beginner's mind

What is the proposal?

This practical course challenges us to recover and enhance our youthful, curious, open and attentive mind, which is often forgotten amidst internal turmoil and external tasks and stimuli.

The presentation of the content and the techniques adopted aim to make participants more adept at their meditation practice and more capable of meditating and guiding meditation in an autonomous, exploratory, and independent way.

What journey is this?

This meditation course aims, in a highly practical way, to recover the fresh and renewed perspective characteristic of the Beginner's Mind, developing full presence in each moment and in any circumstance.

We will explore meditation from diverse origins and sources of applicability, which will anchor us again and again in the present moment, with the vitality that the here and now reveals to us.

We will use our body as a reference, our attention as a compass, and our breath as a flow in this permanent return to ourselves.

We will emphasize learning through personal experience and the expansion of consciousness from within, cultivating the presence of the Beginner's Mind.

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4 in-person encounters, on week-ends from 10:30am to 6:30pm

4 online live meetings via Zoom

The practice includes

Guided meditations inspired by various currents and authors

Closed and open eye meditation

Meditation indoors and in nature

Mindfulness and breathing techniques

Conscious movement and meditative walking

Free writing as meditation

Deep listening and sharing circle

Recommended Bibliography

“Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind”
(Shunryu Suzuki)

“Meditation — The First and Last Freedom”
(Osho)

How will it work?

People interested in integrating the practice of meditation in their lives and beginners in meditation who want to explore techniques and promote consistency in their practice: “Learn to meditate by practicing meditation”.

Meditation experts who feel like going deeper into meditation with guidance, support and in a group: “Today and always, meditate as if it were the first time”.

Teachers, educators, parents, therapists, coaches and health professionals who want to develop meditation in their lives and bring meditation to the world around them: “Meditation is for everyone”.

This journey is specially created for:

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but few in the expert's mind

— Shunryu Suzuki (zen master)

Course Workload

40 hours

32 hours in person + 8 hours online

4 days in-person

week-ends from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM

4 online sessions

Wednesday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

live via Zoom

recording sent later

Dates

IN PERSON

13, 14 March

10, 11 April

ONLINE

17, 24, 31 March

7 April

Location

Meditation House Porto

32 hours in person

8 hours online live

group practices and support

Travel

Overnight Accommodation

Lunch (available kitchen with fridge, microwave, stove and oven)

Number of People

Minimum 4 Participants

Maximum 12 Participants

How will it work?

Includes

Not Included

An integrative meditation teacher and researcher into breathwork and the holding of psycho-emotional landscapes, he is the creator of the educational, therapeutic, and community-based projects Meditation House Porto and Ursa Parda.

For 15 years, he has explored the intersections of meditation, breathwork, nervous system co-regulation, and new ways of inhabiting the body, places, and relationships within modern society. He facilitates practice groups and teacher training courses, circles for mindful and creative masculine presence, breathwork study groups, and journeys dedicated to holding space for individual, community, and ecological grief. He co-created Ursa Parda as both a practice and a school set within native woodlands and the stone-and-water landscapes of the Leça Valley; it is a space designed to heal the rift between humans and nature and to weave together ways of returning to, belonging to, and caring for the land.

His work is grounded in an academic background in Economics and Sports Science, as well as a professional career in business management. He is the author of the books A Prova do José (Chiado, 2017) and Volição: a Vida como Meditação (Moonlight, 2026), both of which explore themes of social and cultural questioning.

About the Teacher

Nuno Miguel Teixeira

Marie Manuelle

Incredible. The teacher Nuno is an excellent guide and teacher, simultaneously firm and flexible, straightforward yet very attentive and respectful of the states and rhythms of knowledge integration of his students. The greatest value was the applicability of the course to life and the presence and support of the teacher between sessions.

David McNeill

Nuno and his guest teachers taught us about the meditative approach to life throughout the course’s duration. We explored many different modalities and perspectives while also discovering the meditation teacher in us all. New students and experienced practitioners alike can benefit from these teachings that remind us to see the world through a beginner’s eyes full of joy and wonder.

Testimonials

Foster Hodge

The group exploration methodology is incredible, such a perfect combination of elements. This kind of depth of contemplative and meditative practice with sharing and support is truly a sweet spot. The main value was creating and maintaining a daily meditation practice in a much deeper way.

Nuno Saldanha

The meditation course gave me a greater ability to live in the moment, to be present. In a world where immediacy has become the norm, being able to stop and live in the moment is, in my view, a skill to be cultivated.

Application

Fill out the form.

Send us a brief text outlining your motivations for participating, as well as your experience with meditation and body-based practices.

We will get in touch as soon as possible to let you know if your application has been approved.

Once approved, you must finalize your participation by making the payment and sending proof of payment.

Payment in installments is available.

We look forward to learning about your intentions and background!

Frequently Asked Questions

What language will the course be taught in?
The course will be conducted in english, portuguese, or bilingual, depending on the participants.

Do I need any prior knowledge of meditation practices?
No. This course is suitable for anyone who wants to meditate, regardless of their experience.

Are you considering taking this training online?
No. This course was created for those who want to learn meditation by practicing in a circle, sharing the experience of sitting together in the same place. There are weekly online meetings via Zoom so we can practice together from home.

Is this training certified by DGERT or another entity?
No. A certificate of participation will be provided at the end, as a personal symbol of completion.

How much time do I need to dedicate to homework?
There is no homework. All creative proposals are included in the course workload. It is suggested that students read two books during the course, which can be read at their own pace.

What if I can't complete the entire program?
Ideally, you should have the required level of commitment. Participating in all modules and completing the course is essential. The in-person portion of the course is experiential, and the practical exercises are unique.

Am I qualified to teach meditation classes?
No. You are invited to proceed with the level II meditation course (Deep Silence).

How can I benefit from the Student or the Recycle price?
The Student price is for people who have already participated in any paid event or activity at Meditation House Porto. The Recycle price is for all participants from previous editions of this same course or journey who wish to continue working with a new group.

What if I want to cancel the course?
We do not refund the investment. Each case is evaluated individually.

(Un)learning, imagination, listening, presence.

WhatsApp +351 927 090 747
meditationhouseporto@gmail.com