Special Events
Sat 11th May 2024, 10:00 - 17:00 BST
A day of practice with Ven Canda, for Oxford Insight Meditation
"Between Sensing & Craving: Vedana"
Online and in person at Littlemore Village Hall, Oxford
Venerable Canda Theri says "Vedana can be defined as feeling, or the hedonic tone of experience, which is either pleasant, unpleasant or "neutral," i.e. somewhere in between. This retreat aims to deepen a practical experience of vedana as the crucial link between our sensory world and the craving and aversion that can arise in response that leads to suffering. By directing mindfulness toward the various feelings that arise in our body and mind, and exploring them with gentle curiosity, we come to understand their fleeting nature. This develops equipoise in the face of life's ups and downs. With diligent practice we find that our reactive tendencies diminish and we have the freedom to respond to people and situations from a place of wisdom and compassion."
The day will include periods of sitting and walking meditation, meditation instructions, dharma reflections and some time for questions. There will be a lunch break of about 1 hour. The day will mainly be in silence. The retreat is suitable for beginners as well as those with experience of meditation practice. We ask that you commit to staying for the full day.
This event is organised by Oxford Insight Meditation. If you have queries regarding this particular retreat, please contact Oxford Insight direct.
Sat 18th May 2024, 10:00 - 16:00
A Day Retreat with Ven Canda, for Bristol Insight Meditation:
"Liberating Perspectives on Death & Dying"
Retreat in Bristol
Perhaps you are witness to someone who is dying, have lost a loved one or have received a diagnosis you are grappling with? Or perhaps you are healthy and imagine death is far away - and that is the way you would like it to stay!
The Buddha recommended meditation on death for everyone, as a way of bringing a sense of immediacy to practice. Although it may initially sound unappealing, by gently turning toward the universal reality of death, we can learn tools for living a fuller life - a life of gratitude and love.
This retreat will invite us to contemplate and discuss the universal experience of death and dying, taking inspiration from Buddhist ideas as well as modern scientific research on near-death experiences, to find a greater acceptance and peace within.
The retreat is suitable for everyone and will include Dhamma reflections, guided meditations and an opportunity for sharing questions and responses.
This retreat is organised by Bristol Insight Meditation. If you have queries regarding this particular retreat, please contact Bristol Insight Meditation direct.
Sunday, 19th May 2024 16:00 - 18:00 UK Time
Vesak with Anukampa
Online via Zoom
Vesak is the most significant day of the Buddhist Calendar - the day that the Buddha was born, Enlightened and entered Parinibbana.
It was compassion ~ 'Anukampa' ~ for the world, that motivated the Buddha to teach, and this day is an opportunity to express our devotion to our great Teacher. It is an opportunity to remind ourselves of his humanity and the extraordinary qualities he personified ~ and to put into practice the profound Teachings he made available to us.
Join us online on the 19th of May from 4-6pm for this REGISTRATION ONLY event. We will begin with a guided meditation, followed by a Dhamma talk by Venerable Upekkha. We will include some time to connect with each other and discuss the Dhamma. Ven Canda will also offer the Three Refuges and Five Precepts to those who wish to take them.
Please ensure you bookmark the confirmation email with your Zoom link and arrive ten mins early so we can all settle in smoothly.
Sunday, 2nd June 2024 14:30 - 18:00
Anukampa Grove Retreat Afternoon
(15 people only)
In-person retreat
Join us at the new monastery and rejoice in this milestone achievement with us!
We are celebrating with an informal, quiet day of meditation to build up a good practice atmosphere in the tranquil surrounds of Anukampa Grove Bhikkhuni Monastery, 5 miles from Oxford, on Sunday, 2nd June from 14:30 until 18:00pm.
This will include time for sitting and walking meditation, Dhamma reflections, and some group discussion and tea 🙂
As numbers are limited to fifteen, please RSVP bookings@anukampaproject.org to express your interest, telling us whether you will be travelling by car. We will reply with details on how to reach us etc, once we have gauged numbers. We are really excited to see you here!
Ajahn Brahmali's UK Visit: 12th - 16th Jun 2024 (followed by an Ajahn Brahm & Ven Canda online retreat)
Ajahn Brahmali is back in England this June and we have the opportunity to host him at our new monastery, Anukampa Grove Bhikkhuni Monastery, on Boars' Hill, for the first time! During his brief visit, we will be packing in lots of Dhamma teachings; in London, Brighton, Oxford and Bristol - including a day-long retreat at the delightful Friends Meeting House, Oxford, with its quiet terraces and lawns.
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.
The teaching programme runs from the 12th to 16th June, and will be closely followed by a three-day online retreat with Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda from 18th to 20th June inclusive.
Register for Ajahn Brahmali's teaching events below.
