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Dharma Talks Online
Glow
Veteran
I thought it might be helpful to put together a list of dharma talks available on the internet. I personally find this the best way to really get a feel for the various approaches to the dharma itself. These teachings are provided by these organizations free of charge, but most provide an option for making a donation. If you find any of these talks particularly useful, perhaps consider making a small donation.
If you know of any other websites, please feel free to link to them. I currently am not aware of many online dharma talks from groups outside of the Theravada and Western vipassana movement, and none at all from Vajrayana schools so anyone familiar with those is welcome to make additions.
Theravada Groups
Buddhist Society of Western Australia
Talks by Ajahn Brahm and others
- Ajahn Brahm is a Theravada teacher (in the Thai forrest tradition of Ajahn Chah) whose talks have gained huge popularity through both this website as well as BSWA's Youtube channel. Brahm has a British working-class charm and an engaging, humorous teaching style filled with personal anecdotes.
Dhamma Talks
Talks by various teachers
- This site features talks from teachers in the Thai forest tradition, most of whom are pupils of Ajahn Chah or Ajahn Sumedho. I particularly like the talks of Ajahn Sundara, a French-born former dancer who has the most beautiful voice and soothing teaching style.
Dharma Punx NYC
Talks by Josh Korda
- Korda leads the New York City branch of the informal group started by Noah Levine. Despite the (nominally) punk rock thrust, these are surprisingly some of the most cogent, concise and practical talks available. Most talks are thirty minutes or shorter, and Korda has a very good grasp of the Pali canon.
Western Insight Meditation Movement
Insight Meditation Center
Talks by Gil Fronsdal and various visiting teachers
- Fronsdal has recently published a very good translation of the Dhammapada. He is familiar with both the Theravada and Zen traditions (though his talks generally focus on the former). Fronsdal has a very grounded, down-to-earth teaching style that makes often obscure concepts quite approachable to Westerners.
Insight Meditation Center of Washington
Talks by Tara Brach
- This is my own local group. Brach is a psychologist who has studied vipassana with Jack Kornfield. She incorporates quite a lot of anecdotes and poetry into her talks, most of which deal Buddhist applications to emotional healing. She has a very calming voice and I have found her talks especially welcome during high-stress period in my life. Talks are general 45 minutes to an hour, followed by a guided meditation. Also new on the site as of January is a beautifully written introductory guide to meditation.
Portland Insight Meditation Center
Talks by Robert Beatty
- Beatty has become one of my favorite dharma teachers. His talks are eloquent and he has an often sharp insight into Western culture. Like Tara Brach, he integrates quite a lot of poetry and anecdotes into his talks. He uses a drum when he recites a poem or tells a story, which gives the talks an almost ritualistic feel.
London Insight Meditation
Talks by various teachers
- The London Insight group features some excellent talks not to be found elsewhere, from some of the leading Western Buddhist (mostly Theravada) teachers, including Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg and Stephen Batchelor. Other recommended teachers are Robert Burbea and Christina Feldman.
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
Talks by various teachers
- I haven't listened to the talks on this site, but I see some familiar names from the Western vipassana movement.
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
Talks by Larry Rosenberg, Michael and Narayan Liebenson
- Of particular note here are some very interesting talks by Rosenberg (author of Living in the Light of Death) on death meditation and the "fire sermon" (Ādittapariyāya Sutta) and from the Liebensons on opening to dukkha and everyday dharma.
Zen Groups
San Francisco Zen Center
Talks by Various Teachers
- This library contains talks by many teachers who are either visiting or regulars at the SFZC. I admittedly haven't listened to very many of these talks being primarily familiar with the Theravada tradition, but this is probably a very good resource if you are interested in Western Zen.
Zen Center of San Diego
Talks by Ezra and Elizabeth Bayda
- Both Ezra and Elizabeth Bayda are students of Charlotte Joko-Beck, author of the popular Everyday Zen. Their approach mirrors Joko-Beck's commitment to a Zen free of an esoteric enlightenment complex, more concerned with mindfulness of the everyday aspects of our lives. I particularly like Bayda's "nothing to do" meditation instructions.
All Sects
Dharma Seed
- This is probably the largest collection of dharma talks available anywhere. It offers a searchable database of talks from teachers all around the world from all major sects. It can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to Buddhism, but is invaluable when you have at least an intermediate understanding.
