Samita ASBL was set up as a lay organisation to support the Sangha (Monastics) by providing what in Buddhism is known as the “four requisites” i.e. food, shelter, clothing and medicine. The Sangha members have taken a vow of poverty and are not allowed to handle money. They live only from what is given. We do that through fundraising activities and organizing events and retreats and to deal with the financial sides of these four requisites like building and maintaining a monastery. The Sangha are the guardians of the Buddhist texts and have been teaching for over 2000 years for the benefit of all living beings, without receiving any compensation.

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. We work entirely on the basis of donations and voluntary work. No person in the organisation, nor any board member, gets any remuneration for their valuable work.

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 Statuts ASBL Samita 2023 (1) fr for a copy of the constitution of Samita ASBL in French

The meaning of the word “Samita”

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

gathered, assembled – we have assembled as a group and aim for the gathering of a Sangha in this tradition in Europe.
equal – we aim for equality between monks and nuns, men and women lay supporters, the four-fold Sangha.
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.

Administrative Board Members

President: Schertenleib, Kathrin Jelena
Treasurer: Buysse, Danny
Secretary: van Renterghem, Karina

Active Members

Wagner-Poyiatzis, Christine
De Pelsmaeker, Katrien
Schulte, Kirsten
Walsch, Blake
Berger, Jessica

Additional information

Registration number: 0607.989.367

ANBI RSIN number: 8273 49 026

Registered Address:

Engreux 49G
6663 Mabompré
Belgium
Email: [email protected]
Tel: + 32 (0) 493-41 28 85 (Office hours: ma-vr 8.30 – 10.30 uur).

Ethical Charter

Samita ASBL is a member of the Buddhist Union of Belgium and abides by the BUB‘s ethical charter: “Charte éthique et déontologique”.

Financial Report

Download the financial reports of the last years:

2023

2024 (to follow after the AGM of 4th May 2025)

Presentation year overview

Download the presentation of the year overview of the last years. This presentation is done during the Annual General Meeting.

2022