Regular Events
Fridays – Sutta Discussion Group
with Ven Canda, 18:45 – 20:00pm UK time
Next sessions:
February 6th, 13th, 27th (GMT)
March 20th & 27th (GMT)
April 3rd & 17th (BST)
Whether you are a beginner to sutta study, or well acquainted with the Buddha's teachings found in the Early Buddhist texts (EBT's), this ongoing sutta discussion group provides a unique opportunity to explore the profound and timeless wisdom of the Buddha, together with Ven Canda (and occasional monastic guests).
Whilst Ven Canda will offer reflections on some of her favourite teachings, informed by her decades of sutta study and meditation practice, the main aim is to provide you an opportunity to discuss ways in which the teachings might apply to your contemporary lives, in order to inspire, guide and deepen your own practice.
In the Buddha's day, bhikkhunis, bhikkhus, lay men and lay women became enlightened after hearing just one sutta! So, you are welcome to drop in as you choose. Regular attendance will give you a deeper appreciation of the Buddha's teachings as a whole, that may transform your lives for the better!
JOINING LINK: click archive newsletter here.
N.B You will need to be signed in to your personal zoom account to access all meetings. Please refer to our easy guidelines here: Joining Zoomi Bhikkhuni.
Saturdays – Guided Metta Meditation
with Ven Canda, 9:00 – 10:00am UK time
Next sessions:
February 7th, 14th & 28th (GMT)
March 14th & 21st (GMT)
April 4th & SUNDAY 12th (BST)
Start the weekend resourced by cultivating a soft and spacious heart, through the powerful practice of loving kindness. Regular practice helps undermine the sticky hindrance of ill will that can manifest in numerous ways - such as fault-finding, fear, depression or lethargy - and that zaps our vitality and joy. As we grow in loving kindness, our relationships with ourselves and others improve, our happiness increases and deep meditation becomes easier. What's not to love?!
JOINING LINK: click archive newsletter here.
N.B You will need to be signed in to your personal zoom account to access all meetings. Please refer to our easy guidelines here: Joining Zoomi Bhikkhuni.
Tuesday & Thursday Silent Sitting Group
Every Tuesday and Thursday 19:15 - 20:00 UK Time via Zoom - peer hosted by Matthias.
"Since December 2021 we have had a regular group of about 20 people coming to meditate in silence together, and people have said that they find it very supportive in developing and strengthening a regular practice. It never fails to amaze me how strongly connected we can be from afar, without even uttering a word - especially when we unite in wholesome (non) action!" ~ Ven Canda
Please be aware that this is NOT a guided meditation session but is intended for those who are looking for a virtual community with whom to sit silently in meditation together.
Please join early so Matthias can let you in before he starts meditating!
JOINING LINK: click archive newsletter here.
Pali Chanting & Blessings Group ~ Karaniya Metta Sutta
Wednesdays 17:30 - 18:00 UK Time
Join us to chant or just listen to the Karaniya Metta Sutta in Pali, the closest language to that which the Buddha spoke. Every week we offer an opportunity for you to dedicate loving kindness, compassion, and blessings to those who may be in need of support – be they family, friends or those suffering through war and famine. Ven Canda will usually be available and on the rare occasion she is not, a senior Anukampa volunteer will lead the chanting.
JOINING LINK: click archive newsletter here.
Special Events
08:30 Sat 7th – 17:00 Sun 8th March 2026 ~ UK Time
Online Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Canda:
"Raising Our Happiness Levels"
In early Buddhism, happiness is not a distraction but an essential cause for successful meditation. The Buddha repeatedly emphasised that wholesome happiness supports the mind in settling, unifying and deepening into samādhi (stillness). Through Dhamma reflection, guided meditation and discussion with Ajahn Canda, we will explore different forms of happiness described in the early texts, including pīti (rapture), sukha (ease) and the joy of letting go. These qualities are central to the development of the jhānas ~ the "pleasant abidings here and now."
Over the weekend, we’ll learn how reflecting on our inner virtues and developing gratitude for the small things in life can give rise to wholesome happiness that supports a calm, joyful and sustainable meditation practice, gradually undermining craving, aversion and delusion. Rather than chasing fleeting pleasure, together we’ll gently create the conditions for a happiness that is stable, inwardly grounded and leads to liberation.
As this is an online home-retreat, you may choose whether you wish to observe the Eight Precepts or the Five Precepts.
Tentative Schedule (UK Time):
Sat 7th March:
08:30 – 10:00 Dhamma talk, guided meditation
10:00 – 12:00 Cooking and lunchtime for those on 8 precepts offline
12:00 – 14:30 Rest and personal practice offline
14:30 – 15:15 Guided meditation
15:15 – 15:45 Walking meditation
16:00 – 17:00 Sutta discussion
17:00 – 19:00 Personal practice offline
19:00 – 19:50 Metta chanting and silent group meditation
20:00 – 21:00 Q&A
Sun 8th March:
06:00 – 07:00 Recommended morning meditation, offline
08:30 – 10:00 Dhamma talk, guided meditation
10:00 – 12:00 Cooking and lunchtime for those on 8 precepts offline
12:30 – 14:30 Rest and personal practice offline
14:30 – 15:15 Guided meditation
15:30 – 16:30 Q&A and small discussion groups
16:30 – 17:00 Closing & Metta meditation
Saturday 14th March 2026, 19:00 – 20:30
Dhamma Talk with Ajahn Canda:
"How Samatha and Vipassana Work
to Free the Mind"
At London Buddhist Vihara, The Avenue, Chiswick, London W4 1UD.
