Germany, Achberg (near Lake Constance), May 19–23, 2025
The meditation on the four primary elements helps practitioners penetrate beyond the normal level of conceptual labels and categories. One begins to understand and experience that the elements of solidity (earth), liquidity (water), motion (air), and temperature (fire) are within all material phenomena and discover their intrinsic impermanent and insubstantial natures.
Each day there will be a talk and systematic meditation instructions on the 4 primary elements found within the foundation of the Body from the four foundations of mindfulness. These teachings and practices will emphasize quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing clarity, wisdom, and compassion; and foster the depth of practice.
This retreat is suitable for both new and experienced meditation students as well as for anyone teaching mindfulness or aspiring to teach mindfulness in healthcare, psychology, education, science, government, or in the business and corporate sectors.
Please note: This retreat fulfils some of the retreat requirements for MBSR and other mindfulness teacher trainings.
- Course language
The course language is English with translation into German.
- Dates
Monday, May 19, 2025
beginning around 6 pm with dinnerFriday, May 23, 2025
end around lunchtime (1 pm)The exact times will be announced at a later date.
- Teachers
Bob Stahl, PhD, founded 8 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs in medical centers in the SF Bay Area. He serves as an Assistant Professor of the Practice at Brown University Mindfulness Center and formerly at the Center for Mindfulness at the UMass. Medical School. Bob teaches mindfulness meditation retreats worldwide and is the former guiding teacher at Insight Santa Cruz and a visiting teacher at Spirit Rock. Insight Meditation Society, and Insight Retreat Center.
He is coauthor of 5 books: "A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook" (1st & 2nd editions), "Living With Your Heart Wide Open", "Calming the Rush of Panic", "A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook for Anxiety, and MBSR Everyday".
Jan Landry, BSN MA, has worked in the field of hospice care both as a nurse and as a chaplain, for over 30 years. Her work in the field of death and dying, serves as an ongoing reminder of how precious each and every moment of life is, and informs her meditation practice which has developed and deepened over many years.
She is a yoga practitioner, a student of the Ridhwan School and of life. As a teacher of mindfulness meditation, she hopes to support others in cultivating a practice of mindfulness that fosters awareness and deep listening to the inner wisdom of one’s own heart.
- Venue
Humboldt-Haus Achberg
Panoramastraße 30
88147 Achberg
Germany+49 (0)8380-335 / Fax: -675
E-Mail: info [at] humboldt-haus.de (info[at]humboldt-haus[dot]de)
Website: www.humboldt-haus.deRoom reservation
For accommodation and meals please contact the seminar house directly!
- Retreat Fee and Dana
Retreat Fee
290 Euro
This amount is to be paid upon registration. You will receive an invoice from Arbor Seminare (costs for accommodation and meals are not included).
The organization fee covers travel costs and accommodation for the teachers, the assistant, and the translator.Dana
We kindly ask you to give your donation directly to Bob Stahl and Jan Landry at the end of the retreat.Dana translates to “giving” and is a Buddhist practice of generosity. It stems from the belief that the teachings cannot be measured by material value and should be freely accessible to anyone interested. Therefore, teachers offer their work without charge. However, to support their livelihood and ongoing teaching activities, they rely on voluntary donations at the end of the course.
The teachers are reimbursed for travel and other expenses, but do not receive a fee from Arbor Seminare. For this reason, participants are encouraged to give as much as they feel able and consider appropriate. This approach helps keep the retreats relatively affordable, allowing individuals with lower incomes to attend.
- Cancellation Conditions
• For cancellations up to 45 days prior to the beginning of the retreat, an administration fee of 50 Euro will be charged.
• Between 45 and 14 days prior to the beginning of the retreat, 50% of the course fee will be charged.
• Should the booking be cancelled less than 14 days prior to the beginning of the course, the entire course fee will be charged.
• If there is a waiting list and the place can be assigned again, only an administration fee of 50 Euro will be charged.
- Notice of Liability
A silent retreat can initiate processes of self-awareness and lead to impactful experiences. Therefore, we recommend that people with mental health conditions or those currently in therapy consult with their doctors or therapists to determine if a silent retreat is appropriate for them at this time. A silent retreat is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric treatment.
The decision and responsibility of how deeply one wants to engage lie with the individual themselves. The principle applies that each participant bears full responsibility for themselves and their actions both within and outside the group.
Each participant expressly releases the retreat leaders and organizers from all liability claims (except in cases of intent or gross negligence). The retreat leaders and organizers do not assume any liability for personal injury or property damage arising from participation in the retreat.