Daily Wisdom

Pendulum between life and meditation

Online 5-day city retreat with Joost van den Heuvel Rijnders

Sunday January 5 to Thursday January 9, 2025

Start the year 2025 mindfully and deepen your meditation practice by commuting for five days between daily life and joint meditation sessions with the 30NOW sangha.

We start with an afternoon session on Sunday, followed by an evening session every day from 19.30:21.30 to 07.30:08.00 pm. In addition, there is a silent meditation every morning from XNUMX:XNUMX to XNUMX:XNUMX am for those who want and can. In this online retreat the emphasis is on daily life and integrating mindfulness, wisdom and compassion into all aspects of our existence.

We practice pausing, standing still, and opening ourselves to the experience and awareness of the here and now. It sounds simple, but how often do we actually do this at home or at work? How do you slow down the pace of the day and create moments of calm? In the midst of our daily activities and the many roles we fulfill, wisdom and compassion can fade into the background. The Buddha’s teachings remind us to make conscious choices, to be gentle with ourselves and others, and to practice playfully and creatively with reflections and meditations that promote our well-being.

In this retreat you will learn:

About the many functions and aspects of mindfulness, and how you can apply it in a playful and creative way in all aspects of your life.
The practical application of Buddhist reflections and meditations on kindness, integrity, generosity, and the concept of no-self.
Taking new steps on the path of liberating insight and awakening.
To learn from your own experiences and those of others within the field in an open and investigative manner 30NOW sangha.

What we want:
moments
Of clarity
Or better yet: of great
Clarity

Those moments are rare
And also well hidden
So searching has
Hardly any sense, but
We do find it

The trick is to live like this
That it happens to you

That clarity, every now and then

– Martin Bril –

An online meditation retreat is a virtual version of a city retreat. Participants join from their own location via Zoom. Unlike retreats on location, there is no full daily schedule, so that everyone can fill these days in a way that suits their own possibilities. This retreat offers the flexibility to commute between daily life (work, family, activities) and meditation. Every day from 19.30:21.30 to XNUMX:XNUMX we meet online with the other participants. We can see and support each other via Zoom Meetings.

For those who want and can, there is a silent online morning meditation from 07.30:08.00 to XNUMX:XNUMX. The goal of this retreat is to create a deep meditation practice and space for reflection in the place where you live.

This retreat consists of:

Live Afternoon Session on Sunday afternoon (14.00:16.30 PM – XNUMX:XNUMX PM)
Live Morning Sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (07.30 – 08.00)
Optional: For those who want and can
Live Evening Sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (19.30:21.30 PM – XNUMX:XNUMX PM) – consisting of:
- Meditation
- Introductions and reflections on the themes
- Exchange of experiences
Exercise suggestions for everyday life
Practicing and exchanging together with the 30NOW Sangha

No part of this city retreat is mandatory: You are free to adjust the pace of your practice to suit your own time and needs.

The retreat is suitable for anyone with some meditation experience, regardless of meditation style and tradition. Although there will be meditation together and moments of exchange, the guide will not be able to provide you with the individual psychological care that you may need during the retreat.

For these reasons, we use the following guidelines for participation:

You are familiar with meditation and mindfulness and practice regularly.
You are currently not suffering from severely disruptive traumatic or psychiatric conditions such as severe anxiety or depression.
If you have any doubts about your participation, you can contact us yourself Joost.

The costs for organizing the retreat are 45 euros. The guidance is based on dana (generosity). You can give what you want and what makes you happy. The practice of dana is part of this retreat and is explained during the first live session.

Joost van den Heuvel Rijnders

Joost van den Heuvel Rijnders (1975) started practicing vipassana meditation in 1995. From the moment he met until now, Joost experiences meditation as a form of coming home. The silence, introspection, friendly and mild attitude, the experience of inner space are valuable aspects. In the Netherlands he did many retreats under the guidance of various teachers. After his studies he left for Asia and meditated intensively for three years in Burma and Nepal.
Joost is a teacher of Buddhist philosophy of life and vipassana at the Dhamma deepening course and various mindfulness training institutes.

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The program

This online retreat has many similarities with a 'City Retreat', in which you take time for introspection, meditation and rest in the midst of the hustle and bustle of daily life. We start together on Sunday afternoon and then meet online with the other participants every day from 19.30:21.30 PM to XNUMX:XNUMX PM. We can see and support each other via Zoom Meetings. The sessions consist of meditations, an introduction to the theme, exchange and sharing of experiences. In addition, you will receive a daily practice suggestion to get started with in daily life.

For those who want and can, there is a silent online morning meditation in the morning from 07.30:08.00 to XNUMX:XNUMX. Unlike retreats on location, there is no full day schedule: everyone can fill these days in a way that suits their own possibilities. This retreat offers the opportunity to commute between daily life (work, family, activities) and meditation. To support your practice in daily life, you can receive a daily reminder via SMS. This actively invites you to pause for a moment and tune in to the theme of the day.

Sunday afternoon
- Opening from 14.00pm to 16.30pm
Subject: The many facets and functions of mindfulness. We explore the many faces of mindfulness and investigate which conditions in our lives support the practice.
Monday - morning & evening
- Silent Meditation from 07.30:08.00 am to XNUMX:XNUMX am
- Evening session from 19.30:21.30 PM to XNUMX:XNUMX PM
Subject: Conscious consumption. What do I give my attention and time to? And by whom and what do I let myself be nourished? We reflect on the echo of our behavior and actions and practice with non-harm and restraint as important principles.
Tuesday - morning & evening
- Silent Meditation from 07.30:08.00 am to XNUMX:XNUMX am
- Evening session from 19.30:21.30 PM to XNUMX:XNUMX PM
Subject: Soft and powerful compassionIn addition to the soft side of gentleness, we explore the powerful and courageous side of self-care in our daily lives (being allowed to say no, setting loving boundaries, standing up for ourselves).
Wednesday - morning & evening
- Silent Meditation from 07.30:08.00 am to XNUMX:XNUMX am
- Evening session from 19.30:21.30 PM to XNUMX:XNUMX PM
Subject: Speaking & listening skillfullyWe reflect on the Buddha's practical advice on speaking skillfully and consider the greatest gift we can give to our fellow human beings: a listening ear and an open heart while listening.
Thursday - morning & evening
- Silent Meditation from 07.30:08.00 am to XNUMX:XNUMX am
- Evening session from 19.30:21.30 PM to XNUMX:XNUMX PM
Subject: Not having to be anyone. We reflect on the many roles we play (family, work, society) and which roles can be challenging, but also energizing and meaningful. We also explore the existential question: what is it like to be no one?

No part of this city retreat is mandatory: You are free to adjust the pace of your practice to suit your own time and needs.

We don't meditate to become good at meditation,
but to become good at life.

The parts

Start retreat

Sunday afternoon from 14.00:16.30 PM to XNUMX:XNUMX PM

The retreat begins with an in-depth exploration of mindfulness and its many facets. Under the guidance of Joost, we delve into the different forms and functions of mindfulness, and explore how we can shape our own living conditions in such a way that they support the practice of mindfulness. This lays the foundation for a valuable and meaningful retreat.
Daily Silent Meditation
Every morning from 07.30:08.00 to XNUMX:XNUMX am

Start your day with a moment of peace and quiet. The morning sessions offer the space to meditate in silence and quiet your mind. This helps to create a foundation of inner peace, with which you can approach the rest of the day with more awareness and calm.
Evening Themes: Deeper Exploration of Daily Wisdom

Each evening we delve into a specific theme that is directly related to our daily lives and interactions:

Conscious consumption

Explore how you spend your attention and time. Reflect on your consumption behavior and discover how the principles of non-harm and restraint can strengthen your inner balance.

Soft and powerful compassion

Discover the balance between gentleness and strength. Learn to set boundaries, stand up for yourself, and practice self-care without guilt.

Speaking & listening skillfully

Learn the art of skillful speaking and listening presence. This session offers tools for empathic listening and conscious speaking to deepen your relationships.
Closing Evening: Letting Go of Role and Identity
Thursday evening from 19.30:21.30 PM to XNUMX:XNUMX PM

In this closing session we reflect on the many roles we play in life and the expectations that come with them. We explore what it means to be free from labels and roles and to simply 'be'. This session offers the opportunity to connect with your true self on a deeper level and experience inner freedom.

Join this retreat and be inspired by daily wisdom that will help you live a more conscious, kind and peaceful life.

Guidance based on Dana

Registration

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Registration is possible until Saturday, January 4, 2025.
The costs for organizing the retreat are 45 euros. The guidance is based on dana (generosity).
After payment you will have immediate access to the home page of this retreat.
Live sessions are not recorded.
We ask for your phone number to send you a daily SMS reminder during this online retreat. This SMS reminder invites you to pause for a moment and tune in to the theme of the day.