Inner Joy Vipassana silent retreat

A ten-day journey towards inner joy and peace of mind

Dharma Mountain in wintertime has a unique atmosphere which is perfect for a silent retreat. The snow, the silence and the night sky embrace us, inviting us to go within to find silence and peace.
During these ten days, you will get a thorough introduction to meditation and have your own personal experience with it. Vipassana meditation is the main ingredient in the retreat and you will be guided along the way.

In the intimate, silent atmosphere of Dharma Mountain, by allowing time and practicing together as a group, meditation can happen in a natural way. It is a unique experience; it can go deep and give you precious insights into your life.

The retreat is open to everyone, but we recommend that you already have some experience with meditation.

Wondering if this retreat is for you?

“It was my first silent retreat. I loved it!!! My whole body and mind became much softer. I felt that the whole arrangement was very human-friendly. I felt very safe and that you would be there for me if I needed help in some way.”

Participant, Inner Joy

Program

The retreat starts on Thursday, January 30th with check-in at 17:30 and dinner at 19:00. It ends on Sunday, February 9th, with lunch at 13:00.
We will be in full silence from the first morning (January 31st).

During the retreat, there will be opportunities to share about what you are experiencing and what is coming up for you, including things which you may need help and support with. There will be at least one group sharing. You can also ask for an individual sharing with one of the facilitators.
The retreat will be held in English.

Daily program*
07:30 – 08:30 Morning meditation
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast
10:30 – 13:00 Vipassana meditation with Vipassana walk
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 16:30 Time for rest, walk by yourself in nature, sessions, space for creativity and sauna (sauna on some days).
16:30 – 17:30 Afternoon meditation
18:00 – 19:00 Vipassana meditation or other group
19:00 – 20:00 Dinner
20:00 – 21:00 Evening meditation
*changes in program may happen

Prices

Thursday January 30th – Sunday February 9th

Prices - Early Bird until January 1st
NOK 16.640,- for program, meals and shared room or attic (Late Bird price NOK 17.640)
NOK 19.640,- for program, meals and single room in shared cabin (Late Bird price NOK 20.640)
Bedlinen and towel is available for rent (NOK 260) or you can bring your own.

Pay NOK 1.000 now to secure your place!

If you have any questions, please contact us by mail.
For our cancellation policy click here.

What is Vipassana meditation?

Vipassana meditation is an ancient technique, which came from Gautama Buddha more than 2500 years ago. It is very simple – we sit in silence, relax the body and just watch the breath coming and going. There is no effort involved in the breathing. At the same time we take a distance from everything that is happening – physical sensations, emotions and thoughts – just watching them without getting involved. In this way we can gradually become more silent, relaxed and present – simply resting and being with ourselves. At Dharma Mountain, we have a soft and friendly approach to Vipassana, no effort or force is brought into the practice. It is not about having the perfect sitting position – you can sit in a normal chair if you like. It is not about forcing the body to be still, or managing to stop the mind. Meditation is more an acceptance of whatever is here. By accepting, we can relax and find that we have everything we need right here and now, letting ourselves be nourished and renewed, for no external reason.

You don’t need previous experience with Vipassana to join the retreat, the technique will be introduced and guided.

Vipassana means to see things as they really are..

Morning - and afternoon groups

The program includes soft movement, soft yoga and active meditations to prepare and support the body for sitting.

There will also be free time for walks in nature, sauna (some days), sessions etc. and a room will be available for creative expression – writing, drawing or painting.

Become part of the silence

To be in a silent retreat at Dharma Mountain doesn’t mean just practising a technique, it’s a complete experience of silence and meditation. Here, meditation has been practised for more than 25 years, and everybody working here has meditation as a part of their lives.

Nature: See yourself – and the milky way

The nature around Dharma Mountain is an important part of the experience - it creates an atmosphere which invites us to go within. In wintertime it is a special experience - the snow and the night sky remind us to stop. There is almost no light pollution here, so you may see the Milky Way.

From previous participants of Inner Joy:

“Wonderful in all ways. The sessions, the food, the people working here, the nature.”

“It has been lifegiving and opening days for me. I feel well taken care of, good with all the structure, good with the pauses.”

