Anukampa Podcast
Anukampa Podcast shares the teachings and practices of Early Buddhism through Dhamma talks, guided meditations, and sutta classes. It is produced by the Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, which aims to establish the first Forest Monastery in England where women can train toward full bhikkhuni ordination. Episodes feature teachings from Venerable Canda and other monastics, including Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali, and Ayya Anandabodhi. The project emphasizes wise compassion that alleviates suffering and welcomes people of all backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ communities.
Episodes
Sutta Discussion - Knowing And Seeing the Six Senses for Enlightenment
In this interactive discussion, Ajahn Candā dives deeply into our (dependently arisen) relationship with our six senses, offering insightful reflections on a range of pragmatic questions from participants. Her answers provide guidance on how to cultivate the skillful attitudes that help us find peace from the addictive craving that otherwise drives our
Sutta Discussion - How The Buddha Dismantled Race And Caste Prejudice
Ven Canda discusses how the Buddha dismantled race and caste prejudice.
Sutta Discussion - Bring Up Your Goodness- Rejoice!
Ven Can lead Sutta discussion on the topic: Bring up your goodness nad rejoice.
Dhamma Talk - Connected To Life Through The Five Elements
Ven Canda gives a Dhamma talk on the topic of connected to life through the five elements.
Dhamma Talk - Freeing The Mind with Samatha & Vipassana
Ven Canda gives talk on freeing the mind with samatha and vipassana and Q & A.
Guided Meditation - Metta For The Six Senses
Ven Canda leads meditation on the topic of metta for the six senses.
Guided Meditation - Meeting Yourself As You Are
Guided meditation with Ven Canda on the topic of meeting yourself as you are.
Dhamma Talk - Freeing the Mind with Samatha and Vipassana
Ven Canda gives Dhamma talk on how to free the mind through samatha and vipassana.
Dhamma Talk - Why Don't You Want To Be Happy
Weekend retreat: Raising our happiness levels.
Ven Canda gives a Dhamma talk and leads a guided meditation on the topic "Why don't you want to be happy".
Sutta Discussions - Thoughts That Lead to Nibbana
Ven Canda leads Sutta Discussion on thoughts that lead to Nibbana (MN19).
Guided Meditation - Metta as Acceptance for Oneself
Ven Canda lead a guided meditation.
Sutta Discussions - Servering the Bonds of Misery
In this highly interactive sutta discussion contemplates the bonds of suffering—and our escape from it. As part of her sutta reading, Ajahn Candā pays homage to the Buddha’s wisdom, noting that virtue is the foundation of true happiness. She also explains how pure love is an action, rather than a sentiment. A variety of questions from participants enric
Sutta Discussions - How To Illuminate A Forest?
This sutta discussion revolves around a central question: How we can bring qualities of the heart to our communities and enrich the societies in which we live? After reading the sutta, Ajahn Candā invites open discussion, which includes reflections on ways that gentleness, kindness, and strong determination fit into our practice of the Noble Eightfold P
Guided Meditation - Bathing in Benevolence, Spreading Goodwill
Before easing us into practice, Ven Candā discusses loving-kindness (mettā) as a directed thought process—it’s a skill we can develop, and the feeling of mettā naturally grows over time. Wishing well-being for ourselves is foundational to loving-kindness, so this meditation focuses on aligning our best intentions with cultivating mettā for ourselves.
[0
Dhamma Talk - Where Sadness Meets Compassion
In this talk given at Northants Buddhist and Meditation Centre, Ajahn Candā speaks to the relationship between compassion and wisdom. After a short introduction, she offers a guided meditation grounded in embodied awareness. Then during the Dhamma talk, Ajahn Candā busts the myth that empathic compassion leads to sorrow, noting how compassion is a subli
Guided Meditation - Metta For Friendly, Happy & Suffering People Throughout the World
In this creative loving-kindness (mettā) meditation, Ajahn Candā changes the regular formula of spreading mettā based on one’s own feelings towards others, to one of developing feelings of love towards others based on their present situation, encouraging us to explore how love may subtly change when directed towards those who are doing well or experienc
Sutta Discussions - How to notice subtle mental states
Over the course of a two-day loving-kindess (mettā) retreat at Sheffield Insight, Ven Candā considers the quiet happiness that arises as the heart becomes more open. Topics covered in this Q&A include sustaining attention during loving-kindness meditation and understanding degrees of dukkha. This session ends with a guided meditation aimed at cultiv
Sutta Discussions - Conditions for Developing Wisdom
Ajahn Candā shares and reflects on eight factors that help wisdom develop, with discussion on topics such as moral conscience (hiri) and moral caution (otapa) and the manifold benefits of developing each factor (even when they reveal areas for more work!). The final discussion includes questions on being with family for the holidays and the relationship
Guided Meditation - The Cosy House of Metta
Ven Canda leads a medtation on the topic: The Cosy House of Metta
Guided Meditation - Befriending Ourselves With Compassion
Ven Canda leads meditation on the subject: Befriending Ourselves With Compassion
Guided Mediation - Daring to Forgive
Ven Canda leads a guided meditation on the topic "Daring to forgive".
Guided Meditation - A Mind of Metta Like a Clear Wide Lake
Ven Candā begins this session with an introductory reflection on the benefits of an expansive mind of love for absorbing difficult emotions and experiences. She then leads a guided meditation for the cultivation of loving awareness of one’s own body and loving-kindness directed towards a loved one. In the last 10 minutes, participants share their medita
Pali Chants - Sunflowers of Loving Kindness
In honour of her first preceptor's birthday, Venerable Candā shares not one but two Pali chants on loving-kindness to spread goodwill and blessings to all listeners and to all beings.
Retreat Simply Being Present 2 - Q & A and Guided Meditation
In this session, the second part of a half-day retreat given at Anukampa Grove, Ven Candā spends 40 minutes answering questions from retreatants, then closes the retreat with a soft, 30-minute loving-kindness meditation.
[0:00] Introduction
[1:58] The importance of silence
[8:53] Unnecessary speech
[13:58] “Letting be” meditation
[18:10] Will takin
Retreat Simply Being Silent 1 - Dhamma Talk and Guided Meditation
In this session given as part of a half-day retreat at Anukampa Grove, Ven Candā gives a brief talk on giving the mind a break and settling into the present, away from the unhelpful influences of past and future. She provides tips on topics such as knowing what the present moment feels like, following the present into our emotional world, and staying pr
Guided Meditation - Metta to Emotions
After introducing the session’s meditation subject, Ven Candā leads participants in a guided meditation focusing on the world of emotions, leading us in offering loving acceptance to whatever we become aware of in that space, and ending by spreading loving-kindness to fellow emotional beings across the realms.
[0:00] Getting in touch with emotions
[5:
Dhamma Talk - The Benefit of Silent Retreat
Dhamma talk, guided meditation and Q & A with Ven Canda.
Dhamma Talk - Chipping Away At Misogyny - with Ajahn Sujato
In this heartfelt talk, Bhante Sujato discusses misogyny and patriarchy in Buddhist communities and institutions, describing his own reckoning after witnessing reactions to the 2009 bhikkhuni ordination and his subsequent explorations on the topic.
He shows how misogyny goes against core Buddhist principles by investigating the first six factors of the
Dhamma Talk - Where Ethics Meets Politics - with Ajahn Sujato
After a meditation on bringing up gratitude for the gifts of our lives, Bhante Sujato gives a skillful talk that takes a positive and compassionate angle on politics.
In spite of the tumultuous state of politics and ethical crises worldwide, he encourages us to believe that our practice can support us to take moral action in a form that is suitable for
Retreat Finding Freedom - Closing Words by Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda
Ajahn Brahm and Ven Candas closing words of the retreat Finding Freedom.
Retreat Finding Freedom - Q & A with Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda
Last Q & A for the retreat Finding Freedom with Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda.
Retreat Finding Freedom - Guided Meditation
Ven Canda leads guided meditation on the topic "Rejoicing in spiritual growth".
Retreat Finding Freedom - Sutta Teaching by Ajahn Brahm
Ajahn Brahm leads sutta teaching on the topic "The Last Obstacles to Jhana" (MN 128).
Retreat Finding Freedom - Sutta Teaching
Sutta Teaching by Ven Canda on "Anapanasati Sutta".
Retreat Finding Freedom - Guided Meditation by Ajahn Brahm
Guided meditation by Ajahn Brahm on the topic "Loving the breath".
Retreat Finding Freedom - Guided Meditation
Ven Canda leads guided meditation on the topic "Put Loving-Kindness First".
