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?

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.

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.

This talk is about the process the Buddha went through learning to meditate, starting with an experiences he had as a child, which teachers he met and learned from and how he was conditioned by other schools.

Early Buddhism is the Buddha's teachings that all traditions have in common − and which are not connected to a particular tradition. What is this doctrine, and what has come later?