This podcast examines the power of the mind and how it can be used to influence our lives. It discusses the influence of the parami, kamma and rebirth, how the hindrances can hamper personal power and also warns about the potential dangers of the power of the mind. Finally it describes how certain acts of power can lead to enlightenment. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquility. This talk was given in December 2005 ..read more

This podcast discusses the role of renunciation in undertaking a Buddhist practice and the difference between renunciation and asceticism. It discusses how renunciation can show up our attachments and the hindrances to meditation, enable us to note the three marks of transience, unsatisfactoriness and non-self and finally, bring us to the realisation of nibbana. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquility. This talk was given in October 2005 ..read more

This talk discusses the topic of belief in self and the Buddha’s teaching of non-self, what we mean by “self” and how it develops. It introduces the Buddha’s three-fold training of ethical conduct, concentration and insight. Then how to see through the illusion of self by noting experience at the ultimate level, using the five aggregates. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquility. This talk was given in August 2003 ..read more

This podcast discusses interconnectedness and the conditioned and conditioning nature of phenomena. Paul points out the importance of ethical conduct and kamma, then introduces the Abhidhamma - the higher teaching of Buddhism. He concludes with some descriptions of Nibbana, enlightenment. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquility. This talk was given in June 2005 ..read more

Paul describes the cycle of perceived threat, fear and response which is often perceived as aggression by the person receiving it, leading to more perceived threat, fear, reaction and so on. We break the cycle of fear and response by radical acceptance. By following the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. Definitions of what he means by radical and acceptance are given with an example of the opposite.  The importance of kamma and rebirth is discussed along with a description of the Buddha’s approach to fear using acceptance and mindfulness and how we can do the same. Paul Harris is the Spir ..read more

This talk describes ways in which we try to find happiness in this life and how, as the Buddha said: “Life is suffering”. Then, how we can come to the end of suffering by keeping the precepts, developing a regular practice using vipassana meditation, allaying the five hindrances and looking at the three marks of transience, unsatisfactoriness and non-self. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity. This talk was given on 21st May 2003 ..read more

Paul discusses samsara, describing a variety of realms of existence, from realms of ghosts and demons up to heavenly realms with the human world in between. Explores how to escape the wheel of rebirth, by developing faith, living according to mundane right view and most importantly, developing vipassana meditation. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity. This talk was given on 9th October 2002 ..read more

Suffering  within the four noble truths is discussed and the need to understand the cause behind it. The two arrows are described: how the first is inherent suffering that we are born with and that the second is conditioned by the craving to get away from the first. The importance of compassion to lessen self concern is described along with a description of insight meditation and how to approach it. Finally, there is a description of how the enlightened being approaches the two arrows. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity ..read more

A reading and discussion on the meaning of the Parable of the Raft. The importance of various aspects of the teaching, such as the five spiritual faculties and the parami, is described. Hindrances are discussed, how to deal with them and then what meditation is like when they have been set aside. Finally, on the realisation of enlightenment, how the dhamma and meditation are no longer needed. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity.    This talk was given on 1st June 2022 ..read more

Paul discusses the simplicity of being present, what obstructs it and what to do in order to obtain it; the difference between non-hatred and anti-hatred and the role of obsessions with the past, present and future; and how the absence of suffering is not something we create, but that it develops through dealing with the things that pull us into suffering. Finally, he describes how vipassana meditation can bring us to the present. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity.    This talk was given on the 29th September 2021 ..read more