Flowing to freedom retreat

10-day silent retreat

Ajahn Brahmāli, Ayya Kārunikā and Ven. Vimala

13-22 November 2026

This retreat is a collaboration of Samita asbl and IMA vzw (InzichtMeditatie Antwerpen).

Discover the Gentle Path to freedom

Join us for a retreat inspired by the teachings of Ajahn Brahmāli — a heartfelt journey into the Buddha’s timeless path to inner freedom.
Rather than striving or forcing, we’ll explore how true liberation arises naturally when the right conditions are cultivated.
Through reflections, personal stories, and practical guidance, you’ll learn how to let go, trust the process, and allow peace to unfold effortlessly.

Born in Norway in 1964, Mahāthera (Elder Bhikkhu) Ajahn Brahmāli developed an interest in Buddhism and meditation in his early twenties. Having completed degrees in engineering and finance, he became an Anagārika, (keeping the Eight Precepts) at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries in England.
After hearing Ajahn Brahm’s teachings, Ajahn Brahmāli travelled to Australia and began training at Bodhinyana Monastery in 1994. He received full ordination in 1996, with Ajahn Brahm as his preceptor.
Renowned for his deep knowledge of the Pāli language and the Buddhist suttas, Bhikkhu Bodhi calls Ajahn Brahmāli a major contributor for his translations of the Numerical Discourses of the Buddha (Aṅguttara Nikāya).
Ajahn Brahmāli has published essays on dependent origination and co-authored the book The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts with Bhikkhu Sujato.

 

Bhikkhunī Ayya Kārunikā Therī is a senior Theravāda nun recently appointed Abbot of Santi Forest Monastery in NSW, Australia, and serves as spiritual director of the New Zealand Bhikkhunī Saṅgha Trust.
Ordained in 2014 at Dhammasara Nuns Monastery, she has over 15 years of monastic experience and has trained for decades under Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmāli, and Ajahn Hāsapaññā.
Born in Sri Lanka and based in Australia for over 20 years, she combines a background as a microbiologist with extensive experience in teaching, retreat leadership, and monastery project management. Known for presenting Buddhist teachings in a practical and accessible way, she is dedicated to supporting and expanding opportunities for Bhikkhunīs worldwide, particularly within the Theravāda forest tradition.

 

Bhikkhunī Ven. Vimala is a non-binary monastic born in the Netherlands. As a Bhikkhunī (fully ordained nun), Ven. Vimala seeks to help support the Bhikkhunī lineage and to pave the way for women and non-binary people so that they too can receive full ordination, just as men have always been able to do.
Ven. Vimala is the founder of Tilorien Monastery in the Belgian Ardennes, with the aim of forming a residential community based on early Buddhist teachings, as well as providing a place of practice for Bhikkhunīs and other female monastics, and supporting LGBTIQA+ people and other underrepresented groups in the study of the Buddhist teachings.
Ven. Vimala collaborates with SuttaCentral.net, a treasure trove of translations of the early Buddhist suttas, and is one of the lead developers of BuddhaNexus.net at the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg.

 

This retreat is designed to develop additional practical techniques and uncover deeper insights, building on your existing practice. Experience is not necessary but prior practice is still highly recommended. You can expect a strong focus on sitting and walking meditation for many hours a day, over the entire retreat, only interrupted by 3-4 hours of daily teaching, personal interviews and (vegetarian) meals. The bulk of your retreat time will be spent in solitude and silence, focusing on your inner states. We do not permit meditation methods that involve audible sounds and/or vigorous body movement as they disturb others. All participants must keep the meditation conditions advised by the Buddha and outlined below.

The retreat will be held in English.

Eight Precepts

This is an eight-precept retreat.
All who attend are asked to undertake the following precepts for the duration of the retreat:
1. To abstain from killing living beings
2. To abstain from taking what is not given
3. To abstain from all sexual activity
4. To abstain from dishonest speech
5. To abstain from intoxicants
6. To abstain from taking food after mid-day
7. To abstain from singing, dancing, listening to music and from bodily adornments
8. To abstain from sleeping on luxurious beds

Noble Silence

This is a “Noble Silence” retreat. This means that all participants are kindly asked to observe Noble Silence from the beginning of the retreat until the morning of the last full day. This applies as well for the public areas as for the rooms.
Noble Silence means no talking or non-verbal communication of any kind, except of course in emergencies, interviews or discussion times with the Teacher. Noble Silence applies not only to speech but also to any signals and written notes etc. as well as to external contact by telephone or internet.
The purpose of Noble Silence is to allow the mind to let go of outer distractions and to focus as much as possible on the inner world. In this regard it is also useful to minimize eye contact with other retreatants. Practicing restraint of the senses in this way provides an essential foundation for the powerful inner work which a meditation retreat facilitates.
This Noble Silence will give the participants the maximum benefit from the meditation they learn and minimizes the disturbance to others. Therefore, please do not play musical instruments, radios, mp3 players, etc.

Program

The retreat includes guided and silent meditation, alternating sitting and walking practice, Dhamma talks, meditation teachings with Q&A and interviews with the teachers.
Daily life is integrated into the practice through mindful work periods and shared meals.
During the retreat, each participant should have a least one personal interview with Ajahn Brahmāli, Bhikkhunī Ayya Kārunikā and Ven. Vimala to discuss their spiritual progress.

Costs on Dana basis

This retreat, including accommodation, food, and contribution for the Teacher, is organized on the basis of DANA (donation). All expenses for your accommodation, meals, etc. are paid for you with the kind donations of previous participants and other donors, who wish to give others the opportunity to experience the Dhamma. All work is done on a voluntary basis only; nobody receives any remuneration.
The table below lists the costs for the basic accommodation, meals, and expenses, depending on the type of accommodation you choose, and this does not include donations for the teachings by Ajahn Brahmāli, Ayya Kārunikā and Venerable Vimala.
These costs also cover afternoon snacks and drinks, rental of the hall and kitchen facilities, travel expenses and accommodation for Ajahn Brahmāli and Ayya Kārunikā, etc. Every participant may contribute at their discretion and according to their means, so you can also contribute to spreading the Dhamma further.

Single room ensuite (own bathroom) – 920 €
Single room with shared bathroom – 720 €
Double room ensuite (own bathroom), per person – 670 €
Double room with shared bathroom, per person – 560 €
Shared room (4–8 people) with shared bathroom, per person – 460 €

Registration fee

We ask a 100 € registration fee when booking, 50 € of which are non-refus undable in case of cancellation.
If you have difficulties paying 100 € registration fee, please contact us for our support fund.
In order for Samita and IMA to organize retreats on donation basis, we need to have a reasonable cash flow so that we can pay for venues up front. If you consider making a small donation before the retreat to help us meet our obligations, this would be much appreciated. You can do so via the bank account BE36 3632 0274 3881, BIC-code BBRUBEBB from vzw IMA – 2600 Antwerpen, and please mention your name and “November retreat” as a reference.

Kitchen help

We are looking for two volunteers to help Danny in the kitchen during the retreat. Offering help in this way is a form of dāna (generosity), supporting the practice and well-being of the retreat participants. No special experience is required – just a willingness to serve with mindfulness and kindness.

Support fund

If you wish to support other participants who have difficulties to afford the registration fee you can make a donation mentioning “support fund Ajahn Brahmāli and Ayya Kārunikā retreat”.
Every donation helps us spread the Dhamma!

Registration

Click here to go to the registration form.

Venue

The retreat takes place in the Tibetan center Yeunten Ling, Promenade Saint-Jean L’agneau 4, 4500 Huy, Belgium (in between Liège and Namur) – click here for Yeunten Lings website and for directions.
The center has received the Dalai Lama several times.
 The meditation center offers simple accommodation in various categories of bedrooms as listed above.
Please don’t contact Yeunten Ling if you have questions, but send them to samita@inzichtmeditatieantwerpen.be

Please bring

• Bed-linen (can also be rented from the house for 12 €) or sleeping bag and towels.
A duvet and blankets are provided.
• Towels.
• Only biodegradable toiletries.
• Flashlight and umbrella.

Questions?

Please contact us for any questions you might have: samita@inzichtmeditatieantwerpen.be