From the Beach to the Buddha: the Story of Bahiya’s Awakening

<p><em>Talk given by Padmasagara on 2026-08-22. </em></p><p>Bahiya was a spiritual practitioner living on the beach near modern-day Mumbai. One day, he asked himself: “Am I enlightened? Or even on the path towards Enlightenment?” The answer was a resounding &quot;No&quot;.</p><p>He immediately sets out to find the Buddha, travelling thousands of kilometres and refusing to give up when the Buddha initially turns him away. Eventually, he receives a short but profound teaching, and awakens fully.</p><p>In this talk, Padmasagara explores Bahiya’s story and what it can teach us about spiritual effort, burnout, letting go, and our tendency to add something extra to our direct experience.</p><p>What kind of effort does awakening really require?</p><p>Enjoyed this talk? You are warmly invited to visit Buddhistisches Tor Berlin in Kreuzberg in person. Join us for meditation, Dharma talks, and courses that support practice in everyday life. </p><p>Find out more at: </p><ul><li><p>☸️ <a href="https://buddhistisches-tor-berlin.de/"><u>https://buddhistisches-tor-berlin.de</u></a> </p></li><li><p>🏰 <a href="https://rote-burg.de/"><u>https://rote-burg.de</u></a> </p></li><li><p>📸 <a href="https://instagram.com/buddhistischestorberlin"><u>https://instagram.com/buddhistischestorberlin</u></a> </p></li></ul>