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This talk is a walkthrough of the Buddha's teachings on breath meditation based on the Anapanasati Sutta. It is also a troubleshooting guide that highlights the various problems and solutions at each stage. - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: Anukampa - https://anukampaproject.org/donate/DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

One day our body doesn't want to hang around any more because of old age, then what is the continuation? By looking back in time, we can see that there is continuation forward in time. How does this continuation happen? What can we do to secure the future? And how can we develop towards the highest? This teaching was given at Venabu 2025, and the relevant illustrations are found here:https://dnbf.org/en/2025/05/venabu-may-2025/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

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. Sometimes analysis is important, and for example using the framework of the five hindrances that stops our development. In this talk the focus is the hindrances of sensory desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and remorse and doubt. So next time you feel stuck in meditation - have a look at these five hindrances. This teaching was given at Venabu 2025, and the relevant illustrations are found here:https://dnbf.org/en/2025/05/venabu-may-2025/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

In the beginning of a retreat it is important to focus on deliberately creating happiness and beautiful states of mind, and this is exemplified in this talk by teachings of the Buddha and current teachers. 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. In between the meditation, staying in the present moment is important. In the present we are free from so much of our fault finding mind, which tend to dig into the negative parts of our past and fantasying about the future through the lenses of negativity creating anxiety and fear. In the present moment we are relatively free for a while. This teaching was given at Venabu 2025, and the relevant illustrations are found here:https://dnbf.org/en/2025/05/venabu-may-2025/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

How does the mind work? Often we don't understand, and we create problems for ourselves and others. But it IS possible to develop wisdom and to be free! In Buddhism it is done by developing samatha and vipassana. Samatha is the emotional approach, having a genuine emotional engagement or emotional wholeness. The benefit is obvious: You feel good, it is nice to be happy, so you keep meditating, maybe even for the rest of your life. This leads to a life of reflection and growth, taking responsibility of yourselves. It also create a place of safety, you have found this place where you can be peaceful, happy and loving and caring, stability and clarity. Vipassana is seeing clearly, for example by reflecting on your meditation, cause and effect, investigation of three characteristics in the six senses or the five aggregates - either through direct experience or inference. This leads to stages of awakening, wisdom and freedom. This is why we are teaching, we believe that anybody can realize wisdom, and engage with the teachings in a sincere way. Step by step, we move from darkness to light, ignorance to knowledge, from suffering to freedom. This teaching was given during a retreat at Venabu in October 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/11/venabu-autumn-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

When coming to a retreat, you give up a lot for a few days − there is maybe a desire or a longing for freedom. And just that is the first of 'The four bases of mental power' (iddhi pada), this wish or longing for freedom and a spiritual development − and maybe the most important supporting factor for this desire is mental pleasure, which is really important to develop. The second factor is energy, so to keep going and not giving up. The third factor is mind or heart or consciousness, a clear mind which can deliver answers. And the last factor is investigation or inquiry, this ability to see what is going on, what changes and why - and as your peace of mind deepens, so will the investigation deepens into insights. These are factors which we can focus on, to give our meditation practise a boost − this enthusiasm, energy, clarity of mind and inquiring wanting to understand. This teaching was given during a retreat at Venabu in October 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/11/venabu-autumn-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

Metta meditation is the practice to develop the mind in such a way that this feeling of metta, this most exalted of human potentials, becomes a reality. And when this feeling starts to spark, which sages in the past has described as transcendence or divinity, than that is inside you! And it has been there all along − it is like coming home − and it it is there for everybody. This talk is actually four different talks combined into one, each talk given in regards to the four people you spread metta to: metta for our self, mette for the loved person, metta for the neutral person and metta for the disliked person. This teaching was given during a retreat at Venabu in October 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/11/venabu-autumn-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

After a retreat, how can we continue our practice, how can we transfer our skills to our daily lives? At this retreat at Venabu a whole toolkit was given: right approach to mediation, what happiness and suffering is, learning to be mindful and developing wholesome qualities, the importance of joy and how it is aroused, and wisdom - what it is and how it is developed. In our daily life we must protect the seed we have planted, and remove the weeds. Keeping the soil moist by virtue - which actually is a beautiful and fun training leading to a blameless bliss. Trying to keep up the daily practice of meditation. Trying to read the original teaching of the Buddha, remembering that patience is the highest spiritual quality. Also - try associate with the wise, they will keep your inspiration up! In the end of this talk (35:02), there is a finishing off guided loving kindness meditation. This teaching was given at Venabu 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/04/venabu-retreat-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: Anukampa - https://anukampaproject.org/donate/DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

This talk is about loving kindness − what it is, how it affects our mind, different ways of doing loving kindness meditation, and how it connects to deep meditation and awakening. This is a method that aligns the mind with proper intention during meditation—kindness, not controlling, letting things be, not possessing, giving to the moment, giving to our practice and what we are experiencing. The method develops a mind that has goodwill without condition, which can set people free to be who they are. Just like the goodwill a mother has towards her only child − so we can have goodwill towards everyone! This teaching was given at Venabu 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/04/venabu-retreat-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: Anukampa - https://anukampaproject.org/donate/DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

Doing breath meditation ends sometimes up being dry and out of oomph, then try the advice of the Buddha. This talk is about the importance of joy, happiness and rapture for the development of deep meditation and wisdom. In the end of the talk, Ajahn Nitho also mentions some alternative meditations to help kindle these beatiful mental states during meditation of breathing. This teaching was given at Venabu 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/04/venabu-retreat-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

