The Measuring Mind: Unravelling the Dynamics of Selfing

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Live online events

  • Jan 24

    Sunday Jan 24, 2027 - Saturday Jan 30, 2027

     (Start time Sun 14:00 CET - End time Sat 18:00 CET)
    Online
    Akincano Weber, Ulla König
    The fee does not contribute towards the livelihood of our teachers. You will be invited to offer teacher dana at the end of the course.
    Register
Description

Price Options

Basic Rate: £89

Standard Rate: £99

Supporter Rate: £109

Format

This online retreat with Akincano and Ulla offers a rare opportunity to weave mindfulness and insight directly into the fabric of your everyday life. Taking the form of a ‘sandwich’ retreat that you fill with your everyday life in the middle, it offers you the chance to make daily life the field of practice. Rather than stepping away from your everyday experience, you are invited to make it your living field of practice; one in which the dynamics of work, relationships, and inner experience all become gateways to deeper understanding.

Framed by two dedicated retreat sessions at the beginning and end of the week, this journey invites both commitment and openness. Each day is supported by a framework of morning and evening gatherings, creating a steady rhythm of practice, reflection, and shared exploration. The mornings set the tone for the day ahead, while the evenings offer space for dialogue, questions, and deepening insight within a supportive community.

Theme

This retreat offers a practical investigation into the psychology of how we arrive at a sense of self. Such a sense of self does not exist in a vacuum – the experience of being in relationship with others regularly stirs the experience of self as “better, worse or equal” than others, a dynamic called māna in Buddhist terminology.
Over seven days, we will explore distinct forms of māna, the process of forming a sense of self, and the reasons behind our engagement with its various forms. We will explore the concepts of 'I-making', 'my-making' and 'comparison', as well as the developmental task of learning to relate to ourselves as beings among other beings with insight, respect and care.

Such an exploration will address questions like:

Why is selfing attractive?

What are the drawbacks of selfing?

What is confusing about the concepts of self and not-self?

Where do I encounter these concepts in my everyday life?

What is the difference between self-respect and conceit?

Why is the tendency for comparison so persistent?

How can we navigate social interaction without thinking of ourselves or others as better or worse?

Is there such a thing as a healthy sense of self?

We will dedicate the week to exploring these questions in light of Buddhist teachings and in relation to our everyday experience.

Praise for our teachers: 

"A very successful seminar series. Theoretical input alternated well with practical exercises. I really benefited from it." - from participant on Akincano and Ulla's previous course 'Das Herz Im Schatten.

"Excellent format, very well-structured. Ulla and Akincano complemented each other very well. Lots of inspiration. - from participant on Akincano and Ulla's previous course 'Das Herz Im Schatten.

Event Details

Schedule

  • Start: Sunday January 24,2027: 14:00-18:00 (CET), opening session (mandatory).                                                               14:00–18:00 (CET) 13:00-17:00 (BST) | 08:00-12:00 (EDT)
  • Closing: Saturday, January 30, 2027, 14:00–18:00 (CET), closing session (mandatory).14:00–18:00 (CET) 13:00-17:00 (BST) | 08:00-12:00 (EDT)

 

  • Monday to Friday (January 25–29, 2027):

Morning: guided practice aligned with the theme of the day. Recordings available.                                                                   7:30–8:00 (CET) | 6:30 - 7:00 (CET)

Midday: daily email reflection to support practice in everyday life

Evening: group sharing, questions, and deepening teachings. 19:00–20:30 (CET) 18:00 - 19:30 (BST) | 14:30 (EDT) | 12:30 (MDT)

Suitability

  • Open to all - new and experienced practitioners alike.
  • This retreat is open to people with all levels of experience in meditating and Buddhist study and practice. It may be of particular interest to those who wish to explore the dynamics of a sense of self and the challenges which come along with such on a pragmatic and experiential level. 

Cost

  • This course is offered on a dana basis – you will be asked to make an additional monetary donation at the end of the course to support the livelihood of the teachers.
  • If you are unable to afford the our basic course rate, please contact us here. We will make sure that no one is turned away because of lack of funds.

Recordings

  • Evening instructions for the following day are recorded and made available.

  • Personal sharing and evening sessions are not recorded.

Teachers

AKINCANO M. WEBER is a European Buddhist teacher and psychotherapist (MA). A former monk, he has lived and practised for 20 years in European and Thai Forest monasteries. His particular interests are early Buddhist texts, stillness and contemplative psychology. He is the guiding teacher of Atammaya Cologne, Germany, part of the CPP programme and of several Mindfulness teacher training courses, and teaches meditation and Buddhist Psychology in secular and traditional contexts in Europe and overseas. 

 

ULLA KÖNIG is an insight meditation teacher based near Stuttgart, Germany, offering retreats and workshops in Germany and internationally.with a trauma-sensitive approach and a strong focus on integrating the teachings into everyday life. She has a deep love for studying the texts of the Pali Canon, which informs and enriches her teaching. Ulla is the author of several books, including “Uncovering the Roots.” More information can be found at www.ulla-koenig.com