You may often feel that all there is to your mind is the incessant stream of thoughts, emotions, sense perceptions, inner chatting, images, hopes, fears, despair, worry, anger, feeling overwhelmed and so on.  One mental event after the other and it never seems to stop or quiet down. Yet, behind this wildness and turbulence is awareness itself: this totally pure, and pristine quality of knowing. In this meditation retreat, you will be guided to pause, be with yourself, look at your mind, and notice what you already have.

Through this, you can go beyond the ordinary experience of continuously arising mental events and get in touch with the background, with the ground from which all experiences arise. You can get a glimpse of the clarity of natural awareness itself. This awareness is by nature clear, pure, pristine, calm, vivid, genuine, open, vast, timeless and utterly peaceful. Natural awareness is with you all the time, you only have to get in touch with it and recognise it.

“All that we are looking for in life – all the happiness, contentment, and peace of mind — is right here in the present moment. Our very own awareness is itself fundamentally pure and good. The only problem is that we get so caught up in the ups and downs of life that we don’t take the time to pause and notice what we already have.” – Mingyur Rinpoche-

Benefits of practicing in retreat

We seem to live in a busy and speedy world where there is so much to do and so much that comes towards us. It can be very beneficial to take time out from one’s daily routine, to step back from one’s day to day responsibilities and work with one’s mind. A great benefit of practicing in retreat is that there are no distractions so you can really be with yourself. Simplifying your days gives clarity to the mind. You can just focus on your inner landscape, on just this one breath, on just this one step.

Practicing together with others also provides tremendous inspiration and support. Your retreat becomes truly meaningful when you can apply the insights you have gained into your daily life:  hen your buttons are being pushed, when things get busy or when you feel stuck. Engaging in retreat is a gift for yourself and a gift for the world.

What does this retreat include:

We will practice during several guided sessions of sitting practice, walking meditation, gentle movement, and spending time in nature. The retreat is in full silence but instructions will be given. The soundtrack of the retreat is ease, awareness and simplicity. Mana centre provides the most amazing and conducive conditions for this event with its breathtaking views, peaceful environment, beautiful grounds & paths, supportive staff, spacious Octagon and wondrous Sanctuary. This retreat is suitable for anyone new to meditation and for those familiar with meditation that want to deepen and enrich their practice.

“There is a resting place, a starting place that you can always return to.
You can always bring your mind back home and rest there, right now, in present unbiased awareness” -Pema Chödrön- 

Introducing

The Teaching Team

Hedwig Bakker
Hedwig has been practicing meditation since 2000 and has completed many individual and group retreats. She has been leading meditation classes, courses and retreats since 2004 in India, Nepal, the Netherlands and New Zealand. These many years of personal practice and leading retreats & courses have resulted in a richness of experience and genuine joy in sharing, guiding and leading others in meditation practice. Hedwig’s courses & classes are universal and suitable for people from all walks of life, with or without any spiritual inclination. Her approach is joyful, gentle, practical, down to earth and yet with a sense of lightness and humour.