S3 Ep19: Vipassana Series: "Transience"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). This episode explores more deeply the universal characteristic of impermanence.     Paul Harris is the Spiritual Director and principal teacher at the House of Inner...
20m May 15, 2020
20m
S3 Ep18: "The Biological Machine" by Paul Harris
In nature we can find self organising systems and highly complex processes that appear to happen by themselves. Paul describes a radio documentary about a marine animal that is able to reassemble its parts after they have been separated. Despite the automatic nature of our bodies, (as well as their unstable and unsatisfactory nature), we identify with them as self. Paul goes on to explain the m...
32m May 08, 2020
32m
S3 Ep17: Vipassana Series: "The Three Universal Characteristics"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). This episode explores what is meant when we say that all ultimate phenomena are transient, suffering and non-self.     Paul Harris is the Spiritual Director and prin...
29m May 01, 2020
29m
S3: "The Problem with Ignorance" by Alan James
Wanting is the cause of suffering - wanting things to be different. Most people ignore this fact, and they are also unaware of ethical action, kamma, and its inevitable results. For happiness in the world we need to live restraining harmful action. Attachment to things of the world is the problem, and leads to continued rebirth in Samsara. To transcend unhappiness altogether we have to gain dir...
30m Apr 27, 2020
30m
S3 Ep16: "Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem" by Paul Harris
Upheavals in the geopolitical landscape have left many feeling vulnerable and anxious. Can we trust what politicians and the media tell us and what does the future hold? Disillusioned and seeking peace, freedom and truth, we cast about looking for an alternative meaning to life. Those that turn towards Buddhism discover a completely different way of looking at the world. This talk looks at what...
41m Apr 24, 2020
41m
S3 Ep15: Vipassana Series: "More on Ultimate Reality "
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). In this episode we try to clarify what was said in the last one concerning the nature of ultimate reality.   Paul Harris is the Spiritual Director and principal teac...
30m Apr 17, 2020
30m
S3 Ep14: "Flow" by Paul Harris
There are differences of opinion in society, with people wanting others to conform to their own views. We believe that if they agree with us, we can improve the world and reduce suffering. This goes against the grain of the Buddha’s teaching, which encourages us to align with life’s flow. By  following the precepts and developing gratitude and appreciation, we can generate happiness and equanim...
32m Apr 10, 2020
32m
S3 Ep13: Vipassana Series: "Ultimate Reality and Conventional Reality"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). In this episode we consider the nature of ultimate reality, how it differs from the more conventional way of describing the world and why we need to learn to clearly...
20m Apr 03, 2020
20m
S3 Ep12: "The Emotions" by Alan James
What do we mean by an emotion? That is really the first question to ask. Buddhism is quite precise on this, although it does not actually speak of emotion directly. An emotion is in fact a volitional activity accompanied by a feeling. Alan James founded the House of Inner Tranquillity, along with his wife Jacqui James in 1980. He continued to teach the way to enlightenment until his retirement ...
29m Mar 27, 2020
29m
S3 Ep11: Vipassana Series: "Contact and Feeling"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). This episode looks at how feelings affect our ability to put aside thinking and using sense-contacts as the basis for developing insight-wisdom.   Paul Harris is the...
19m Mar 20, 2020
19m
S3 Ep10: "Other Dimensions" by Paul Harris
The Buddha taught that there are many more realms and dimensions to life than just the human. Paul describes life as an infinite game of snakes and ladders. Dependent on the kinds of actions we perform we can experience different levels of existence.  Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity.                  This talk was given in Oc...
24m Mar 13, 2020
24m
S3 Ep9: Discussion Show March 2020
Sally Passfield is a long-standing member of the HoIT community. Together with the Centre's spiritual director Paul Harris they answer some questions posed via social media. Running order: 00.30 - Conway's game of life 05.00 - What happens to "signature" consciousness at death? 11.25 - How does kamma work? 18.17 - How can you live without views? 22.20 - Investigating the "subtle sense of self" ...
58m Mar 06, 2020
58m
S3 Ep8: Vipassana Series: "Knowledge"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). This episode looks at the different kinds of knowledge that are generated and utilised as insight practise develops.   Paul Harris is the Spiritual Director and prin...
20m Feb 28, 2020
20m
S3 Ep7: "Inner Wealth" by Jacqui James
The main reason for meditating is to become conscious of unconscious areas of mind, in order to understand and let go of habitual patterns of mind that create dissatisfaction. Most people try to find happiness through acquiring external wealth. With practical examples, Jacqui describes how one develops the ‘inner wealth’ of a soft, accepting, non-judgemental and loving mind.  Jacqui James was a...
