Talk 6 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

Talk 6 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (6) - Moving to Perfect Balance

Talk 5 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

Talk 5 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (5) - Coasting to Freedom

Talk 4 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

Talk 4 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (4) - Refreshing Energy, Joyful States

Talk 3 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

Talk 3 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (3) - The Investigation Begins

Talk 2 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

Talk 2 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (2) - No Surprise...Mindfulness is Necessary

Talk 1 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

Talk 1 (of 6) in a 6-day Virtual Retreat. Given at Birken Forest Monastery, December 2022.

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (1) - The Structure of the Enlightened Mind

Talk 5 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the kasinas of the four primary colors, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

Talk 5 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the kasinas of the four primary colors, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

The Natural Elements (5) -The Elements of Peace

Color

Talk 4 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the kasinas of the four primary colors, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

Talk 4 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the kasinas of the four primary colors, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

The Natural Elements (4) -The Color Kasinas

Talk 3 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the air and fire element kasinas, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

Talk 3 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the air and fire element kasinas, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

The Natural Elements (3) - Transforming the World Around You

Talk 2 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the earth and water element kasinas, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

Talk 2 (of 5) in a 5-day Virtual Retreat. This talk focuses on the earth and water element kasinas, and was given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, June 2022.

The Natural Elements (2) - The Sign of Success

Dhamma talks given by Venerable Ajahn Sona, the Abbot of Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery, Canada.

Ajahn Sona

Talk 7 (of 9) in the 10-Day Virtual Mindfulness Retreat, given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, May 2020.

Talk 7 (of 9) in the 10-Day Virtual Mindfulness Retreat, given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery, May 2020.

Virtual Mindfulness Retreat (7) - Moving Towards Lucidity

Part 1 in a continuing series on Buddhist Cosmology. In dialogue: Ajahn Sona and Ajahn Punnadhammo.

Part 1 in a continuing series on Buddhist Cosmology. In dialogue: Ajahn Sona and Ajahn Punnadhammo.

Buddhist Cosmology (1) - Space, Time & Being

Teatime talk given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery on the topic of illness and loss during this time of the pandemic. Recorded April 8, 2020.

Teatime talk given by Ajahn Sona at Birken Forest Monastery on the topic of illness and loss during this time of the pandemic. Recorded April 8, 2020.

Teatime at Birken: Illness Is No Surprise

Part 2 in a series of talks on Right Effort, the sixth (and often neglected) step of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path.

Right Effort (part 2) - How to prevent troublesome emotions

Talk 5 of 11 in the series of talks on Right Effort, given by Ajahn Sona at the Pacific Hermitage retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2019. 

Talk 5 of 11 in the series of talks on Right Effort, given by Ajahn Sona at the Pacific Hermitage retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2019.

Right Effort Retreat (5) - Rising Above Normality

Talk 4 of 11 in the series of talks on Right Effort, given by Ajahn Sona at the Pacific Hermitage retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2019. 

Talk 4 of 11 in the series of talks on Right Effort, given by Ajahn Sona at the Pacific Hermitage retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2019.

Right Effort Retreat (4) - A Better Map

Talk 6 on 'Development of the Higher Mind', by Ven. Ajahn Sona, Pacific Hermitage Retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2018.

The Higher Mind (part 6) - Samadhi Is the Heart Unburdoned

Part 1 in a series of talks on Right Effort, the sixth (and often neglected) step of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path.

Right Effort (part 1) - Introduction

Talk 3 on Metta / Loving-kindness by Ven. Ajahn Sona, Pacific Hermitage Retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2017.

Metta (part 3) - Kissing the Leper

#2 in the series of talks on Ten Perfections, the outstanding virtues that were cultivated by the Buddha before his enlightenment. Discover a multitude of practical ways to nourish and sustain these virtues in daily life.

The Ten Perfections (2) - Virtue

#3 in the series of talks on Ten Perfections, the outstanding virtues that were cultivated by the Buddha before his enlightenment. Discover a multitude of practical ways to nourish and sustain these virtues in daily life.

The Ten Perfections (3) - Renunciation

Part 5 in a series of short talks on the Five Hindrances, the mental factors that are pervasive obstacles to peace in both meditation and our daily lives.

 Five Hindrances (part 5) - Doubt

Talk 1 on Metta / Loving-kindness by Ven. Ajahn Sona, Pacific Hermitage Retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2017.

Metta (part 1) - Basis for Insight

Part 2 in a continuing series on Buddhist Cosmology. In dialogue: Ajahn Sona and Ajahn Punnadhammo

Part 2 in a continuing series on Buddhist Cosmology. In dialogue: Ajahn Sona and Ajahn Punnadhammo

Buddhist Cosmology (2) - Asura Realm

Where Do the Children Play

Talk 6 on Metta / Loving-kindness by Ven. Ajahn Sona, Pacific Hermitage Retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2017.

Metta (6) - Go Bless Yourself

Talk 1 on 'Development of the Higher Mind', by Ven. Ajahn Sona, Pacific Hermitage Retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2018.

The Higher Mind (part 1) - Why Be Good

Talk 7 on Metta / Loving-kindness by Ven. Ajahn Sona, Pacific Hermitage Retreat, Birken Forest Monastery, May 2017.

Metta (7) - Seven-day Silent Symphony

Part 2 in a continuing series of talks about cancer and the Buddhist approach to illness. Ajahn Sona in an interview with Piyadassi, whose experience with cancer was greatly supported by Ajahn Sona's coaching and her healthy attitude towards the disease.

Cancer Wisdom (part 2) - Interview with Piyadassi

This is an ongoing series with Jataka stories told by Margo McLoughlin. Jatakas are native to India and belong to the first Buddhist literature concerning the previous births of the Buddha in both human and animal form. The Acrobats (Citta-Sambhuta-Jataka) is Jataka no. 498 in the six-volume series of translations edited by E. B. Cowell. Margo translated and adapted this story.Margo McLoughlin is a storyteller, writer and teacher, based in Victoria, on the west coast of Canada. While on staff at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, Margo began studying Pali, the language of the earliest Buddhist teachings. For the past twenty years she has been translating, adapting and performing the Jataka tales and other stories from the Buddhist tradition. For more about Margo, please visit: margostoryteller.net.

This is an ongoing series with Jataka stories told by Margo McLoughlin. Jatakas are native to India and belong to the first Buddhist literature concerning the previous births of the Buddha in both human and animal form. The Acrobats (Citta-Sambhuta-Jataka) is Jataka no. 498 in the six-volume series of translations edited by E. B. Cowell. Margo translated and adapted this story. Margo McLoughlin is a storyteller, writer and teacher, based in Victoria, on the west coast of Canada. While on staff at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, Margo began studying Pali, the language of the earliest Buddhist teachings. For the past twenty years she has been translating, adapting and performing the Jataka tales and other stories from the Buddhist tradition. For more about Margo, please visit: <a href="http://margostoryteller.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">margostoryteller.net</a>.

Jataka Stories (3) - The Acrobats

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best podcast episodes about true crime. For any thrill seeking podcast listeners who just can't get enough of the captivating stories of murderers and criminals. This topic has all the best episodes from many different true crime podcasts.  Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!