Thursday, August 20th to Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
Discover the Buddha Within!
A deep immersion into silence, presence, and embodied stillness
The journey within
This retreat is all about what everyone yearns for: Peace of Mind.
The essence of both Gwenda’s and Dhyan’s teachings is that silence is always present within you, alongside any unrest.
The common thread is observing what is, without resistance or getting caught up in it.
A long weekend of silence and me-time
After the opening circle on Thursday, August 20, we will enter into silence until the closing circle on Sunday afternoon, August 23, 2026.
This allows you to be completely in tune with yourself and remember who you truly are.
Just like at a true silent retreat, we invite you to turn off your phone and share our phone numbers with your family.
This way, everyone can enjoy some me-time with peace of mind.
Program
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Welcome from 2:00 PM
2:30 PM Surprise Workshop — Talking Without Noise
5:00 PM Opening Circle
6:30 PM Dinner
7:45 PM Landing in Your Body & Yoga Nidra (guided, lying relaxation)
Friday, August 21, 2026
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Peace of Mind
9:00 AM Breakfast
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Yin Yoga
1:00 PM Lunch and Me- time
3:15 PM Breathe Yourself Free
4:00 PM Tea Break
4:15 PM – 5:45 PM Jappa Meditation & Yoga Nidra
6:30 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Mirror of Consciousness (Heart Meditation in Encounter)
Saturday, August 22, 2026
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Meditation & Yoga
9:00 AM Breakfast
10:30 AM- 12:30 PM Silent Yoga (no words, only music)
1:00 PM Lunch and Me-time
3:15 PM Walking Beyond the Mind (exercise in lightness and letting go)
4:00 PM Tea break
4:15-5:45 PM Silent walk + Yoga Nidra
6:30 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Journey through the senses
Sunday, August 23, 2026
7:30-8:30 AM Peace of mind
9:00 AM Breakfast
10:30 AM- 12:30 AM Chakra dance (ecstatic dance)
1:00 PM Lunch and me-time
2:30 PM Breath & Yoga Nidra
4:00 PM Closing circle
5:00 PM End
This retreat is especially suitable if you:
Feel ready to go deeper into silence
Long for sustained inner quiet and clarity
Want time for real integration
- Long Deep resting and insights
Location
Secluded in the countryside of the Zeeland province, between Terneuzen and Antwerp, lies Metta Vihara —
a remarkably beautiful place in the vast emptiness of Zeeland.
Food
The meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are as organic as possible and/or sourced from local farmers.
During the weekend, fruit and small snacks will also be available.
If you have dietary preferences such as vegan or gluten-free, that’s possible.
Just let me know when you register.
Dhyan
Dhyan Meinoud Rijnen has been meditating for over 20 years. After several years of intensive Goenka Vipassana practice in Dharamsala, India, his path gradually evolved toward the ‘Self-Inquiry’ meditation of Ramana Maharshi.
He spent many months in Maharshi’s ashram.
Over the years, he also completed various mindfulness trainings and courses.
He has an extensive list of retreats under his belt, held in different countries.
Every year, he undertakes his own silent retreat — in 2018, he spent 5.5 months in solo silence in India. That same year, he met his root teacher, Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, and has since been practising Bonpo Dzogchen.
Dhyan is a master of pranayama and meditation — and a truly ‘zen’ person.
Gwenda vander Steenen
She has been practicing yoga since 1996 and completed two teacher trainings, in London and Thailand.
For her, yoga is “meditation in motion.” The focus shifts from “doing yoga” to a state of “being yoga.”
Conscious movement leads us to the experience of stillness — the space from which all movement arises.
Yoga is a form of meditation that works through the body. After all, your body is always in the here and now.
“We don’t do yoga — we allow yoga to happen and observe everything we experience in our body, mind, and emotions.”
Mindfulness (or as she likes to call it, “mindlessness”) and Zen philosophy are woven throughout her classes.
www.nectaroflife.be
Practical
Silent 4-day silent retreat from Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 23, 2026
• 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches
• double rooms with bathroom and toilet.
• single rooms with bathroom and toilet.
• Snacks, coffee, and tea included
• All teachings by Dhyan and Gwenda are included
Early bird Prices (untill 17 June 2026):
• Shared room (3 nights): € 649
• Private room (3 nights): € 709
Late bird Prices:
• Shared room (3 nights): € 669
• Private room (3 nights): € 729
Bring a friend
Bring someone new and receive a €xx discount, which you may split between you.
Registration & Questions
Email Gwenda at info.lifenectar@gmail.com
Or send a WhatsApp via the icon in the bottom right corner of the page
Or email Dhyan at dhyan@stilteweekend.com
Q&A with meditation, breath, program and space to ask questions on Wednesday 24 June at 20:30; see the link here
PS this retreat will be in Dutch language.
