Today’s Dharmabyte: Reality as Change – Poetry and Impermanence is from a thoughtful and sympathetic talk by Srivati on the most delicate of tasks in any life – how to live in the present moment. Exploring the subtle aspects of past and present, of memory and expectation, we encounter impermanence as the touchstone of our experience through the practice of writing – especially poetry. Dharmabyte selected from the talk, “Becoming a Citizen of the Present.”

Talk given to the Western Buddhist Order national Order weekend, 2001

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Spreading the Dharma
Sharing our Practice
Connecting our Community Worldwide

Engagement with the Arts has long been a distinctive feature of the Triratna approach to the Dharma and Sangharakshita’s view of spiritual practice in general. Free Buddhist Audio is very pleased to announce our growing collection of talks in the realm of Art & Literature. As well as a keystone recording featuring Sangharakshita in discussion with the celebrated poet Kathleen Raine, our Triratna Arts section now features a fantastic series from the Poetry East project organised at the London Buddhist Centre.

Showcasing the work of well-known contemporary poets, exploring the relationship between poetry and spiritual life, Maitreyabandhu, Director of the London Buddhist Centre, hosts bi-monthly conversations between award-winning contemporary poets and himself, also a recently decorated poet. So far Fiona Sampson, Hugo Williams, Mimi Khalvati, and David Constantine interviews have been uploaded and shared through Free Buddhist Audio’s Community Places.

Essential listening for lovers of the Arts!

The Poetry East format is simple: each poet is asked to provide two or three poems from the canon that have influenced their poetry; which are read first, leading the audience into a short interview with the poet, hosted by Maitreyabhandhu. He explores with them their creative life and work with emphasis on their influences, and poets they admire. This is followed by a poetry reading and questions and answers from the floor.

As the live evening is preceded by a short led meditation in order to provide the best listening conditions externally and internally, the team at Free Buddhist Audio would like to offer the same for our listening audience. Browse our guided introductions, led practices and other meditation resources from practitioners all over the world.

The team at Free Buddhist Audio is working hard to create dynamic webspaces where our community of practitioners share their understanding of the Buddha’s teaching. We need your generous contributions to continue our work. Please consider a donation to Free Buddhist Audio today!

Join our community! Make a Donation! Get involved!

This podcast talk by Dharmavadana is a great exploration of how poetry can be an ally in the spiritual life, and analyzes the ways in which it occupies a similar atmosphere to meditation.

Talk given at West London Buddhist Center

To help us keep this free, please think about making a donation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download