Connected to Myanmar

The guest is Riët Aarsse. Riët is associated with Amsterdam Insight Meditation and Insight Dialogue teacher. Joost will talk with Riët about the current situation in Myanmar since the military coup of 1 February in which the elected leaders were imprisoned. They are concerned about the human rights situation and see the enormous resilience of also young generations who tirelessly and nonviolently take to the streets.

Vipassana or insight meditation, heart meditation, mindfulness – it all has a connection with Myanmar. They talk about the relationship between meditation here in the west and the Buddhist tradition in Myanmar. How we can express gratitude in help. What we in the Netherlands can do for the people who tirelessly try to get democracy back.

'Preserving the dhamma and its significance for everyday life in a culture steeped in it – that's what we can thank the people of Burma for', said Riët.

Joost and Riët are part of vipassana.nu, a collective of retreat counselors. Both meditated and studied for a long time in Buddhist monasteries in Myanmar and feel deeply connected to the land and its people.

May all people in Myanmar be safe, and free from hostility.

Aspects we discussed TO DISPLAY