36m Feb 21, 2020
36m
S3 Ep6: Vipassana Series: "Views"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is the third episode in a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). Explores why and how views are clung to and why and how they are to be surrendered through the practice of Insight meditation.   Paul Harris is ...
30m Feb 14, 2020
30m
S3 Ep5: "Climate Concerns, Acceptance and Right Action" by Paul Harris
In answering a meditator's question about how to respond to current concerns about the climate, Paul widens the scope to dealing with any view that is based in resistance to unfolding reality. Acceptance of the unfolding reality, however, in no way suggests passivity. In eliminating greed, hatred and confusion from our nature, we are better able to face life's inherent uncertainty.  Paul Harris...
34m Feb 07, 2020
34m
S3 Ep4: Discussion Show January 2020
Jason Rebello is a long-standing member of the HoIT community. Together with the Centre's spiritual director Paul Harris they answer some questions posed via social media. Running order: 1:07 - "Is there a supreme God?" 7:40 -  "On keeping a meditation journal" 18:25 - "What is the relationship between jhana and vipassana?" 25:14 - "Farming and being harmless" 28:58 - "Is it possible to ask too...
42m Jan 31, 2020
42m
S3 Ep3: Vipassana Series: "Spiritual Maturity"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). This episode looks at what is required for the mind to rest undistracted for protracted periods of time, in order to mindfully investigate unfolding experience.    P...
19m Jan 24, 2020
19m
S3 Ep2: "The Art of Sacrifice" by Alan James
Alan James founded the House of Inner Tranquillity, along with his wife Jacqui James in 1980. He continued to teach the way to enlightenment until his retirement in 2010.   This talk was originally given in March 1987.
35m Jan 17, 2020
35m
S3 Ep1: Vipassana Series: "Introduction"
We are making the audio files from the House of Inner Tranquillity YouTube channel available. This is the first episode in a series concerning the practical application of the Buddha's teaching through the development of vipassana (Insight meditation). Covers the context for why we practise in the way that we do, where to place one's attention, dealing with habitual tendencies and calming the m...
31m Jan 10, 2020
31m
S2 Ep33: "Transcendence" by Paul Harris
Most people get caught up in the appearance of things and attempt to get the world to conform to desires and expectations. Paul’s talk guides us through the alternative. Rather than entailing worldly action of any kind, it requires a head-on confrontation with our suffering. By fully accepting the way things really are, one can escape the wheel of samsara forever, through the elimination of ign...
26m Dec 20, 2019
26m
S2 Ep32: "Of Men, Mountains and Trees" by Alan James
Two types of truth, conventional and ultimate, are distinguished. Conventional truth is based in generalisation, e.g. 'All men have 2 legs'. Problems can arise from making such truths into laws which are expected always to be true. Ultimate truth is based in analysis of experience; investigation. Doing this, the meditator finds that you can only experience one thing at a time - the senses don't...
35m Dec 13, 2019
35m
S2 Ep31: "Relationships" by Jacqui James
Masculine and feminine sides to personality; double messages and super-image; total relationship with oneself needed before possible with another. Recognition that it is the feelings, not the person, we are reacting to. Reduction of self-hatred through accepting mental states rather than repressing them. Jacqui James was a Buddhist Insight meditation teacher and the co-founder of the House of I...
39m Dec 06, 2019
39m
S2 Ep30: "Spiritual Revolution" by Paul Harris
Looking back at all the revolutions and transformations through which humans have gone, be they cultural, political or technological, we find there are fundamental aspects of life that have not been touched at all. Instead of trying to effect meaningful and lasting change in the external world, The Buddha's path leads to an internal revolution, in terms of how we see and understand life to be. ...
33m Nov 22, 2019
33m
S2 Ep29: "A Joyful Path" by Paul Harris
A video of Tibetan monks playing a game demonstrates how to take joy in the simple things in life. Meditators need that same guileless and unpretentious approach to following a spiritual path. We know that there are difficult times to be faced that will need courage and determination, but we learn also that the key to success in this is not to take ourselves too seriously. Through continued com...
38m Nov 15, 2019
38m
S2 Ep28: "Buddha-Dhamma and the Culture of Blame" by Paul Harris
The blame culture has become all pervasive and has led to a very paranoid, cautious society. This talk discusses the need for meditators to understand the dynamics of blame. We need to know why we blame; how to respond to it when it comes our way and how, ultimately, to transcend it together. The meditator is encouraged to see being blamed and the painful feelings that arise with it as an oppor...
31m Nov 08, 2019
31m
S2 Ep27: "Does the Body Rule the Mind...?" by Paul Harris
Is consciousness simply the outcome of chemical processes? Or does the mind condition the arising of physical matter, as Buddhism maintains? These are important questions because the views we hold about how life works influences our aspirations and behaviour. This talk looks at how exploration of our own mind and body through vipassana meditation shows us exactly how life comes into being momen...
