The Three Levels of the Spiritual Imagination

Shraddhasiddhi delivers this insightful and deeply personal talk, drawing on Urgyen Sangharakshita's classic core teachings, by exploring the psychological movement from uncreative group conformity into authentic individuality and ultimately, true spiritual community. Reflecting on their personal journey as an activist and a former mitra convenor, they discuss the vital role of contemporary affinity groups alongside Triratna's traditional single-sex structures. Through the lens of Sangharakshita's nine qualities of a true individual, Shraddhasiddhi breaks down the complex differences between operating inside a "positive group" and committing to a genuine spiritual community through insight, ethics, and the real transformation of effective Going for Refuge. This talk was given at Adhisthana during a Gender Diverse Sangha retreat in 2025. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Once upon a time, a billion years ago... Both traditional Buddhist cosmology and modern science deal in mind-boggling time scales – a Deep Time perspective, accessible only via imagination. Buddhist scholar Dhivan explores how imagining Deep Time relates to liberation. This talk was given at the Buddhafield Festival as part of the series The Dharma Parlour: Buddhafield 2023 - Liberation Through Imagination. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Over the last 19 years, Aloka has painted the images that adorn the shrine room at Padmaloka Retreat Centre. Padmavajra recently interviewed him about how his art arises from his practice, from the Dharma. He begins by describing how you only need a clear blue sky with an enormous rainbow-colored question mark in it. Much like meditation, creating Buddhist iconography articulates 'internal space,' making it more explicit so that we can relate to it. Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2026, as part of the series Buddhism for Today and Tomorrow - Fifty years on.  More on Aloka's artwork: https://alokaartist.com/ *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this interview with Satyalila, Prakasha shares the remarkable story of the unfolding of his Dharma Life from a fascination with the English poet, painter and visionary William Blake in the late 1970s and early 80s and how this led him to a deep immersion in the Vajrayana approach to Buddhism. Following on from Bhante, in 'Buddhism and William Blake' he elucidates the common basis between the symbolic worlds of Blake and the Vajrayana. Recorded at a retreat on WIlliam Blake, Adhisthana, 2017. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Within the context of the three ascending Levels of the Spiritual Imagination (Empathy, Beauty and Imagining the Buddha), Samantabhadri explores devotion and ritual in terms of body, speech and mind, and of the journey to the transcendental. She includes the Sevenfold Puja and our more personal experiences of devotion. This talk was given as part of the Ritual and Imagination Retreat  at Taraloka Retreat Centre for women training for ordination, 2026. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this talk Padmavajra explores the the eight consciousnesses of the Yogacara, the eight great cremation grounds and the 'mysterious home of the dakini'. The talk was given during the men's Great Gathering at  Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2020. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this talk Samantabhadri explores what it was like to meet the Buddha, the fully Enlightened human being. She then discusses 'garava' as devotion for the whole richness of our Dharma Lives, including positive emotions for all beings. This talk was given on an Order weekend at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2022. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

The Dhammapada, or 'Way of Truth', is a profound expression of 'Basic Buddhism'. In its short, memorable verses, the Buddha challenges us to practise wholeheartedly – because 'a tamed mind brings happiness'. Suryagupta unpacks some of these ancient wisdom-sayings, which, as our founder has said, 'deserve to be engraved on our hearts in letters of gold – or fire.' This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre, as part of the series The Dhammapada, 2022. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

After the Buddha's Enlightenment, the Buddha sat in a grove of trees, absorbing what had happened, his experience unfolding in all directions. A great storm arose, and a huge Cobra came and wrapped its coils around him, protecting him from the rain and wind. What does this story hold for us in our Dharma lives, particularly meditation? Vajratara looks in depth at the symbolism of the Naga King and his protection of the Buddha, exploring the forces of the unconscious and the symbolism of energy centres in the body. Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre for those training for ordination, 2026. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this talk, Satyagosha explores "How to Change Your Mind" by looking at meditative states and the "indirect methods" that support them. He unpacks the stages of internal development and how we can use everyday activities like ethics, ritual, devotion, the arts, and service to support our spiritual growth. This talk was given at North London Buddhist Centre, 2026. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube