Mindfulness and Vipassana Winter Retreat

Step into a week of profound meditation and mindful practice, where the stillness of Dharma Mountain’s winter landscape invites you to connect deeply with yourself. This retreat offers a unique opportunity for meaningful self-reflection, guided by an experienced meditation teacher and supported by a community of like-minded individuals. It’s a chance to rest, restore balance, and cultivate clarity, insight, and compassion.

About the Retreat

This retreat will explore the ancient practice of Vipassana meditation alongside the modern approach of Mindfulness, both rooted in loving-kindness and complemented by gentle Mindful Yoga. Through these practices, you will be guided to relax deeply, cultivate self-awareness, nurture wholesome habits, and discover the ease of resting in your natural state.

Instructions will include attentional stability (samatha) and insight meditation (vipassana), using both traditional and modern methods. These techniques foster inner calm and clarity, helping you make wiser, more compassionate choices in daily life. The retreat integrates seated and walking meditation, Mindful Yoga, and compassion practices, creating an embodied and open-hearted experience.

Silence is balanced with opportunities for connection (sangha), while also offering the option to remain in silence for the entire week if you choose. Mornings will be silent until lunch, supporting deep reflection, with two full days dedicated entirely to silent practice.

About Vipassana

Vipassana, meaning “insight,” is a foundational Buddhist meditation practice introduced by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It aims to awaken insight into the true nature of self and reality, guiding us toward freedom from suffering. While the name is often associated with the 10-day retreats popularized by S.N. Goenka, Vipassana has many traditions. This retreat offers a moderate approach, with shorter meditation sessions (20–30 minutes) and an emphasis on balancing clarity and compassion, inspired in part by the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

About Mindfulness

Mindfulness, rooted in Vipassana and Zen, has been developed for therapeutic applications based on scientific research. Pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn, it emphasizes well-being in everyday life and offers a practical, evidence-based approach for modern students.

About Compassion Practices

Compassion and loving-kindness meditations are essential complements to mindfulness, balancing awareness with heart-centered practice. Meditations such as Metta, Tonglen, and Forgiveness cultivate kindness toward ourselves and others, supporting genuine freedom from difficulty as we heal, let go, and open our hearts.

About Mindful Yoga

Mindful Yoga is a gentle, therapeutic practice that blends mindfulness, compassion, and Hatha yoga. Accessible to all levels, it emphasizes listening to your body with kindness and respect. This meditation in motion complements seated and walking meditation, deepening the experience of Vipassana. No prior yoga experience is necessary.

Schedule

Mornings will be held in silence until lunch, supporting deep reflection. Each day begins with guided meditation, chanting, and mindful movement. Most meditation sessions are shorter (15–30 minutes), with a few longer sessions later in the week. Sitting practice will be alternated with walking meditation or Mindful Yoga.

Personal time may be spent in the sauna, reading, resting, or enjoying therapies provided by the staff. Afternoon sessions include group sharing and Q&A about practice. Evenings feature a Dharma talk, followed by relaxing movement and meditation to prepare for sleep.

General Schedule:

(some days will vary)
Sunday
16:00 – 17:00 Arrive/ Registration
17:30 – 18:30 Introduction meeting/orientation
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
19:30 – 21:00  Evening session

Monday – Friday
07:30 – 08:30 Morning meditation/movement
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast (silent)
10:00 – 10:30 Instruction
10:30 – 11:00 Meditation
Break
11:15 – 12:30 Mindful yoga
12:30 – 12:45 Meditation
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 16:00 Personal time (sauna, optional)
16:00 – 16:30  Meditation
16:30 – 17:00 Walking meditation
 Break
17:15 – 17:45 Group reflection
17:45 – 18:15 Q&A
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
19:30 – 21:00 Evening session

Saturday
07:30 – 08:30 Morning meditation
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast
10:00 – 12:30 Closing session
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 –            Depart after lunch

Requirements

Some prior experience with meditation is recommended. If you are new to meditation, please contact Jonathan before registering: jonathan.rigpa@gmail.com.

Your Teacher: Jonathan Weber

Jonathan Weber is one of Norway’s leading teachers of Mindfulness and Mindful Yoga, with over 35 years of experience in Vipassana meditation, Buddhism, and Classical yoga. Originally from the USA, he has been teaching mindfulness and compassion practices in the Oslo area since 2006.

A 500 E-RYT yoga teacher and trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR/MBCT) through the IMA, Jonathan is known for his pioneering work integrating mindfulness and compassion with yoga. In 2018, he founded the Mindful Yoga Teacher Training at Oslo Yoga.

His practice is deeply rooted in the Dzogchen and Mahamudra traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, which he has studied since 1990. He has also drawn inspiration from many respected teachers, including Ram Dass, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, Allan Wallace, Lama Surya Das, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, and Ani la Tsering Chodron. His background includes study and practice in Jnana yoga, Bhakti yoga, Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, and Christian Mysticism.

With warmth, wisdom, and a calming presence, Jonathan creates a safe and supportive environment for deep practice and personal growth.

Testimonials

“Jonathan isn’t just a teacher of the Path, he is a presence that embodies it.”
— Peter Moore, Founder/Director of Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat Center

“Jonathan is a person of real wisdom, great integrity, loving-kindness, empathetic compassion, and genuine peacefulness and cheerfulness.” 
–Timothy Conway, PhD., spiritual teacher, counselor, author

“Jonathan is a person steeped in love, practice, wisdom, energy, purposeful intent, and grace. Throughout his life he has cultivated and retained a sense of joy, compassion, insight, and humility. His presence and offering of yoga and meditation are a gift of spirit and love that will benefit all beings.”
—Dhammadasa, Founder of Cloud Mountain Retreat Center, Reiki Master

What past retreatants say:

“Jonathan is an excellent teacher who guided us gently and respectfully through the exercises, creating a safe and warm atmosphere for everyone.”
– Jill

“From the depth of my heart, I can recommend attending Jonathan’s retreats, as he is a fantastically skilled teacher. His knowledge is great and personality warm and genuine. He communicates his knowledge in a structured and easily understandable manner with a pleasant guiding voice.” 
– Tina

“It is extremely rewarding to take part in Jonathan’s yoga and mindfulness retreats. His calm and wise being makes you feel safe, which makes it easier to be attentive and present in meditation and movement. In fact, He doesn`t have to say much, his presence is enough.” 
– Øydis