I love working with people; to sit in meditation together and deepen our insight. Together we quiet down, sometimes we share experiences, sometimes we are deeply touched or laughing our heads off. I would not know anything more meaningful and delightful than this: finding peace in ourselves – and with it, contributing somehow to more harmony in the world.
Course of life
I was born in 1964 in Amsterdam. My father was a philosopher and my mother did modern and Indian dance. Both were spiritually inclined and loved Eastern art and wisdom.
Originally I studied social psychology, and worked as a freelance trainer for a while.
But I decided to pack my things and started traveling as a freelance journalist in post-apartheid South Africa. After this intense experience, I was really run down. I quit everything, went into therapy and started my spiritual journey.
Spiritual path
In 1995 I learned about Zen meditation and was totally fascinated with it. First, I practice Zen with the Kanzeon Sangha in Holland, later I went to the States to practice. But still I felt it was not as radical as I desired. So in 1999 I left for Japan to receive intensive Zen training. For six years I lived in Bukkokuji, Harada Tangen roshi’s temple. This time has been transformative for me.
After returning from Japan, I took part in countless Vipassana and Zen retreats, together with my mother Henriette.
Vipassana proved incredibly rich in Buddhist wisdom and brought many insights.
In Zen centre Noorder Poort I continued practicing with koans, under the bright guidance of Jiun roshi: ‘Be very quiet!’ was her central advice.
In order to be able to lead courses and apply my experience, I started the mindfulness teacher training in 2010. Mindfulness mainly taught me to be mild with myself and others, and to non-judgmentally be-with-what-is.
I discovered Mooji in 2016 via YouTube. I was totally entranced by his clear way of teaching. Everything I had heard and learned, started to make sense now. Finally all those beautiful concepts revealed their true menaing – Buddha nature, True Self, pure awareness…
Since this discovery, I have frequently visited Monte Sahaja, Mooji’s centre in Portugal, for several months at a time. This has greatly deepened and strengthened my understanding and practice. I started to feel so happy more and more frequently.
In 2024 both Stef and me were appointed zen teachers by Jiun Hogen Roshi. She gave me the teachers name Hosen, dharma river.
Yoga
Yoga has always been part of my practice, it helps me to connect to my body and enhances self-confidence and it’s simply so joyful! That is why I took up the yin yoga teacher training, and the hatha/vinyasa training together with Stef.
Still, I have always remained faithful to Zen. The Noorder Poort is the base where I keep returning for further training. To me, the silence and focus of Zen are unsurpassable.
I feel blessed I can make this whole journey together with Stef. And that we have by now gathered such a wonderful group of friends around us on this path.
Education
2011-2013 Mindfulness teacher training at IAM and See True
2015 Yin Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training at Stillness in Yoga
2018 Core Flow Teacher Training
2020 Hatha/Vinyasa Teacher Training at Anadi Yoga Centre in Rishikesh
2023 Vinyasa Teacher Training at Arhanta
I am a VMBN (cat. 1) certified mindfulness trainer
In my Stories you can read more about my experiences.
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