10-day Silent Meditation Retreat
August 15-25, 2024
Retreat Start Time: Thursday August 15, 2024 (4:00pm)
Retreat End: Sunday August 25, 2024 (12:30pm)
Location: Das Buddhistische Haus Berlin-Frohnau
Course language: English
About the Retreat
Vipassana means insight into the interrelatedness of mind and matter with the aim to understand the fabric of our own personality. Vipassana meditation is an ancient and a hugely empowering hands-on approach which starts from the idea that we can learn and understand how our mind works by simply watching it. And if we understand how our mind works, we can free ourselves from unwholesome habit patterns including stressing ourselves out and pushing us beyond our limits.
Along this silent retreat we will cultivate mindful awareness in meditation as well as in daily activities.
The emphasis is placed on practicing continuity in awareness in everything we do based on an open and accepting attitude towards us and our experience. The retreat includes guided meditations, periods of non-guided practice, Dharma sharings by the teacher and group discussions.
The retreat is suitable for both new and experienced practitioners.
Course Teacher
Dr. Julia Harfensteller teaches mindfulness and insight meditation in the Vipassana tradition. Her teaching is based on her 20 years of meditation experience, often under the guidance of teachers from the Theravada Buddhist tradition in East and West but also from the Tibetan tradition (among others, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Dhammajiva, Bhante Rahula, Upul Gamage, Sharon Salzberg, Roshi Joan Halifax, Fred van Allmen, Tsoknyi Rinpoche).
During her several months of retreats in Asia, she has visited and got to know centers of various traditions in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. These include centers of S.N. Goenka, but also other centers of the Mahasi tradition (Chanmyay Yeiktha, Sayadaw U Janaka) and Pa Auk, but also with teachers whose names she has long since forgotten. Later she intensively studied the Advaita tradition (Ramana Maharishi, Mahesh Maharishi).
For various reasons, Julia has increasingly moved away from traditional teaching methods of strict meditation discipline (e.g. S.N. Goenka) and found her own approach through the open and everyday approach of S. U Tejaniya.
Julia emphasizes a relaxed awareness with all that is in the here and now. Her style is non-esoteric and undogmatic, humorous and open.
Requirements
- Respecting the Noble Silence during the retreat
- Full registration
Further general conditions of participation can be found here.
Retreat Start and End
Arrival day (Thursday, 15 August 2024):
4:00 – 5:30pm arrival and registration
6:00pm welcome and orientation
7:00pm evening snack
8:00pm introduction and evening meditation
Closing day (Sunday, 25 August 2024):
The retreat finishes with lunch at 12:30pm, followed by tidying up and room cleaning. Departure from 2pm.
Venue, Accommodation and Meals
Venue: Buddhistisches Haus, Edelhofdamm 54, 13465 Berlin, www.das-buddhistische-haus.de
For travel information please click here.
Accommodation on site is possible but not obligatory.
Please note that due to the small accommodation capacity, single rooms cannot be booked. However, private accommodations with single rooms in the neighbourhood are available. On request, we will be happy to give you information on external accommodation options in Frohnau.
Accommodation options:
- Double or triple bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities
- Sleeping in your own tent or camper on site
- External accommodation
Meals:
All participants will be served breakfast, lunch and a light evening meal. All meals are vegetarian. Vegan options are available on the buffet.
The accommodation in the Buddhistisches Haus is organized by the SAGE Institute. Please indicate your accommodation preferences at registration with SAGE. Also, please mention food allergies and special food intolerances (e.g., gluten intolerance).
Costs
The costs include a course fee + teacher donation + donation for accommodation & food.
The course fee is needed for full registration and is paid upon online-registration with SAGE. The donations for the teacher as well as for the accommodation are paid in cash on site. Usually, donations for the house are given at registration on site and donations for the teacher are given at the end of the retreat.
Course fee The course fee covers costs for the course organization, course management and travel expenses of the teacher (20€). | 110€ |
Teacher donation In accordance with the Dana principle of the Buddhist tradition, the teacher receives a voluntary donation after the course. | Recommended donation: 250-230€ |
Donation for accommodation and meals The donation amount for the Buddhist House includes full board and overnight accommodation on site (optional). Please note that the donation recommendation just covers the minimum expenses of the house including food, cook and operating costs. The Buddhist House is financed purely from donations and depends on every donation for maintenance. Any additional donation beyond the recommended package is highly welcome! | Recommended donation: – 10 nights in a room: 300€ – 10 nights in a tent or a camper: 250€ – External accommodation (full board only for 10 days): 200€ |
Discount regulation
No one should have to forgo participation for financial reasons. If you have difficulties to pay for the course fees and / or if your budget is far below the recommended donation for the accommodation, please contact us by email. We will find a solution.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations in the first two working days after registration do not incur any cancellation costs. If your participation is cancelled 3 weeks before the beginning of the course, your course fees will be fully refunded minus a cancellation fee of 20€. In case of cancellation up until 10 days prior to the course, 50% of the course fee will be refunded. In case of cancellation within 10 days before the start of the course, you will be refunded 30% of your paid fees. In case of withdrawal on the last working day before the course starts as well as in case of early departure, the full course fee is due.
If SAGE Institute for Mindfulness and Health has to cancel a seminar for important reasons (e.g. illness of the teacher), all costs will of course be refunded. Further liability and compensation claims are excluded. Travel costs (e.g. flight, bus and train tickets) will not be reimbursed.
Liability
Participation in the courses is at the participant’s own risk. SAGE Institute as well as the course leaders do not accept any liability for personal injuries resulting from course participation, including psychological, mental or physical impairments, as well as damage to property.
Intensive meditation seminars (in silence) are often not suitable for people with severe psychiatric medical histories. If you have any concerns or questions regarding your mental or physical condition, please contact us before registering.
Compliance with COVID-19 Regulations
Participation in our seminars is subject to compliance with the hygiene and protection regulations on Covid-19 of SAGE Institute. By registering, you agree to these regulations.
Registration
To register, please read the conditions of participation and fill in the registration form on our website (klick the link-button below.
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please note that the course fees need to be transferred for a binding registration.
Any questions? Need Help?
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have, including accommodation via phone (+49-30-2637-2067) or email (info[at]sage-institut.de). If you do not find someone by phone, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible.