Retreat questions and answers at Venabu 2024 | EN | Venerable Canda and Ajahn Nitho

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 the breathing, in stead of struggling to stop?
(05:54) − Most comfortably, my legs take turn going numb. Is it a matter of habit?
(09:45) − What is the mental action that corresponds to putting the glass of water down on the floor, so that it can fall into silence?
(11:26) − Is there any effect meditating with the palms up, or palms down?
(14:25) − What happened to your brother, Nitho − you said he inspired you to do meditations? Was he also a monk?
(18:14) − Morning teaching:

The peace and happiness inside, I want to catch it but it just hide.
Today I had a teaching and now I know, you can only find peace and happiness by letting go.
If you still need to do it − to act, add kindness it will have a huge impact.
To all you with an active mind − just remember, be kind.

(19:10) − When I meditate in day-to-day life, while not on a retreat. I find in may take two hour to find some ease. So far in this retreat, it feels like this in minutes. Any recommendations for the causes required to perhaps finding this easy in day-to-day life?
(22:22) − Where can I read about the eight fold path?
(24:32) − How can I know the difference between deep meditation and falling a sleep and dreaming, while sitting?
(27:32) − How do I make the best out of karma-yoga?
(31:05) − If I give my best, but make absolutely no progress at all after eight days, it is still okay alright?
(35:10) − Can we at some point during the retreat have metta meditation with Venerable Canda canting in the end, please?
(35:32) − How have your dreams changed during your journey since you discovered meditation, or have they changed at all?
(39:26) − How do you feel right now?
(41:58) − Can you give some examples of topics you have addressed in the course of private interviews in the past?

This teaching was given at Venabu 2024.

  • Publisert: 2024-04-29

    49 participants from 9 countries met at Venabu for meditation and inspiration for 8 days - nice weather, lots of meditation, inspiration, smiles and joy, as well as good opportunities for skiing or walking for fresh air.

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About the Author: Venerable Canda

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Venerable Canda first encountered the Dhamma in India in 1996 and spent over a decade in Asia training in the Goenka vipassana tradition, later ordaining in Myanmar in 2006. Inspired by Ajahn Brahm’s teachings, she moved to Australia in 2012, received full bhikkhuni ordination in 2014, and began teaching. In 2016 she returned to England to establish the Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, which now runs Anukampa Grove Bhikkhuni Monastery near Oxford.

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