Jhana has become popular, but often dumbed down. So then it helps to have an overview of how aspects of the path fits together.  Jhana means oneness and illumination, and is described as having five factors: applied and sustained application (vitakka, vicara), rapture or uplift (piti), pleasure (sukha) and unification of consciousness (ekaggata). And the coming together of all this factors is jhana.  And each person has the potential to realise these stages of meditation, they represent the...

When coming to a retreat, you give up a lot for a few days − there is maybe a desire or a longing for freedom. And just that is the first of 'The four bases of mental power' (iddhi pada), this wish or longing for freedom and a spiritual development − and maybe the most important supporting factor for this desire is mental pleasure, which is really important to develop.  The second factor is energy, so to keep going and not giving up. The third factor is mind or heart or consciousness, a clear...

This talk is about the process the Buddha went through learning to meditate, starting with an experiences he had as a child, which teachers he met and learned from and how he was conditioned by other schools. Then later on, how the Buddha stayed with the sramanas doing all kinds of ascetic practises, which the Buddha found as a waste of time. And finally, when he had been searching out all the best teachers of his time, and not finding them good enough, he started to develop his meditation...

After a retreat, how can we continue our practice, how can we transfer our skills to our daily lives? At this retreat at Venabu a whole toolkit was given: right approach to mediation, what happiness and suffering is, learning to be mindful and developing wholesome qualities, the importance of joy and how it is aroused, and wisdom - what is is and how it is developed. In our daily life we must protect the seed we have planted, and remove the weeds. Keeping the soil moist by virtue - which...

Ajahn Nitho describes in this talk what wisdom is according to the teaching of the Buddha. He also reads out a short parable describing when wisdom will arrise in a person − independent of gender, body or ethnicity. He continues with a longer descriptions of the various stages of meditation, all the way into deep meditation or jhana, because that is the needed level of meditation for deep wisdom and enlightenment to arrise. In short - a meditation and wisdom journey of ever increasing...

This talk is about loving kindness − what it is, how it affects our mind, different ways of doing loving kindness meditation, and how it connects to deep meditation and awakening.  This teaching was given at Venabu 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/04/venabu-retreat-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: [email protected] DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor...

In this talk, Venerable Canda talks about guarding the sense doors, and the hindrances that arise in relation to the sensory world, with the goal to create clarity of mind. She talks about the sense bases, and how contact creates feelings in body and mind − pleasant or not − resulting in craving or ill will. Seeing that this process is conditioned, not substantial, reduces the reactivity and the creation of suffering. She gives examples, and refer to stories both from contemporary teachers...

Doing breath meditation ends sometimes up being dry and out of oomph, then try the advice of the Buddha. This talk is about the importance of joy, happiness and rapture for the development of deep meditation and wisdom. In the end of the talk, Ajahn Nitho also mentions some alternative meditations to help kindle these beatiful mental states during meditation of breathing.  This teaching was given at Venabu 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/04/venabu-retreat-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to...

We all want more of happiness, and less suffering. What is the reason for happiness? What type of happiness should we pursue? What is the foundation and causes for happiness? What motivates us to practice? Happiness is a natural process − there is happiness, and it comes as a result of putting in beautiful wholesome causes, learning to go through problems with wisdom, and developing perceptions that will transform our lives. This teaching was given at Venabu...

This is a recording of a question and answers session normally done every evening during retreat: (00:00) − You mentioned that for meditation, it helps to focus on the here and now, like breathing, walking or yoga. Would focusing on petting ones cat be the same, could that be meditate?(02:51) − Often when I am observing my breathing closely, the closer I watch, the more I realise that I am all doing the breathing, in stead of letting it breath on its own. Should I just observe myself doing...

Sometimes meditation is frustrating and disappointing, then we should practice insights. And just as in the story of Sam and Vi, each with their dog, Metta and Anapana, climbs a mountain both for deep peace and a clear view, so we can climb the meditation mountain inside.  But we have blind spots, we see only what we want to see, and don't see what we don't want to see. Real insights goes much deeper then you think is obvious, and wisdom is not believing what you see. And few stories...

Buddhism is not a religion of belief, but a training to empower ourselves to develop wisdom and happiness, based on our own experience. Some people, the bhikkhunis and bhikkhus, do this training full time, and then become teachers for others. And maybe the most important aspekt is kindness, and a few good stories are told about how kindness can help, both when one encounters poisonous snakes, or when you need building approval from the municipality. But the talk starts by answering a deeper...

These questions were asked and answered: (00:00) − Christmas family time - I find it really difficult when I gather with my big family for Christmas for many days, can you give some advice on how to handle the lack of silence, the negative discussions, they love to discuss all the problems in the world, the overload of thing and food, everybody has so much, and all want to buy more?(12:05) − Do you currently have Thais in the Thai sangha? (the bhikkhuni controversy)(20:23) − Are you...

Training the mind, is not forcing the mind, but understanding and working with your mind. One problem is that we think we own our meditation, but if we can look at ourselves as guests − then there is less to do, and we can relax. And as we meditate deeper and deeper, it is like the mind opens up like a lotus flower - layer by layer. First into the present moment, then into silence, then into breathing, then into joy and delight. Even deeper in, we get to stages of lights and brightness,...

This is an introduction to meditation talk, given in Oslo in 2022. It starts by focusing on right motivation − letting go, kindness and gentleness. This motivation will guide our minds towards peace and stillness, by not using force, but allowing stillness to arise just as water in a drinking glass. It is the winds of wanting that makes our mind move away for peace. Silence is delightful, and also creates a clear bright mind, which can see things clearly. And that clarity of mind can be...