Anukampa Podcast

In this interactive discussion, Ajahn Candā dives deeply into our (dependently arisen) relationship with our six senses, offering insightful reflections on a range of pragmatic questions from participants. Her answers provide guidance on how to cultivate the skillful attitudes that help us find peace from the addictive craving that otherwise drives our relationship with the sensory world. Timestamps: [ 0:00 ] The dependent origination of feelings [ 10:50 ] What is contained in the mind sense base? [ 15:38 ] How delusion conditions our experience of the sensory world [ 26:23 ] Equanimity (and warmth) in mindfulness-focused insight practices [ 33:20 ] Relating to bodily sensations [ 42:26 ] From lust to torment [ 51:20 ] From seeing things as they are to liberation [ 1:06:51 ] Meditation objects to cultivate calm [ 1:11:30 ] What to do with unhelpful thoughts [ 1:15:20 ] Where to start on the Eightfold Path [ 1:19:09 ] Practicing with sense contact on retreat [ 1:24:40 ] Cultivating thoughts of loving-kindness [ 1:32:18 ] Hanging up with compassion Sutta references: MN 149: The Great Sixfold Base https://suttacentral.net/mn149/en/bod... MN 20: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts https://suttacentral.net/mn20/en/bodh...

Ven Canda discusses how the Buddha dismantled race and caste prejudice.

Ven Can lead Sutta discussion on the topic: Bring up your goodness nad rejoice.

Ven Canda gives a Dhamma talk on the topic of connected to life through the five elements.

Ven Canda gives talk on freeing the mind with samatha and vipassana and Q & A.

Ven Canda leads meditation on the topic of metta for the six senses.

Guided meditation with Ven Canda on the topic of meeting yourself as you are.

Ven Canda gives Dhamma talk on how to free the mind through samatha and vipassana.

Weekend retreat: Raising our happiness levels. Ven Canda gives a Dhamma talk and leads a guided meditation on the topic "Why don't you want to be happy".

Ven Canda leads Sutta Discussion on thoughts that lead to Nibbana (MN19).

Ven Canda lead a guided meditation.

In this highly interactive sutta discussion contemplates the bonds of suffering—and our escape from it. As part of her sutta reading, Ajahn Candā pays homage to the Buddha’s wisdom, noting that virtue is the foundation of true happiness. She also explains how pure love is an action, rather than a sentiment. A variety of questions from participants enriches Ven Candā’s reflections on uprooting the bonds of existence. [ 0:00 ] Introduction [ 2:49 ] Sutta reading, part 1 [ 20:08 ] Does “bonds” mean the same thing as “fetters”? [21:45 ] The danger of clinging [ 23:55 ] Is “existence” referring to our human existence or phenomena in general? [ 25:38 ] Can we receive love or only give love? [ 28:21 ] What is the origin of something—is that related to cause and effect? [ 32:09 ] Suffering and the 5 components of existence (khandas) [ 35:09 ] Receiving and giving [ 39:04 ] Sutta reading, part 2 [ 47:13 ] How do we gain the right understanding? [ 51:15 ] Does severing the bonds happen suddenly or gradually? [ 1:00:25 ] What happens to somebody who has achieved stream entry in a previous life? [ 1:03:18 ] Lessening craving

This sutta discussion revolves around a central question: How we can bring qualities of the heart to our communities and enrich the societies in which we live? After reading the sutta, Ajahn Candā invites open discussion, which includes reflections on ways that gentleness, kindness, and strong determination fit into our practice of the Noble Eightfold Path. [ 0:00 ] Introduction [ 2:30 ] Sutta reading with contextual reflections [ 24:45 ] Open discussion on celebrating heart qualities Sutta references: MN 32: The Longer Discourse at Gosiṅga https://suttacentral.net/mn32/en/suja... AN 7.53: https://suttacentral.net/an7.53/en/su...

Before easing us into practice, Ven Candā discusses loving-kindness (mettā) as a directed thought process—it’s a skill we can develop, and the feeling of mettā naturally grows over time. Wishing well-being for ourselves is foundational to loving-kindness, so this meditation focuses on aligning our best intentions with cultivating mettā for ourselves. [ 0:00 ] Intro [ 5:55 ] Loving-kindness meditation [ 45:47 ] Questions and reflections

In this talk given at Northants Buddhist and Meditation Centre, Ajahn Candā speaks to the relationship between compassion and wisdom. After a short introduction, she offers a guided meditation grounded in embodied awareness. Then during the Dhamma talk, Ajahn Candā busts the myth that empathic compassion leads to sorrow, noting how compassion is a sublime abiding that motivates us to alleviate suffering. [ 0:00 ] Introduction [ 3:30 ] Meditation [ 44:16 ] Dhamma talk [ 1:34:02 ] Questions

In this creative loving-kindness (mettā) meditation, Ajahn Candā changes the regular formula of spreading mettā based on one’s own feelings towards others, to one of developing feelings of love towards others based on their present situation, encouraging us to explore how love may subtly change when directed towards those who are doing well or experiencing hardship.

Over the course of a two-day loving-kindess (mettā) retreat at Sheffield Insight, Ven Candā considers the quiet happiness that arises as the heart becomes more open. Topics covered in this Q&A include sustaining attention during loving-kindness meditation and understanding degrees of dukkha. This session ends with a guided meditation aimed at cultivating boundless friendliness towards ourselves and others. [ 0:00 ] How to focus loving-kindness meditation on one person [ 2:44 ] Delighting in subtle states like peace and contentment [ 7:58 ] Abiding in equanimity [ 9:53 ] Meeting shame with compassion [ 13:03 ] Metta for non-humans and objects [ 17:07 ] External conditions [ 21:20 ] Metta for those who have passed away [ 24:38 ] Are skillful states dukkha? [ 28:05 ] Practicing metta for someone you’ve yet to meet [ 30:08 ] What love, peace, and happiness have in common [ 31:53 ] Guided meditation "How to notice subtle mental states" 2nd Q&A and "Metta for every living being", 5th guided meditation of the "The radiant quality of loving kindness" New Year Retreat for Sheffield Insight, 02 & 03 Jan 2026

Ajahn Candā shares and reflects on eight factors that help wisdom develop, with discussion on topics such as moral conscience (hiri) and moral caution (otapa) and the manifold benefits of developing each factor (even when they reveal areas for more work!). The final discussion includes questions on being with family for the holidays and the relationship between wisdom and action. [ 0:00 ] What is wisdom? [ 6:07 ] Teachers and spiritual companions [ 11:23 ] Always be kind [ 15:00 ] Shame and regret [ 21:56 ] Asking questions [ 26:00 ] Seclusion and virtue [ 33:49 ] Learning what is beneficial [ 38:52 ] Right endeavor and meaningful talk [ 45:46 ] Arising and vanishing aggregates [ 50:59 ] Final discussion Sutta references: AN 8.2: Wisdom https://suttacentral.net/an8.2/en/bod... SN 56.31: The Simsapa Grove https://suttacentral.net/sn56.31/en/b...

Ven Canda leads a medtation on the topic: The Cosy House of Metta

Ven Canda leads meditation on the subject: Befriending Ourselves With Compassion