An incredibly useful resource with huge potential for educating the sangha and bringing practitioners together. I particularly like its one-stop-shop aspect: whatever it is, it's bound to be on FBA!
Ratnavyuha, Auckland, NZ
I make it a practice to act out generous impulses, even if only small efforts. Financially supporting the free availability of the Dharma online is a simple gesture for me which maintains a significant resource for others.
Kalyanavaca, London, UK
I love giving to FBA because thousands of people access our community's unique approach to the Dharma. I think this resource is one of our finest creations and feel proud to sponsor it.
Padmatara, San Francisco, USA
Being in San Francisco, I value the easy access to talks from so many different people in the Triratna Buddhist Order - not just the famous ones! It makes me feel connected. A bit like Pirate Radio!
Aileen, Shetland Islands
I live on an island far away from a Buddhist centre and am rarely able to go on retreats. It has been especially beneficial to me to be able to download so many inspiring talks to go deeper in my practice.
Candradasa, FBA Team
It's exciting to watch as hundreds of thousands of lives are touched by the Dharma each year and, hopefully, made a little brighter by the experience of FBA!
Sangharakshita, Birmingham, UK
As the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community, I am very happy to have learned that by the end of this year more than a million talks will have been downloaded - that is a tremendous achievement.
Vicki, Seattle, USA
I received the most delightful gift of the Dharma: an iPod with all of Sangharakshita's FBA downloads on it. I just love listening to my 'Bhante pod' and having Dharma talks so easily accessible.
This is the first in a five part series by Padmavajra on all aspects of the MettaBhavana …
Padmavajra
2004
01.
The Great Love - Maha Maitri; Sangharakshita's teaching of the metta bhavana being revolutionary; importance of metta bhavana (3:56)
03.
Metta leading to insight; Karaniya Metta Sutta; liberation of the heart (1:48)
04.
The honesty of the classic, five-stage metta bhavana; aim of the practice; imagination - artist of your mind; friendliness to all life (3:31)
06.
Ideal of metta daunting; importance of bhavana - a tendency rather than a state; gentle and irresistable; starting point is friendly feelings; any positive emotion is extraodinarily important, what you concentrate on, that you become (4:48)
07.
Breaking down the boundaries - metta like a surging river; need to acknowledge our feelings; honesty of response - non duality; maha maitri; the great love as an expression of emptiness (4:37)
This is the fourth in a five part series by Padmavajra on all aspects of the MettaBhavana …
Padmavajra
2004
02.
Third stage of metta bhavana; the neutral person - there is always some response; our attitude to most people; nothing much to work with - importance of developing momentum; reflecting on sameness - looking deeper (5:19)
05.
The fourth stage of metta bhavana - the really big challenge; on not disliking anyone - not being that aware; honest practice; little niggles or tiffs; anger or hatred are never justified; quote from the Dhammapada - "Hatred never ceases by hatred"." (5:00)
07.
Parable of the saw and story about righteous indignation; betrayal is no justification - verses by Langri Thangpa; treating those who betray you as spiritual friends - Dalai Lama's response to Charman Mao; metta is robust (6:52)
This is the last in a great three-part series on 'The Alchemy of Love', Padmavajra's exploration of the transformative …
Padmavajra
2005
05.
Bodhisattva path as context; relationships within the context of metta; nurturing of ordinary human emotions; hatred and craving (4:17)
08.
Metta Bhavana; empathy or anukampa; transforming the stream of the mind by identifying with others; alleviating suffering through deeds; reading of verses on liberation; Dhardo Rimpoche as example (3:52)
10.
Imagination as magical ability - exercising imagination; identifying ourselves with others in metta bhavana; moving towards egolessness; the need for patience and support in developing love - Sangha as a good basis and example (6:18)