PLEASE help spread the posters of Ajahn Brahmali's events and post it on your local area, please find it HERE
Wednesday, 12th Jun 2024, 19:00 - 20:45
Ajahn Brahmali: “There Is No Bad Meditation!“
Dhamma Talk at Kagyu Samye Dzong, Bermondsey, London.
How often do you get up from your meditation thinking, "What a waste of time that was!"? What if that wasn’t the case? Perhaps there is another way of approaching our practice that makes every meditation experience worthwhile.
In this enlightening talk, Ajahn Brahmali will delve deep into the essence of meditation and unravel some of the misconceptions around it. He show us a fresh approach to meditation guided by wisdom and compassion. Together we will explore how we can integrate our so-called "bad" meditations into the Noble Eightfold Path, so that every experience becomes part of our journey to peace.
Thursday, 13th Jun 2024, 18:45 - 20:30
Ajahn Brahmali: “What Is & Isn't A Jhana“
Dhamma Talk at Community Base, Brighton
The Buddha spoke about jhana, the most profound stages of meditation, as being essential to the path towards Enlightenment, but are these states attainable in this day and age? How do we know if we, our teachers, or our friends have experienced a jhana and more importantly, if we are heading in the right way?
In this talk, Ajahn Brahmali, a senior student of meditation master Ajahn Brahm, will compare the word of the Buddha to some of the misconceptions of jhana today and share tips for putting the causes in place for jhana to happen in a way that leads to wisdom.
Friday 14th Jun 2024, 19:00 - 20:45
Ajahn Brahmali: “Making Peace With Your Inner Critic“
Dhamma Talk at Leonard Wolfson Auditorium, Oxford.
Is there a little voice inside you, telling you that you are not good enough or that you got it wrong again? This voice of the "inner critic" can torment us, reminding us of our insignificant flaws and making us blind to all our wonderful qualities and strengths.
In this talk, Ajahn Brahmali will help us learn how to recognise the voice of the inner critic and undermine its power to sap our joy. Through the skillful use of perception and thought, we will learn to make peace with ourselves and nurture our potential for Awakening.
Saturday, 15th June 2024, 10:00 - 17:00 pm
Day retreat with Ajahn Brahmali:
"Sila, The Foundation Of The Path"
Day retreat at Friends Meeting House, Oxford Quakers, Oxford.
We sometimes struggle with our meditation practice, but have we looked carefully at the well-structured teachings of the Buddha? He describes the stages of the path to Enlightenment clearly and it all begins with sila, ethics.
The Buddha said that stillness founded on virtue is of great fruit and benefit:
"Sila paribhavito samadhi, mahapphalo hoti mahanisamso."
~ DN16 Mahaparinibbana Sutta.
Drawing on the early Buddhist texts and his own extensive experience, Ajahn Brahmali will describe how to develop beautiful qualities such as generosity, kindness and harmlessness that give rise to blameless bliss. Empowered by these qualites the mind becomes so energised and bright, that meditation happens naturally in a way that leads to freedom.
Sunday, 16th Jun 2024, 16:00 - 18:00
Ajahn Brahmali: “Equanimity vs. Passivity“
Dhamma Talk at Queen's Building, University of Bristol, Bristol.
Equanimity is a profound quality and its near enemy is passivity. How do we recognise we have fallen into this dangerous deviation and overcome it? How can we know when to act and when to stand back and let go?
Drawing on the word of the Buddha, Ajahn Brahmali will delve into the true meaning of equanimity as an accepting and expansive state of mind developed in meditation. Together we will explore how we can discern the difference between wise, balanced action coming from an even mind, and passive resignation.
Tue 18th - Thu 20th Jun 2024 UK Time
Three Day Online Meditation Retreat
with Ajahn Brahm & Ven Canda:
"Wisdom Of Silence"
"Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda create a really safe, supportive and nurturing environment. It softens the heart. The teachings are wise and profound but delivered in a way that is funny, sensitive and warm hearted. They lead by example in how to act through love, acceptance and compassion. I am glad I have found such teachers."
~ Patricia, a participant in Ajahn Brahm & Ven Canda's "Bliss Upon Bliss" online retreat, November 2020
Silence is what we develop through stillness. It is not merely the absence of noise; silence is a gateway to profound insight. When we are still, the mind becomes tranquil and we move beyond the boundaries of conventional knowledge. As we learn to trust the silence and release the clamour of the five-sense world, the mind energises and becomes blissful and bright. In deep, meditative stillness, the Dhamma ~ timeless truth ~ reveals itself and you see things as they truly are.
In this retreat, our wise and compassionate guides will gently lead us into the heart of silence. Like skilled gardeners, they will tend to the soil of our minds, nurturing seeds of happiness and peace. The retreat will include guided and silent meditations, engaging Dhamma talks and opportunities for questions and responses. It is suitable for every level of experience and requires that you have a reasonably quiet and safe place to stay and practice where you can caringly tend to your body and mind. Ven Upekkha will be present and may hopefully offer some Dhamma as well!