This is a recording of a question and answers session normally done every evening during retreat: (00:00) − You mentioned that for meditation, it helps to focus on the here and now, like breathing, walking or yoga. Would focusing on petting ones cat be the same, could that be meditate?(02:51) − Often when I am observing my breathing closely, the closer I watch, the more I realise that I am all doing the breathing, in stead of letting it breath on its own. Should I just observe myself doing the breathing, in stead of struggling to stop?(05:54) − Most comfortably, my legs take turn going numb. Is it a matter of habit?(09:45) − What is the mental action that corresponds to putting the glass of water down on the floor, so that it can fall into silence?(11:26) − Is there any effect meditating with the palms up, or palms down?(14:25) − What happened to your brother, Nitho − you said he inspired you to do meditations? Was he also a monk?(18:14) − Morning teaching: The peace and happiness inside, I want to catch it but it just hide.Today I had a teaching and now I know, you can only find peace and happiness by letting go.If you still need to do it − to act, add kindness it will have a huge impact.To all you with an active mind − just remember, be kind. (19:10) − When I meditate in day-to-day life, while not on a retreat. I find in may take two hour to find some ease. So far in this retreat, it feels like this in minutes. Any recommendations for the causes required to perhaps finding this easy in day-to-day life?(22:22) − Where can I read about the eight fold path?(24:32) − How can I know the difference between deep meditation and falling a sleep and dreaming, while sitting?(27:32) − How do I make the best out of karma-yoga?(31:05) − If I give my best, but make absolutely no progress at all after eight days, it is still okay alright?(35:10) − Can we at some point during the retreat have metta meditation with Venerable Canda canting in the end, please?(35:32) − How have your dreams changed during your journey since you discovered meditation, or have they changed at all?(39:26) − How do you feel right now?(41:58) − Can you give some examples of topics you have addressed in the course of private interviews in the past? This teaching was given at Venabu 2024:https://dnbf.org/en/2024/04/venabu-retreat-2024/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: Anukampa - https://anukampaproject.org/donate/DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

Sometimes meditation is frustrating and disappointing, then we should practice insights. And just as in the story of Sam and Vi, each with their dog, Metta and Anapana, climbs a mountain both for deep peace and a clear view, so we can climb the meditation mountain inside. But we have blind spots, we see only what we want to see, and don't see what we don't want to see. Real insights goes much deeper then you think is obvious, and wisdom is not believing what you see. And few stories highlight these blind spots. Basically, you need a strong mind to see clearly! And on the way to the big insights and stages of awakening, there are many smaller wisdoms to develop − our minds have powerful abilities and we can even remembering our past lives. This teaching was given in Oslo 2022:https://dnbf.org/en/2022/11/ajahn-brahm-weekend-retreat/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron - https://dnbf.org/en/patron/ NewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our activities:https://dnbf.org/en/newsletter/ MembershipYou are welcome as a member, and we have a lot to offer in terms of activities:https://dnbf.org/en/membership/ ProblemsIf you have a problem with this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org

These questions were asked and answered: (00:00) − Christmas family time - I find it really difficult when I gather with my big family for Christmas for many days, can you give some advice on how to handle the lack of silence, the negative discussions, they love to discuss all the problems in the world, the overload of thing and food, everybody has so much, and all want to buy more?(12:05) − Do you currently have ties in the Thai sangha? (the bhikkhuni controversy)(20:23) − Are you supporting the Thai bhikkhunis in Thailand? If so, how?(23:29) − Through deep hypnosis, I broke through and came into a state of bliss. This is my first experience of a nimitta. The following day I wanted to get back to this, and tried to force myself back to the beach, and the dark night, but I terrified because I am sure I saw some demons. Is this real? Is this made by my mind because I tried to force it back to the blissful state? Luckily have have experience nimittas on retreat after this, but then i don't let go, and stay for hours. Can you go in and out of this stage? Is it like riding a bicycle when you get the experience?(33:53) − Ever so often, I experience the biggest effect of meditation. After the meditation, when I don't try to meditation, I fall into deep meditation.(37:02) − No self, how to explain to my husband that his wife does not exist?(41:57) − How do you find the right balance between doubt and faith/trust in Buddhism? I feel like too much doubt becomes a hindrance, faith without some doubt becomes blind faith. Any input or thought on this?(50:43) − I can only focus on three consecutive breaths before my mind wanders off. What am I doing wrong in the previous stage?(57:31) − My parents are kind people, but I never feel close or good connection with them in my head, spending half a day with my mother is enough for me each time I visit them. How can I let go of the guilty feeling I have to be there for my parents (78 and 81 years old), when they seem like they don't need me.(1:00:35) − What is the Buddha's way of seeing the war in Ukraine, and other wars. What to do with Putin?(1:03:39) − Could you please tell us more about breathing during the meditation.(1:11:08) − During breathing meditation, I have the feeling that the breath is not right, I am loosing my breath when meditating.(1:12:13) − Can you please tell us a bit more about full bhikkhuni ordination for women. Why is it important that woman can receive full ordination, compared to other arrangements, such as maechi and others. And what are the arguments from those monks who disagree with you?(1:13:47) − How to deal with facial muscle tensions?(1:14:22) − How to deal with chronic pain during meditation?(1:18:22) − The Buddha developed the teaching of an-atman, contra the Hindu atman, if there are no self, what is then that goes on to be reincarnated or reborn?(1:22:06) − What is the difference between reincarnation and rebirth?(1:22:33) − If there is no God, why does Buddhist pray? This teaching was given in Oslo 2022:https://dnbf.org/en/2022/11/ajahn-brahm-weekend-retreat/ - - - Please, feel free to recommend this podcast to your friends! FeedbackIf you have feedback or questions about this podcast, send an email to: post@dnbf.org DonationThe non-profit society DNBF together with the instructor has produced and distributed this podcast for free and without advertising, but we are dependent on financial support through one-time donations or monthly patron donations for our operation and development: DNBF Donation - https://dnbf.org/en/donation/DNBF Patron -