August 2025 Talks

Aug 1: Part 1 - How to be Happy

Ayya Ahimsa draws on the Buddha's teachings called the Mangala Sutta (The Highest Happiness) and Ajahn Kovilo's summary of the Buddha's teachings on happiness (The Wellness Cascade) to start a new series on how to be happy.

Aug 15: The Happiness Recipe is Kusala

This is an interview of our teacher, Beth Upton, by Dan Harris. She focuses on the mental quality of kusala (skillfulness, wholesomeness) and how it is always accompanied by 12 other mental qualities: faith (confirmed), mindfulness, non-greed (reunciation, letting go, generosity, contentment), non-hatred (loving kindness, acceptance, welcoming, embracing, non-judgemental), morality (non-harm to self or others), mental balance, tranquility, softness, lightness, flexibility, proficiency (being good at what you do) and uprightness (authenticity, integrity, truthfulness).

Aug 19: Part 2 - Six more Ingredients in the Happiness Recipe

In the Mangala Sutta (The Highest Blessings) the Budda answers the question, "What makes a good life, what is happiness?" In the this talk, Ayya Ahimsa discusses the first two verses of the Buddha's answer.

Aug 29: Part 3 - The Highest Blessings of Right Speech and Right Livelihood

After the Buddha illustrates that Right View and Right Intention are sources of true happiness, he goes on to talk about Right Speech and Right Livelihood in a similar way.