Buddhist Audio Books

Danaraja was born in the Republic of Ireland. He currently works for Buddhafield.

Jinananda (aka Duncan Steen) died of cancer aged 65, and was perhaps best known as the reader of Marcus Aurelius’s 'Meditations' on Naxos AudioBooks, which has sold in the tens of thousands. However, under the name of Jinananda he was also widely recognised as a teacher of, and writer on, Buddhist meditation.

Having written some secular books, including 'The Essential Englishman' (1989), and translated Sophocles’ 'Oedipus the King' (recorded with Michael Sheen in the title role for Naxos AudioBooks), he went on to devote his literary skills almost exclusively to Buddhist topics. He produced a string of titles based on the seminars of his teacher, Urgyen Sangharakshita, as well as 'The 100 Minute Buddha' (2009) and 'Karma and Rebirth in a Nutshell' (2009). Also, he has written 'Warrior of Peace: the Life of the Buddha' and 'Meditating: A Buddhist View'; both are published by Windhorse Publications.

Born in Bedford, to Christopher Steen, a classics teacher, and Robin (nee Carson), Duncan went to Bedford school, where his father taught, before disappearing on the hippy trail in the 1970s. After a spell as an antiquarian bookseller back in London, he became involved with the UK-based Triratna Buddhist Community before moving into the men’s community of the West London Buddhist Centre, and he was ordained on a retreat in Italy in 1986 as Jinananda, which means “Bliss of the Conqueror”. He taught meditation at the centre and eventually became its chairman.

Although a judo black belt and a member of the famous Budokwai martial arts club in London (he wrote on judo occasionally for the Guardian), he spent most of his time in more sedentary pursuits, mainly on the cushion teaching meditation and aspects of Buddhism. When he became ill with cancer, Duncan would cycle up to the Hampstead ponds in north London and swim in winter; and he must be one of the few people to have cycled to his chemotherapy sessions.

In 2017 he married his longtime partner, Claudia de Campos, a psychotherapist whom he met at the West London Buddhist Centre. He is survived by Claudia and by his son, Antoine, from his previous relationship with Dominique Autier.

Ratnadhya is based in the West Country, in Berkeley, Glostershire, UK, and spends much of his time touring his own theatre productions and musical performances to venues, including Triratna Buddhist Community Centres, up and down the country.

Satyadaya lives in London and works at the London Buddhist Centre.

Subhadra was born in 1952 in London. Ordained into the WBO in 1981, he has since worked on various buddhist projects within the Triratna Buddhist Community. He lives in Cambridge, UK.

Any feedback welcome: dhsubhadra@gmail.com

Tejasvini lives in Cambridge, UK. She works at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre.

Vajragupta lives near Norwich, UK, and she is the Chair of the Norwich Buddhist Centre.

Vidyakaya was born in Spain in 2005 - prior to that he was Pete Tyrer, an aspiring artist, poet and song writer, a pretty good cook and shiatsu practitioner, compulsive diarist, dog lover and tree hugger. Vidyakaya is still all of those but is also seriously trying to practice the Dharma. Recording this book was a significant part of his practice, when he finally got round to doing it.