There is no teaching of the bodhisattva ideal in early Buddhism, writes Professor Analayo. This idea only became an ideal 500 years after the Buddha's passing, so it is not the Buddha's teachings. But why did this ideal come about? Bhikkhu Analayo has written a small booklet on the subject, which can be downloaded here. Is it a myth?

Nitho was to become a successful economist, but in stead he became a Buddhist monk. He partly blames the mountains for that.

The meeting with the monastics in southern Italy was more than a volunteer stay. It was a reminder of why the fight for equality in Buddhism means so much.

Jon Endre Mørk (b. 1967) is a film editor based in Oslo. Since the mid-1990s, he has worked on a wide range of feature films, documentaries, short films, and commercials. Alongside his editing career, he is currently a research fellow at the The University of Inland Norway.

Mona is retired, but still works a little as a marine biologist and consultant in her own company. She likes to be out trekking and just returned from the DNT mountain cabin at Finse with hikes to Klemsbu and Hardangerjøkulen and bicycled Rallarvegen to Flåm. She meditates daily, does yoga and spinning and enjoys good food and drink. She has previously been on the board of DNBF and has now become a DNBF ambassador.

Erlend Neergaard was born in 1975, lives in Sandnessjøen and works as an IT coordinator at Mowi. He has been a board member of the Buddhist Society of Norway and a board member of the DNT branch of Sandnessjøen and surrounding Trekking Association. His favorite activities are outdoor activities, meditation, exercise, traveling.

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.

Ajahn Brahmali was invited to Norway to teach Satipatthana or Right Mindfulness, and how this is explained in early Buddhism and how it creates a clear, happy and free mind. Find the podcast episodes and notes of the teaching here.

There is a lot going on in our society these days – and recently we received an extra inspirational invitation: our spiritual advisor and benefactor, Ajahn Brahm, has invited us to concretize our common dream of a center in Norway.

What exactly does 'right mindfulness' mean in Buddhism? Ajahn Brahmali explains the concept of 'samma sati' and how it relates to meditation and the eightfold path.

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 was both retreat teaching, BBC interviews, a walk along the Themes river and the opportunity to get to know the new center.

The spiritual training is like aircon for your mind.

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.

One day our body doesn't want to hang around any more because of old age, then what is the continuation?

Focusing on the fact that our body is going to die, can arouse a sense of spiritual urgency, that again can help us developing wholesome states of mind.

We can waist lots of time, doing the same things over and over again in meditation, if we don't sometimes pull back and look at what we are doing.

Guided meditation on contenment, which is a universial antidote to our hindrances.

Loving kindness meditation or metta-meditation is a type of practice that fulfils the whole eight fold path. It is a type of unconditional love, committed to the wellbeing of everybody − it is radically inclusive.

A guided loving kindness meditation, or kindfulness meditation.

When we are happy inside, we get to sit for a long time, and the longer we meditate, the more stillness and clarity is created for our development of wisdom.

One way of looking at the training is called the gradual training, which is a gradual refinement of wholesome happiness and freedom.

Letting be meditation is really simple, and works wonders on an active mind.

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.

Anukampa's growing role as a haven for deep practice, inner peace, and wisdom.

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

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.