Tentative Daily Schedule (Time zone BST):
Tuesday 18th June:
08:00 – 10:00 Dhamma Talk, Precepts & Guided meditation (Ajahn Brahm)
10:00 – 12:15 Walking meditation & Lunch break
12:30 – 14:00 Guided Meditation & Q&A (Ajahn Brahm)
14:00 – 16:30 Personal practice period (encouraging walking and sitting meditation)
16:45 – 17:30 Silent Meditation
17:30 – 19:00 Tea break or snack
19:00 – 20:30: Short talk, guided meditation and Q&A (Ven Canda)
Wednesday 19th June:
Change: 06:15 – 07:00 Morning Silent Meditation & Metta Sutta Chanting with Ven Upekkha
Change: 08:30 – 10:00 Dhamma Talk & Guided meditation (Ajahn Brahm)
10:00 – 12:15 Walking meditation & Lunch break
12:30 – 14:00 Guided Meditation & Q&A (Ajahn Brahm)
14:00 – 16:30 Personal practice period (encouraging walking and sitting meditation)
16:45 – 17:30 Silent Meditation
17:30 – 19:00 Tea break or snack
19:00 – 20:30: Short talk, guided meditation and Q&A (Ven Canda and/or Ven Upekkha)
Thursday 20th June:
06:15 – 07:00 Morning Silent Meditation & Metta Sutta Chanting with Ven Upekkha
08:30 – 10:00 Dhamma Talk & Guided meditation (Ajahn Brahm)
10:00 – 12:15 Walking meditation & Lunch break
12:30 – 14:00 Guided Meditation & Q&A (Ajahn Brahm)
Change: 15:00 – 15:45 Silent Meditation
Change: 16:00 – 17:30 Closing Session ~ Talk, meditation and Anukampa discussion (Ven Canda)
Check the retreat schedule against your country time zone here.
Full attendance is ideal to make the most of your retreat. Please apply only if you can give yourself the very best opportunity for developing the beauty of silence!
Thu 4th - Sun 7th July 2024
Residential Retreat with Ven Canda & Laura Bridgman, for Gaia House:
"The Gentle Art of Patience"
The Buddha described patience as the highest spiritual quality, yet many of us find it challenging, even unappealing.
Modern society so often emphasises immediate gratification through an act of will. We then bring this pressure to our meditation practice and use too much force, making the path harder than it needs to be. On the contrary, the Buddha encouraged us to focus on the causes for happiness and peace – the careful laying down of conditions that allow beautiful qualities of the heart to ripen, in their own time.
Developing such a patient, kind and gentle attitude enables us to stay with experience long enough to discover its beauty and depth. We learn to find contentment here and now, instead of being caught in restless seeking.
This retreat is organised by Gaia House. If you have queries regarding this particular retreat, please contact Gaia House direct.
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.
Special Events Posters
Over 2500 years ago, the Buddha instructed the monks to disperse in different directions and teach the Dhamma ~that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, that has a true goal and is well articulated~ for the benefit and happiness of humanity, out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit, happiness of gods and humans (Mahākhandhaka 11.14). Today, we find the modern-day monks and nuns continue this tradition through Dhamma talks.
We can join this sacred effort. We can do our parts by helping to spread the posters, with the hope that more people can benefit from the beautiful teachings of the Buddha.
Please find the posters below, you can print them and share it with your local community, WhatsApp groups, social media, perhaps in your local supermarkets announcement board, public libraries, community halls, sport hall, etc where you can put up the posters.
Regular Events
Zoomi Bhikkhuni:
Fridays - Sutta Discussion Group with Ven Canda:
Fridays: 18:45 – 20:00pm UK Time (via Zoom)
Next sessions:
May 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st;
June 7th, 21st and 28th.
This is a wonderful way to delve into the Buddha's Teachings and apply them to our own life and practice, through discussion with the Ven Canda and our peers. Together, we go through Bhikkhu Bodhi's anthology of the Buddha's teachings on "Social & Communal Harmony," in an attempt to answer the question: "In a world of conflict and strife, how can we be advocates of peace and justice?"
You are very welcome to drop in as you wish! We are now on the last chapters of the book and newcomers are welcome.
N.B. We will begin a new series of sutta studies after we end this book!
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:
Saturday's Guided Metta Meditation and Sharing Group with Ven Canda:
Saturdays: 09:00 – 10:00am UK Time (via Zoom)
Next sessions:
May 4th, and 18th;
June 1st, 8th, 22nd and 29th.
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.
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 Ven Canda, Ven Upekkha or Manori
This is an uplifting opportunity to share loving kindness and good wishes with your loved ones - or anyone you know of who could benefit from the powerful teachings and blessings of the Buddha. We begin by collecting the names of those you'd like to dedicate the chanting towards. The host then recites the Karaniya Metta Sutta and invites you to join in from the comfort of your home.
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.
Learn more about Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda ABOUT US >