About us

The Maitreya Institute intends to make Mahayana Buddhism accessible in the Netherlands, because we think that the principles and methods of Buddhism can benefit and bring happiness to individuals as well as the entire society. We do this since our founding in 1979 by facilitating teachings, meditations, retreats and many other activities in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Our two study and meditation centers are located in Amsterdam and Emst. In Amsterdam, we mainly provide evening- and weekend programs (mostly in English). In Emst, students can stay overnight in the center, and most activities are during the weekends in Dutch.

We are fortunate to have a resident Tibetan teacher: Geshe Sonam Gyaltsen and also the Australian nun Venerable Kaye Miner. They also regularly give courses and lectures at other locations, such as Breda and Groningen. The teachings of the Geshe are translated into Dutch, and Venerable Kaye Miner teaches mostly in English. Besides this, several advanced students of the Maitreya Institute regularly lead courses, meditations and retreats, usually in Dutch.

The Institute is affiliated with with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a world-wide organisation that was founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe and under the spiritual guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The FPMT is basesd on the Tibetan Gelug tradition of Lama Tsong Khapa and the inspiring example of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Because we and all beings still live in samsara and have anger, attachment, ignorance and all the mental garbage: having all these wrong views is why we need Dharma centers, which are a place to learn, to practice, to purify and collect merits, to inspire each other, to develop wisdom and compassion and to achieve liberation and enlightenment.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche