Ruud Baanders
Zen teacher
Reiki Master/Teacher
Internationally Certified NVC trainer
Certified Coach
In 2009 I decided to leave my corporate job in The Netherlands, with a long experience in coaching, mentoring, personal and leadership development, to move to the UK and to start my Oxford Compassion Practice.
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) came on my path in 2006 when I met Marshall Rosenberg, developer of the NVC process. Since 2006, I have trained with many NVC trainers internationally and in 2011 I became a Certified NVC trainer with the Centre for Nonviolent Communication.
I lead NVC practice groups and NVC workshops internationally, both public workshops and in organisations. Since 2015 I have been running workshops for Buddhist groups in which I bring together my experience with NVC and Zen, deeping the spiritual journey.
In 2014, after having worked with Reiki for more than 20 years, I completed my Reiki training in with the Reiki Master/Teacher-level training with Cory Croyman at the Asian Healing Arts Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I have a Reiki practice and run Reiki courses in Oxford.
In 2015, after 25 year of Ch’an (Chinese Zen) practice, I have been authorised by Ton Lathouwers, Dharma Successor of Jinarakkhita Ashin (Teh Ching), as zen teacher in the Maha Karuna Ch’an Sangha.
Other spiritual teachers on my path have been Thich Nhat Hanh, Ama Sami, Amma and-Bernie Glassman 2012 and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Art of Living) in 2008.
In 2018, I was introduced into Internal Family Systems (IFS) in an 8-day retreat with its founder Richard Schwartz and since than I continue to feel deeply inspired by his work.
In 20219 I attended a one-year training online with Richard Schwartz, Tony Herbine-Blank and Pam Krause.
In 2020, I completed the intensive Level 1 IFS training with Paul Ginter and Einat Bronstein.
In 2021/22, I completed IFS deepening trainings with:
- Einat Bronstein - Legacy Burdens
- Susan Mcconnell - Somatic IFS
- Jeanne Catanzaro - Using IFS to Heal Parts Who Focus on Food and the Body
- Richard Schwartz - IFS as a spiritual path
- Richard Schwartz - Trauma and the Internal Family Systems Model: Releasing Personal and Legacy Burdens
- Cece Sykes - Level 2, Substance Use and Eating Disorders, A Compassionate Approach to Addictive Processes
IFS represents a new synthesis of two already-existing paradigms: systems thinking and the multiplicity of the mind. It is my experience in studying and working with IFS over the last year with clietns in workshops, that it is very complementary to NVC and supports me also in working with NVC form a spiritual place. The beginning of a new journey!
I live in Oxford (UK) with Bridget Belgrave, my wife and associate.
Mahakaruna provides NVC based workshops, coaching, facilitation and mediation in open workshops and one-to-one sessions. We also provide customised trainings to groups, teams, communities, partnerships, organisations/companies (profit and not-for profit), NGO's.
MahaKaruna stands for Great Compassion, a leading force that has been central in my life for over many, many years. Through my MahaKaruna organization I support others in developing satisfying relationships with themselves, at home and at work, and in developing a society that is based on compassion and honesty and that contributes to the wellbeing of every living being.
The world I want to live in is world in which there is no intention in human beings to create suffering, neither at a physical, nor at an emotional, nor at a mental level. A world in which we can live in a sustainable way at all these three levels with respect for current generations and the many generations still to come. A world in which all life is respected and in which the full humanness of every individual is present in all aspects of life. I have a deeply believe that the Nonviolent Communication process can play a big role in creating this world.