It is strange, the year is 2025, and Norway still has the same situation as the UK has had until now – the women who want to prioritize a full-time spiritual life are severely discriminated against within Buddhism. And that was also the reason why the BBC came to visit mainly to interview Venerable Canda, but also to be able to talk to Nitho and DNBF who actively work for equality in Norway.

We hear so many people talk about compassion and kindness, while they themselves systematically discriminate and exclude − and show a disappointing lack of respect, compassion and empathy. So the women end up as servants for men – to wash floors, cook and clean up. Women do not have their own place, do not have their own finances, cannot make their own democratic choices, or develop their own leaders and teachers.

And this culture has been allowed to exist in Norway for many, many years – it’s like telling the women in Norway that they are not allowed to go to high school or university, not allowed to work and earn money themselves, and not being able to make their own choices. DNBF does not want to be part of this culture, at the same time as we see that existing dominant power structures in Norway over many decades show no willingness to change.

So we are and want to be on the outside − so that we can make ethically good choices. DNBF is now entering an exciting phase, because we have now been given the green light to start defining our dream − and we want to create what was the standard 2500 years ago − which was actually equality and democracy.

Anukampa Day Retreat

We also managed to teach a day retreat in a packed room at Anukampa Grove, and as a guest, Nitho was asked to give a short lesson to start the day – and the topic was of course the beautiful effect this training has on our minds and lives – it’s like installing an aircon inside the mind, that constantly pumps a nice, fresh and cooling air in among negativity, anger, worries, fear, depression and heavy emotions.

Use this website to listen to the talk, or find it in our podcasts:

Oxford

Here are some photos and video clips from Anukampa and Oxford: