Nina Fan

Resident

Born in Germany and raised by Chinese parents, I grew up with the strong belief that life was all about achievement and getting somewhere. During my studies in electrical engineering, depression made me face a lot of existential questions, which was the start of an exciting journey to come.

With the help of psychotherapy and self improvement techniques I turned my life around, yet I was still seeking for happiness outside of myself.Eventually, after graduating, I took a leap of faith and decided to follow my interest in spirituality and explore life beyond the conventional 9-5.

I got exactly what I wanted right at the first stop in Portugal in 2021. It was the Awakened Life Project, a beautiful ashram situated in the mountains of Central Portugal. I gave myself as a volunteer for six months, participated in retreats and finally joined the sangha led by my dear teachers Cynthia & Pete. Seeing „my“ life being transformed completely, I no longer knew who I was anymore. At the same time I got in touch with a deep peace and happiness that I understood to be my inherent nature.

Through the project I met Jutta and Liva in Avidanja, where I not only fell in love with their loving warmth and joyful ease of being, but also with the magical place itself which felt like home.
Some months passed and a small voice told me to move to Avidanja to live in the community a life beyond limitations based on True Relationship and True Intimacy; awakening to Reality that is always already the case and to the Truth of non-separation.

Here, I’m very blessed and grateful to be given the space to BE.

Dancing through life for and as God, serving the community with six other dedicated people (we are growing fast!) who are all committing their lives to Spiritual Freedom.
Seeing through my fears of getting punished, being rejected/wrong/not enough/not safe.
Seeing my patterns of punishing, rejecting and cutting off.
Allowing myself to love, to be loved and supported without judgments and competition.
Being Myself. Discovering what that means in every moment.

Not holding back, finding my voice and allowing myself to explore my passions in visual arts, Qi Gong, doing breathwork, music etc…
Furthermore, in order to sustain myself financially, I work remotely part-time as a project manager in the tech sector where I am given the chance to lead projects and consciously support and interact with other people.

Now, every day is a new adventure and an opportunity to learn what it means to be a liberated human being that is always already in Relationship.
I’m falling more and more in love with the Mystery that moves through all our lives and that is being expressed in infinite, creative ways!