Bhante Buddharakkhita’s Dharma Talks

Bhante Buddharakkhita was born and raised in Uganda. Meditating since 1993, he was ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk in 2002. Now residing at Bhavana Society in WV, he teaches worldwide and in 2005 founded the Uganda Buddhist Centre.

2020-09-30 Finding Peace in a Chaotic World 45:12 Download Listen Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

2020-08-30 Dharma Talk 41:54 Download Listen Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita’s Dhamma talk on Compassion and Equanimity–given at the Uganda Buddhist Centre temple. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Strengthening the Heart-Mind: A Retreat for Experienced Dharma Practitioners

2020-08-30 Meditation Instructions + Suggestions 29:01 Download Listen Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita’s meditation instructions on the three characteristics of existence (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, non-self)–given at the Uganda Buddhist Centre temple. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Strengthening the Heart-Mind: A Retreat for Experienced Dharma Practitioners

2020-08-28 Dharma Talk 42:21 Download Listen Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita’s Dhamma talk on working with difficult emotions and thought–given at the Uganda Buddhist Centre temple. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Strengthening the Heart-Mind: A Retreat for Experienced Dharma Practitioners

2020-08-28 Meditation Reflections & Guidance 29:39 Download Listen Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita’s meditation instructions on mindfulness of breathing–given at the Uganda Buddhist Centre temple. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Strengthening the Heart-Mind: A Retreat for Experienced Dharma Practitioners

2020-08-27 Welcome Talk 28:28 Download Listen Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita’s opening talk–given at the Uganda Buddhist Centre temple. Instructions on taking the refuges and precepts, call & response chanting, and remarks. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Strengthening the Heart-Mind: A Retreat for Experienced Dharma Practitioners

2020-03-10 Day 9 Brahma Vihara Practice- Compassion (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:19 Download Listen Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  March Monthlong

2020-03-09 Day 9 Morning Instructions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 56:21 Download Listen Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  March Monthlong

2020-03-06 The Theory and Practice of the 4 Elements (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:22 Download Listen Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  March Monthlong

2020-03-03 Day 3 Morning Instructions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 53:15 Download Listen Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  March Monthlong

2020-03-02 Day 2 Brahma Vihara Instructions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 47:16 Download Listen Metta Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  March Monthlong

2018-10-24 Meeting Judgemental and Self-Critical Mind with Mindfulness and Equanimity 43:47 Download Listen Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

2018-10-17 Freedom Through Practicing Right Effort 62:49 Download Listen Arousing and balancing effort can serve as a cause and condition for cultivating wholesome states of mind and gaining freedom from unwholesome states of mind. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-10-09 Liberation Through Understanding The Three Marks Of Existence 59:37 Download Listen A full understanding of the three marks of existence: impermanence, suffering, and not-self can lead to wisdom and liberating the mind from mental defilements. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-10-02 Meeting Difficult Emotions With Right Mindfulness: Part 2 59:57 Download Listen The arising of difficult emotions is beyond our control. However, the application of right mindfulness along with the five ways working with distractive thoughts can help us to overcome them. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-09-28 Exploration Of Metta 60:46 Download Listen Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-09-25 Q&A 35:25 Download Listen Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-09-19 Guided Meditation On A Mindfulness Of Pain. 33:51 Download Listen Meeting pain with mindfulness not helps us to gain a deeper understanding of our relationship with pain but also to gain insight knowledge into impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and non-self. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-09-18 What Helps and Does Not Help During A Meditation Retreat 61:41 Download Listen The acronym “SPACE” stands for S = Silence/slowing down. P = Patience A = attitude C = Continuity and E = Expectation free – are practices that are helpful for the success of your meditation retreat. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-09-13 Mindfulness Of Sound, Body, and Breathing 48:58 Download Listen Mindfulness of sound reminds us of the natural quality of mindfulness and mindfulness of the body and breathing helps us to be more centered and grounded Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2018-06-29 Day 1: Heart Practices – Loving-Kindness (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:22 Download Listen Having seen that all beings like oneself have desire for happiness, health and well-being one methodically practices loving-kindness for all beings. Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  Our History, Our Present, Our Future – An Insight Meditation Retreat for People of Color

2017-10-29 Unraveling Difficult Emotions – Sunday Afternoon 1:22:37 Download Listen New York Insight Meditation Center :  Unraveling Difficult Emotions Through the Practice of Loving-kindness and Mindfulness Meditation

