logo
episode-header-image
Yesterday
1h 9m

Free Will - a Failed Fantasy | Drew Bell...

BUDDHIST SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
About this episode

Drew is a former President and Secretary of the BSWA in the years of 2014-2018. During this time Drew implemented many changes at the BSWA including property purchases and a re-structure of the Committee into sub-committees and the employment of paid staff to better service the growth in size the Society had experienced in the previous 10 years. Drew is a family man and business man who won an industry award in 2021 from the State Government for innovation in the mining sector. Since stepping down as President Drew has been a regular on the scene at the BSWA and has been invited as a Lay Speaker and to date has given 9 Dhamma talks. Drew’s talk last year, ‘Monks on Mars’ followed a trajectory of Buddhism in the future, which was a sequel to his talk the year before ‘Dhamma and the Dinosaurs’ that was a Buddhist examination of deep time. Tonight’s talk ‘Free Will - a Failed Fantasy’ is a look at the experiences of a lay person existing in the human realm looking to change their future.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk. Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.

Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa

BSWA teachings are available:

Up next
Aug 11
Stilling The Hindrances With Jhana Factors | Dennis Sheppard | The Armadale Meditation Group
29 July 2025 Dennis Sheppard joins the Armadale Meditation Group online live. Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) teaches you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, meditation instructions, meditating together, asking questions, and, if time allo ... Show More
1h 9m
Aug 7
Wise Attention Empowering Our Spiritual Path (Yonisomanasikara) | Ayya Karunika | 3 October 2025
Ayya Karunika explains the importance of wise attention and why and how to develop it based on the teachings of the Buddha. Talk given on 3 October 2024. Bhikkhuni Ayya Kārunikā is currently the Abbot at Santi Forest Monastery, NSW, Australia and the spiritual director for New Ze ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 4
Sakyadhita Pilgrims: Dusty and Divine in Dharamshala | Sandra Henville | 1 August 2025
Sandra is a long-time BSWA member who enjoys holding space for group meditations. She has led the Spiritual Education Group at BSWA and Mindfulness Meditation sessions at her workplace. She also enjoys bringing people together for a good yarn and has suppported the Kalyana Friend ... Show More
1h 33m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
No.27. Sing and Keep Your Spirit Up | Daily Guidance | Meditation podcast | spirituality in practice
Meditation talk from 2019 Spring from a 7-day intense meditation retreat with a realised master.Send us a textThese meditation talks were recorded during intensive meditation spiritual retreats with Satguru Sirio Ji, therefore they might contain some specific teachings and wisdom ... Show More
12m 49s
Oct 2020
Ordination and Enlightenment
This talk was originally posted on Ven. Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu’s YouTube Channel. To watch this talk on YouTube kindly click here. If you have any feedback regarding quality of this episode (like: poor audio quality, long silence before talk etc) kindly leave it here.     Our podcas ... Show More
4m 49s
Dec 2024
Winter Solstice (Hopeful Light) Meditation
In this 15 minute guided meditation for the winter solstice Kelly leads you through a guided practice where you embrace the season of darkness, and reignite the light of hope deep within you. Join the Clarity + Calm 2024 NYE Virtual Retreat Here More Mindful in Minutes BooksOrder ... Show More
15m 25s
Jul 2024
Mind Illuminated Stage One Meditation: Foundational Practice
Send us a textWelcome to this guided meditation based on Stage One of The Mind Illuminated Meditation Training System. This meditation is designed to help you establish a consistent and diligent meditation practice. You'll be guided through a structured preparation, transiti ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2020
Buddhist Traditions and Lineages
This talk was originally posted on Ven. Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu’s YouTube Channel. To watch this talk on YouTube kindly click here. If you have any feedback regarding quality of this episode (like: poor audio quality, long silence before talk etc) kindly leave it here.     Our podcas ... Show More
12m 48s
Jun 25
#1350 - Who Should Practice the Miracle of Mind Meditation?
Is the Miracle of Mind meditation only for beginners, not for those who have been meditating or practicing Yoga for a few years? Sadhguru answered this question in a recent darshan at Isha Yoga Center. Set the context for a joyful, exuberant day with a short, powerful message fro ... Show More
14m 7s
Jan 2025
197 - A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism
In this episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, I sit down with Cortland Dahl, author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism, to explore how Buddhist teachings and meditation can help us navigate life’s challenges with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.Cortland shares insights from ... Show More
59m 48s
Nov 2024
Guided Meditation: Remembering Your Spiritual Heart
During times of great collective stress, it’s common to get gripped by waves of anxiety and fear. This guided meditation, an adaptation of the Tibetan tonglen practice, helps us reconnect with our spiritual heart, the sea of love and light that can hold even the most painful wave ... Show More
16m 52s
Dec 2024
15-Minute Guided Meditation for New Parents
Parenthood can be both rewarding and overwhelming. This 15-minute guided meditation is designed to help new parents find a moment of calm and recharge. Through mindfulness and compassion, this practice supports emotional balance and patience, allowing you to show up fully for you ... Show More
15m 32s
May 5
💗 Meditation Monday 🧘‍♀️ -Meditation for Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we are giving you tons of guided meditations across the podcast network that are here to support your mental health! Check them out here 💗 https://podcasts.apple.com/.../meditation.../id1413585087 https://podcasts.apple.com/.../sleep.../i ... Show More
17m 3s