Audio Dhamma

[camerata]

I recently got an iPod Nano as a birthday present and started exploring audio dhamma. My first impression is I like the iPod much better than my old Sony Minidisk Walkman, and it was convenient enough that I loaded about 700Mb of audio talks on it before I went on vacation and thoroughly enjoyed listening to them on the flights and at night in the hotel.

Personally, I prefer reading dhamma but there is so much stuff recorded now that isn't available as text that you miss out on a lot by not having access to audio. The cons of audio are that it takes forever to download a 1-hour talk and it isn't easy to skim through it to see if you like it before downloading. The pros are that there's a lot of stuff available and it's very convenient in situations where you don't want to - or can't - read. Perhaps it more closely resembles a live dhamma talk than text, but I haven't found that to be significant to me. The same applies to video clips.

One problem with audio, though, is the talks obviously aren't edited and might not be very focussed. Another is that few of those giving the talks are compelling speakers, i.e. the substance might be good but the style might not.

From what I've heard so far, Thanissaro Bhikkhu wins hands down for the best delivery. He prepares in advance and gives a highly focussed 10-15 minute talk. With his bassy voice and close-to-the-mike technique he sounds like a late-night radio DJ and the overall effect is very intimate and easy to listen to. Bhikkhu Bodhi also has a fairly pleasant speaking style.

I find Ajahn Brahm's British schoolboy style a bit irritating but he's immensely popular and gives good talks, generally lasting one hour and "straight from the heart," as Ajahn Chah insisted. I also find Aj Sumedho and Aj Amaro a bit painful to listen to with all the "um" and "ah" and "you know" between phrases, but they also give good talks.

I haven't finished the 700Mb yet but here are two or three recommendations:

The Self by Aj Amaro. As interesting as Thanissaro's article on not-self as a strategy.

Generosity First by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. About how generosity is a necessary prerequisite for meditation.

Which yana? Hahayana! by Ajahn Brahm. About the differences between Buddhist traditions and how the people who write the books create the divisions.

[chutai]

I find Ajahn Brahm's British schoolboy style a bit irritating but he's immensely popular and gives good talks, generally lasting one hour and "straight from the heart," as Ajahn Chah insisted.

???

You've got me fascinated to hear what you mean by "Ajahn Brahm's British schoolboy style" ?

Do you have a link please?

Much obliged.

[camerata]

I find Ajahn Brahm's British schoolboy style a bit irritating but he's immensely popular and gives good talks, generally lasting one hour and "straight from the heart," as Ajahn Chah insisted.

???

In one of the books about Ajahn Chah - I think it was Venerable Father - there is a story about Ajahn Sumedho giving his first dhamma talk. He prepares all night and thinks he does a pretty good job. But right afterwards Ajahn Chah fixes him with a piercing look and says, "Don't ever do that again!" Ajahn Chah's monks (i.e. Aj Brahm, Aj Sumedho, Aj Amaro, et al) were supposed to speak straight from the heart without preparation. This doesn't make for very concise audio talks, though.

You've got me fascinated to hear what you mean by "Ajahn Brahm's British schoolboy style" ?

Do you have a link please?

Much obliged.

There's a link above for the Hahayana talk, which is a good one.

[chutai]

I thank you kind sir. I apologise for missing the link.

Which yana? Hahayana! by Ajahn Brahm.

[chutai]

Thank you camerata, I enjoyed listening to Ajahn Brahm's 'ha-ha yana' talk. And as he said earlier it was ad lib and therefore , I presume, speaking from the heart.

I must say that I also felt very much at ease with his Englishness in delivery, and even the sometimes flippant (?) humour. But I would say that wouldn't I.

Perhaps not so much "British schoolboy style" as ex-graduate reconciliation of the westtern intellectual tradition with valuable experience.

But this is neither here nor there. He did give me a few points to chew over.

Thanks once again.

[camerata]

I think Aj Brahm's "goofy humour" - as his publisher puts it - works very well in his talks and books, particularly since he speaks a lot to a general/beginner audience. The humour seems to have become his trademark.

One thing about audio is that you can clearly hear that the monks are having a good time chuckling away during the talks. I was kind of surprised to hear that Aj Sumedho was like this too.

[jamesc2000]

Thanks Camerata for the great links.

I don't mean to be greedy but post more links if you have them!

Thanks very much

[camerata]

All Thanissaro Bhikku's talks are at http://www.dhammatalks.org

Aj Brahm's talks are at http://www.bswa.org/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=4

Off-hand the talk that sticks in my mind as a good one is "Higher Criticism," which is about accepting criticism.

[jamesc2000]

Thank you very much for posting the links.

I just heard Ajahn Brahm's Attitude to Life and what he said really couldn't be more appropriate for me at this time of my life!

Thank you very much again!