32m Nov 01, 2019
32m
S2 Ep26: "The Harvest of Meditation" by Alan James
Buddhism is criticised for being 'pessimistic', yet the Buddha often spoke of joy being in the world. Joy can be relatively coarse (arising from inefficient actions, e.g. hunting) or refined (arising from efficient actions, e.g. keeping the precepts). The joy which meditation can develop is better than these, since it's not based on attachment (to inefficiency or efficiency), but on acceptance ...
32m Oct 11, 2019
32m
S2 Ep25: "Volition" by Paul Harris
Volition is that mental quality that wills experience into being. As such we use it all the time and it is present in every moment of consciousness. Volition is kamma and understanding how it works is therefore critical if we wish to live successfully. This talk looks at the active and passive phases of experience, how to balance strong and weak volition, how to use volition to set up mindfulne...
37m Oct 04, 2019
37m
S2 Ep24: "The Totality of Compassion" by Alan James
Any withdrawal from reality brings suffering. Meditation increases awareness of suffering; one learns that one is responsible - suffering is volitional. The worse the escapism, the worse the suffering. Increased suffering drives one to find a way out - hence the world is totally compassionate. There can never be eternal hells or hopeless cases. Alan James founded the House of Inner Tranquillity...
31m Sep 27, 2019
31m
S2 Ep23: "True Meditation" by Paul Harris
Not seeing the true profundity of our immediate reality, most people are endlessly caught up in the pursuit of personal fulfilment. Paul describes what it is like to be totally immersed in the dynamism and mystery of life. For example, a walk in the local countryside, although done many times, is experienced as if for the first time. True meditation, he says, is the practice of choice-less awar...
35m Sep 20, 2019
35m
S2 Ep22: "How to Get on With People" by Paul Harris
We all find ourselves in dispute with others from time to time and often, through the mutual need to defend oneself, rows are perpetuated. The discourse of the 'Parable of the Saw' forms the basis for this talk. It shows how the Buddha used stories and illustration to explain how those practicing his way might  deport themselves. Through restraint of negative responses, and the development of l...
29m Sep 06, 2019
29m
S2 Ep21: "The Learner's Progress" by Alan James
The learner is the person who, dissatisfied with life, turns to a spiritual way. He remains a learner until he reaches enlightenment - and there can be no sudden leaps in his progress. Progress is won by reducing self-importance; this is achieved by, initially, taking the precepts, and cultivating metta and dana - and sense-restraint. Having established these, one can allay the hindrances long ...
41m Aug 30, 2019
41m
S2 Ep20: "The Path" by Jacqui James
Most meditators are trying to get on, or are on, the path of stream-winning. Three fetters have to be overcome to reach the end of this, the first section of the total path: doubt, attachment to rule and ritual, and self view are discussed, with their opposites - devotion, adaptability, conditionality. The development of devotion is crucial - if doubt goes, the other fetters go too. Jacqui Jame...
41m Aug 23, 2019
41m
S2 Ep19: "The Mystery of Stillness" by Paul Harris
Due to ignorance, beings have lost awareness of their innate wholeness and life becomes a restless search to try and rediscover it. This talk discusses restlessness in the form of sensual desire and how underlying issues such as boredom, painful feelings and even quietness perpetuate the desire for life to be different. Through learning to restrain acting upon such desires and generating insigh...
35m Aug 16, 2019
35m
S2 Ep18: "The True Path to Understanding" by Paul Harris
Many come to the Buddha's teaching with fixed ideas and assumptions which cause them to warp the practice and resist instruction. The true path to understanding opens up when we accept that we do not really know. Developing inner honesty and becoming mindful of the transient nature of feelings, we create a space in which to experience the reality of what we do to cause our own suffering. Avoidi...
33m Aug 09, 2019
33m
S2 Ep17: "Letting the World Go Free" by Paul Harris
All passionate involvement in the world stems from the belief that life should be different than it is. The cessation of suffering comes from the total acceptance of life could not be different than it is. The first step in walking the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path is to straighten one’s views to accord with reality. This talk explores two aspects of the training: the Divine Abidings and Insigh...
32m Aug 02, 2019
32m
S2 Ep16: "The Shortest Route to Non-Suffering" by Paul Harris
Paul uses the analogy of a short walk to a gate to explain how it is not so much the Buddha's path to enlightenment that takes the time, but rather it is our habitual tendency to ignore reality and resist life that means we don't go straight to it. It is through vipassana (Insight meditation) that we correct our warped views of life and release ourselves from attachment, for, whilst there is st...
