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Experience yourself directly
3-day or 7-day retreats
What is an awareness intensive?
An awareness intensive is a highly structured combination of communication structures, active meditations and silent activities. The aim of the process is to lead the participant, via the use of a question or koan, into directly experiencing himself in the present moment.
In an Awareness Intensive we work with koans such as: 'Who am I?', 'What am I?' or the modern 'Who is in?'.
Koans are riddle-like questions used in the Zen tradition to provoke you to find the truth within yourself. A koan cannot be answered through logic; when your mind is exhausted with trying to figure it out, you are available to experience the existential truth of the answer.
What is direct experiencing?
When the sense of 'I' or 'me' is not there, when 'you' have disappeared, when subject and object have merged into one, when the sense of separation has disappeared –- then there is only direct experiencing, also known as direct knowing.
The Communication Technique
The main element in an awareness intensive is a communication technique; a structured 40-minute communication exercise where participants work in pairs, one communicating, one listening; changing roles every 5 minutes.
The repeated use of a single-pointed koan leads participants, by cutting through their non-essential layers, into directly experiencing their true nature, who or what they are in the moment.
Simple and straightforward, yet often challenging in practice, this unique communication aspect of the awareness intensive is often a mental, physical and emotional challenge for the participants. Yet, it enables a true contact with oneself.
The technique itself will be explained in detail on the first evening of the intensive.
The Schedule
The schedule of an awareness intensive provides a supportive framework within which participants are able to put all other concerns aside and focus intensely on their quest. The days start early and finish late. Each day there are up to a dozen communication exercises; these are interwoven with other meditative activities such as active meditation, silent walks, working meditation, eating and resting meditation. In this way, the day becomes a 24-hour meditation.
How does the process work?
This 'Zen style' structured process supports the participant on different levels:
• Removing all peripheral distractions allows participants to dedicate their full attention and energy towards their inner search.
• Participants opens to themselves as well as to others
• Understanding from experience and insight rather than from a thinking process.
• Dropping identifications and beliefs, the participant experiences that he is not what he thinks or believes he is. Dis-identification happens.
• One experiences oneself directly.
The core component of this process is trust. Trust in oneself, trust in the process and trust that by opening oneself to oneself as well as to another, one can have a direct experience of one's true nature.
Who can benefit from this retreat?
Awareness intensives are suitable for anyone with a sincere interest in experiencing himself. Generally the participant gains awareness about himself, about who he is, what he is, and how he relates with himself as well as with the world around him. His life starts changing on its own – not as a result of arbitrary decisions – and becomes more flowing and relaxed.
What is needed to participate in an awareness intensive?
A willingness to follow the proposed technique and the schedule and to commit oneself to the search for truth during this process – that's all that is required.
3-day or 7-day retreats
An awareness intensive is a highly structured combination of communication structures, active meditations and silent activities. The aim of the process is to lead the participant, via the use of a question or koan, into directly experiencing himself in the present moment.
In an Awareness Intensive we work with koans such as: 'Who am I?', 'What am I?' or the modern 'Who is in?'.
Koans are riddle-like questions used in the Zen tradition to provoke you to find the truth within yourself. A koan cannot be answered through logic; when your mind is exhausted with trying to figure it out, you are available to experience the existential truth of the answer.
What is direct experiencing?
When the sense of 'I' or 'me' is not there, when 'you' have disappeared, when subject and object have merged into one, when the sense of separation has disappeared –- then there is only direct experiencing, also known as direct knowing.
The Communication Technique
The main element in an awareness intensive is a communication technique; a structured 40-minute communication exercise where participants work in pairs, one communicating, one listening; changing roles every 5 minutes.
The repeated use of a single-pointed koan leads participants, by cutting through their non-essential layers, into directly experiencing their true nature, who or what they are in the moment.
Simple and straightforward, yet often challenging in practice, this unique communication aspect of the awareness intensive is often a mental, physical and emotional challenge for the participants. Yet, it enables a true contact with oneself.
The technique itself will be explained in detail on the first evening of the intensive.
The Schedule
The schedule of an awareness intensive provides a supportive framework within which participants are able to put all other concerns aside and focus intensely on their quest. The days start early and finish late. Each day there are up to a dozen communication exercises; these are interwoven with other meditative activities such as active meditation, silent walks, working meditation, eating and resting meditation. In this way, the day becomes a 24-hour meditation.
How does the process work?
This 'Zen style' structured process supports the participant on different levels:
• Removing all peripheral distractions allows participants to dedicate their full attention and energy towards their inner search.
• Participants opens to themselves as well as to others
• Understanding from experience and insight rather than from a thinking process.
• Dropping identifications and beliefs, the participant experiences that he is not what he thinks or believes he is. Dis-identification happens.
• One experiences oneself directly.
The core component of this process is trust. Trust in oneself, trust in the process and trust that by opening oneself to oneself as well as to another, one can have a direct experience of one's true nature.
Who can benefit from this retreat?
Awareness intensives are suitable for anyone with a sincere interest in experiencing himself. Generally the participant gains awareness about himself, about who he is, what he is, and how he relates with himself as well as with the world around him. His life starts changing on its own – not as a result of arbitrary decisions – and becomes more flowing and relaxed.
What is needed to participate in an awareness intensive?
A willingness to follow the proposed technique and the schedule and to commit oneself to the search for truth during this process – that's all that is required.