2017-10-29 Unraveling Difficult Emotions – Sunday Afternoon Q&A and Bhante’s talking about Uganda Buddhist Centre 46:18 Download Listen New York Insight Meditation Center :  Unraveling Difficult Emotions Through the Practice of Loving-kindness and Mindfulness Meditation

2017-10-27 TBIF Unraveling Difficult Emotions – Introductory talk 1:16:05 Download Listen New York Insight Meditation Center :  Unraveling Difficult Emotions Through the Practice of Loving-kindness and Mindfulness Meditation

2017-10-23 Meeting Greed With Mindfulness and Wisdom. 64:33 Download Listen Through the practice of mindfulness and wisdom, we can begin to understand the gratification, danger and escape in case of sensual pleasure. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-10-17 Understanding Our Defences and How To Work With Them – Part 2 65:33 Download Listen Meeting our defenses with mindfulness and understanding can help us to let go of difficult emotions and attain peace, happiness, and freedom. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-10-10 Guided Meditation On Metta 61:26 Download Listen How to radiate Metta for a difficult person. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-10-09 Understanding Our Defensiveness – Part 1 62:09 Download Listen Understanding our defensiveness and how to mindfully work with difficult emotions – can lead to freedom. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-10-02 Arousing and Balancing The Five Spiritual Faculties 61:21 Download Listen When the five spiritual faculties are balanced. one can progress faster on the path to peace, happiness and final liberation. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-09-29 Guided Metta Meditation 34:55 Download Listen Radiating Metta toward your friend can help to build a stronger connection between oneself and others. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-09-25 Four modes of progress and working with difficult emotions. 62:10 Download Listen Mindfulness of difficult emotions can lead to a pleasant progress to peace, happiness, and awakening. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1 In collection Developing Our Practice

2017-09-25 Guided Meditation On Sleepiness and Dullness 50:01 Download Listen Mindfulness of sloth and torpor can help us in turning the hinderance into opportunities for alertness and awareness. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-09-19 Mindfulness Of Physical Pain 40:47 Download Listen Guided meditation on physical pain. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-09-18 Meeting Physical Pain With Right Mindfulness and Full understanding. 62:36 Download Listen The practice of right mindfulness and full understanding can help us meet physical pain with openness, compassion, and wisdom. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three-Month Retreat – Part 1

2017-06-29 Day 3 Morning Sit with Instructions: Mindfulness of Emotions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 59:29 Download Listen Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  Still I Rise: An Insight Meditation Retreat for Communities of Color

2014-12-02 A Buddhist Perspective On Spiritual Success 61:58 Download Listen The four wheels of success Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 2

2014-11-25 Guided meditation On Appreciative Joy 60:16 Download Listen Appreciative joy (mudita) is a quality of the heart and mind that wishes for the success of all beings. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 2

2014-11-21 Arousing and Balancing the Five Spiritual Faculities 61:31 Download Listen When the five spiritual or controlling faculties are aroused and balanced, they serve as the conditions and cause for attaining steadiness of mind. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 2

2014-11-06 Freedom From the Four Distorted Preceptions 61:06 Download Listen The practice of the four foundations of mindfulness can help us to overcome the four distorted perceptions; and lead us to freedom of the heart and mind. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 2

2014-11-05 Working with Anger and Other Difficult Emotions 47:30 Download Listen Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

2014-10-30 Equanimity – Bring Balance In Our Life 61:57 Download Listen Equanimity is a mental quality of the heart and mind which has a balance as regard to beings, situations and mental states. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 2

2014-10-30 Mindful Of Emotions 48:07 Download Listen The arising of emotion is beyond our control but mindfulness of emotion can make a difference between freedom and bondage Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 2