Retreat Finding Freedom - Sutta Teaching by Ajahn Brahm
Sutta Teaching by Ajahn Brahm: Anatta Lakkhana Sutta (SN 22:59).
Retreat Finding Freedom - Sutta Teaching
Ven Canda leads Sutta teaching on the topic "How to live Without Conflict" (MN 139).
Retreat Finding Freedom - Guided Meditation by Ajahn Brahm
Guided meditation on the topic "See what happens" by Ajahn Brahm.
Retreat Finding Freedom - Guided Meditation
Guided meditation on the topic allow mindfulness and peace to build by Ven Canda.
Retreat Finding Freedom - Sutta Teaching by Ajahn Brahm
Sutta teaching Bahiya Sutta Decoded (Ud 1.10) by Ajahn Brahm.
Dhamma Talk - Growing Through Difficult Situations - Ajahn Brahm
Ajahn Brahm starts with a guided meditation overflowing with advice for putting everything down and relaxing into whatever is in the present moment.
He goes on to tell various stories of overcoming discomfort, fear, despair, illness, and various other kinds of difficulty by cultivating attitudes of letting go, loving kindness, and joy.
The session ends
Dhamma Talk - A Path Without Groaning - Ajahn Brahm
Ajahn Brahm starts with a guided meditation overflowing with advice for putting everything down and relaxing into whatever is in the present moment.
He goes on to tell various stories of overcoming discomfort, fear, despair, illness, and various other kinds of difficulty by cultivating attitudes of letting go, loving kindness, and joy.
The session ends
Guided Meditation - Metta In Gratitude For All
Guided meditation by Ven Canda on Metta in gratitude for all.
Guided meditation - Inviting the Breath into a Mettaful Mind
Guided meditation by Ven Canda on the topic "Inviting the Breath into a Mettaful Mind".
Sutta discussion - Delicious Menu for the Mind
Ven Canda leads a Sutta discussion on the topic "Delicious Menu for the Mind (The Cook, SN47:8)".
Guided Meditation- The Breath Of Love - With Ayya Anandabodhi
Guided Meditation on the topic "The Breath Of Love" together with Ayya Anandabodhi.
Dhamma Talk - Buddhist Faith
Ven Candas Dhamma talk on the topic "Buddhist Faith" at Oxford Insight.
Guided meditation - Breathing In Love With All Beings
Ven Canda leads guided meditation on the topic breathing in love with all beings.
Dhamma Talk - Vesakh Celebration Meditate Like The Buddha on Vesak Day - With Ayya Anandabodhi
Dhamma talk on the topic "Vesakh Celebration Meditate Like The Buddha on Vesak Day" together with Ayya Anandabodhi.
Sutta discussion - Recovering From the Five Hindrances
Ven Canda leads discussion on the topic Recovering From the Five Hindrances (DN:2).
Retreat Dhamma talk - Mindfulness of Death Leads to Bliss
Dhamma talk by Ven Canda in the 7 days meditation retreat in Venabu Norway 2025
Retreat Dhamma Talk - Loving Kindness Meditation
Dhamma talk by Ven Canda in the 7 days meditation retreat in Venabu Norway 2025
Retreat Guided Meditation - Loving Kindness
Guided meditation by Ven Canda in the 7 days meditation retreat in Venabu Norway 2025
Retreat Dhamma Talk - How the Gradual Training Develops Samantha-Vipassana
Dhamma talk by Ven Canda in the 7 days meditation retreat in Venabu Norway 2025
Guided Meditation - Love, Compassion And Joy For Ourselves
Sutta discussion - Content & Delight
Ven Canda leads discussion on the topic Content and delight from Sutta Noble Lineage AN 4:28.
Guided meditation - Blossoming With Mudita: Dedicated to Anagarika Chie - Vens Canda & Vimala
Vens Canda and Vimala leads a guided meditation on the topic: Blossoming With Mudita: Dedicated to Anagarika Chie.
Q & A Discussion - Befriending Diseases, Fear & Grief - With Ven Vimala & Ven Canda
Q & A with Ven Vimala and Ven Canda on befriending diseases, fear and grief.
