Western pupils of Ramana Maharshi († 1950), Nisargadatta Maharaj († 1981) and other advaita teachers now teach the advaita-approach. Also in The Netherlands the interest in it is growing. The big number of subscribers of the magazines InZicht and the Advaita Post, as well as the many participants to the gatherings organized by the Advaita Centre testify this development. An explanation could be found in the growing fascination for questions about life and religion, but especially in the inspiring idea of advaita itself, in which the present-day relativism is honoured, while a positive experience of openness and oneness remains central.
At the Faculty of Philosophy (Faculteit der Wijsbegeerte) of the Erasmus University Rotterdam dr. Douwe Tiemersma gave an introductory course on Non-Western Philosophy, later on called Intercultural Philosophy, with much attention to Indian Philosophy. Besides that, he included a lot of Indian philosophy at the higher levels. Further, he was active in organizing several 'Advaita-symposia' at the Faculty in the field of Indian and comparative philosophy. This situation has been changed in the summer of 2004. After a reorganization, Douwe Tiemersma has no longer an official task at the EUR. The Advaita Study is gradually moved to the Centre of Advaita Studies as part of the Advaita Centre in Gouda.
After his visits to Nisargadatta Maharaj in 1980 en 1981 Douwe Tiemersma started in Gouda several activities in the field of advaita. These developed in such a way, that a group of sympathisers have established a foundation to organize these activities (Stichting Openheid). In this framework there are evenings with talks, day, weekend and summer retreats and individual coaching. Possibilities of advaita study are offered and there are beginner and advanced courses in hathayoga, pranayama and meditation.
The mentioned developments in Rotterdam and Gouda lead spontaneously to a Advaita Centre with three departments: Spititual Path, Study, Yoga/meditation. These three cover each their own field of advaita, but in the experience of the people involved these different activities support each other.
All suffering originates from desire. Real love never feels frustrated. How could the feeling of oneness ever be frustrated?
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
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