Online Meditation & Reflection for Mindful Parenting

Discover calm, connection & confidence – For you and your family

with Ven. Losang Gönpo, online only

Join us for a series of guided meditations and reflections for parents, inspired by the 16 Guidelines for Life from the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) – practical, compassionate meditations to support you in raising more resilient, kind, and self-aware children in a complex world. Based on the perspective that parenting is a practice, not a perfection, by being patient and kind with yourself as you grow alongside your children

In this first module, through short, accessible sessions, you’ll explore the powerful guidelines patience, kindness, forgiveness, and right speech—not just as ideals, but as living tools to bring more calm and connection into your home.

Why it might help you

Parenting can feel overwhelming, reactive, and lonely at times. These sessions help you reconnect with your own values and inner resources, to support you to parent with more a bit more clarity, calm, and confidence—even in the messiest moments. You'll begin to respond rather than react, become more emotional resilient yourself, and start to create a more peaceful environment for your family.

Whether you're navigating toddler tantrums, teenage storms, or simply seeking more grounded parenting, this series offers a safe space to pause, reflect, and grow—with a community of like-minded parents guided by the Australian Buddhist monk, former high school teacher and parent of two adult children Ven. Gönpo.

Set-up

The series is divided in 4 modules with each 4 meditations. You will receive guidance to reflect and practice during the week in your daily family life. No prior meditation experience needed. Just curiosity, and a willingness to show up for yourself and your family.

Who is your meditation guide?

Ven. Gönpo is an Australian Buddhist monk who first discovered Buddhism as a child through martial arts movies and TV shows. This was the inspiration for the childhood dream of becoming a wandering kung fu monk. It was a few decades before part of that dream could be realized with many other life adventures distracting him from the spiritual path in his teens and twenties.  

It wasn't until he was in his thirties that Ven. Gönpo began to really understand the power of Buddhist teachings when he used them to navigate the emotional roller-coaster of life's many experiences such as a marriage break down and raising children alone. Fortunately, due the kindness of his teachers and great good karma, after his children finished school, Ven. Gönpo was able to fulfil the long-held dream of becoming a monk, albeit without the kung fu. Ending a 20-year career as a high school teacher of languages, he became a wandering monk spending time studying and meditating in Europe, India and Nepal before returning to his hometown, Brisbane, to take up the role of Spiritual Care Practitioner at Karuna Hospice Services, giving care and support to people with life limiting illnesses and their families.

In his time as a schoolteacher, it was the feedback from students around mindfulness practices and life lessons that had the biggest impact on Ven. Gönpo, motivating him to become a 16 Guidelines for a Happy Life facilitator. In his sessions, Ven. Gönpo encourages discussion and deep engagement in the topics, challenging participants to examine their own ways of thinking. Through understanding how we are now, we are better equipped to develop the habits that will bring us closer to how we want to be, interacting with our own minds and the people around us in ways that will make us and the communities we live in, happier and healthier.

Practical information

• Dates: Every 2 weeks on Sunday morning - Oct 5, 19, Nov 2 & Nov 16. 
• Timing: 10.00 – 11.00 am
• Location: online only via Zoom
• Language: English 
• Reflection materials and recordings: you will be given reflection questions and guidance to reflect for yourself and also with your family and a link to the audio recordings of the meditations.
• Last-minute registration: Please also send an email to amsterdam@maitreya.nl, to ensure we can send you the necessary Zoomlink in time to join the class.

Donation

Dāna (generosity) is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we uphold our Dharma center & program, which is managed entirely by volunteers. The suggested donation for the 4 meditations €25. For students and people with low income, the suggested donation is €15. Please send us an email (amsterdam@maitreya.nl) if you'd like to make use of this option. Keep in mind that the donation amount should never be an obstacle to your access to the Dharma. Please contact us if it might be an obstacle for you.