Inspiration for guided meditations by Dutch teacher
Gerjan Schoemaker, a meditation teacher in the Netherlands, started recording guided meditations in a creative way. You can view the video’s either on his website https://vihara.nl or his Youtube Channel. Although the meditations are recorded in the Dutch language, it’s good for inspiration.
Gerjan is planning to upload new guided meditations an meditation related stories on a weekly basis. It’s a bit related to the famous Youtube Channel ‘Yoga with Adrien’.
Guided meditations are helping people in many ways, like reducing stress, getting to sleep and emotional issues like anxiety and depression. Furthermore, the meditation stories are giving insights and are inspiring. “Maybe in a year or two, I will also record the meditations in the English language.”
On the Vihara website there are also favorite Guided meditations by other teachers like Mooji, Tara Brach and Thich Nath Hanh. You can visit this here: https://www.vihara.nl/meditatie/favoriete-geleide-meditaties/
The Guided Meditation by Mooji:
A guided meditation from Advaita and Non-duality. Mooji has a beautiful voice, which is nice to listen to. In this meditation you learn, among other things, to see and release your identifications. Become aware (again) of what is passing, and what you are not. This meditation lasts 56 minutes. A whole lot of time, but it’s worth it.
The Guided Meditation by Tara Brach:
A nicely guided Vipassana meditation. Tara Brach is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community in Washington.
The Guided Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh:
Thich Nhat Hanh is Zen Buddhist and ‘master in mindfulness and gratitude / wonder’. The Youtube video takes 36 minutes, but the guided meditation only takes about 10 minutes. It is advisable not to stop after 10 minutes, but to continue listening afterwards. Thich Nhat Hanh gives you very practical tips for mindfulness in daily life.
Gerjan Schoemaker is training other People to become a ‘Meditation Teacher’. In addition, Gerjan facilitates meditation classes and is giving meditation retreats in the Netherlands.
“In his opinion there are roughly 3 levels of meditation: practical, psychological and philosophical. He is trying to convey exercises and insights on all three levels. Tailored to what is appropriate in the moment.”
You could describe Gerjan as a secular Buddhist with great interest in other Eastern philosophies and in particular non-duality. In addition to the Theravada Buddhism, he also study philosophies such as Advaita Vedanta and Hinduism. He likes other Oriental movements such as Taoism and Sufism. Vipassana meditation is his basis and he is researching additional (meditation) techniques and is passing them on.
Whereas the Advaita Vedanta mainly focuses on direct Self-realization, Buddhism offers more of a path to it. Regardless of whether you fully achieve Self-realization, the Buddhist path offers psychological insights and a lifestyle that increases well-being and reduces unnecessary psychological suffering. Even if you are still far removed from Self-realization, this gradually brings you closer as your understanding of “how things really are” increases.
He is cultivating the path of the Buddha combined with the playfulness and joy of Osho.
