Course 3

In this third introductory course, we will learn the complete set of techniques: B1 to B7 and O8. We start by repeating the external techniques B1 to B3. These techniques bring your attention more to the body. Then we proceed with the internal techniques B4 to B7 and O8. The internal techniques help in observing your inner world. These techniques are subtler than techniques B1 to B3, allowing you to go even deeper and let go better.

Furthermore, you will learn about the three principles of mindfulness and the mindfulness code. These are essentially rules of life, or mindfulness rules. By continuously applying these, mindfulness will become a foundation in your life, allowing you to experience your life from the mindful perspective. During the lesson, we directly apply these mindfulness rules in meditation. This way, you will get to know the dynamics occurring within yourself better, create more distance from them, and eventually completely detach from them.

It is a course, so you will also receive homework to practice at home. The more you practice, the more you will get out of the course. However, participating offers the opportunity to meditate together weekly, which in itself is very pleasant and fulfilling.

You can easily participate without having followed previous courses. During the lessons, we spend a lot of time on meditation, and a little bit on explanation.

Time and location

Dates

Lessons 1 t/m 6:

Monday evenings ,  19.45-21.15h

Morning retreat:

Sunday following the last lesson, 07.45-13.00h

Location: 

Willem van outhoornstraat 48b, 2593 ZX Den Haag

Free parking in evenings and weekends. 15 min walk from train, tram and metro station Laan van NOI. 5 min walk from tram 2. 

Online participation possible

You can attend the lessons online as well.

Costs

Entree fee is 80 euros, this covers the rental of the room. 

I offer the lessons on a donation basis. At the end of the course, I will ask you for a donation for the lessons received. You decide what you consider to be an appropriate donation. You can read more about it a bit further down.

Homework, recorded lessons (in case you cannot attend) and more materials are available through the IMI+ membership. You can sign up for IMI+ at www.innermindinstitute.org.

Lesson overview

Lesson 1 zo 26 mei The four foundations

Lesson 2 ma 3 juni The mindfulness code

Lesson 3 ma 10 juni The three principles of mindfulness

Lesson 4 ma 17 juni B-techniques

Lesson 5 ma 24 juni Observer's base

Lesson 6 ma 1 juli Right mindfulness

Lesson 7 zo 7 juli Morning retreat van 07.45h - 13.00h

Course series and the Inner Mind Institute

This course is part of the Mind Retreat Program (MRP) of the Inner Mind Institute (IMI). For more information about the entire program of the Inner Mind Institute, visit the website www.innermindinstitute.org. There you can see that the MRP 1 to 3 courses are part of a larger series of courses and retreats.

More about donation based

Teaching this course is part of the second-year Teacher Training at the Inner Mind Institute. Offering the course on a donation basis is a requirement of the teacher training program. This way, we as teachers learn how it feels to openly and without judgment receive what another person wants to give. In the Netherlands, it is not customary to ask for this, neither for the giver nor the receiver. In temples in Thailand, giving donations (dana) for received lessons or accommodation is the norm.

The great thing about donations is that each participant can decide for themselves what amount they find appropriate, and everyone can participate regardless of their financial means.

Why mindfulness?

Mindfulness has become a well-known concept in our society. But what is it, and why would you want to engage with it? Being mindful means being present in the current moment with full attention. You do this by concentrating your attention on one fixed point in your body, namely the breath in your nose. At the same time, you carry out your daily activities. This does not happen automatically, of course. It requires your effort. The right practice can bring you an incredible amount. Examples of this are:

• Experience less stress, anxiety, rumination, and/or confusion.

• Be more present.

• Find more space within yourself.

• Address your problem areas.

• Let go of patterns, feelings, thoughts.

• Increased concentration.

• More attention to yourself and others.

• Better sense and handle emotions.

• Reduce pain and other complaints.

• Eventually, more happiness, joy in the moment.

• Knowing what you want, knowing your path.

• Experience inner meaning, cease questioning.

For some of the changes mentioned above, you will notice a difference after a short time. For others, you need more effort and patience. However, it often brings you more than you could have imagined beforehand.

Mindfulness offers you tools that you always have at hand. You can extend your mindfulness practice as much as you wish; it doesn't have to stop at reducing stress and rumination. But you absolutely don't need to have lofty goals. Reducing stress or the thousands of thoughts in your head, experiencing your life more consciously, learning to let go of a difficult situation or blockage - these are the things most of us recognize.

In my experience, mindfulness is one of the most valuable gifts you can give to yourself. It teaches you to experience life consciously. Being mindful of yourself and your environment has a profound effect: on yourself and others as well.

>> more about this form of mindfulness >>

Why MRP3 - Thee mindfulness code?

In this seven-week course, we delve deep into practicing the subtler B-techniques B4 to B7, as well as the observer's base O8. The approach we initiated in MRP1 and MRP2 is also present here, namely the notion to remain mindful in all our activities; being present at our home base and using one of our B-techniques to stay focused.

During this course, we practice a lot in class. The techniques you learn require more effort from you, more concentration is needed to feel the B-points. As a result, your concentration also increases, and your mindfulness energy continues to build.

The internal techniques provide you with additional tools to remain mindful. They are more focused on the inner world of feelings, moods, and thoughts. The external B-techniques (B1 to B3) are more focused on being connected with the body.

Furthermore, you will learn about the three principles of mindfulness and the mindfulness code. These are essentially guidelines for living, or mindfulness rules. By continuously applying them, mindfulness will become a foundation in your life, allowing you to experience your life from a mindful perspective. During the lesson, we apply these mindfulness rules directly in meditation. This helps you to better understand the dynamics occurring within yourself, to gain more distance from them, and eventually to fully detach from them.

You can participate well without having taken previous courses. During the lessons, we devote a lot of time to meditation, and a little to explanation.

A very simple and beautiful reason to join is simply to meditate together weekly.

Willem de Pous Mindfulness cursussen