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The Buddhist Society of Norway (DNBF) is an society rooted in a forest tradition that goes back to early Buddhism and its practices − where Ajahn Chah from Thailand was a great role model. We actively work to spread the wisdom and values of this tradition, and we want to grow as a community.

We are fundamentally dreaming and defining now in DNBF, and for the time being, the fantacy is allowed to roam freely, when we now seriously have started to think about projects involving property and buildings. Also, several large and small retreats are underway, and our Pali course is slowing moving forward.

We will run a 7-days retreat for beginners and experienced, where teaching is mostly aimed at participants with little experience, but with an equal participant distribution of beginners and experienced. English-speaking independent participants are also welcome. Teaching, guiding, private interview, Q/A. Single room with bathroom and shower for everyone.

In April 2026, there will be a 7-day meditation retreat at Venabu for the fourth time. Venerable Canda and Nitho will be instructors. Welcome!

We plan to set up an intensive course in the Buddhist Pali language during 2025/2026. The course will run full-time for 9 days.

In June, Ajahn Brahmali was invited to teach Satipatthāna—a focus of attention that creates clarity and freedom of the mind—an ancient meditation practice. Find the teaching and notes here.

The 9-day retreat in Lammi, Finland, exceeded all expectations for the 25 participants, and there was both a gold medal and a laurel wreath for the two instructors Ajahn Mudito and Ajahn Nitho.

DNBF's former chairman Jon Endre Mørk and Nitho had to go to Oxford to meet and congratulate Venarable Canda, which has just established the first place for fully ordained women in the UK. There were both retreat teaching , a BBC interview, a walk along the Themes river and the opportunity to get to know the new center.

We had more than 50 registered for the Venabu retreat in the spring of 2025, and since spring came early and Venabu was free of snow, there was also the opportunity for a trip and practice out in nature. You can also find the teaching here.

DNBF was invited to Stavanger to conduct a weekend retreat with a focus on kindness, joy and happiness - and why this is important.

It was a captivating weekend in Arendal - both instructor and retreat leader had long been wanted, and after prisoner numbers were assigned, they had to endure isolation - at least two days.

With a new board in place after the AGM and a successful 7-day retreat outside Trondheim, the focus going forward is kindfulness in Arendal and Stavanger, and Ajahn Brahmali's focus on Satipatthana in Oslo. In addition, there is the big spring's retreat at Venabu with Venerable Canda and Nitho, and a 9-day retreat in Finland.

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The society is constantly creating new teaching that we want to publish on podcasts. We are looking for someone who has some time to edit recordings of teaching, and publish these on our three podcasts.

Anukampa's Growing Role as a Sanctuary for Deep Practice, Inner Peace, and Wisdom  24:50

DNBF annual report for 2024 - activities, future, chair's report, spiritual leader's report and accounts.

Here is the agenda for DNBF's annual general meeting 2025.

Troset outside Trondheim could offer everything this week in February 2025 - peace and quiet, beautiful nature, great weather, northern lights and a sparkling starry sky - as well as many who managed to expand their comfort zone on the way to a beautiful mind.

There are many hindrances (nīvarana) in meditation, and if you are not aware of these, or do not understand them, you can waste a lot of time. Podcast episode can be found in the article.

The Eightfold Path, and hindrances in meditation was the theme in Stockholm February 2025.

The committee convenes DNBF's annual general meeting on Friday 7th of March, at 17.00 CET, at the premises of Wahl Larsen Advokatfirma, Fridtjof Nansens plass 5, 0160 Oslo.

It seems like every center in Finland has a sauna, including retreat centers - and often combined with ice bathing. This was also the case at Friendship Inn.

Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kusinara are four places in India for inspiration and motivation, and in 2024 DNBF made its first trip to India.

Prior to the pilgrimage to India, we visited the first woman in Thailand to be fully ordained as a bhikkhuni in modern times.

We received a happy announcement from Apple Podcast - the podcast 'dnbf enigma' has been ranked number 2 in its category in Norway!

For those who seriously want to cross over, we are now starting the fjord group. There will be an residential weekend retreat in Finland, an 8-day retreat outside Trondheim, an advanced weekend retreat in Stockholm, for deeper inspiration we are planning an intensive Pali language course - and we will meet at a café in Oslo in the pre-holliday rush, while others are now start their trip to India!

Johanneshov in Stockholm was the district, Kroppsverkstan was the center, and 30 people came to join a weekend retreat. Bhikkhuni Vimala also made the trip from Belgium.

From the opposite side of the planet, the retreat's instructor Bhante Sujato came by plane to Oslo, and he was transported straight to the mountains to rest and overcome jet lag, before the retreat at Venabu started.

We're now inviting everyone into our podcast world, which includes this summer's teaching from Ajahn Brahmali on early Buddhism, as well as inspiration from Venabu - and a long list of upcoming activities is starting to fall into place.