Empowered Places and Things > The European Danda

The European Danda


the European Danda
click to enlarge


Where Is Happeness? Retreats

The European Danda is the Spiritually Empowered Seat of Adi Da's Blessing in Europe. It is located in Maria Hoop, in the south of the Netherlands.

Subsections in this article:


30th Anniversary of Adi Da Samraj at the European Danda
History

the European Danda
click to enlarge

The Danda is a quiet, magical place. It is a former monastery, and a place where Adi Da twice resided.

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

In 1986, Adi Da made His first visit to the European community of His devotees. He travelled through England, France and Holland. During His stay in Holland He very much wanted a place where he could meet with all of His European devotees. Devotees looked for an appropriate place that could be acquired as a rural Ashram. In the South of Holland, in the village of Maria Hoop close to the German border, a former Catholic monastery was found which could be rented for a few weeks. The monastery had already been unused for several years. Devotees swiftly cleaned buildings and the grounds.

Adi Da in the European Danda: July 20, 1986
Adi Da in the European Danda: July 20, 1986
click to enlarge

Adi Da was invited to stay in a specially prepared wing of the monastery for several days — an invitation that He accepted. During this time, He granted Darshan and held "Question and Answer" occasions in the chapel (now called Adi Da Kapel) with German, English, Dutch, French and American devotees.

Adi Da speaking to devotees in Adi Da Kapel in 1986
Adi Da speaking to devotees in Adi Da Kapel in 1986
click to enlarge

Adi Da speaking to devotees in Adi Da Kapel in 1986
Adi Da speaking to devotees in Adi Da Kapel in 1986
click to enlarge


full page link
If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).
length: 13:25
event date: July 20, 1986
views: 4078
In 1986, Adi Da made His first visit to the European community of His devotees. He travelled through England, France and Holland. In the South of Holland, in the village of Maria Hoop close to the German border, a former Catholic monastery was found which could be rented for a few weeks. Devotees swiftly cleaned buildings and the grounds. Adi Da stayed in a specially prepared wing of the monastery for several days. During this time, He granted Darshan and held "Question and Answer" occasions in the chapel (now called Adi Da Kapel) with German, English, Dutch, French and American devotees. The former monastery has since been acquired by the European community of Adidam and is now known as The European Danda.

In this rare, never before published excerpt from one of the "Question and Answer" occasions, Adi Da addresses the primal human emotion of doubt in a most direct and simple manner. He describes how doubt is not ultimately a sign that we have been "betrayed" in some way. The radical solution to doubt is to identify with the Divine Itself, beyond the temporary cycles of the body and mind and beyond the sense of being a separate self.


Adi Da after speaking to devotees in Adi Da Kapel in 1986

Adi Da after speaking to devotees in Adi Da Kapel in 1986
click to enlarge


Adi Da leaving Adi Da Kapel in 1986
Adi Da leaving Adi Da Kapel in 1986
click to enlarge

Adi Da also gave European devotees His Blessing to acquire the property for the purpose of transforming it into an Ashram and retreat centre. However at that time, the community was still small and was not yet able to generate the financial means to buy the buildings. It was not until the end of 1989 that the monastery was purchased, with the collective support of English, Dutch and German devotees.

Adi Da Blessed the new Ashram with a name: "The European Danda". "Danda" means "staff" or "cane" in Sanskrit — and the European Danda was the place where Adi Da Samraj had planted His staff in Europe.

In the beginning, about 25 devotees moved there and started to live Ashram life. During the first year, more devotees moved to the Ashram and the population grew to about 35 devotees. A retreat centre was created in the building, and many people came on retreat, especially during the summer holidays. This had a very inspiring influence and increasingly more people felt attracted to live in this community circumstance.

To be able to house all the people and to accommodate different levels of involvement in Adidam, a plan was developed for building extra small apartments near the Ashram according to the Dutch tradition (dating back to the Middle Ages) of "hofjes": small little houses around a communal garden near a church. A piece of property at the back of the Danda was chosen, and a hofje was built. The Maria Hoop population of devotees grew further as new people moved into it.

the European Danda
click to enlarge

In 1996, Adi Da visited His European devotees for the second time. He stayed for almost a month at the European Danda.

