Shows
Free Buddhist AudioPhilosophising As the Earth What is ‘animism’ and what kind of philosophy does it entail? Dhivan considers how animism rests on an intuition about the aliveness of the world, and how this intuition can inform a mode of philosophy that does not bypass the earth as the living presence behind all thinking. This talk was given at Adhisthana as part of the series Wisdom of the Earth: Philosophy and the Climate Crisis, 2023. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: A full, curated, quality Dhar...2025-06-281h 09
Diggin' the DharmaHow We Become a SelfThe Buddha described humanity as tangled like string, knotted like a ball of thread. This tangle is a result of not seeing clearly the dependent co-arising— paticca-samupadda-- of phenomena. This is one of the most important of the early teachings. It can be seen through the lens of individual dissatisfaction and of course, through social, political and cultural dissatisfaction. Doug and Jon explore the teaching and how we bring it into our practice. Dhivan Thomas Jones's book: This Being, That BecomesVideos:Playlist on dependent origination at Doug's Dharma: https://www.youtube.com/pla...2024-07-1424 min
Dharmabytes from Free Buddhist AudioThe Conversion of King Pasenadi Dhivan recounts the conversion of King Pasenadi by the Buddha. Excerpted from the talk A Courtesan, a Killer and a King given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2016 *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. 3,000,000 downloads and counting! Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio or Dharmabytes in you...2024-03-2803 minDharmabytes from free buddhist audioThe Conversion of King Pasenadi Dhivan recounts the conversion of King Pasenadi by the Buddha. Excerpted from the talk A Courtesan, a Killer and a King given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2016 *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. 3,000,000 downloads and counting! Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio or Dharmabytes in you...2024-03-2803 min
Dharmabytes from Free Buddhist AudioThe Present Moment is our Joy Dhivan moves through an exploration of joy, in both its mundane and grander manifestations. As he does so, he recalls the Buddha’s realization that joy and happiness arise when our life coalesces around our deepest values, often connected with relaxing in meditation. This is what may lead to Awakening for any and all of us… From the talk In the Cool Shade of the Tree: Planting the Seed of Joy In Our Meditation Practice given at Buddhafield, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcas...2024-01-2903 minDharmabytes from free buddhist audioThe Present Moment is our Joy Dhivan moves through an exploration of joy, in both its mundane and grander manifestations. As he does so, he recalls the Buddha’s realization that joy and happiness arise when our life coalesces around our deepest values, often connected with relaxing in meditation. This is what may lead to Awakening for any and all of us… From the talk In the Cool Shade of the Tree: Planting the Seed of Joy In Our Meditation Practice given at Buddhafield, 2022. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcas...2024-01-2903 min
Free Buddhist AudioThe Discourse On the Not-Self Characteristic Dhivan discusses the Discourse on the Not-Self Characteristic or Anattalakkhana Sutta (also known as the Discourse to the Group of Five or Pañcavaggiya Sutta), believed to be the second discourse given by the Buddha. This talk was given at Bristol Buddhist Centre, 2017, as part of the series Discourses from the Pali Canon. *** Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. 3,000,000 downloads and counting!Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Pod...2023-09-231h 17
Free Buddhist AudioThe Discourse to the KalamasDhivan offers this short discourse showing the Buddha addressing a group of people called the Kalamas, who have heard all too many religious teachers telling them what to think, even when it contradicts what the last teacher said. The Buddha instead advises them how to judge for themselves about religion. He also teaches them how to practice the brahma-vihara meditations, and to think for themselves how effective they are. Talk given at Bristol Buddhist Centre as part of a series of four talks entitled Discourses from the Pali Canon, 2017. *** Subscribe to our...2022-11-051h 12
Dharmabytes from Free Buddhist AudioRooted in Compassion: A Remarkable BeingDhivan brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual, changing the world he took part in, stepping out of history "with the walk of a lion, the walk of a swan.” From the talk What Do We Really Know About the Buddha? given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2008 *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On G...2022-05-3002 minDharmabytes from free buddhist audioRooted in Compassion: A Remarkable BeingDhivan brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual, changing the world he took part in, stepping out of history "with the walk of a lion, the walk of a swan.” From the talk What Do We Really Know About the Buddha? given at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 2008 *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On Google Podcasts Bite-sized inspiration three times every week. Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On Spotify | On G...2022-05-3002 minDharmabytes from Free Buddhist AudioAncestral Sense of BeingDhivan, author of 'This Being, That Becomes', talks about some of the historical Buddha's ideas on how conscious awareness can influence unconscious patterns that keep us imprisoned in a fixed sense of self. Excerpted from the talk entitled Doors to Freedom - the Buddha's Psychology of Liberation, Buddhafield, 2012. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-sized inspiration three times every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio o...2021-11-2201 minDharmabytes from free buddhist audioAncestral Sense of BeingDhivan, author of 'This Being, That Becomes', talks about some of the historical Buddha's ideas on how conscious awareness can influence unconscious patterns that keep us imprisoned in a fixed sense of self. Excerpted from the talk entitled Doors to Freedom - the Buddha's Psychology of Liberation, Buddhafield, 2012. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-sized inspiration three times every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio o...2021-11-2201 minDharmabytes from Free Buddhist AudioA Non-Existing SelfDhivan talks about some ways in which Buddhists deny the self beginning with how the non-self teaching is presented in the Pali scriptures. From the talk entitled Denying the Self as part of the series Symposium on the Non-Self given at Adhisthana, 2018. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-sized inspiration three times every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio or Dharmabytes in your favourite podcast service! 2021-10-1401 minDharmabytes from free buddhist audioA Non-Existing SelfDhivan talks about some ways in which Buddhists deny the self beginning with how the non-self teaching is presented in the Pali scriptures. From the talk entitled Denying the Self as part of the series Symposium on the Non-Self given at Adhisthana, 2018. *** Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-sized inspiration three times every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast - a full Dharma talk every week! (Apple Podcasts) Subscribe using these RSS feeds or search for Free Buddhist Audio or Dharmabytes in your favourite podcast service! 2021-10-1401 min
The Buddhist CentreExploring Buddhist Modernism
"I see philosophy as not only part of the great modernist, or western project of understanding, but feeding into the Buddhist project of bringing awakened values into the world" - Dhivan
Sanghadhara chats to Dhivan, Silavadin and Dr Matt Drage who recently led a philosophy symposium at Adhisthana called 'Exploring Buddhist Modernism'.
