In April 2023, DNBF conducted its first big 7-day retreat at Venabu Fjellhotell. 47 people were registered, but due to strikes and some illness, we became 42 participants, as well as Venerable Canda (from Oxford, England) and Ajahn Nitho as instructors. There was teaching, guiding and private tutoring of the Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths, which included meditation, mindfulness, effort, loving kindness (metta), compassion, contentment, and much more. In addition, there was a question and answer session in the evening.

This was a quiet retreat, with a lot of meditation and practice, combined with outdoor trips – either with shoes or skis. Many got impressive results, and noticeable deepening of their meditation – which is used to develop wisdom and understanding.

Particularly pleasing was that the entire “4-fold sangha” was present – a fully ordained bhikkhuni (Venerable Canda), a fully ordained bhikkhu (Ajahn Nitho), as well as male and female practitioners.