Upcoming Retreats
RT: Werkhoven, The Netherlands, 2025, Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka
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Date/Duration: August 2 to 4, 2025
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Location: Samaya, Werkhoven, The Netherlands
Introduction
During this 3-day retreat (Sat-Mon) at an old Dutch monastery now called Samaya, you will be surrounded by fellow committed students to focus on the traditional teachings of Vedanta. In this place Swami Dayananda taught in 2006 and now almost twenty years later Neema will teach a powerful text called Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka. The text teaches us to discriminate between the seen and the seer.
The teaching of this text will be accompanied with morning meditations, practice of meditative movements, Vedic chanting and dialogue sessions.
In preparation for the retreat, student Sander Machielsen will help you study the Sanskrit letters (write and read) and learn how to chant the verses of Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka in online free classes. This program starts 2 months prior to the retreat and includes 8 classes and daily homework (15-30 minutes).
Participants are required to register at www.discovervedanta.com. Your Registration is complete when Accommodation to Samaya and Teachers Fees are paid. The closing date for registration for this retreat is 15 July 2025. Seats are limited, so do not wait to register!
The program consists of study of the following texts:
Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka, The discrimination between the seer and the seen
We are looking for lasting happiness. Not knowing that our nature is fullness, we endlessly search to complete ourselves through objects, situations, people, etc. Once we recognize our true nature, we can relate with everything else with freedom. Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka unfolds the vision to help one discover and abide in the pleased self. The text starts with a bang and analyzes our experience with the following methodology. A form is seen; the eye is the seer. That eye is seen; the mind is the seer. The thoughts in the mind are seen; the sākṣī is the seer but the ‘I’ who sees everything else is not seen. So who or what is this ‘I’ that is not seen by any other thing?
Date & Schedule
August 2
- 09:00 to 09:30 Welcome with coffee and tea
- 09:30 to 10:45 Class 1
- 11:00 to 12:15 Class 2
- 12:30 to 13:30 Lunch
- 13:30 to 14:30 Free Time
- 14:30 to 15:15 Meditative Movements
- 15:15 to 16:00 Chanting
- 16:00 to 17:30 Class 3
- 18:00 to 19:00 Dinner
- 19:15 to 21:00 Dialogue + Relaxation
August 3
- 07:30 to 08:15 Guided Meditation
- 08:30 to 09:15 Breakfast
- 09:30 to 10:45 Class 1
- 11:00 to 12:15 Class 2
- 12:30 to 13:30 Lunch
- 13:30 to 14:30 Free Time
- 14:30 to: 15:15 Meditative Movements
- 15:15 to 16:00 Chanting
- 16:00 to 17:30 Class 3
- 18:00 to 19:00 Dinner
- 19:15 to 21:00 Dialogue + Relaxation
August 4
- 07:30 to 08:15 Guided Meditation
- 08:30 to 09:15 Breakfast
- 09:30 to 10:45 Class 1
- 11:00 to 12:15 Class 2
- 12:30 to 13:30 Lunch (classes end before lunch, retreat ends after lunch)
Location & Accommodation
- Website: https://www.samaya.nl/
- Phone:+31 (0)343 552 332
- Email: info@samaya.nl
The retreat venue
Conference Centre Samaya is a small-scale Priory Hotel in central Netherlands, close to the city of Utrecht, in a green spot between a fruit area known as the Betuwe and on the fringes of the Utrecht hills where it is truly quiet.
Dates of arrival/departure
We suggest that the participants arrive at Samaya in Werkhoven by 2 August 2025 from 09:00 am. Classes start on 2 August 09:30 and end on 4 August lunch time.
Getting to Samaya
By car:
We are easily reached by car and offer free parking for 75 cars on our own premises.
By public transport:
When coming by train, use the NS-railway station at Driebergen-Zeist. Usually several taxi’s are waiting there for you or you can take an OV-fiets (a rental bike) and cycle to Samaya via the so called ‘kastelenroute’ (a route passing some castles). From Utrecht Central Station you may also take a bus to the stop at Werkhoven-Hardenbroek. From this bus stop it takes another 2km walk.
By taxi:
Samaya has negotiated special deals with a regional taxi company that offers highly reduced rates for transport in a hybrid car (up to 4 people). You have to make a reservation for this at least 24 hours in advance. Our cooperative partner is Taxibedrijf Snel, Mr Levon Agbalian, +31612587654. He brings you in just over 10 minutes from Driebergen-Zeist Station to Samaya (30-35 euros). Or in 45 minutes from Schiphol Airport to Samaya (88-105 euros).
Accommodation and food
You can choose between a single room or a double room. All rooms are neat and peaceful and have one bathroom. All rooms have internet access.
| Room type | Price in € per person/night | Total per person for 2 nights |
|---|---|---|
| Single room | € 185,13 | € 370,25 |
| Double room | € 153,90 | € 307,80 |
Day guests who are not staying overnight pay € 150,- per day.
Breakfast, lunch and diner is an organic vegetarian buffet. In between there is coffee, tea, cookies and fruit.
For any special (gluten free, vegan) requirements, please inform Samaya at least 5 weeks in advance.
Booking your room
After making the advanced booking payment of 9,000 Indian Rupees on our website, please book your room directly with Samaya by email: info@samaya.nl, mentioning Vedanta seminar 2-4 August 2025. Please send your email with a copy to sandermachielsen@gmail.com.
Payment of accommodation will be made on arrival. Payment is possible in cash or with an EC card. Payment by credit card is not possible.
Participants can cancel 3 months before arrival for free. In case of cancellation between 3 to 2 months, they need to pay 15% of the total amount. In between 2 to 1 month 35%, 1 month to 14 days 60%, 14 days-7 days 85%, 7 days or less 100% to Samaya.
Contribute
Transactional details are available on the Support Us tab of our Website.
FAQ
Teachers fees to be paid on 15 July is non-refundable. For their direct booking with Samaya, participants can cancel 3 months before arrival for free. In case of cancellation between 3 to 2 months, they need to pay 15% of the total amount. In between 2 to 1 month 35%, 1 month to 14 days 60%, 14 days-7 days 85%, 7 days or less 100% to Samaya.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at discovervedanta@gmail.com and sandermachielsen@gmail.com.