The premise of this symposium being that western Buddhism has been deeply conditioned and informed by assumptions of the modern age: in particular, by affective scientific naturalism, romantic expressivism, and the Protestant reformation. Therefore those who are practicing as western Buddhists need to engage with these t...2020-02-0630 min
Free Buddhist AudioThe Buddhas Noble QuestThis week's FBA Podcast is entitled The Buddhas Noble Quest by Dhivan.
In this talk given at a Sangha evening at Bristol Buddhist Centre, Dhivan considers what we can learn from the story of the noble quest of the Buddha. This story is recounted in the Discourse on the Noble Quest (Ariyapariyesana-sutta) in the Middle-length Discourses (Majjhima-nikaya). In it we can almost believe we are hearing a memory of the Buddhas own words, as he recounts his going forth, his study under great meditation teachers, h2017-04-1533 min
Free Buddhist AudioThe Buddhas Noble QuestThis week’s FBA Podcast is entitled The Buddhas Noble Quest by Dhivan. In this talk given at a Sangha evening at Bristol Buddhist Centre, Dhivan considers what we can learn from the story of the noble quest of the Buddha. This story is recounted in the Discourse on the Noble Quest (Ariyapariyesana-sutta) in the Middle-length Discourses (Majjhima-nikaya). In it we can almost believe we are hearing a memory of the Buddhas own words, as he recounts his going forth, his study under great meditation teachers, his eventually leaving them, his austerities, and finally his awakening. Dhivan dr...2017-04-1533 minDharmabytes from free buddhist audioKnowing the Dangers, Seeking the NobleFear is the great modern disease. Helping to create the conditions of fearlessness is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte podcast is entitledand#8220;Knowing the Dangers, Seeking the Nobleand#8221; by Dhivan. Here, Dhivan draws out some of the continuing significance of the story of the noble quest, as a kind of blueprint for the model of the Dharma life as heroic self-development. From the talk The Buddhas Noble Quest given at a Sangha evening at Bristol Buddhist Centre.2016-06-2709 minDharmabytes from Free Buddhist AudioKnowing the Dangers, Seeking the NobleFear is the great modern disease. Helping to create the conditions of fearlessness is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte podcast is entitledand#8220;Knowing the Dangers, Seeking the Nobleand#8221; by Dhivan. Here, Dhivan draws out some of the continuing significance of the story of the noble quest, as a kind of blueprint for the model of the Dharma life as heroic self-development. From the talk The Buddhas Noble Quest given at a Sangha evening at Bristol Buddhist Centre.2016-06-2709 minFree Buddhist AudioDharma and NatureThis week’s FBA Podcast was given at the London Buddhist Centre’s Dharma Day celebration, July 2014. “Dharma and Nature” by Dhivan, author of “This Being, That Becomes”. The word Dharma means many things, including “nature” – referring to how things work, the true nature of things. We also use the word to refer to the whole interconnected living world. The meanings of the world only partly overlap, which gives us the starting point for this precise, thoughtful, evocative Dharma talk.2014-08-021h 05
Free Buddhist AudioDharma and NatureThis week's FBA Podcast was given at the London Buddhist Centre's Dharma Day celebration, July 2014. "Dharma and Nature" by Dhivan, author of "This Being, That Becomes". The word Dharma means many things, including “nature” - referring to how things work, the true nature of things. We also use the word to refer to the whole interconnected living world. The meanings of the world only partly overlap, which gives us the starting point for this precise, thoughtful, evocative Dharma talk.2014-08-021h 05
Free Buddhist AudioFreedom of HeartOur FBA Podcast this week, "Freedom of Heart," a talk by Dhivan as part of the International Urban Retreat, the theme of which is metta 'blazing like the sun'.2014-02-2255 minFree Buddhist AudioFreedom of HeartOur FBA Podcast this week, “Freedom of Heart,” a talk by Dhivan as part of the International Urban Retreat, the theme of which is metta ‘blazing like the sun’.2014-02-2255 min
Free Buddhist AudioWhat Do We Really Know About the Buddha?Be prepared for the odd surprise in our FBA Podcast today where Dhivan asks: "What Do We Really Know About the Buddha?"