If you know of any other websites, please feel free to link to them. I currently am not aware of many online dharma talks from groups outside of the Theravada and Western vipassana movement, and none at all from Vajrayana schools so anyone familiar with those is welcome to make additions.
Theravada Groups
Buddhist Society of Western Australia
Talks by Ajahn Brahm and others
- Ajahn Brahm is a Theravada teacher (in the Thai forrest tradition of Ajahn Chah) whose talks have gained huge popularity through both this website as well as BSWA's Youtube channel. Brahm has a British working-class charm and an engaging, humorous teaching style filled with personal anecdotes.
Dhamma Talks
Talks by various teachers
- This site features talks from teachers in the Thai forest tradition, most of whom are pupils of Ajahn Chah or Ajahn Sumedho. I particularly like the talks of Ajahn Sundara, a French-born former dancer who has the most beautiful voice and soothing teaching style.
Dharma Punx NYC
Talks by Josh Korda
- Korda leads the New York City branch of the informal group started by Noah Levine. Despite the (nominally) punk rock thrust, these are surprisingly some of the most cogent, concise and practical talks available. Most talks are thirty minutes or shorter, and Korda has a very good grasp of the Pali canon.
Western Insight Meditation Movement
Insight Meditation Center
Talks by Gil Fronsdal and various visiting teachers
- Fronsdal has recently published a very good translation of the Dhammapada. He is familiar with both the Theravada and Zen traditions (though his talks generally focus on the former). Fronsdal has a very grounded, down-to-earth teaching style that makes often obscure concepts quite approachable to Westerners.
Insight Meditation Center of Washington
Talks by Tara Brach
- This is my own local group. Brach is a psychologist who has studied vipassana with Jack Kornfield. She incorporates quite a lot of anecdotes and poetry into her talks, most of which deal Buddhist applications to emotional healing. She has a very calming voice and I have found her talks especially welcome during high-stress period in my life. Talks are general 45 minutes to an hour, followed by a guided meditation. Also new on the site as of January is a beautifully written introductory guide to meditation.
Portland Insight Meditation Center
Talks by Robert Beatty
- Beatty has become one of my favorite dharma teachers. His talks are eloquent and he has an often sharp insight into Western culture. Like Tara Brach, he integrates quite a lot of poetry and anecdotes into his talks. He uses a drum when he recites a poem or tells a story, which gives the talks an almost ritualistic feel.
London Insight Meditation
Talks by various teachers
- The London Insight group features some excellent talks not to be found elsewhere, from some of the leading Western Buddhist (mostly Theravada) teachers, including Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg and Stephen Batchelor. Other recommended teachers are Robert Burbea and Christina Feldman.
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
Talks by various teachers
- I haven't listened to the talks on this site, but I see some familiar names from the Western vipassana movement.
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
Talks by Larry Rosenberg, Michael and Narayan Liebenson
- Of particular note here are some very interesting talks by Rosenberg (author of Living in the Light of Death) on death meditation and the "fire sermon" (Ādittapariyāya Sutta) and from the Liebensons on opening to dukkha and everyday dharma.
Zen Groups
San Francisco Zen Center
Talks by Various Teachers
- This library contains talks by many teachers who are either visiting or regulars at the SFZC. I admittedly haven't listened to very many of these talks being primarily familiar with the Theravada tradition, but this is probably a very good resource if you are interested in Western Zen.
Zen Center of San Diego
Talks by Ezra and Elizabeth Bayda
- Both Ezra and Elizabeth Bayda are students of Charlotte Joko-Beck, author of the popular Everyday Zen. Their approach mirrors Joko-Beck's commitment to a Zen free of an esoteric enlightenment complex, more concerned with mindfulness of the everyday aspects of our lives. I particularly like Bayda's "nothing to do" meditation instructions.
All Sects
Dharma Seed
- This is probably the largest collection of dharma talks available anywhere. It offers a searchable database of talks from teachers all around the world from all major sects. It can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to Buddhism, but is invaluable when you have at least an intermediate understanding.
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Comments
In any event, her talks have made a huge difference to me, in all my noobness, as have some Youtube talks by John Kabat Zinn.
Also, as refered in the OP, Ajahn Brahm and Gil Fronsdel have made a huge difference to me!
This is great!
Palzang
Thank you, Palzang--I'm adding that site to my collection as well. So much to listen to!
