Samita ASBL was set up as a lay organisation to support the Sangha by providing what in Buddhism is known as the “four requisites” i.e. food, shelter, clothing and medicine. We do that through fundraising activities and to deal with the financial sides of these four requisites like building and maintaining a monastery.

We organize retreats on the basis of donation to create further opportunities for the Sangha and lay practitioners to develop meditation, virtue and wisdom and for the lay people to meet and share the Dhamma. And therewith we fulfill our task according to the Dhamma-Vinaya, thus keeping the teachings alive and helping it to grow for the sake of all beings.

Liberation is the aim of the Buddhist path. To enable and support this, that is what we are here for.

If out of gratitude you wish to support the Sangha, there are various ways in which you can help Samita do this. Please visit our Donations Page for more information.

Membership

You can become a member of Samita ASBL. Membership is free of charge. Members have no direct voting power in the Association, but can influence the decision-making by voicing their ideas and suggestions and help with organising events. Once a year, in January, an Annual General Assembly will be held for which all members are invited. If you wish to become a member, please complete the membership form. Click here for a copy of the constitution of Samita ASBL (in French) or a summary of the constitution in English.

The meaning of the word “Samita”

The word “Samita” has several meanings in the Pali language:

1. gathered, assembled – we have assembled as a group and aim for the gathering of a Sangha in this tradition in Europe.
2. equal – we aim for equality between monks and nuns, men and women lay supporters, the four-fold Sangha.
3. quiet, appeased – the quieting of the mind through meditation.

Our logo also reflects these meanings of the word and is made up out of the universal symbol for equality and the Tao symbol for quieting and assembling of the mind through meditation. The logo also resembles the element of water, which is used often in the Pali canon in similes by the Buddha. It has the property of cohesion as well as stilling. When left alone, water settles and calms down, just like the quieting of the mind in meditation.