Meditationday Make the mind your friend – Ayya Ānandabodhī – Saturday 14 june 2025 in Antwerp

We are very honoured to have Ayya Ānandabodhī visiting us all the way from the US!
On this day, she will be accompanied by Venerable Vimala, Sāmaṇerī Junhā and Sayalay Sabbamitta.
A unique gathering in Antwerp!

Make the Mind Your Friend

The Buddha taught that guiding and caring for our own heart-and-mind is essential to living a life of happiness and well-being, benefiting both ourselves and others.
We are so often bombarded with information and imagery that pull us away from the peace and well-being that is our true nature.
During this day of practice together, we will be slowing down, listening inwardly, and developing friendliness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity (mettā, karunā, muditā, & upekkhā) for our own well-being and for the well-being of others.

Ayya Ānandabodhī Bhikkhunī was born and raised in Wales, UK. Ayya first encountered the Buddha’s teaching in her early teens while reading about the Four Noble Truths. This was life-changing and from that moment she experienced a deep confidence in the Buddha’s insight and a wish to understand his teachings more deeply. At the age of 24, Ayya began monastic training at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England under the guidance of Ajahn Sumedho. Seventeen years later she moved to the USA with a wish to create more opportunities for women monastics. In 2011 she took full Bhikkhunī Ordination, joining the worldwide revival of the Theravāda Bhikkhunī Order. Ayya Ānandabodhī loves to share the Dhamma. Ayya’s practice is guided by early Buddhist scriptures, living in community, and through nature’s pure and immediate Dhamma.
Ayya Ānandabodhī resides in Pārāyana Vihāra

The meditation day is in English
The programme includes periods of guided meditations, walking meditation and a lecture.
Everyone is welcome, suitable for beginners and advanced practitioners.

When
Saturday 14 june 2025
From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Welcome from 9:30 a.m. with coffee and tea

Where
Parish centre Zaal Drakenhof 1 (large hall next to Sint-Jozefkerk)
Boekenberglei 213 (corner Drakenhoflaan)
2100 Antwerpen-Deurne
Accessibility click here.
Hall Drakenhof on Google Maps

Practical
inzichtmeditatie Antwerpen (IMA) rents the hall of parish centre Drakenhof.
IMA volunteers will provide coffee, tea and water.
As lunch, there will be soup, vegetarian sandwiches and fruit.

Contribution
Guidance by Ayya Anandabodhi and organisation by IMA on the basis of DANA (donations or voluntary contributions).
As a Bhikkhuni (Buddhist nun), Ayya Anandabodhi depends entirely on Dana for her existence.
Dana is the first quality the Buddha recommended developing, when asked: what should I do to attain complete freedom?
‘Start with generosity’ said the Buddha, ‘live in peace with each other and take good care of your inner development.
The Dana principle implies that a participant in an activity decides how much he/she is willing or able to give.
The underlying idea is that we as human beings belong together and care for each other.
That the Dhamma is in fact priceless and is given from the heart and received in the heart.
Each one reflects on himself.
‘What is it worth to me that the Dhamma can be passed on and what can or will I contribute?’

participation and cancellation
Register  here.
Your registration is valid after depositing €20. This registration fee is non-refundable.
You can read the participation and cancellation conditions here.
About a week before the start, you will receive an e-mail with practical information and arrangements.

Questions
Send an email to:
info@inzichtmeditatieantwerpen.be