Marla
And thanks to jinzang, Palzang and jason for the additional links.
.
No problem.
http://www.lamrim.com/index2.html
M
http://web.me.com/mkocsis/Site/Welcome.html
I have a question,it`s maybe a stupid one(If such a thing exists)but I would like to ask you;What is (a) Dharma.I just can`t understand what`s really meant.
I got this far;Is it;The essance of existance ???
If you could help me I would be very much obliged.
I hope it`s all right,you`ve been so kind to me since I`ve been on this site and I hope that when I have a question I can ask you.
I wish you all the best,greetings from a chilly Holland;Eric.(And to all others).
P.S.;And what is the most basic,unclutterd form of Buddhism ???(I don`t like all the "extra`s",the theorizing,the philosophizing around Buddhism).
The most basic, uncluttered form of Buddhism, imho, is Zen because they don't really deal with all the philosophizing and book larnin', just direct experience. The practice is mainly meditation. It is very simple and straightforward.
Palzang
I hope you`ll keep helping me when I`m "stuck".
I wish you a very nice day and weekend;Eric.:)
Compassion is Revolution! <= That is very very true !!!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dalai-lama-audio-teachings/id314127155
or here
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podcasts/110145
May it benefit all beings.
Palzang,I don`t have peace in my head\mind and I so much want to meditate but the only way I can do this (For now,I hope !) is to listen to music while meditating.Is this still meditating ? I try,for now,to train myself to meditate and I see the music as a stepping stone.In the future I hope to free my mind but it`s so difficult for me ! (It`s still a chaos in my head because of my past.I stopped with the crazy life about 6 years ago but then had to care for my mother 24/7 so I still could not "work on myself".Only since she died a few months ago I have real time for myself.)What I`m trying to ask is;Is it still meditating what I do and do you have any advice for me ?
I wish everybody (LifeIsSuffering/Palzang) a very nice week,thanks;Eric.:)
PS:To have no "quiet/peace" in my mind is the biggest problem in my life !
Palzang
Robina Courtin (Tibetan)
Australian-born Buddhist teacher who works with people in prisons and the underprivileged in California. Has a very direct, engaging teaching style.
Seattle Insight Meditation Society (Western Insight Meditation)
Talks by Rodney Smith
Smith conveys the accessibility and clarity in presenting Theravada teachings characteristic of Western vipassana.
Sharon Salzberg (Western Insight Meditation)
Salzberg's focus is loving-kindness (metta) meditation. The site provides some guided meditations and a select number of topical talks.
Stephen and Martine Batchelor (Zen and "Agnostic" Buddhism)
Martine Batchelor's talks in particular are charming. She has a wonderful, easygoing approach to some very complicated topics. Her husband (author of Buddhism without Beliefs and Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist are a bit more scholarly.
Tsem Tulku Rinpoche (Tibetan Buddhism)
Tzem Tulku's talks are extremely accessible -- he speaks with clarity and concision, while presenting a large amount of information on Tibetan Buddhism in a way that Americans in particular can relate to them. There is also a Youtube channel with an extensive amount of video dharma.
I think that these talks are from a retreat being led by Thich Nhat Hanh right now. excellent teachings.
2010 Autumn Teachings from H.H. The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Topic: “How to Generate Relative Bodhichitta”
Location: Gyuto University Monastery, Dharmasala, India
Date: September 15th – 19th, 2010
http://www.karmapa-teachings.org/
Some recent excellent talks from:
Ajahn Sumedho, and also Ajahn Amaro, of the Theravada Thai Forest tradition,
with more to be added as time goes by.
http://www.amaravati.org/abmnew/index.php/teachings/audio
.
http://metta.org.au/media/audio
http://www.audiodharma.org/
I am new at Kadampa, and there's an aspect that make me have some doubts about the kadampa's path. Since all teachings and rituals are payed my question is: what about those who cannot pay to access these meetings? Is Buddhism only for those who can afford to pay...?
If someone could explain me I would appreciate.
Thank you!
anita.etkine@gmail.com
Thanks!
I have now put my iPOD to good use now!! I highly recommend the Dharma talks by Ajahn Brahm. Many thanks!!
Dazza
Weekly Courses
http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/
I'm new to this forum but wanted to post another location for Dharma talks. These are done live on Sunday mornings but can also be played back at a later time.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/brightdawnsangha
Audio files only.