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.

It is an honor to be the person who thanks you for your help, on behalf of a world of people who seek wisdom and happiness.

Is there a mountain lodge that can help us with a pilot project? With or without mountain pods?

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.

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 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.

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

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?

Every morning, Johann Forfang does the same. Before he eats or exercises, before he checks his mobile phone and before the dog Ringo gets his walk. One of Norway's best ski jumpers hand-brews coffee. In silence.

At her mother's home in Ørsta, the Norwegian Bhikkhu is back where he grew up. "My family has been very supportive of the change in my life. Over a cup of tea, I am reminiscing about the time when Ajahn Nitho was Bjørge Berg.

Many of us avoid silence because we don't want to be in touch with our own thoughts and feelings. But silence is more important than we might think.

We have collected key and recommended books about Buddhism - in English and Norwegian, as well as the forest tradition to which the society belongs.

Ajahn Bram and Ven Canda were invited to the House of Litterature in Oslo, to talk about our complicated minds - which always have to find fault.

Our spiritual advisor Ajahn Brahm turned 70 in the fall of 2021, and the society wanted to make a small video as a birthday gift.