Vegetable Surrender: live at the European Danda
Adi Da's Room at the European Danda
click to enlarge

Adi Da gave Darshan in the garden of the Danda and in the Chapel, and He visited the hofje as well. He gave extensive instructions for the use of the main building. He also travelled to Switzerland during His European visit.

Adi Da at the European Danda
click to enlarge

Adi Da at the European Danda
click to enlarge

Also during this time, Adi Da endured an ordeal of penance (for the sake of purifying His devotees and the world altogether), during which He stayed in the woods behind the Danda. A shrine, the Da Peace Site, has since been built to commemorate this period.

the Da Peace Site
the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

Since Adi Da's visit in 1996, the focus of the European Danda has shifted from being a living circumstance for devotees to use as a retreat centre (see below).


The Bright Room Gallery

The European Danda houses the the largest collection in the world of Adi Da’s Transcendental Realist Art, and art tours and presentations can be arranged.



full page link
If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).
length: 01:09
views: 4165
The Adi Da Museum of Art is dedicated to the promotion of the art of Adi Da Samraj through exhibitions, lectures, round-table discussions, documentaries as well as seminars on his art and its relationship to various artistic traditions. The Adi Da Museum of Art also exhibits works and supports scholarship inspired by the art and philosophy of Adi Da Samraj.

The gallery maintains a permanent exhibition of works by Adi Da Samraj and is open from Wednesday to Saturday, and once a month on a Sunday, but can also be visited by appointment. The gallery is located in an old monastery in Maria Hoop in the south of Holland close to the borders of Germany and Belgium.

Read more about The Adi Da Museum of Art here.

Note: You may not be able to play this particular video on this site on your iPad or iPhone, but you can still watch it on YouTube.




Devotees in the largest gallery
devotees in the Bright Room Gallery
click to enlarge

Devotee in the largest gallery
click to enlarge


Adi Da's Art
photo © Hans Mahler
click to enlarge

Concert in the "Bright" Room Gallery
click to enlarge

 

Public Retreats

Retreats for the public are held regularly. Filled with Adi Da’s Presence, the European Danda is a perfect location to retire from worldly stress and distraction, to take contemplative walks in the Danda's private forest, and to sink into the deepest feeling of Reality Itself.


full page link
If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).
length: 04:29
event date: April 25, 2013
views: 6015
This event has passed or the page is now out of date. However, we are keeping this page up so you can get a feeling for what similar, future events like this might be like. To see a listing of upcoming special events, click here.

We invite you to participate in a profound transformation at the depth of life and consciousness — a transformation made possible by the Divine Appearance and Self-Revelation of Adi Da Samraj. Come and experience His Blessing-Transmission, His Avataric Teachings, and His Divine Image-Art. Feel and receive Adi Da’s Spiritual Presence, which is powerfully communicated via Sacred Sightings of Him (recorded during His physical Lifetime). Enjoy the live Sacred Offerings of gifted devotee musicians who serve the process of retreat with keen sensitivity and feeling.

Narrated by Matthew Braithwaite.

Special introduction to the European Danda (the location for this retreat) narrated by Ineke van Amerongen.

The retreat will be hosted by four longtime devotees of Adi Da: Anthony Costabile, Eileen McCarthy, Sally Taylor, and Frans van den Bossche.

For more about this retreat, click here.

Videographer: Matt Braithwaite


the European Danda
in the private forest of the European Danda
click to enlarge

April 2013 Retreat at the European Danda
a retreat presentation
click to enlarge

April 2013 Retreat at the European Danda
retreatants at a presentation
click to enlarge

April 2013 Retreat at the European Danda
break time
click to enlarge

gift table
gift table
click to enlarge

April 2013 Retreat at the European Danda
a delicious vegetarian meal
click to enlarge

 

Community Life

Even though the focus of the European Danda is on public retreats, the devotees residing at the Danda participate together in a rich community life that is centered on their shared practice of the Way of Adidam.

