Learn to be in the present moment from…a puppy.

Two weeks ago I guided a nice one week meditation retreat program. One of the highlights was a visit to a beautiful mountain temple (without tourists) about 45 minutes from where we live.

On our way we passed small Thai villages. Here you taste and feel real living without any stress. Half way we saw a huge white Buddha statue near another temple. Time to stop to take some pictures. 

When I got out of the car, out of nowhere, a happy and playful six-week old puppy from the temple came to me. Immediately I felt a connection and attracted to it. But what am I supposed to be doing with a temple-dog? Am I mad? Just leave it where it belongs, my first inner comment was.

After given some attention to the puppy and took some time to take pictures, we went back to the car again and left to our destination in the mountains. We organized a meeting for a monkchat and to practice several forms of meditation. A great opportunity and experience.

Strange enough the puppy was still coming up in my mind. Although not attracted and witnessing about this thought (but only watching as we learn during meditation) I could not get rid of the picture in my mind of the small dog. 

On our way back home I asked the driver to stop one more time at the place of the big white Buddha statue. I just had the idea that if the animal came to me again, it was mend to be for me/our family. Not a single puppy in sight! “Equanimity” they call it here. “Accept what is without resistance”.

I just wanted to go back into the car to leave, when six children came to me with the dog in there arms. Kadhow, they said. Does this mean present? No, that’s his name. They had a talk with a monk from that temple and they decided that I should have the dog but with the promise to take care of him in the best of ways.

To get a dog this way is an experience but then also you have all the responsibilities. Hmmm…?

We have ‘our’ puppy for about two weeks now. He seems to be a kind of Buddhist teacher. We found out he has a lot of wisdom. We think that we and also other people can learn a lot from him.

First lesson: Only be in the present moment.

The past is history, the future mystery, the present moment a present.

A puppy always is happy. Wants to play and (without judging) explore the things he or she is about to experience and learn in just that specific moment. A puppy is always only in the present moment.

Thinking about the past? What is past? Care/prepare about or for the future? Useless!

Equanimity. Always in balance, accept what is and the way it is. Don’t fight with yourself.

Mad to have a temple-puppy? Maybe not. To be continued.

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

No better marketing ...!

Marketing, it seems that everything has becoming crazier to pull your attention to buy  things that you don't actually need. Ever more inventive methods are used to  ensure that you “need” the products, the power is in fact,  the repetition, that you can’t go around and miss commercials. Billboards, moving texts or glowing leds. And especially ' screaming ' voices. “ You think I am crazy? ” ...?

Attract attention, attract attention and attract attention. Deliberately distracting you  from those matters where you actually would like to pay more attention to. Do you actually still know  what you wanted to do or what you were doing?

Just as you in the West (and to be honest also increasingly in the East) stumble over  the commercials. So you’re stumbling here over  temples and Buddha statues. Sometimes you can’t see the Buddha’s through the Buddha’s any more. There isn’t a better marketing, you might say.

However, this marketing, with the strength of repetition, is something completely different. These Buddha’s call for silence, intensification , rest, serenity and give some thought to what you are doing just this very moment.

Without screaming they call on to experience that you're not crazy at all and there is so much to find in yourself.

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

Why Villa-Asia programs in Thailand Asia?

A question I still get very often.

My answer, almost standard, is: "If you keep doing what you always did you get what you got."

If you really want to engage yourself in a transition, it requires to come out of your comfort zone and go fare away from your daily activities. You have to choose other approaches to look at issues, make an inner journey, and especially start with feeling and listening to your inner voice instead of almost exclusively think and be in your mind.

What we do within the Villa-Asia programs cannot (optimal) succeed in the Netherlands nor in Belgium or for example Greece or Spain. All participants who have experienced one of our programs or buddy-trajectories wholeheartedly endorse this meaning.

We palpable make use of the flora and fauna, surroundings, culture (Buddhism), the time difference, the facilities in the Northern part of Thailand (for instance waterfalls) and the influence of untouched soil and great energy present.

