One day retreat with meditation and yoga

If there is no expectation and nothing is expected from you? How does that feel? Can you rest at that moment completely? During a day in silence, we practice being here in every moment with silence, meditation and concentration.

” Close the door of words, that the window of your heart may open, To see what cannot be seen, turn your eyes inward and listen, in silence” Rumi

We make use of different attention techniques to become aware of what is happening within right now. Mostly we use a technique called Self Inquiry. Besides that, we may use other concentration techniques from hatha yoga, pranayama, Dharana and Tibetan Buddhism.

I learned meditation in a very busy place in India, you might say it is not the best place to learn meditation or to practice meditation. But I’m very grateful for it as it was for me the perfect place to discover the silence within. We have very little influence on our surroundings. Our surrounding does not need to be silent for us to meditate.

To put our attention within we can become aware of our silence between our thoughts. In this way, we sink deeper and deeper within our self. Remembering who we are and giving our self the attention we need for reflection.  On where we are right now in this moment.   

Example of our day program

From 9.15 hour welcome

10.00 – 10.30 Welcome, explanation, questions

10.30 – 11.30 Guided Self inquiry and practice (cushion on the floor or on a chair)

11.30 -11.45 Answering questions

11.45 – 12.45 light yoga, pranayama and concentration exercises

12.45 – 13.15 Lunch/ potluck  eating with attention (eating meditation)

13.15 – 14.00 Rest, space to walk, or write

14.00 – 14.45 Self-inquiry meditation (guided)

14.45 – 15.15 Tea break

15.15 – 16.00 Self-inquiry meditation (guided)

16.00 – 16.45 Sharing, breaking of the silence.

16.45 Going home

During this day we are as much as possible in silence. This is also called Mauna.

• Do not use your smartphone (flight mode), a book or e-reader.
• No talking
• No gestures towards each other no gestures towards each other
•  You can write in your diary if you wish