August 2011 Retreat at the European Danda
devotees on the front lawn of the European Danda
click to enlarge

August 2011 Retreat at the European Danda
devotees eating together on the lawn of the European Danda
click to enlarge

<span class=caption>devotees in consideration together  at the European Danda
devotees in consideration together at the European Danda
click to enlarge

Vegetable Surrender: live at the European Danda
children playing characters from Adi Da's book, Vegetable Surrender
click to enlarge

Consideration on the lawn of the European Danda
consideration on the lawn of the European Danda
click to enlarge

Outdoor meeting place
Outdoor meeting place
click to enlarge

Retreatants in front of the European Danda
Retreatants in front of the European Danda
click to enlarge

Devotees odalesquing together
Devotees "odalesquing" (relaxing) together
click to enlarge

Da Peace Site
a puja being performed by Ruchiradama Nadikanta at the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

<SPAN STYLE="font-size=9px;font-weight=bold;">Tree trimming at the European Danda, Maria Hoop, The  Netherlands, 2012
Tree trimming for the Celebration of Danavira Mela at the European Danda
click to enlarge

Cookie decorating at the European Danda, Maria Hoop, The Netherlands, December, 2012
Cookie decorating for the Celebration of Danavira Mela
click to enlarge

Cookie decorating at the European Danda, Maria Hoop, The Netherlands, December, 2012
Cookie decorating for the Celebration of Danavira Mela
click to enlarge

Da Jayanthi Celebration in the European Danda, 2012
Celebration of Adi Da's Birthday in the European Danda
click to enlarge

The Ashvamedha Horse begins its wandering at the European Danda (January 8, 2012)
The Ashvamedha Horse begins its wandering
for the Celebration of the Divine Avataric Self-"Emergence"
click to enlarge

The Celebration of Da Purnima (start of the Fire Puja), July 2013
The Celebration of Da Purnima (start of the Fire Puja), July 2013
click to enlarge

the Danda garden
the Danda garden
(photo courtesy of Rocky Rahke)
click to enlarge

the Danda garden
the Danda garden
(photo courtesy of Rocky Rahke)
click to enlarge

the Danda garden
the Danda garden
click to enlarge

devotees working in the Danda garden
devotees working in the Danda garden
click to enlarge

from the Danda's apple trees
from the Danda's apple trees
click to enlarge

concert in the "Bright" Room Gallery
concert in the "Bright" Room Gallery
click to enlarge

New Year's concert, January, 2016
New Year's concert, January, 2016
click to enlarge

meeting in the Danda
meeting
click to enlarge

State-of-the-art screen and HD projector in the main presentation room
State-of-the-art screen and HD projector in the main presentation room
click to enlarge



The European Fear-No-More Zoo

Fear-No-More is an enjoyable and unique environment where everyone can learn about our sacred connection to the natural world by spending time with the non-human residents here. There are Fear-No-More sanctuaries worldwide — in California (at the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary), Europe, and Fiji (at Adi Da Samrajashram).

The European Fear-No-More Zoo
The European Fear-No-More Zoo
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

The European Fear-No-More Zoo is located at The European Danda. Adi Da established this Zoo in 1996, to further His work with the non-humans. It serves as a place for humans to participate with, observe, and feel the natural spiritual contemplation of the non-humans residing here. Our residents include horses, alpacas, birds, chinchillas, and cats. The property is 10 hectares (24 acres) of forest and grassland that is also home to various widlife, including three different species of protected owls, a large variety of other bird species, foxes, rabbits, hares, hedgehogs, and many more non-humans. It is also classified as a rare bat sanctuary.

Our birds live in an aviary just beside the main Danda building.

The Aviary
The Aviary
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

The Aviary
The Aviary
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

At the Aviary
At the Aviary
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Dorkus is an orange, blue green Macaw and lives in the bird aviary with the other birds and her macaw friend Tank. She was born in 1996 and the same year Adi Da Samraj purchased her. He spent quite a bit of time with her in Maria Hoop, Netherlands. He even named her Dorkus, and she has an enormous response to Adi Da's Presence. She is a very strong bird with a strong personality. She knows what she wants and likes to be naughty, and push the boundaries from time to time.

