Special Events
Special Summer and Autumn guest programme!
Sundays
19:30-21:00 and 9:00-10:30 UK time ~ please be sure to check which time applies on a weekly basis.
During Ven Canda's silent rain's retreat she has lined up an amazing array of teachings from different bhikkhunis, as well as two from Ajahn Brahmali! Every Sunday, from July 2nd until October 29th, we have something inspiring for you, including a couple of peer-led sessions where you can meet and discuss the Dhamma together with other lay practitioners. Our core team of zoom co-hosts, including Matthias, Manori and Gunther, will be there to hold the space as always.
All times are given in UK time (BST)
October
1st, 09:00-10:30 ~ Venerable Therika "Keeping a Balanced Mind Through the Day"
8th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ven Upekkha "The Four Heavenly Messengers"
15th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ven Pasanna "The Patient Path"
22nd, 19:30-21:00pm ~ Ven Karunika "The True Purpose of Metta"
29th, 19:30-21:00pm ~ Peer-led with Shirley
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.
Ajahn Brahm's "Wisdom of Peace" UK Tour ~ 7th - 20th November 2023
Ajahn Brahm is back again in the UK this November and will be touring from the North to the South! For the first time since the pandemic, and together with Venerable Canda, he will teach two retreats: a 3-day non-residential retreat at Friend's Meeting House, Sheffield, and a weekend retreat at Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel.
Ajahn is also offering a plethora of public talks on Buddhist and every-day life themes. Whether you are a seasoned meditator or a beginner, Ajahn's unique blend of humour, compassion and wisdom - and expert meditation guidance - is bound to bring energy and depth to your practice.
Ajahn Brahm comes to England to support Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project’s charitable aims - of spreading the Dhamma and developing a monastery for the Bhikkhuni Sangha (community of fully ordained female Buddhist monastics). After seven years of dedicated work, Anukampa reached a major milestone in 2022, with the purchase of the UK's first small monastery for bhikkhunis - Anukampa Buddhist Vihara.
All proceeds from the tour will be used to support these aims and to establish a full-scale "Forest Monastery," so that our community can continue to grow. This will make the priceless Dhamma teachings even more accessible to all. We continue to keep costs as low as possible thanks to volunteers who offer their service freely and with love.
Tue 7th Nov 2023, 7 - 9 pm
Ajahn Brahm: “Non-Self & Responsibility”
Dhamma Talk at Thames Buddhist Vihara, 49 Dulverton Road, Selsdon, Surrey, CR2 8PJ.
This talk is donation-based, and there is no need to register- please just show up!
Thu 9th Nov - Sat 11th Nov 2023, 9:30am - 5:30pm each day
Ajahn Brahm & Ven Canda: “Rest in Peace Before You Die!“
3-Day Non-Residential Retreat at Friends Meeting House, Sheffield Quakers ~ Sheffield.
Do you ever feel like the only peace you’ll get is after you’re dead? You’re just so busy and burdened with the duties of life that peace feels like a different lifetime? In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to lose sight of what really matters and become consumed by stress, anxiety, and worry. Through the practice of meditation, however, we can learn to cultivate a deep sense of peace and contentment, even in the face of life's ultimate challenges; dying and death.
Over the course of this transformative retreat, Ajahn Brahm will guide you on a journey of awakening, helping you to embrace the present moment and let go of the fears and worries that hold you back. Through a powerful combination of guided meditations, teachings, and discussion, you'll learn to connect with your deepest wisdom and find a sense of peace that can carry you through any situation. Don't wait until death to find peace!
Sun 12th Nov 2023, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Ajahn Brahm: “Buddhist Optimism“
Dhamma Talk at Pioneer Room Pendulum Hotel ~ Manchester.
Tue 14th Nov 2023, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Ajahn Brahm: “The Right Approach to Jhana“
Dhamma Talk at Leonard Wolfson Auditorium, Oxford.
Wed 15th Nov 2023, 6 - 8 pm
Ajahn Brahm: “Be Compassionate to Yourself“
Dhamma Talk at Future Inns Hotel ~ Bristol.
Fri 17th Nov 2023, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Ajahn Brahm: “Embracing Anxiety & Fear”
Dhamma Talk at Quakers Meeting House ~ Oxford.
Sat 18th - Sun 19th Nov 2023, 9:30am - 5:30pm each day
Ajahn Brahm: “The Way of Buddhist Insight“
2-Day Non-Residential Retreat at Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House ~ Oxford.
What is the Buddha’s path of insight and how does insight arise? How can we learn to remove the hindrances - such as worry, aversion and desire - so that we can see things clearly, develop wisdom and experience the bliss of Nibbana?
With Ajahn Brahm's expert guidance and compassionate support, you'll delve into the heart of meditation practice, exploring the wisdom teachings of the Buddha and discovering your own innate capacity for insight and understanding. Through a powerful combination of guided meditations, teachings, and discussions, you'll learn to cultivate a deeper connection to your own inner wisdom and uncover new levels of clarity and insight.
The weekend will include Dhamma reflections, Q&A sessions, periods of seated and walking meditation and lots of laughter!
Mon 20th Nov 2023, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ajahn Brahm: “What is Letting Go?“
Dhamma Talk at London Scottish House, Westminster, London.
Upcoming Talks & Retreats with Ven Canda
(December 2023 and into 2024)
- "Love to Break All Boundaries" 3rd - 9th Dec 2023, Devon UK. Waiting List Here.
- "No Mud No Lotus: Transforming Suffering to Joy" Three-day New Year Retreat with Sheffield Insight, 28th - 30th Dec 2023 ~ opens for registration around September.
-
"Enjoying The Path" Residential Retreat at Gaia House, 7th – 21st Feb 2024 co-taught with Bernat Font Clos.
- Day Retreat, 24th Feb 2024, London Insight
- Six-day Metta Retreat from Fri 8th - Thu 14th Mar 2024, Cloud Mountain, Washington State USA ~ the dates are now confirmed but not yet open for bookings!
- Week-long Retreat in April 2024, Norway tbc
- "An Open Heart of Patience" 4th - 7th July 2024, Gaia House UK ~ confirmed but not yet open for bookings!
As we are unsure when the retreats will open for bookings, please keep an eye on the websites. Kindly DO NOT contact the centres in advance.
Fri 8th - Thu 14th Mar 2024
Six Day Metta Retreat with Ven Canda, for Cloud Mountain USA:
"Boundless Love as a Path to Freedom"
Loving kindness (metta) is a boundless quality of heart that promotes social harmony and inner peace. The careful cultivation of metta undermines fear and ill will, opening us to a selfless kind of joy that can deepen into blissful, boundless states of stillness (samadhi).
This retreat will encourage the flourishing of metta; both as a way of relating to our experience through body, speech and mind, and as a meditation method. We will experience the potential of metta to dissolve the barriers we erect between 'self' and 'other,' which blind us to the universal truths of suffering and non-self.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced meditator, you are bound to leave this retreat feeling more resourced and ready to embrace the ups and downs of life.
This retreat is suitable for all who incline away from harmful states of mind! The schedule will be flexible and include Dhamma talks, guided and silent meditations and Q&A sessions. Guided meditations will be 30-45 minutes long and all sessions will be optional to allow you to respect your personal needs.
This retreat is organised by Cloud Mountain. If you have queries regarding this particular retreat, please contact Cloud Mountain direct.
Regular Events
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.
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.
Zoomi Bhikkhuni:
Pali Chanting & Blessings Group
Every Wednesday 17.30 - 18:00 UK Time - peer led by Reny and Manori (via Zoom)
This group is for those interested in learning some Pali chanting, such as the Karaniya Metta Sutta and more. At the beginning of each session we will call the names of people who would appreciate a blessing, so please join and make your dedications known.
Click here: Karaniya Metta Sutta for Text in English and Pali language.
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.
Zoomi Bhikkhuni:
Fridays - Sutta Discussion Group with Ven Canda:
Fridays: 18:45 – 20:00pm UK Time (via Zoom)
This group is suspended until Friday 3rd November and then 24th November.
This ongoing class is suitable for beginners to sutta study as well as those familiar with the teachings of the Buddha found in the Early Buddhist texts (Sutta Pitaka). Together, we will go through Bhikkhu Bodhi's anthology of the Buddha's teachings on "Social & Communal Harmony," in a way that allows for discussion and close examination of how they can inform, inspire and deepen our practice in daily life and meditation. Whilst this is a great opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of the teachings as we approach the material systematically over time, each session will also work as a stand alone contemplation - so you are very welcome to drop in as you wish! If you do hope to attend regularly, we highly recommend getting a personal copy of the book; however, this is not essential.
About "The Buddha's Teachings On Social And Communal Harmony" by Bhikkhu Bodhi:
"In a world of conflict and strife, how can we be advocates of peace and justice?
In this volume acclaimed scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi has collected and translated the Buddha's teachings on conflict resolution, interpersonal and social problem-solving, and the forging of harmonious relationships. The selections, all drawn from the Pali Canon, the earliest record of the Buddha's discourses, are organised into ten thematic chapters. The chapters deal with such topics as right understanding, the quelling of anger, good friendship, intentional communities, the settlement of disputes, and the establishing of an equitable society. Each chapter begins with a concise and informative introduction by the translator that guides us toward a deeper understanding of the texts that follow.
In times of social conflict, intolerance, and war, the Buddha's approach to creating and sustaining peace takes on a new and urgent significance. Even readers unacquainted with Buddhism will appreciate these ancient teachings, always clear, practical, undogmatic, and so contemporary in flavour. The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony will prove to be essential reading for anyone seeking to bring peace into their communities and into the wider world."
Zoomi Bhikkhuni:
Saturday's Guided Metta Meditation and Sharing Group with Ven Canda:
Saturdays: 09:00 – 10:00am UK Time (via Zoom)
This group is suspended until Saturday 4th November and then 25th November!
What better way to start the weekend than expanding our heart with the powerful, sublime practice of loving kindness and a gentle check-in with friends? This group will help us bring the benefits of metta into our lives in a truly transformative way.
Learn more about Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda ABOUT US >