Luang phi Sander (luang phi=brother, brother) was born in Amsterdam in 1978, where he spent his childhood. In high school he developed a broad interest in spiritual matters, which crystallized during his student days in a fascination with Buddhism. In 1998 he became acquainted with the Belgian branch of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a Thai meditation center, located in Ypres at the time. From that time on, he started working as a volunteer for the Belgian and French meditation centers during holiday periods. After completing his studies, he decided to live and work at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Thailand, initially as a volunteer. In 2005 he decided to become a monk. In 2012 he moved to Europe, and now he lives and works for the Wat Phra Dhammakaya Netherlands in Afferden, near Druten. Luang phi Sander has done many meditation and study retreats in Thailand and Europe, and has taken it as his life challenge to build a bridge between the world of Thai Buddhism and the sober Netherlands.