Dorkus
Dorkus
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Dorkus and Tank
Dorkus (above) and Tank (below)
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

Like Dorkus, Tank is an orange, blue green Macaw born in 1996. He is the bird which Dorkus got as a friend/partner. As a baby bird he was thrown out of the nest and a few toes were bitten. He used to be a very nervous bird but now he has mostly recovered from his anxiety. He is a very sweet bird and responds to the invocation of Adi Da Samraj.

Tank
Tank
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Lunch Time
Lunch Time
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

Lunch Time
Lunch Time
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

Lint is an African Grey that was also born and purchased in 1996. Adi Da Samraj spent time with Lint and gave him the name Lint because he liked to be attached to people! Lint imitates Adi Da's laugh, which is very funny. He is a great devotee and a real sweetheart, always looking for people to visit him. When he spends time with his bird friends, the ringneck parrots, he acts like a normal wild bird, showering in the rain and digging in the grounds, preparing a nest, etc. Lint is very relational and loves visits from people who are on retreat at the European Danda.

Lint
Lint
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

At the Aviary
Lint
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Our horses and alpacas live on 4.5 hectares (11 acres) in a "Paddock Paradise" system (aka "Track Paddock" system).

Three of the horses and Desperado, the white alpaca. The horse in the background is Pushpaka.
Three of the horses and Desperado, the white alpaca.
The horse in the background is Pushpaka.
(photo courtesy of Louis Esser)
click to enlarge

Horses and alpacas
Horses and alpacas
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Horses
Horses
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Horses and alpacas
Horse and alpacas
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Snowy weather
Snowy weather
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Friends
Friends
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Alpacas
Alpacas
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge

Desperado is a 10-year-old male alpaca. Since the passing of his alpaca companion Kaira, he has become more integrated with the horses and is doing very well in their close company. He is a very sweet, curious and easy going character. He likes interacting with humans as long as you stay still and allow him to approach at his own pace. He is always up for eating some treats out of your hand, but does not appreciate attempts to touch him. Desperado can be quite vocal, especially when complaining about something. Usually his complaints are directed at those pesky fences separating him from complete freedom, though he is allowed to go exploring outside the pasture every now and then. He is a bright and happy presence to be around.

resident alpaca, Desperado (freshly shorn)
resident alpaca, Desperado (freshly shorn)
click to enlarge

Desperado
Desperado
(photo courtesy of the Fear-No-More website)
click to enlarge



The Natural Beauty of the European Danda


the European Danda
click to enlarge

August 2011 Retreat at the European Danda
click to enlarge


the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

the European Danda
click to enlarge

Da Peace Site
the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

Da Peace Site
the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

Da Peace Site
the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

Da Peace Site
the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

Da Peace Site
the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

Da Peace Site
the Da Peace Site
click to enlarge

For more about the European Danda, click here.


RETURN TO "EMPOWERED PLACES AND THINGS"



Join Follow GooglePlus Follow Print Email Bookmark Comment
Share
186,104 people have liked our site's pages and shared them with their Facebook friends - Most Shared Pages
Fantastic love seeing The Danda thanks!
Wonderful pics of the Zoo!
This is where I am so blessed to be able to go on retreat from time to time. It is potent with the spiritual energy of the Divine Realizer Adept Adi Da Samraj. I recommend everyone to read about it and if you are able at all to go there. I have been to many spiritual centers during my 30 year long search for spiritual authenticity and here is where my European search for such a center ends. . .
And the best news is you can all come and visit for a free weekend retreat.
Wonderful page with photographs of Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da Samraj that I've never seen before. Jai Adi Da!
Quotations from and/or photographs of Avatar Adi Da Samraj used by permission of the copyright owner:
© 2024 Copyrighted materials used with the permission of The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as trustee for The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam. All rights reserved. None of these materials may be disseminated or otherwise used for any non-personal purpose without the prior agreement of the copyright owner. ADIDAM is a trademark of The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as Trustee for the Avataric Samrajya of Adidam.

Technical problems with our site? Let our webmaster know.
 
Loading...