34m Jul 26, 2019
34m
S2 Ep15: "Why Are You Here?" by Paul Harris
This talk looks at the question 'Why are you here?' in terms of what the Buddha called Mundane Right View. Mundane Right View consists of a list of five statements about the nature of existence. It is maintained that these views are an accurate reflection of the way life really works. As such, the five points of Mundane Right View provide an ideal framework for pondering the question 'Why am I ...
30m Jul 19, 2019
30m
S2 Ep14: "The Peacefulness of Meditation" by Jacqui James
Jacqui talks about the rise and fall. How noting the mark of change alters our perception - to be more aware of transience, of body, feelings and states of mind. Describes how to practice, by repeated observation, retrospection and restraint, to come to see for oneself that comparison is the root of all suffering. When encountering resistance, one learns to not act upon the urge to respond habi...
32m Jul 12, 2019
32m
S2 Ep13: "Death is Our Friend" by Paul Harris
Death is not the opposite to life. Through meditation we find that both the arising and passing away of things are equally fundamental and necessary aspects of life. Far from being morbid, death is actually our friend. Reflecting wisely on our mortality brings a zest and lightness to life, helping us make the best choices. Treating death as a wise advisor can help us clarify and focus on what i...
27m Jul 05, 2019
27m
S2 Ep12: "Patience" by Alan James
Outlines the exercising of patience (forbearance) regarding the faults of others and for oneself. Examples within relationships are given; speech and thought are also mentioned. Forbearance is essential for peace of mind. It is brought about by restraining fault-finding, hatred and anger, with the aim of eventually becoming a perfected source of peace, thus being of value both before and after ...
35m Jun 07, 2019
35m
S2 Ep11: "Nexus" by Paul Harris
The Buddha found that peace, happiness and fulfilment are to be found within all of us. The extraordinary is to be found within the ordinary. Trying to move beyond the moment is the problem not the solution. This talk describes a very direct method for stilling the mind in order to unlock the infinite potential inherent within it. Having done so, meditators can develop beautiful states of conce...
29m May 31, 2019
29m
S2 Ep9: "Right & Wrong" by Paul Harris
How do we determine what is right and what is wrong? Is it possible for there to be a universal ethic that everyone can agree upon? This talk looks at the process by which ethics are determined and how to live life ethically in the light of the goal of the Buddha's teaching. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity.                  T...
29m May 24, 2019
29m
S2 Ep8: "The Art of Sitting Quietly" by Paul Harris
Why isn’t it easy just sitting down quietly, calming the mind to see the arising and passing away of things? Paul talks about how suffering is created internally, through the three kinds of craving, the endless striving to make life different. To develop the wisdom necessary to know how to sit quietly, we must be willing to go through the difficulty of learning exactly how we refuse to allow li...
31m May 17, 2019
31m
S2 Ep7: "Stream-Winning" by Paul Harris
This talk looks at the vipassana meditator's journey to stream-winning, the first of the four paths that make up the Buddhist insight-wisdom training. The relationship between the fetters of personality belief, sceptical doubt and rule and ritual, and how they interfere with progress on the first path are described. Paul Harris is the Spiritual Head and principal meditation teacher at the Hous...
43m May 10, 2019
43m
S2 Ep6: "Beautiful States of Mind" by Paul Harris
We all want meditation to bring happiness, peace, contentment and a vibrancy to living. Paul describes these as our natural state, and that anyone can learn how to craft the best supporting conditions to regularly enjoy such beautiful states of mind. For example, generously thinking of others, by systematically practicing loving-kindness cultivates a divine mental space. The resulting balanced,...
38m May 03, 2019
38m
S2 Ep5: "Confidence" by Paul Harris
A story from the life of the Buddha demonstrates how he maintained an attitude of high vulnerability with regard to who he was and the truth that he stood for. He was, however, also low in emotional investment in others and in dependence on results. This combination meant that he was supremely confident and commanding in all that he did. This talk looks at how following his path is a journey to...
33m Apr 26, 2019
33m
S2 Ep4: "Monastic Training" by Paul Harris
Even if you cannot currently ordain, everyone attending the House of Inner Tranquillity is part of the beneficial and reciprocal arrangement between the monastic and lay community. Paul uses the example of his own training, and relationship to the teacher, to describe how monasticism presents a unique opportunity for wholehearted practice in lessening self-centredness and developing wisdom. The...
34m Apr 19, 2019
34m
S2 Ep3: "Metta" by the Venerable Kapilavaddho Bhikkhu
This talk on practicing Metta, loving-kindness, is from Venerable Kapilavaddho Bhikkhu, given at the Hampstead Vihara, London, in April 1970. At that time, both Alan (who was ordained) and Jacqui, the founders of the House of Inner Tranquillity, were his students. Using colourful personal accounts from his time practicing in Thai jungles, it gives an overview of the whole practice, and details ...
30m Apr 12, 2019
30m