In this talk, we will explore the dynamic relationship between samatha (serenity) and vipassana (insight) ~ two key aspects of early Buddhist practice. By examining their complementary roles, we'll discuss whether they are distinct techniques, or mutually enhancing qualities. We will also consider how to intuitively sense when to emphasise one or both, unlocking a richer, more balanced meditative journey towards Enlightenment.
This talk is donation based and there is no need to register– please just show up!
Saturday, 28th March 2026, 14:30 – 18:00
Anukampa Grove Meditation Gathering
with Ajahn Canda
(18 people only)
Enjoy a quiet afternoon of meditation with spiritual friends in tranquil surroundings from 14:30 until 18:00pm. Please arrive and settle in quietly at 14:00, so we can start with some Dhamma teaching at 14:30pm.
The afternoon will include time for sitting and walking meditation, Dhamma reflections, some group discussion and, of course, tea 🙂
Please bring your own flask or cup, and if you wish, some chocolate, milks and teas to share. If you would like to offer other items for the nuns, please check the Needed Items List before coming for a list of what would be helpful at this time.
We ask that you kindly consider your plans carefully before booking to avoid the admin that arises from cancellations.
Please be aware that Anukampa Grove is not a traditional Buddhist temple open to the public but a quiet bhikkhuni (nuns') residence. Your welcome is by pre-arrangement and upon the invitation of the bhikkhunis - no drop in visitors are allowed. We trust that you come with the intention to respect and benefit from the peaceful atmosphere at Anukampa Grove. In the spirit of care for the local environment, any vehicle must be parked in our driveway and not on the private roads nearby.
Saturday, 11th April 2026, 10:00 – 17:00
Day Retreat with Ajahn Canda
"The Four Elements:
Grounding in Reality & Non-Self"
for London Insight
In-person at King Alfred School, London NW11 7HY
This silent meditation retreat day invites us to explore the four great elements of earth, water, fire, and air, drawing on the Buddha’s teachings.
Through direct experience we come to know the elements as embodied qualities: earth as solidity, weight and texture, water as fluidity and cohesion, fire as temperature and vitality, and air as movement and breath.
Careful attention to these natural processes helps ground our awareness in what is real and immediate. We begin to experience the body as just a body, not “my” body ~ a dynamic field of elements, arising and passing away according to conditions ~ part of the natural world. With such clear seeing, the understanding of non-self deepens and we discover a peace that is grounded, connected and free.
The retreat is suitable for all levels of experience and will include Dhamma reflection and guidance, walking and sitting meditation, and an opportunity for discussion.
This event is organised by London Insight Meditation. If you have queries regarding this particular retreat, please contact them directly and not Anukampa.
Saturday, 30th May 2026, 10:15 – 16:00
Ajahn Canda & Special Guest:
The Magic of Inspiration at Vesak!
In person at St. Colomba’s House, Oxford.
We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating Vesak Day, one of the most sacred days in the Buddhist calendar. This special day offers an opportunity to come together as a Dhamma community for quiet reflection, laughter and meaningful connection.
Vesak commemorates the birth, Awakening and Parinibbāna - the final release from saṃsāra - of Gotama the Buddha. It is a time to pause, remember and renew our commitment to the Noble Eightfold Path, of virtue, peace and compassionate wisdom. Traditionally, Vesak is also a time when the lay community joyfully supports the monastic Saṅgha, offering the requisites that sustain their practice and preserve the Buddha’s teachings.
Above all, Vesak represents a coming together of diverse people, united by shared values of peace, compassion, generosity and goodwill. We invite you to stoke the fires of inspiration, reverence and spiritual joy with us!
The day will include:
- Dhamma reflection & guided meditation
- Refuges & Precepts (optional)
- Shared pot-lunch (please label food ingredients) and time to chat together
- Special guest, joining us online from Australia!
- Opportunity to discuss Dhamma with Ajahn Candā
Ajahn Brahmali's UK Visit: 12th - 22nd Jun 2026
Ajahn Brahmali is back in England this June and we have the opportunity to host him at our bhikkhuni residence, Anukampa Grove, on Boars' Hill! During his visit, we will be packing in lots of Dhamma teachings in Oxford, Surrey and London - including an 8-day residential retreat at the beautiful Franciscan Centre Ladywell in Surrey with its meditative atmosphere and serene grounds.
Ajahn's joy-infused delivery and extensive knowledge and experience of Buddhist practice helps us to forge a closer relationship with the Buddha and his teachings, that speak straight to our hearts and our daily lives.
Register for Ajahn Brahmali's teaching events below.
About Ajahn Brahmali
Born in Norway in 1964, Ajahn Brahmali felt a strong calling to Buddhism and meditation in his early 20’s after a visit to Japan. Having completed master degrees in engineering and finance, he began his monastic training as an anagarika in England at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries.
In 1994, after hearing a teaching by Ajahn Brahm, he went to Australia to train at Bodhinyana Monastery. He took full ordination as a bhikkhu, with Ajahn Brahm as his preceptor, in 1996.
Ajahn Brahmali is a powerfully effective teacher of meditation, who draws direct inspiration from the Buddhist texts. He also teaches the Pali language and the monastic training rules to monks at Bodhinyana Monastery, and to bhikkhunis in Perth and beyond. Ajahn Brahmali also played an instrumental role in ordaining Theravada bhikkhunis and was recently awarded an honorary PhD for his translation of the Vinaya from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
As a Dhamma teacher, Ajahn Brahmali makes the teachings of the Buddha relevant and accessible through his lucid and inspiring talks. Here is some feedback from an 8-day online retreat that he taught for our community in 2021, alongside Ajahn Canda:
"I feel so lucky and grateful to have had the chance to participate in this retreat and to be in touch with your teaching. The path has never seemed so clear and beautiful to me! I feel that I am in contact with the best approach for my practice and for my daily life. Ajahn Brahmali's enthusiasm for suttas is contagious, I really want to read some from now on!" ~ by A.V.
Friday, 12th June 2026, 18:45 – 20:45
Dhamma Talk with Ajahn Brahmali
"So, You Think You Understand Impermanence...?"
At Oxford Quakers
We might think we understand impermanence but usually our understanding does not go very deep. We are trapped in perceptions that do not reflect reality. Sometimes we underestimate impermanence, at other times we overestimate it. We need to find the middle way and then investigate deeply. As we do so, the most natural yet beautiful truth reveals itself!
Sat 13th – Sat 20th June 2026
Ajahn Brahmali ~ 8-Day Residential Retreat:
"Turning Your Life Into a True Blessing"
At The Franciscan Centre Ladywell, Surrey
We are delighted to announce that Ajahn Brahmali is back to England in to teach his third 8-day silent residential retreat.
What is the theme of the retreat?
Mahāmaṅgala Sutta (The Discourse on the Highest Blessings) is among the most cherished teachings of the Theravāda tradition - a gentle yet profound guide to living well. Uniquely grounded in the realities of lay life, it offers clear, practical reflections that nourish the heart and quietly transform the way we live, relate, and practice.
Step by step, this sutta elucidates the entire spiritual path: from cultivating harmony and wise conduct in daily life, through deepening inner clarity and ultimately pointing toward liberation itself. During this retreat, we will slow down and explore its verses with care, drawing on the wider wisdom of the Pāli Canon to illuminate each blessing and bring it alive in our own experience.
Join us for a contemplative journey into simplicity, meaning, and awakening - a space to listen, reflect, and let the teachings gently lead you to freedom and liberation.
Be there or be square! 🙂
Where will the retreat be held?
We are delighted to have found a very peaceful venue in idyllic surroundings. Set in the heart of beautiful Surrey, The Franciscan Centre Ladywell is spiritual home to Franciscan Sisters and the FMDM (Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood), who have created a space of peace, beauty and reflection. The buildings and extensive grounds lend themselves perfectly to a silent meditation retreat. We feel confident that the atmosphere alone will support you in quietening the mind!
By coming to the retreat you are agreeing to train in observing The Precepts. If you require food in the evening for medical purposes, please ensure that you bring along simple snacks such as flapjacks, that can be kept in the shared kitchenettes.
Sunday, 21st June 2026, 10:00 – 16:30
Day retreat with Ajahn Brahmali:
"Spiritual Growth Through
Kindness & Compassion"
At St. Margaret's Institute, Oxford.
The Mettā Sutta looks at the entire spiritual path through lense of good will and love. We will investigate how you can use the practice of metta to purify your virtue, to super-charge your meditation, and finally to take you to the deepest insights of the Buddhist path. Moreover, the path of metta is a path of happiness and ease. If you agree that the spiritual life should be uplifting and fun, see you there!
Tentative Schedule:
09:30 - 09:55 Arrivals
10:00 - 11:30 Dhamma talk and guided meditation (silence begins!)
11:30 - 12:00 Walking meditation
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch and rest period
13:00 - 13:30 Dhamma talk
13:30 - 14:15 Lightly guided meditation
14:15 - 15:00 Walking meditation/Tea break
15:00 - 15:45 Q&A
16:00 - 16:30 Final metta meditation and closing words
Monday, 22nd June 2026, 19:00 – 20:30
Dhamma Talk with Ajahn Brahmali:
"The Mystery of Letting Go: How To Do It At Will"
London (location TBC)
Why is it so hard to let go? Why is it that we usually can't do it when we try, but then it happens out of the blue? We will investigate the process of letting go and try to understand the mechanism behind it. Once we gain more clarity, we can use this to our advantage. Instead of trying hard and getting frustrated, we allow the path to unfold naturally.
No registration necessary; attendance is by donation.
