2024 July 27 One-day Retreat - Personal Review by Maaike

The one-day-retreat at Dharma Drum Mountain was an experience that will stay with me for a long time, one I won't forget! One that will travel with me, and possibly even has changed me a little I think!

I felt so very welcome, from the first moment on. The DDM people / monks / helpers were incredibly friendly and supportive. The atmosphere was so warmhearted, calming and nurturing. The program was very well organised, everything was very orderly, prepared, structured. Yet, nothing felt stiff or scripted, the teacher had a presence that was radiating positivity, pureness, wisdom, strength, joy, patience, openness, and loving kindness. She was very good at explaining things, and she really grasped and kept my attention! There was plenty of space and safety to ask questions if needed. She also managed to weave humor/lightness in the theoretical content, and told us some personal anecdotes that were incredibly touching and valuable. There were live/physical demonstrations to show certain movements/techniques, and there were some powerpoint slides as well.

Within one day I learned a lot of things that were new to me, from self-massage techniques, to yoga, to sitting in silence. We also went out to the public square for walking meditation, both superfast as well as in slow motion. This was a very unique exercise! Something I had never done before, but really had powerful effects that cannot be explained /gained in text or verbal tutorial. It was very special to do this in a group, with guidance, but also something that can be repeated and practiced alone in other places I think! We got many tools with us during this day, to use in future, and I feel better equipped since I left. :)

We had a silent and mindful lunch, that was the best food I have had in years, and I'm not exaggerating this, it really was. They even helped me with my gluten & lactose allergy and cooked something special. I felt overall so lucky and thankful to be able to be there. At the end of the day, there was time to share our experiences within small groups first and then with the whole group. It was a little scary / out-of-comfort-zone at first, but I found that a very good thing! The individual experiences suddenly came together and became one big rich united experience, with many very different but also overlapping parts. In this way, we also learned from each other's experience, and it broadened our perspectives on our own experience and on the day in total. The retreat revealed/activated a lot of happiness in me / in the whole room, that apparently is our nature / is always there inside / within reach, and spreading out, so easily and effortlessly. I strongly recommend everyone who is open and curious to also try this one-day retreat. I hope and aim to be able to continue, and if possible, return to Taiwan for a longer retreat.