In recent years, the Inner Mind Institute has built a special partnership with the monks in northern Thailand who teach us everything about meditation and mindfulness. During this retreat you will be immersed in a bath of mindfulness in one of the most special authentic tempels in Thailand. The monastery will leave a deep impression on you. It is therefore an opportunity that does not pass by so often.

FEBRUARY 2024 – Essential Mind Retreat Program
The retreat takes place at the end of January/start of February 2024. We will gather in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 30 January 2024 and travel to the temple together the next day. It is not necessary to travel together to Thailand, so feel free to arrive a few days earlier to enjoy the country.

Information meeting (free of charge)
An information meeting about this retreat is scheduled for Sunday, 11 June 2023 in Oegstgeest, The Netherlands. You can also join the meeting online. To join the information meeting, please fill in the form at the bottom of the page and select that you want to register for the Information Meeting.

Intake interview
There is a possibility that you will be invited for an intake interview. The reason for this is to make sure that you are ready for this retreat. We will schedule the meeting after receiving your registration.

The purpose of the retreat is to intensively practice mindfulness for a longer period. In addition, there is enough room for relaxation and tasty meals.

The retreat will be guided by the founder of the Inner Mind Institute and former Buddhist monk, Master Niels. He has been personally trained since 2010 by Thai Buddhist monks in northern Thailand. Niels was a monk himself for the entire year of 2020 and knows better than anyone what it is like to train at the highest level. He will teach you authentic mindfulness techniques as practiced in Thailand. During the stay in Thailand you will also be personally accompanied by the other Buddhist monks.

Many tourists traveling around Thailand want to experience a retreat. There are many international temples where foreigners can visit and find their rest for one week or longer. The temples are often visited and it is a good way to get in touch with mindfulness. To find the more authentic and special temples, you must be familiar with the country and need to have the right contacts with locals who would like to bring you there. Master Niels has found one of the most extraordinary temples over the years and has established a special bond with the monks who live there.

The monastery is located in Lampang in the north of Thailand and is close to the famous city of Chiang Mai. The temple brings a healing and transforming energy with it and is deeply hidden in the countryside where few to no tourists can be found. Our special vipassana retreats will take place in this authentic temple. You sleep in a small primitive house with a bedroom and shower. The ecological temple is powered by solar energy and is surrounded by mango trees that provide an abundance of mangos in the summer. During the day you get up early and the mindfulness practice and lectures take place in the central hall.

The delicious Thai local meals are provided by local residents who are committed to the temple. You mainly eat Thai vegetarian meals and you decide whether you eat one, two or three meals a day. In order to get the most out of the mindfulness sessions, we recommend eating no more than once or twice a day. You can experience the effect of this yourself during the retreat.

In Thailand we come into contact with a different culture and that is why it is nice to know more about the living habits within the temple.

Greetings
Thai people don’t shake hands but bring hands together in front of the chest and bend over. When saluting a monk, we bring hands together for the head, instead of the chest, to express respect.

Feet
In Thailand it is not very polite to point our feet in the direction of someone else. This is especially true in the temples and that is why we do not lay our feet in the direction of the Buddha statues or a monk. Most people are therefore sitting in a lotus position or on their knees.

Clothing
In the temple we wear white clothing.

• Do not kill (humans nor animals)
• Do not steal
• Do not lie
• Do not commit adultery
• Do not take intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs

• Meals – Try to limit yourself to eating one or two meals a day before 12:00 noon (this is of course not an obligation).
• Entertainment – During our retreat period we try to entertain ourselves as little as possible. In the next two weeks we try not to entertain ourselves by dancing, singing or listening to music and / or other entertainment. Reading about Buddhism or spirituality is of course allowed and writing about your own inner processes can even be beneficial. Appearance: Apart from our natural attention to hygiene, we pay little attention to our appearance in the temple. That way we don’t have to use perfume, jewelry or other items to make ourselves look better.
• Beds – In the temple we do not use luxury or high beds. Of course, a solution is looked into if someone has back problems or other limitations.

• 3-4 sets of white, light clothing (covering, long pants, dress, etc. T-shirts are allowed) to wear inside the temple.
• Shawl / thick sweater against the cold in the evenings
• Bottom sheet and a single duvet cover
• 1 or 2x a large and a small towel
• Washing powder for clothing
• Toiletries
• Toilet roll and waste bag
• Slippers and normal shoes
• (Wind-up) flashlight
• Mosquito repellent and possibly afterbite
• Notepad to take notes

Lamphun has a relatively dry climate compared to the surrounding provinces. In the winter period there is little rain and the temperature is on average between 17 at night and 35 degrees during the day. The winter season is characterized by dry, sunny and pleasant weather. The warm weather is alternated with cool and sometimes foggy nights.

• There is enough clean drinking water in the temple
• You can shower in your own cabine every morning, afternoon, or evening
• In the temple there are both toilets where you can sit or squat
• There is no WiFi available in and around the temple. We advise you to purchase a sim card with a minutes/texts + data bundle at the airport upon your arrival in Chiang Mai

In Thailand we come into contact with a different culture and that is why it is nice to know more about the living habits within the temple.

Vaccinations
We recommend the following vaccinations:

• • DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio)
  • Hepatitis A (infectious jaundice)
  • Possibly Rabies

More information (in Dutch) about this can be found at: http://www.ggdreisvaccinaties.nl/land/thailand

or check the municipal health service in your country of residence for information.

Travel insurance
Make sure you have good travel insurance when you go on a retreat.

World banking
We recommend that you put your bank cards on world banking. If you do not do this, you cannot use your bank card abroad.

It doesn’t matter if you have just started or that you have a lot of experience with mindfulness. The retreat will be tailored to your level. During the retreat period, most people feel as if they are stepping into a warm bath. At the same time, you will also experience that your mindfulness sessions can be challenging. It therefore requires perseverance that will lead to deep insights and relaxation.

Patience
Try not to pay attention to the time during the retreat. This can sometimes be challenging because you are not yet used to the mindfulness sessions and disciplined life in the temple.

Dedication
Make it clear to yourself why you have decided to go on this special journey. The more dedication you have during the retreat, the more you can reap the benefits at the end of this beautiful period.

Willingness
The willingness to grow and develop. Self-development is a conscious choice for a higher growth rate. This means that new insights will arise, and where new insights arise, change will follow.

Kindness and compassion
Be kind to yourself and others.

Positivity
Try to stay positive during the retreat and during the trip itself. By dealing mindfully with your feelings you give yourself a very big gift.

Most international airports offer direct flights to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. From Bangkok, there are plenty of long-haul flights to Chiang Mai. We will gather in Chiang Mai on 30 January and travel to the temple together the next day. Please be aware that you are responsible for arranging your own flight to Chiang Mai.

January – February 2024

* Cost of the airline tickets depends on the time of booking.

* It is recommended to arrive a day earlier so that we are all present in time at the airport / in the temple.

* After your registration, you are invited for an intake interview with Master Niels. This means that your registration does not guarantee a spot in the retreat.

* After Master Niels has confirmed your participation in the retreat, you will receive an invoice for a fixed price of €1150 (early-bird price) or €1250 (inc. VAT) which is due to be paid within 5 business days.

10 people can participate in the retreat.

We wish you a very pleasant and inspiring journey!