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Dhamma talk by Ven Canda on the topic of the five elements.

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

Ven Canda leads a guided meditation on the topic "Daring to forgive".

Ven Candā begins this session with an introductory reflection on the benefits of an expansive mind of love for absorbing difficult emotions and experiences. She then leads a guided meditation for the cultivation of loving awareness of one’s own body and loving-kindness directed towards a loved one. In the last 10 minutes, participants share their meditation experiences and Ven Candā offers a few final reflections.

[0:00] Introduction

[6:20] Guided meditation

[40:05] Discussion

In honour of her first preceptor's birthday, Venerable Candā shares not one but two Pali chants on loving-kindness to spread goodwill and blessings to all listeners and to all beings.

In this session, the second part of a half-day retreat given at Anukampa Grove, Ven Candā spends 40 minutes answering questions from retreatants, then closes the retreat with a soft, 30-minute loving-kindness meditation.

[0:00] Introduction

[1:58] The importance of silence

[8:53] Unnecessary speech

[13:58] “Letting be” meditation

[18:10] Will taking 8 precepts bring deep meditation faster?

[22:05] Why chocolate and cheese?

[25:05] Is the Pali Canon really the Word of the Buddha?

[30:57] Getting into the suttas

[36:05] Tricky dualities: the wise and unwise person

In this session given as part of a half-day retreat at Anukampa Grove, Ven Candā gives a brief talk on giving the mind a break and settling into the present, away from the unhelpful influences of past and future. She provides tips on topics such as knowing what the present moment feels like, following the present into our emotional world, and staying present in daily life. The talk is followed by a half-hour guided meditation.

[0:00] Dhamma Talk

[22:25] Meditation

After introducing the session’s meditation subject, Ven Candā leads participants in a guided meditation focusing on the world of emotions, leading us in offering loving acceptance to whatever we become aware of in that space, and ending by spreading loving-kindness to fellow emotional beings across the realms.

[0:00] Getting in touch with emotions

[5:38] Guided meditation

[44:44] Ending reflection

Dhamma talk, guided meditation and Q & A with Ven Canda.

In this heartfelt talk, Bhante Sujato discusses misogyny and patriarchy in Buddhist communities and institutions, describing his own reckoning after witnessing reactions to the 2009 bhikkhuni ordination and his subsequent explorations on the topic.

He shows how misogyny goes against core Buddhist principles by investigating the first six factors of the Noble Eightfold Path through the lens of gender equality.

[0:00] Aftermath of the bhikkhuni ordination

[9:44] Misogyny and patriarchy

[14:22] Right and wrong views

[22:20] A perversion of lust

[27:16] The hidden hate in misogyny

[36:00] Untrue and divisive

[43:11] Violence, land, and temptresses

[50:33] Keeping resources from nuns

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After a meditation on bringing up gratitude for the gifts of our lives, Bhante Sujato gives a skillful talk that takes a positive and compassionate angle on politics.

In spite of the tumultuous state of politics and ethical crises worldwide, he encourages us to believe that our practice can support us to take moral action in a form that is suitable for each of us.

Using the Buddha’s approach to political advice as an example, he further urges us to have faith that governments can still be used to make the world a better place.

[0:00] The eels of the Darug nation

[5:46] Gratitude meditation

[31:25] Dhamma talk

[1:10:30] Q&A

Ajahn Brahm and Ven Candas closing words of the retreat Finding Freedom.

Last Q & A for the retreat Finding Freedom with Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda.

Ven Canda leads guided meditation on the topic "Rejoicing in spiritual growth".

Ajahn Brahm leads sutta teaching on the topic "The Last Obstacles to Jhana" (MN 128).

Sutta Teaching by Ven Canda on "Anapanasati Sutta".

Guided meditation by Ajahn Brahm on the topic "Loving the breath".

Ven Canda leads guided meditation on the topic "Put Loving-Kindness First".

Sutta Teaching by Ajahn Brahm: Anatta Lakkhana Sutta (SN 22:59).

Ven Canda leads Sutta teaching on the topic "How to live Without Conflict" (MN 139).

Guided meditation on the topic "See what happens" by Ajahn Brahm.

Guided meditation on the topic allow mindfulness and peace to build by Ven Canda. 

Sutta teaching Bahiya Sutta Decoded (Ud 1.10) by Ajahn Brahm.

Ajahn Brahm starts with a guided meditation overflowing with advice for putting everything down and relaxing into whatever is in the present moment.

He goes on to tell various stories of overcoming discomfort, fear, despair, illness, and various other kinds of difficulty by cultivating attitudes of letting go, loving kindness, and joy.

The session ends with a 45-minute Q&A with participants.

Ajahn Brahm starts with a guided meditation overflowing with advice for putting everything down and relaxing into whatever is in the present moment.

He goes on to tell various stories of overcoming discomfort, fear, despair, illness, and various other kinds of difficulty by cultivating attitudes of letting go, loving kindness, and joy.

The session ends with a 45-minute Q&A with participants.

Guided meditation by Ven Canda on Metta in gratitude for all.

Guided meditation by Ven Canda on the topic "Inviting the Breath into a Mettaful Mind".

Ven Canda leads a Sutta discussion on the topic "Delicious Menu for the Mind (The Cook, SN47:8)".

Guided Meditation on the topic "The Breath Of Love" together with Ayya Anandabodhi.

Ven Candas Dhamma talk on the topic "Buddhist Faith" at Oxford Insight.

Ven Canda leads guided meditation on the topic breathing in love with all beings.