Guided meditation - Deadh, Dying & Skeleton Meditation - With Ven Vimala and Ven Canda
Guided meditation with Ven Vimala & Ven Canda
Sutta discussion - How to Receive Admonishment Well - Vens Canda & Vimala
Vens Canda and Vimala leads the discussion on the topic: How to Receive Admonishment Well (Sutta: MN 15)
The Buddhist Nun on a Mission
What does it take to establish a Theravāda Forest Monastery in England—one where women can train towards full bhikkhunī ordination?
In collaboration with Handful of Leaves, this episode explores the inspiring journey of Anukampa Grove, founded by Ven. Canda—a dedicated Buddhist nun passionate about making the Dhamma accessible to all.
From its humble be
Retreat Guided Meditation - On Loving-Kindness
Day-retreat in London with Ven Canda.
Retreat Guided Meditation - On the Dying Process
Day-retreat in London with Ven Canda.
Retreat Dhamma Talk - How To Support Someone Going Through The Dying Process
Day-retreat in London with Ven Canda.
Retreat Guided Meditation - Guided Life And Death Contemplation Practice
Day-retreat in London with Ven Canda.
Retreat Dhamma Talk - What The Buddha Said About Contemplation On Death
Day-retreat in London with Ven Canda
Sutta discussion - Kisagotami - Preparing for Death - Ven Upekkhā
After a brief meditation, Ven Upekkhā shares the story of the bhikkhuni Kisagotami and her sutta from the Bhikkhuni Samyutta.
In the discussion section, members of the group share personal stories of coming to terms with death.
[0:00] Short meditation
[6:29] Sutta and story of Kisagotami
[23:25] What to prepare for the journey
[30:55] All we have t
Guided meditation - Blessings & Gratitude on Anukampa Grove's 1st Anniversary
In this session, Ven Candā reflects on the one-year anniversary of moving into Anukampa Grove Bhikkhuni Monastery, and leads a guided meditation focusing on gratitude and rejoicing.
In the last few minutes, participants share reflections on topics such as developing a perception of rejoicing on behalf of others, and gratitude in the realm of heavenly b
Sutta discussion - Mara as Sensuality & Sexism
In this session, Ven Candā leads a sutta discussion with participants on the first two suttas in the Bhikkhuni Samyutta, verses given by fully enlightened nuns in response to Mara, the evil one, when he disrupts their meditation.
Discussion on the first sutta focuses around our experiences of sensual pleasures, while the second focuses on experiences o
Dhamma talk - Breath meditation - Anukampa Grove Afternoon Retreat Pt1
Ven Candā gives a talk on breath meditation, beginning with a discussion of the foundational precursors to meditation practice that many of us forget to consider. This is followed by explanations of the Buddha’s instructions on mindfulness of breathing, taking us from the coarser realm of the body into the subtle realm of the mind.
[0:00] Foundations f
Guided meditation - May Your Peace & Freedom Increase! Mudita Meditation
In this session, Ven Candā leads a guided meditation that focuses on mudita, or altruistic joy, leading the meditator in rejoicing with any happiness, peace, and good fortune we can see in our own life and the lives of others, and wishing for its continuation and increase.
Sutta discussion - From Repulsiveness to Bliss Through Breath Meditation
⚠️ Viewer discretion is advised: This podcast episode discusses suicide and medically-assisted in dying, which some viewers may find distressing.
In this episode, Ven Candā reflects on the healing bliss of breath meditation through a discussion of SN 54.9, from the Ānāpāna Samyutta.
After the initial sutta reading and reflection, she leads a discussio
Sutta discussion - Samatha Vipassana: A Swift Pair of Messengers
Ven Canda leads the discussion regarding: Samatha Vipassana: A Swift Pair of Messengers, Sutta SN 35:245.
Retreat Guided meditation - Outward & Unbounded - Closing Metta meditation
Weekend retreat in Finland March 2025
Retreat Dhamma talk - Love as a Transformative Action - Closing talk
Weekend retreat in Finland March 2025
Retreat Guided meditation - Metta Including the Enemy
Weekend retreat in Finland March 2025
Retreat Dhamma talk - Beautiful Qualities of Love in the Metta Sutta
Weekend retreat in Finland March 2025
Retreat Q&A - Have You Experienced Jhana?
Weekend retreat in Finland March 2025
Retreat Guided meditation - Metta to All Versions of Oneself
Weekend retreat in Finland March 2025
