Dharmagarage
Utrecht & Digital Open Dharma
Welcome to the Dharmagarage – a home for practicing meditation together in an open and collaborative way.
We are an international, online community, exploring a wide range of practices and since we started in 2019 our own flavour of Dharma has emerged; combining deep embodiment, rich imagination, radical inclusivity of all experience, joyful darkness and profound connection.
We’ve become a place for shared learning, inspiration and friendship and we maintain a focus on exploring the mysteries of life and practicing for the benefit of all beings.
The Dharmagarage was started in Utrecht, the Netherlands, by Joost Vervoort. All artwork on the website was also created by Joost.
Daily Sits & Guidance
There are daily sits every weekday at 8am CET on Zoom, followed by a short group conversation.
Every Monday and Friday Joost guides a meditation; opening up an aspect of the depths of experience in a fun and explorative way.
The weekday sits are an excellent opportunity for building a habit or routine of practice and for exploring new aspects of being.
Shared Imaginal Practice Sundays
Shared Imaginal Practice is a brand new interpersonal practice that is based in embodied imagination. It was created by Rosa Lewis and pioneered in the Dharmagarage.
We run sessions some Sundays on Zoom.
The practice has the power to be deeply transformational and can change how you relate to emotions, concepts and experience itself. It’s also a lot of fun. You can read more about in on Rosa’s website >
Beginners are welcome and the practice is non-hierarchical, so everyone gets a chance to experience, guide and witness the practice.
The Story
Joost and Rosa recorded a conversation in February 2021, capturing the story and inspiration behind the Dharmagarage and talking about some of the explorations that were going on around that time.
It’s a really nice way to get a sense of the vibe of the Dharmagarage.
We also record a regular podcast, Nouveau Shamanic Cinema, where we watch movies that play with the concept of reality and use this as a platform to explore themes such as imaginal practice, dharma and love. Find out more here >
Inspiration
The unique flavour of Dharmagarage dharma has been inspired by a wide range of sources, not limited to traditional meditation techniques.
From video games to heavy metal to cult movies, the Dharmagarage is a cultural melting pot of inspiration.
Within spirituality, it has been influenced by the wave of Pragmatic Dharma, in particular Daniel Ingram, Michael Taft, Kenneth Folk and Vince Horn; the Chan Buddhist teachings of Ton Lathouwers; and the emptiness and soul-making teachings of Rob Burbea.
Joost’s personal journey has been deeply influenced by his teachers Jeff Shore and Rosa Lewis, who also teaches as part of the Dharmagarage.
The Dharmagarage is a part of The Journey That Opens the World – a project that is exploring the potential of the imaginal realm and how it can be propagated for the benefit of all beings.
Join the Dharmagarage
The Dharmagarage group is in WhatsApp. It’s a group of over 50 practitioners, with an ebb and flow of people who join the online sits regularly and those who just hang out watching the chat.
If you would like to join, message Joost with a short intro saying where you heard about the Dharmagarage and with your WhatsApp phone number.
Email: dharmagarage.utrecht@gmail.com
Send a message on: Twitter