During this finding silence weekend you will connect with your inner stillness. We approach this through meditation, Kum Nye yoga, self-massage, mindfulness, mantra, and silence.
Finding silence
“To understand who we are and what we are doing we must understand the meaning of silence. Within silence there is balance—mind and body become transparent, and we can discover who we really are. When everything becomes simplified by silence, all the tangles of our inner knots and problems gradually dissolve. True silence comes from within. It is not merely the absence of speech: it is pure naturalness—absolutely calm, without fixation, without preparation. Nothing is required except, simply to be.”
Tarthang Tulku – Tibetan Meditation p 122
Finding Silence
In a time of continuous overstimulation, it is not easy to find silence. How do you do that? And can you also experience stillness in your daily life? By not talking ‘just like that’ for a whole weekend, your thoughts will calm down and you will connect with deeper, quiet layers of your awareness. This gives your experience the opportunity to renew itself from within. You discover that the experience of silence is not bound by circumstances. This makes it easier to reconnect with yourself, with others, and with your environment. The healthy vegetarian meals and the meditative atmosphere in our center support this process.
What will we do during the Finding Silence weekend
At the beginning of the weekend, we introduce ourselves; at the end, we conclude together. Otherwise we remain silent throughout the weekend. In our practice sessions, the instructor will speak to give instructions. During the sessions, it is also possible to ask questions. During meals, breaks and at night, there will be no talking. When doing cleanup jobs: only essential speech, if necessary.
For whom?
This weekend Finding silence is open to everyone, with or without experience in meditation and Kum Nye yoga.
A “vacation from social chatter” brings you closer to deeper layers of peace and awareness.
You will find that this doesn’t mean that you no longer communicate: contact with your surroundings and with others becomes more open, clear, and direct.
Program 23-26 January 2026
From Friday January 23rd 16.00 hrs – Sunday January 26th 14.00 hrs
Click here for a detailed schedule.
Day 1 – We start relaxing the body so inner unrest calms down naturally.
Day 2 – Connecting deeper to the body, to the subtle breath and lightening thoughts the senses will open and the heart will start ‘seeing’.
Day 3 – From connection with the heart silence will deepen and give rise to inner confidence.
Costs
The costs for this weekend are € 345 per person in a shared bedroom with two beds and € 445 per person in a private double bedroom by paying a Single Room Supplement. You can stay in our new center in a 2 persons bedroom with private sanitary facilities. The retreat is full-board. Our vegetarian, ecological kitchen staff will prepare home cooked meals.
Language
English
Instructors
Ineke Smits
Ineke Smits was trained as a cultural anthropologist. She worked with and for refugees for almost 30 years, as a facilitator and later as a consultant and trainer for VluchtelingenWerk Nederland. Ineke has been involved with Nyingma Centrum Nederland since 1995 and has lived and worked at the center in Amsterdam since 2011. She is co-dean, teaches Skillful Means and Buddhist Study and Practice, coordinates Buddhism Online and supervises ceremonies. She also likes to play her flutes.
Further Practice
For further practice you are welcome to a rich curriculum of classes and trainings at Nyingma Zentrum Köln or Nyingma Centrum Amsterdam.