Enlightenment with “Mara’s Attack on the Buddha”. This Dharambyte is from the quietly passionate talk, “What is Enlightenment?” by Jinapriya on the quicksilver nature of the Enlightenment experience – impossible to pin down, utterly transformative. Here we meet Mara, the demon or trickster who represents our deepest fears, our doubts, our lack of confidence. We are met with a thoughtful series of reflections, stories and images that all look to open up the gates of perception, and prepare the heart for the biggest change imaginable and possible for all.

Talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2003

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Today’s FBA Podcast, is the second talk in a major new series of talks by Vishvapani to mark the launch of his new book: ‘Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One’ (Quercus, 2011).

In “Imagining Gautama”, originally subtitled, ‘Approaching The Buddha As An Historical And As A Mythic Figure’, Vishvapani traces his own relationship to the Buddha, from early family connections arising out of the turmoil of war to his experience of writing the book itself. In doing so he explores the tricky work of trying to engage with the imagination constrained and disciplined by the historical evidence. What emerges from his work with the Pali texts is a portrait of the Buddha and his world where it’s impossible to miss the vital sense of a man questing for a coherent vision of reality.

Features a question-and-answer session.

Talk given at the Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2011.
Check out our blog for more on this fascinating series.

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