“It was magical. Very professional, I felt safe and taken care of.”

Why ten days?

There is no rule stating that exactly ten days are needed to learn Vipassana meditation and to receive benefits from it. Meditation is a journey of a lifetime. But a ten day retreat may give us the time we need to go through layers which prevent us from experiencing the silence and peace that are naturally there, inside of us, so we can have a deeper experience.

Our experience has shown that the first two to three days are spent learning the technique, getting into the practice and settling here. During the following days we face ourselves, our thoughts, sensations, feelings and moods. For some, this phase might be easy, maybe even a relief to just be with oneself. For others, it may be challenging. It is normal to experience restlessness, resistance and uncomfortable feelings. With patience and with the structure of the retreat, everything is invited to come up, and also to pass, in its own time. After these days of going deeper, things start to settle - just like sand in water takes time to come to rest at the bottom. Thoughts and challenges may still be there, but little by little we get a distance to them.

By giving ourselves as much as ten days, the silence will be more integrated and we can more easily bring the quality of silence into our lives.

Meditation – the natural way

For us at Dharma Mountain, meditation is not only a technique - it is the very presence and connection with the deep peace we all naturally have in ourselves. In a society where our attention is constantly pulled outwards and where all focus is on achieving and performing, many of us have lost the connection with the natural and peaceful place inside. Meditation techniques are available to help us and to allow us to practice coming back to the peace which is always there.

We can bring meditation into everything we do – into our work and our interactions with others. It is an inner resting place – a source of nourishment, no matter what is happening on the outside.

“The whole art of the beautiful technique of Vipassana meditation is to come back to your breath. Be on guard, don’t get lost in your thoughts. Don’t disappear with them, bring yourself back into the moment, again and again, a million times. Just come back into your heart, into your breath. Become aware of the sounds of nature around you, anything that is happening in the moment. Then you burn through every bond that holds you. Then peace will be there. Silence will be there. And in that silence, there is bliss. There is rest. There is consciousness. There is freedom. There is happiness.”
Vasant Swaha

7 benefits of meditation

1. More calmness: Meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers the heart rhythm and blood pressure.
   
2. Less stress: Meditation reduces the amount of stress hormones and makes us more capable of handling stressful situations.
   
3. More joy: It is no coincidence that we call the silent retreat "Inner Joy". Meditation affects signal substances in the brain, making it produce more of the "happiness hormone" Dopamine. Meditation also reduces anxiety and depression.
   
4. More presence: Senses sharpen when you meditate. The practice of being present allows you to feel, taste and smell more fully the world around you.
   
5. More clarity: Science shows that meditation makes the brain sharper and more capable of remembering and learning. Since meditation is a practice of being in the moment and creating distance to our thoughts and emotions, it becomes easier to see everything more clearly.
   
6. More creativity: Many people experience a boost in creativity when they start meditating. This is partly due to activation of a part of the brain related to creativity, but also due to more relaxation and less self-criticism.
   
7. More energy: Meditation is known to recharge the body. Excessive thought activity and stress requires effort and energy, and by letting go of this, we get more energy. We also become more aware of the body's natural needs, and thereby find a more healthy balance between rest and activity.

(Various sources)

Facilitators

Prem Lee is a trained medical doctor and has studied traditional acupuncture. She has a caring and loving presence and has been leading groups in self-discovery and meditation in Norway and Brazil for over 20 years. She also has a background in Therapist Training at Osho Risk.

Vimal is a trained medical doctor and has been practicing meditation and personal growth for more than 20 years. He has been involved in running Dharma Mountain since 2006. Vimal likes to bring sensitivity and playfulness into self-exploration.

From previous participants of Inner Joy:

«Just wanted to let you know that all in all it was an amazing experience, the surroundings and the different types of practices fit me very well :-)»

«A wonderful opportunity to break through old armour and stir up whatever needs to be stirred up for further healing and growth. It was a mirror for reflecting on my very own being.»

«A special, magical, powerful place – the special love for Mother Nature.»

«Incredibly positive that so much of the food was homemade. And it was served in such a delicate and delicious way. The taste was excellent.»