2014-10-21 Guided Metta Meditation 46:22 Download Listen Expanding our hearts and minds to embrace all beings in the world Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-10-19 The Third Nobel Truth 61:39 Download Listen The practice of mindfulness of fetters (mental defilements) Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-10-12 Transforming Fear Into Freedom 61:44 Download Listen Through mindfulness and wisdom (understanding) we can transform fear into freedom. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-10-05 The How of Happiness 60:51 Download Listen The Noble Eightfold Path provides and indispensable frame work for cultivating true happiness, inner peace and ultimate liberation Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-09-28 The Five Aggregates of Clinging 57:01 Download Listen Understanding the five aggregates of clinging from moment to moment of our experience can open the door to peace, happiness and freedom. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-09-27 Guided meditation 59:32 Download Listen Mindfulness of the body feelings, emotions, thoughts, and hindrances. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-09-26 Guided Meditation On Forgiveness 60:54 Download Listen Forgiveness does not mean condoning others evil or unskillful behaviors, but it does mean letting go of the emotion connection of feeling hurt and wounded. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-09-22 Guided Meditation On Pain 60:06 Download Listen Meeting pain with mindfulness is a very skilful way of understanding the true nature of unpleasant physical sensation. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-09-21 Mindfulness Of the Five Hinderances 59:23 Download Listen The practice of mindfulness of the five hindrances can help to understand their impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and impersonal nature and thereby experience freedom Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-09-17 Meeting The Five Hindrances With Mindfulness 56:10 Download Listen Guided Meditation on the five hindrances; sense desires, ill-will, restlessness and worry, sloth and torpor and doubt Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2014-07-02 Happiness Here and Now through the Eightfold Path 59:16 Download Listen This talk highlights how each step of the Eightfold Path leads to happiness. Bhante shows us how to practice with the path factors theoretically and practically in daily life. Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  Retreat for People of Color

2013-10-22 Five precepts and Forgiveness Practice 67:16 Download Listen Sharing of merit to all beings and using the five precepts as a foundation for practicing Dhamma daily life. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 2

2013-10-18 Anger 101 66:16 Download Listen Through mindfulness practice, we can cast off the traces of anger and turn it into opportunities for experiencing inner peace, happiness and freedom. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-10-16 Dharma Talk 57:51 Download Listen Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

2013-10-16 Q&A Session 19:33 Download Listen Questions about Karma – All beings are owners of their kamma; all beings have kamma as their property Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-10-11 Nibbana: the third noble truth of the cessation of suffering. 62:54 Download Listen Nibbana or Nirvana is the final goal of meditation practice From the time we begin the practice we begin to experience peace and happiness until we realize final liberation. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-10-10 Morning Questions and Answers 15:06 Download Listen How to work with the concept of “self” and “non-self” Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-10-04 Sharpening The Five Spiritual Faculties 62:06 Download Listen When the five spiritual faculties are aroused, sharpened and balanced – they can cut off the obstacles to the path of enlightenligment Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-10-04 Eight Precepts and Q&A 57:39 Download Listen Reflecting on one’s ethical conduct can bring a lot of gladness and joy in one’s meditation practice. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-09-30 Forgiveness Practice 59:35 Download Listen Forgiveness practice is a process of letting go of the emotion of feeling being hurt or wounded Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-09-28 Morning Questions and Answers 15:37 Download Listen The difference between equanimity and acceptance; the application of wise action and choice-less awareness. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-09-27 Equinimity 63:31 Download Listen Equanimity is a mental quality of the heart and mind that can be cultivated in order to gain a balanced view as regards to mental states and beings. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-09-21 Choice-less/Open Awareness 60:51 Download Listen The practice of choice-less awareness allows us to expand our awareness whenever the mind is over active or restless. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-09-20 Working With Obsessive Thoughts 61:46 Download Listen Seven ways of dealing with obsessive thoughts/distinctive thoughts . The arising of thoughts beyond our control. The awareness of thoughts can make a difference between freedom and bondage. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-09-15 Mindfulness Of Pain 61:26 Download Listen Through non-reactivity to pain we can begin to understand its true nature and gain insight of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and non-self. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-09-13 Renunciation / Letting Go 66:18 Download Listen Renunciation is a gateway to awakening. Through letting go of greed hatred and delusion, we can experience true happiness and ultimate liberation. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Three Month – Part 1

2013-06-19 Mindfulness Of Feelings And Choice less Awareness. 60:59 Download Listen Mindfulness of feeling is an expansion of awareness to the world of feelings. And choice less awareness is a suitable practice for an overactive or restless mind. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2013-06-18 Radiating Metta To A Difficult Person 66:51 Download Listen Dealing with a difficult person when sending metta. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2013-06-17 Working With The Five Hindrances 59:55 Download Listen The five hindrances can be overcome by the practice of mindfulness, concentration and insight meditation. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2013-04-10 The Way to Peace and Happiness 65:45 Download Listen The practice of the Noble Eightfold Path from moment to moment during intensive meditation retreat or in daily life can lead to peace, happiness and liberation/freedom. Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  Intensive Silent Vipassana Meditation Retreat for People of Color

2012-07-15 Equanimity in Our Daily Life: Awakening to Our True Nature #2 1:26:07 Download Listen What does it means to be awake from moment to moment? Do you have difficulties in finding balance in your life? Are you centered and grounded in your daily life? We will explore the last two of the seven factors of awakening: Concentration and Equanimity. When mindfulness and concentration practice gains momentum, we will begin to find balance in our daily life. Equanimity will organically arise and serve as a supporting factor on the path to inner-peace, true happiness and final awakening. New York Insight Meditation Center

2012-07-14 Equanimity in Our Daily Life: Awakening to Our True Nature #1 54:39 Download Listen What does it means to be awake from moment to moment? Do you have difficulties in finding balance in your life? Are you centered and grounded in your daily life? We will explore the last two of the seven factors of awakening: Concentration and Equanimity. When mindfulness and concentration practice gains momentum, we will begin to find balance in our daily life. Equanimity will organically arise and serve as a supporting factor on the path to inner-peace, true happiness and final awakening. The day will include mindfulness of walking, sitting, standing, discussion group, guided meditation instructions, question and answer session, and Dhamma talks. New York Insight Meditation Center :  NYI Regular Talks

2012-07-14 Equanimity in Our Daily Life: Awaking to Our True Nature 1:45:03 Download Listen What does it means to be awake from moment to moment? Do you have difficulties in finding balance in your life? Are you centered and grounded in your daily life? We will explore the last two of the seven factors of awakening: Concentration and Equanimity. When mindfulness and concentration practice gains momentum, we will begin to find balance in our daily life. Equanimity will organically arise and serve as a supporting factor on the path to inner-peace, true happiness and final awakening. New York Insight Meditation Center :  Equanimity in Our Daily Life: Awakening to Our True Nature

2012-07-02 Transforming Poison into Medicine 51:45 Download Listen Through mindfulness and wisdom, we can transfor the three poisons (greed, hatred and delusion) into generosity, lovingkindness and wisdom. Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  Annual People of Color Retreat: Deepening Your Dharma

2012-06-17 Guided Meditation On Thoughts And Emotions 53:10 Download Listen Detailed meditation instructions on how to work with thoughts and emotions. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2012-06-15 Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities 61:08 Download Listen By establishing strong mindfulness and wisdom, we can turn the five hindrances into opportunities for awakening Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2012-06-14 Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities 60:56 Download Listen By establishing strong mindfulness and wisdom, we can turn the five hindrances into opportunities for awakening Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2011-08-31 Appreciative Joy 58:22 Download Listen Appreciative joy is a mental factor theat can be cultivated by sharing and rejoicing in the success and happiness of other beings. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2011-08-30 Guided Metta Meditation 59:02 Download Listen Radiating loving kindness towards a dear friend and neutral person can help us to expand out awareness and open our heart to all beings. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2011-07-11 Appreciative Joy 55:17 Download Listen Appreciative joy is a mental state that can be cultivated towards all beings. A joyful and peaceful mind is an outcome of seeing, hearing or suspecting that others are being happy, cheerful and joyous. Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  Deepening Your Dharma

2010-07-11 Emotion Management Techniques (EMT) 62:55 Download Listen Emotion Management Techniques (EMT) are various mindful and skillful ways of transforming difficult emotions into opportunities for awakening. Through full understanding of the emotions and their true nature, we begin to open our heart and respond to the emotions with compassion and wisdom and thereby experience greater happiness and freedom. Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  People of Color Meditation Retreat

2009-07-01 First and Last Freedom: Right View 62:01 Download Listen Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  People of Color

2009-06-18 Freedom of the Heart and Mind: Metta 61:07 Download Listen Loving kindness (metta) is a mental state that can be developed through openness of our heart, thereby experiencing greater freedom of this mind/state. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2008-08-14 Tranquility And Concentration 63:49 Download Listen The tranquility and concentration factors of enlightenment are the natural outcome of mindfulness and wise attention. With a concentrated mind, one can see things as they really are. This is the path of awakening. Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  People of Color Retreat

2008-08-05 Brief Talk And Chanting 8:52 Download Listen Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Young Adult Retreat

2008-08-03 The Four Noble Truths 48:04 Download Listen Practicing the Four Noble Truths can help us to discouver the purpose of human life – to realize ultimate happiness/liberation. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  Investigating Life: Insight Meditation Retreat for 18-32 Year Olds

2008-06-30 Energy And Joy 62:39 Download Listen Energy is a factor that is useful for preventing or overcoming unwholesome states of mind and for cultivating wholesome states of mind. A joyful mind is a natural outcome of this unfolding prcess that leads to freedom and enlightenment. Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center :  People of Color Retreat

2006-07-29 The Beautiful State of Buddha Nature 57:12 Download Listen Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center