Meditation, compassion, empathy – in life and relations with others

We are pleased to invite you to an international four-day course in personal growth and relational contact with a spiritual perspective at The Vaekstcenteret in Noerre Snede in Central Jutland.

These four days are a continuation of the course with the same title held in 2025. However, new participants are welcome.

Language: Teaching will be in English – with short summaries in German.

Content of the course:
The four days will include a presentation of various aspects of The Vaekstcenteret’s approach to spirituality, which can be summarized in the principle that ‘the deeper and better we know ourselves, the deeper and better we are able to meet others – and the world in general.’
And which consists of a combination of meditative presence training, exercises in body awareness and in deepening the heart’s emotions – and in relational contact exercises

Approach:
The Vaekstcenteret’s approach to spirituality is undogmatic and modern.
In the sense that the training is primarily based on experience and with few or no beliefs and dogmas.
It is our experience that deeper work with awakening and cordiality is best done on a foundation of personal and existential development and actualisation, grounding and ethical balance.

The structure of the course
Individual days will have approximately the same structure:
Mornings will be quiet and introspective, focusing on participants individual processes. They will usually include gentle yoga stretch, sitting and walking meditations, sitting and walking, body scans and a writing practice.
Afternoons will be more dynamic, with dance and other ways of training presence in movement, as well as other exercises that aim to bring the meditative qualities of calmness, presence and cordiality to expression in our everyday lives.
We will also touch on the connection between meditative immersion and creativity.
Similarly, basic understanding and interpretation of dreams will receive attention.

Daily life at The Vaekstcenter:
An important element of this course will be an introduction and participation in aspects of daily life at The Vaekstcenter.
There will be time for tours of the center and meeting some of the permanent residents or our lay monastic community. Approximately 70 adults and 30 children live in affiliation with the Centre and help maintain and run the Centre with their voluntary labour.
Participants will get a taste of life in our community through minor chores, e.g., helping in the kitchen, doing the dishes, and cleaning.

Spiritual background
The Vaekstcenter’ss official name is Vækstcenter for work, development and meditation (Vækstcenter for arbejde, udvikling og meditation).
It was founded in 1982 by Jes Bertelsen and his then wife, Hanne Kizach, as an attempt to establish an undogmatic spiritual tradition in Scandinavia.

The Vaekstcenter operates in a deep respect for and love for all the great wisdom traditions.
And in a notion that all the spiritual traditions have related core values that relate to
awareness, cordiality and global cohesion and compassion.
Since 1989, the lifeblood of spiritual practice at the center has been Dzogchen, a practice and tradition originating in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. But it is part of the foundation of the center that the teaching is unfolded in respect for and in dialogue with the deeper part of the Christian tradition.

The approach to Dzogchen is presented in a contemporary language and framing while remaining respectful of and in harmony with traditional presentations.
In
accordance with the founding vision for The Vaekstcenter, this approach does not presuppose or require any particular set of beliefs or religious affiliation – people from all spiritual traditions may find inspiration and nourishment for their practice here.

Application

There are no special prerequisites for participation in this course.
However, spending several days doing intensive inner work using many different channels – somatic, energetic, emotional, creative – involving body, heart and mind, can be intense.
We therefore ask that your application include a personal statement about your prior experience s with meditation and/or yoga.

Price
The price for the course is 3,600 Danish kroner.
A reduced fee is available for documented students.
A separate fee of 550 Danish kroner covers lunch and dinner Thursday through Saturday and lunch on Sunday.
Breakfast is not provided.

Lodging
There is no accommodation available at Vækstcenter itself.
Some resident members offer overnight accommodation in basic single rooms near the Centre for a nominal payment of between 250 and 300 Danish kroner per night.
These rooms have access to a (usually shared) shower and toilet and to a kitchenette.
Duvets and pillows are provided, but guests should bring their own bed linen and towels.
In addition to the rooms rented out by resident members, other private accommodation is also available in and around Nørre Snede, as well as B&Bs, inns and hotels in towns further away.

Dates and timing:

Teaching will begin on  Thursday, the 18. of March at 10 a.m. and ends on Sunday the 21. with lunch at 2 p.m. – please plan your departures for after 14.30 to allow yourself sufficient time to complete your chores.

Teachers:
Katinka Gøtzsche and Peter Høeg are responsible for the teaching.

How to get here:
Closest airport is Billund (BLL), which offers public transport connections to Nørre Snede via bus via Vejle.
Nearest railway station with good connections is Vejle, from where there are regular (approx.. once an hour) bus services to Nørre Snede.

See https://www.rejseplanen.dk/webapp/?language=en_EN

Undervisere: