Special Events
Bhante Sujato's Dhamma Talks & Retreats
We are excited to announce that Bhante Sujato will be visiting the UK late Jan - Feb, 2025. Hosted partly by Ven Canda on behalf of Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, this visit offers a unique opportunity to experience his teachings firsthand.
Known for his insightful understanding of early Buddhist scriptures and innovative teaching style, Bhante Sujato's sessions promise to be thought and insight provoking. His ability to distill complex teachings into clear and relatable insights will help us forge a closer connection with the Buddha's path, emptying our hearts and shaping our daily lives.
The programme begins with a day-long retreat on Saturday February 1st at the Friends Meeting House in Oxford. This retreat offers an invaluable chance to immerse yourself in Dhamma practice amidst the peaceful surroundings of the meeting house's charming gardens. The next day, a few lucky people will get the chance to join a more intimate half-day retreat at Anukampa Grove. Bhante Sujato will end his trip with a Dhamma talk on February 5th at Kagyu Samye Dzong London.
About Bhante Sujato
Bhante Sujato is an Australian Buddhist monk. Before he ordained as a monk, he was a member of the Australian rock band, Martha’s Vineyard (est. 1986). In 1994 he left his music career to ordain in Thailand in the forest lineage of Ajahn Chah. As well as living for several years in forest monasteries and remote hermitages in Thailand, he spent three years in Bodhinyana Monastery (Perth) as secretary of Ajahn Brahm and a year in a cave in Malaysia.
Bhante Sujato has combined his love of meditation with study of the Buddha’s Teachings, and in 2001 published his first book, “A Swift Pair of Messengers”, a compilation of Sutta passages on the theme of tranquillity and insight. He has since published many books, and studies and teaches Buddhist texts from comparative and historical perspectives.
He served as founding Abbot of Santi Forest Monastery from 2003-2012.
In 2005, Bhante Sujato co-founded SuttaCentral, an online digital library of early Buddhist texts that includes sutta translations from the Pali, Chinese and Tibetan languages. Since 2012, Bhante Sujato has focused on translation of the Pali suttas into English. These translations are freely available at SuttaCentral.
Bhante Sujato currently lives at Lokanta Vihara, the “Monastery at the End of the World”. The vihara is located on the lands of the traditional owners, the Burramattagal people of the Darug nation, in Harris Park, Sydney.
Saturday, 1st Feb 2025, 10:00 – 17:00
Day Retreat With Bhante Sujato:
“The Oddly Conditioned Nature Of Unconditional Love”
Day retreat at Friends Meeting House, Oxford Quakers, Oxford.
Love is like a butterfly, so pretty yet so fleeting. Or so they say. But what if love was less like a butterfly and more like an ocean? What if it was everywhere all the time and we just forgot to notice it?
Join Bhante Sujato on this contemplative day retreat as he dives into the enigmatic nature of unconditional love. Explore how our perceptions condition love, and how we can shape them to bring a lasting transformation in our lives and for those around us. Through meditation, reflection, and Q&A discover the currents that connect us all-the tides of compassion, kindness and boundless care.
Sunday, 2nd Feb 2025 14:30 – 18:00
Anukampa Grove Afternoon Retreat with Bhante Sujato & Ven Canda
(15 people)
Join us at our beautiful new monastery for a relaxed day of meditation, discussion and tea with Dhamma friends!
We would like to invite you to practice with us in the tranquil Anukampa Grove Bhikkhuni Monastery, which is just 5 miles from Oxford, on Sunday, 2nd Feb from 14:30 until 18:00pm. Please arrive and settle in quietly at 14:00, so we can start with some Dhamma teaching at 14:30.
Numbers are limited to fifteen, so please book early to express your interest. We will reply by end December/January, once we have gauged numbers, and send you complete information at that time, including our precise location, what to bring, etc.
We are really excited to see you here and super-charge the atmosphere with meditation energy!
Wednesday, 5th Feb 2025, 19:00 – 20:45
Dhamma Talk by Bhante Sujato:
"A Sure Bet: The Buddha’s Advice On Gambling"
Dhamma Talk at Kagyu Samye Dzong, Bermondsey, London.
In this ocean of doubt, the Buddha offers us a way to solid ground. Just as an unbiased die yields results regardless of its sides, the Buddha’s teachings provide a pragmatic approach to life.
In this enlightening Dhamma talk, Bhante Sujato will explore how the Buddha’s teachings provide a safe and sure bet for making wise and reliable decisions amidst life’s uncertainties. Drawing on the Buddha’s profound wisdom, Bhante Sujato will discuss how to steer clear of speculative and uncertain actions-choices that may seem tempting but often lead to greater instability and unease.
July 2025
A Rare Month-Long Silent Retreat in the US led by Sayadaw U Jagara and Ven Canda
"Wise Perspectives, Loving Attitudes"
in Barre, Massachusetts
Registration is now open at Insight Meditation Society, Forest Refuge!
Sayadaw U Jagara is Ven Canda’s long-term friend and mentor and he has invited her to assist him in teaching his annual month-long retreat at the Forest Refuge in Barre, Massachusetts. Ordained in 1979, and having lived and practiced in Sri Lanka and Burma for decades, Sayadaw has a rich understanding and practice of Buddhist teachings ~ he is a gem of wisdom in these modern times.
To understand and live life fully, wise perspectives are key. Equally important are our attitudes, which can be shaped to allow for more integration and creativity in practice. Skilful attitudes, intentions and ways of relating to life include care, respect and patience; qualities that define a benevolent mind capable of bringing profound benefit to all.
This powerful combination of wise perspective and loving attitude is the foundation of the Noble Eightfold Path - there framed as samma ditthi and samma sankappa. Through strengthening these factors we empower our meditation and the bodhipakkhiya dhammas (wings of awakening) naturally come to fulfilment.
Emphasising wisdom and loving kindness, this retreat intends to touch on all aspects of the path, to help bring about a paradigm shift in the way we position ourselves to life.
This retreat is organised by Insight Meditation Society, Forest Refuge. If you have queries regarding this particular retreat, please contact IMS Forest Refuge directly.
Regular Events
“The Fragrance of Dhamma”
Sunday Monastic Teaching Inspiration
July – December 2024
19:30-21:00 OR 9:00-10:30 UK time ~ please be sure to check which time applies on a weekly basis.
During the next few months, Venerable Canda has lined up another amazing array of teachings ~ this time from ten different bhikkhunis and two bhikkhus!
Every Sunday, from July 28th until December 15th 2024, you can look forward to some guided meditation, Dhamma reflection and a valuable chance to ask questions to experienced bhikkhunis and bhikkhus. Our core team of zoom co-hosts, Matthias, Manori and Gunther, will be there as always.
All times are given in UK time (BST until 27th October, GMT after that):
July (BST)
28th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ajahn Brahmali
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.
August (BST)
4th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ven Upekkha Theri
11th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ven Karunika Theri
25th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ajahn Brahmali
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.
September (BST)
1st, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ayya Santacitta Theri “The Recollection of the Buddha and Touching the Earth”
8th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ayya Soma
15th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ven Therika
22nd, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ajahn Nitho
29th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ven Karunika Theri
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.
October (BST)
6th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ven Upekkha Theri
13th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ayya Anandabodhi Theri
20th, no programmer this week!
27th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ayya Adhimutti Theri
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.
November (GMT)
3rd, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ven Karunika Theri
10th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ayya Santussika Theri
17th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ajahn Nitho
24th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ayya Suvijjana Theri
December (GMT)
1st, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ven Upekkha Theri
8th, 19:30-21:00 ~ Ven Karunika Theri
15th, 09:00-10:30 ~ Ven Canda Theri
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:
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 ~ Karaniya Metta Sutta
Every Wednesday 17:30 - 18:00 UK Time - Held by Manori until December
Here we chant the Karaniya Metta Sutta in Pali, the closest language to what the Buddha spoke, to spread beautiful loving-kindness, compassion, and blessings to those who need extra support – be they family, friends or those suffering through war and famine etc. Kindly held by Manori until December.
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.
Fridays – Sutta Discussion Group ~ suspended
18:45 – 20:00pm UK time
This group will be back on Friday 20th December and then 27th December!
Saturdays – Guided Metta & Sharing Group ~ suspended
9:00 – 10:00am UK time
This group will be back on Saturday 21st December and then 28th December!
Learn more about Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda ABOUT US >