Joost

Joost van den Heuvel Rijnders (1975) has been practicing Vipassana (insightmeditation) since 1995. He has attended numerous meditation retreats in the Netherlands and, after completing his degree in History, spent more than three years in Buddhist meditation monasteries in Myanmar and Nepal. He practiced primarily under the guidance of Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Kundala. In Nepal, his teacher was the German monk Sayadaw U Vivekananda. All of these teachers belong to the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. Today, Sayadaw U Tejaniya is an important source of inspiration for his practice.

Since 2005, Joost has been leading meditation retreats in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Ukraine. He is the author of several books on Buddhist wisdom, mindfulness, and compassion. At the Dutch Ministry of Defence, he collaborates with Buddhist chaplains, facilitating study days and silent retreats, among other activities. As a speaker, Joost is regularly invited by a wide range of organizations to contribute on topics such as mental well-being, resilience, and meaning in life.

In 2019, he co-founded 30NOW, an online meditation platform that offers daily live meditation sessions as well as courses and in-depth practice programs. He is also a senior trainer at the Mindfulness Academy in Amsterdam, where he teaches the Mindful Self-Compassion program. At the University of Twente, he teaches courses on personal development and reflective practice within the Department of Psychology.

After seventeen years as a history teacher in secondary education, Joost left teaching in 2023 to devote himself full-time to making meditation practice more accessible to a broad audience.

Although deeply rooted in the Buddhist contemplative tradition, Joost is known for his grounded, practical, and contemporary approach. His teaching style is down-to-earth, accessible, and infused with humor and perspective. He has a unique ability to connect timeless Buddhist wisdom with the challenges of modern life. Participants in his talks, retreats, and training programs appreciate his warmth, openness, and gentle guidance, making meditation approachable, relevant, and practical for people from all walks of life.

If you would like to arrange a talk, retreat, or training, or simply get in touch, feel free to contact Joost without obligation at joost@30NOW.nl.