We conscious offer a unique location in the north-west of this beautiful country, near Burma (Myanmar). A unique location in our eyes away from mass tourism. Just another temporary (comfort) zone along with an appealing program and a fantastic guidance and care.

Thailand, the land of smiles. Friendly and helpful people who still accept and respect (also in terms of religion) people around.  A safe destination with little to no crime.
In Mae Rim, Chiang Mai province, the climate is tropical all year round. The average daytime temperature is between 20 and 35 ° C. There is space, clean air, no crowds and you will find real peace yet.

Our ‘Villa-Asia’ there has an impressive natural environment and offers a range of attractions and activities. Of tropical forests, mountains, waterfalls, many mountain streams, rivers, lakes, hiking, temples, canoeing, rafting, golf, tennis, horseback riding, swimming, cycling, moped / motorcycle, and not forget the exotic plants but also animals such as elephants, tigers and beautiful birds. In our programs we make use of various options.

At about 25 km is the center and the airport of Chiang Mai. The second city of Thailand with a large regional function, day and night markets and nightlife. A city that never sleeps.

Health care is a high level, very similar to the western standards. There are 3 hospitals in the area. The care is excellent (and inexpensive). Incidentally, it strikes us that the climate and the environment often make a positive contribution in any western health. Many health problems do not occur or less.

For us, the Mae Rim place with a super sense of our diverse range of programs 2012 - 2013 to our participants of Villa-Asia can offer.

With great pleasure we look forward to meet you to join.

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

Vicious circle

Vicious circle

 

If I keep looking

As I always have looked

I keep thinking

As I always thought.

If I keep thinking

As I always thought

I continue to believe

As I always believed.

 If I continue to believe

As I always believed,

I continue to do

As I've always done.

 If I keep doing

As I've always done

Everything will happen to me

 Like it always did.

But if I close my eyes

And feel my true self inside

Then I’ll come out of the circle

And I can always start again.

Anonymous

Want to have insight in your vicious circle and want to explore how to come out?
Maybe joining one of our Villa-Asia retreat programs is a unique way!

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

Just (also) take the first step!

What is it that Buddhist philosophy is becoming more and more attractive to Westerners in the rat race of their life? They go about their daily life, maybe aware that daily life is the only life they have. Most of the times not at all aware. Some of them are fine with it and some are not.

More and more people sense that something crucial may be missing from their existence. And they go searching for it. They experience that this missing link cannot be found in churches, or temples, or mosques; not even only in nature or in the love of another human being. After a while they realize that what they are searching for can only be found within themselves. That is the moment when the search for fulfillment, answers, solutions, meaning of life and life mission, really begins.

They come to Thailand to learn from the source. They take courses in meditation. They ‘taste’ the Buddhist philosophy as rational, as provided advice and instruction. They work on their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social part and take time to be aware of ‘feeling’ instead of only thinking and acting (running). They start up listening to the signals of their body and inner voice and experience how to get rid of their stress.

Their reward can be that they learned to be more relaxed, serene even, concentrate better, sleep better, improve their health and live in a more mindful way. This possible is their first ‘prize’. Then they go home and very often come back for more or for a recall.

When they take it a step further, they may cease being obsessed with work and the never ending pursuit after more and more expensive material things; they may start to understand other people better, become interested in and willing to help those who need their help with their natural talents and out of their life mission and by that become better people. This can be their second ‘prize’.

All in all, this seems to be the right path to take for those who are searching for their lost missing link. It is not a short cut. It is a long way to be travelled. But it is worth every step taken.  

Do you recognize? Feel you want to start your own search but do not know how? Admit to yourself that you need an easy way of ‘outside help’ to walk up together with you and/or be your guide?

You don’t have to become a monk or hermit, abandon your family for a long time or never go shopping again. Just take the first step and join one of our www.villa-asia.nl programs in South-east Asia.

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com