Vens Canda and Vimala leads a guided meditation on the topic: Blossoming With Mudita: Dedicated to Anagarika Chie.

Vens Canda and Vimala leads the discussion on the topic: How to Receive Admonishment Well (Sutta: MN 15)

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 beginnings to its growing role as a sanctuary for deep practice, Anukampa Grove is creating a refuge where spiritual seekers can cultivate inner peace and wisdom.

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 to give is love

[34:44] Parents and children

[37:05] Confronting death daily

[42:40] Escaping the cycle

[45:27] Worry for those left behind

[51:48] How you live and die...

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 beings (devas).

[0:00] Introduction

[5:09] Guided meditation

[45:10] Ending discussion

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 of gender discrimination.

[0:00] Background

[6:38] Sutta reading and reflections

[13:00] Sensual pleasures as swords

[21:34] Subtle and coarse pleasures

[34:30] Confronting Mara through creative means

[40:26] Seeking solitude

[50:48] Gender discrimination

[54:31] Second sutta reading

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 for breath meditation

[9:55] Starting at the end

[13:19] What brings us to practice?

[20:04] Settling with the breath

[30:30] The sphere of pleasant feelings

[36:53] The power of joy

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.