Characteristics of reality

There's a story about the Buddha bowing to the tree under which he has just gained Enlightenment. Inspired by this this story, Vajragupta sees the whole path to Awakening in terms of gratitude. The grasping mind cannot feel grateful. But the Awakened know and feel just how deeply they are supported and enabled by other people, other life, and conditions in the world around them. Excerpted from the talk entitled Awakening As Gratitude given at Croydon Buddhist Centre, 2025. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Suryadarshini gives an account of the Buddha's teaching of the three lakshanas, the marks of conditioned existence. He taught that all phenomena have three characteristics: they are impermanent, insubstantial, and imperfect. Expectations can help or hinder our view of reality, and reflecting on the lakshanas can move us towards freedom rather than disappointment, both in meditation and in our lives. Excerpted from the talk entitled Expectations Versus Reality given at Norwich Buddhist Centre, 2017. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Suddhayu discusses the importance of meditation as a refuge in chaotic times, both as a way to tend to our own hearts, and as a way to change the world when we leave the cushion. Excerpted from the talk entitled Meditate Like a Buddha, January 13, 2026 at Aryaloka Buddhist Center in New Hampshire, USA. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Aryajaya explores the first seven verses of the Cetokhila Sutta ('The Wilderness of the Heart'), looking at the conditions that make spiritual growth possible or impossible. The focus here is on the 5 wildernesses (or wastelands) that need to be abandoned: being doubtful, uncertain, undecided and unconfident in the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, and the training and being angry or displeased with one's companions in the spiritual life. Excerpted from the talk entitled Standing In the Place of the Warrior given at Adhisthana, 2019 on a Triratna Buddhist Order weekend as part of a two-talk series. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

This is a quietly passionate talk by Jinapriya on the quicksilver nature of the Enlightenment experience - impossible to pin down, utterly transformative. His main theme within the frame of such a big question - 'What is Enlightenment?' - is the struggle to live our lives in the present moment, especially in the face of pain. Excerpted from the talk entitled What is Enlightenment? given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2003. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

After an account of the Buddha's life, Sangharakshita asks how, if at all, such a man can be defined or categorised. Excerpted from the talk entitled Who is the Buddha? given as part of the series Introducing the Three Jewels of Buddhism, 1968. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Here Sangharakshita shares two personal stories from his time in Kalimpong and how he came to learn that Vajrasattva is connected with death. This lecture is a series of reflections based around the Buddha's Parinirvana ('death'), stressing the importance of impermanence and explaining episodes recorded in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta. Excerpted from the talk entitled Between Twin Sala Trees as part of the series Incidents from the Pali Canon, 1983. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

The Buddha's time has come and his companion, Ananda, is completely grief-stricken for the teacher whom he loves so deeply. Vadanya shares the Buddha's gentle encouragement and public praise of his loyal companion in the moments before his Paranibbana. Excerpted from the talk entitled The Last Days of The Buddha given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2008. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Stories are powerful - they speak to parts of ourselves that respond to symbols, patterns and truths about human life that are deeper and far beyond our rational experience. Here, Kavyamani tells the moving story of the Buddha's final days, his Parinirvana. Excerpted from the talk entitled In the Footsteps of the Buddha Retreat (6 of 6) given at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2022. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Here, Amarachandra recounts a few themes from the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, beginning with a problematic character named King Ajatasattu, a disciple of the Buddha, who wishes to go to war. Excerpted from the talk entitled Themes From the Mahaparinibbana Sutta given on the occasion of celebrating Parinirvana Day, during the Coronavirus lockdown, at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2021. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB