Retreat Courses and Schedules
We offer three courses in English language – Course 1 and Course 2 and a 3-day weekend course from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. The topics covered during Course 1 and Course 2 are basically the same but as there are many levels of explanations to the Buddha’s teaching, the understanding of Buddhism will deepen when presented by a different speaker from a different point of view. The explanation given during both courses are based on Tan Ajahn Buddhadasa’s interpretation of Buddhism, said to be close to the Buddha’s original teachings.
The 3-day retreat links modern notions of psychology to Buddhism. Subjects such as homeostatic balance, feelings, emotions, narrative network and mind modular approach are central to the retreat. These topics will be addressed from a Buddhist point of view.
This weekend course helps to integrate meditation practice in everyday life; it aims at diminishing the distinction between formal meditation and everyday life. The level of meditation is irrelevant to this 3-day course. It targets beginners as well as advanced meditators. It is not meant to be a refresher of Course 1 and 2, but could be an interesting preparation to Course 1.
During Course 1 and the 3-day course the meditation sessions last 30min for each sitting and walking meditation. These times are extended to 45min each in Course 2, allowing able participants to experience deeper levels of peacefulness of mind.
The meditation techniques presented in both courses are the same but again a different teacher may put emphasis on other details.
During the 3-day retreat participants will briefly practice concentration meditation in order to have a more open awareness type of meditation which is similar to a Vipassana approach.
If you are in doubt whether to choose Course 1 or Course 2:
Course 1 is designed for beginners. If you want to enroll in Course 2, you preferably have some previous meditation retreat experience already. If you cannot sit in any meditative posture for at least 30 minutes without having to change the posture, you should choose Course 1.
Please be sure to study the schedules below to understand what you are agreeing to before deciding to take part in the retreat.
The 3-day retreat links modern notions of psychology to Buddhism. Subjects such as homeostatic balance, feelings, emotions, narrative network and mind modular approach are central to the retreat. These topics will be addressed from a Buddhist point of view.
This weekend course helps to integrate meditation practice in everyday life; it aims at diminishing the distinction between formal meditation and everyday life. The level of meditation is irrelevant to this 3-day course. It targets beginners as well as advanced meditators. It is not meant to be a refresher of Course 1 and 2, but could be an interesting preparation to Course 1.
During Course 1 and the 3-day course the meditation sessions last 30min for each sitting and walking meditation. These times are extended to 45min each in Course 2, allowing able participants to experience deeper levels of peacefulness of mind.
The meditation techniques presented in both courses are the same but again a different teacher may put emphasis on other details.
During the 3-day retreat participants will briefly practice concentration meditation in order to have a more open awareness type of meditation which is similar to a Vipassana approach.
If you are in doubt whether to choose Course 1 or Course 2:
Course 1 is designed for beginners. If you want to enroll in Course 2, you preferably have some previous meditation retreat experience already. If you cannot sit in any meditative posture for at least 30 minutes without having to change the posture, you should choose Course 1.
Please be sure to study the schedules below to understand what you are agreeing to before deciding to take part in the retreat.
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DAILY SCHEDULE - Course 1 & 3-day course
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DAILY SCHEDULE - Course 2
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We ask that you follow the schedule fully. All scheduled activities are compulsory, i.e., you must attend them. We try best to stick to the same daily schedule throughout the retreat so it is easy for you to know where to go and what to do every day. Any changes will be announced and posted during the retreat. By participating in all the activities, you and the other participants build an atmosphere of mutual support.
The schedule is not easy for most people, but it is not too difficult either. Feedback from many retreats is what we based this schedules on – it works best for what we hope to do here. Sometimes you might feel like skipping a talk of a meditation session. Please do not! A little laziness can grow rapidly. Worse, to turn off the mind or escape from the practice is counter-productive for this period. If you become ill, of course, rest is needed. If your difficulty is mental, such as being restless or bored or worried, don't give up. Relax and notice your mind at moments like these - we can learn a great deal from such moments. If your difficulty persists, talk to one of the coordinators who may help you deal with your situation.