A lovely talk here from the excellent Dhivan. As he sifts the information that's come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individ2013-05-2527 minFree Buddhist AudioWhat Do We Really Know About the Buddha? Be prepared for the odd surprise in our FBA Podcast today where Dhivan asks: “What Do We Really Know About the Buddha?” A lovely talk here from the excellent Dhivan. As he sifts the information that’s come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual, changing the world he took part in, st...2013-05-2527 min
Free Buddhist AudioAshvaghosha: India’s Great Buddhist PoetIn this week's FBA Podcast, "Ashvaghosha: India's Great Buddhist Poet" Dhivan introduces Ashvaghosha, the Buddhist poet of 2nd c. AD India. Two of his works survive: a poetic re-telling of the Buddha's life-story ('The Buddhacarita' or 'Acts of the Buddha'), and 'Handsome Nanda', about the conversion of the Buddha's sensuous and wife-loving cousin to the Dharma.
Here Dhivan shares some of his own translations of Ashvaghosha from Sanskrit and Pali sources, in this accessible and humorous introduction to som2013-03-091h 04Free Buddhist AudioAshvaghosha: India’s Great Buddhist PoetIn this week’s FBA Podcast, “Ashvaghosha: India’s Great Buddhist Poet” Dhivan introduces Ashvaghosha, the Buddhist poet of 2nd c. AD India. Two of his works survive: a poetic re-telling of the Buddha’s life-story (‘The Buddhacarita’ or ‘Acts of the Buddha’), and ‘Handsome Nanda’, about the conversion of the Buddha’s sensuous and wife-loving cousin to the Dharma. Here Dhivan shares some of his own translations of Ashvaghosha from Sanskrit and Pali sources, in this accessible and humorous introduction to some fine Buddhist poetry. This talk given at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 20 August 2009, on the occasion of the laun...2013-03-091h 04
Free Buddhist AudioThe Myth of Tristan and Iseult: Love, Transgression and DeathIn this week's FBA Podcast , "The Myth of Tristan and Iseult: Love, Transgression and Death," Dhivan explores the origins and significance of the myth of Tristan and Iseult, relating it to the practise of Buddhism in the modern west.
The twelfth-century Cornish story of Tristan and Iseult has captivated imaginations and inspired poets, composers and artists ever since. What is it about this tale of a love potion and a doomed love, of adultery and lies, that is so fascinating?
The talk was given on 11 Sept2012-12-2254 minFree Buddhist AudioThe Myth of Tristan and Iseult: Love, Transgression and DeathIn this week’s FBA Podcast , “The Myth of Tristan and Iseult: Love, Transgression and Death,” Dhivan explores the origins and significance of the myth of Tristan and Iseult, relating it to the practise of Buddhism in the modern west. The twelfth-century Cornish story of Tristan and Iseult has captivated imaginations and inspired poets, composers and artists ever since. What is it about this tale of a love potion and a doomed love, of adultery and lies, that is so fascinating? The talk was given on 11 September 2008 at Cambridge Buddhist Centre, on the occasion of the la...2012-12-2254 min
Free Buddhist AudioWhat Do We Really Know About the Buddha?In "What Do We Really Know About the Buddha?" Dhivan delivers a lovely talk with the odd surprise as he considers the relationship between what we think we may know about the Buddha, and what the historical evidence suggests. As Dhivan sifts the information that's come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich a2010-11-2427 minFree Buddhist AudioWhat Do We Really Know About the Buddha?In “What Do We Really Know About the Buddha?” Dhivan delivers a lovely talk with the odd surprise as he considers the relationship between what we think we may know about the Buddha, and what the historical evidence suggests. As Dhivan sifts the information that’s come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate indivi...2010-11-2427 min
Free Buddhist AudioWhat Do We Really Know About the Buddha?A lovely talk this month, from the excellent Dhivan. Be prepared for the odd surprise as he considers the relationship between what we think we may know about the Buddha, and what the historical evidence suggests.
As Dhivan sifts the information that's come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving l2008-01-3026 minFree Buddhist AudioWhat Do We Really Know About the Buddha?A lovely talk this month, from the excellent Dhivan. Be prepared for the odd surprise as he considers the relationship between what we think we may know about the Buddha, and what the historical evidence suggests. As Dhivan sifts the information that’s come down to us, we meet several different versions of a human being as he blurs with the archetypal presence he has also come to represent. Yet whichever manifestation we prefer, more than anything this talk brings us face to face with the rich and moving legacy of a brilliant and truly compassionate individual, ch...2008-01-3026 min