Spiritual Retreat with Samyama Healing Centre | Samyama Foundation - April 2024
- in eternal aum consciousness
- Apr 28, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: May 1, 2024
Booking on intuition:
I just decided and booked the tickets as Parag, my friend from dubai and Hetal informed me about the retreat on phone and WhatsApp. This was an inner calling. I usually don't do this, but this time, i did. They have been calling me since many years. Its the first time, I have said yes.
I know Parag for many years now, at a professional level. But this trip has made a soul connection with Parag, Hetal and everyone in the retreat!
You can get more details about the event and the organization here.
Please go through the site and especially the blogs...i was stunned to read about the soul journey in such an objective manner! Straight between the eyes...
I had attended an event in Thane many years back which was a fire meditation event. I did not feel much difference that time. I was not ready maybe?
Its never an issue with the transmission by Guruji, the issue is always with receiving. Some who are ready, recieve, others don't. So it's in our hands to be able to receive, to increase our reception by our sadhana.
Guru "element" is manifested everywhere, all around us, as it's pure consciousness, with the sole aim of "sarva loka kalyanam". It is selfless service in spirtual domain, the highest level of contribution or help anyone can do. The pure consciousness manifests as a guru in a human form, as ideas, as people, as things and as events, everything at the right time to guide and nurture the journey of the soul ahead.
As I packed my bags with my two essentials, meditation cushion and my travel shankh, i was ready to move!
The cord cutting, energy ball and salt bath techniques learnt before the travel as practises to be done daily, reminded me of the level one pranic healing training done many years back. I could not connect to energy healing at that time... This time, it's time to reexplore, revisit and restudy it.
I realise, that body, energy and mind are the tools to accomplish the "sarva loka kalyananam" goal. So whatever needs to be done to the annamya, pranamaya and Manomaya kosha, has to be done, to improve their efficiency, so that I can play the various roles properly for value addition.
What makes samyama different:
The non insistence of rituals, a non commercial approach, non preaching, no talks on religious books, no lineage of gurus, interactive question and answer sessions, focus on well-being of seekers, make samyama a unique organization. This is unlike any other.
I come from the madhuradwaita sampradaya, a branch of varkari sampradaya, in maharashtra, based on nath sampradaya where our satguru is sant dyneshwars disciple, gulabrao maharaj. Our 5 dieties are Shiva Parvati, krishna radhe and dyneshwar mauli. Our philosophy is adwaita by adi shankaracharya. Our foundation is on adwaita and bhatki. We have a set of elaborate rituals. Born in the holy city of kashi, i am drawn into spirituality since a young age. It was only in the last few years, that the true journey began.
Samyama is in effect, a different organization, than our sampradaya. Many are tightly bound to their sampradaya and refuse to look at any other. I see every sampradaya/organisation as a different manifestation, to bring about a new dimension of spirituality. Samyama is unique, interesting and appealing.
The itenary:
Usually one would expect the spiritual retreat to be a full day events with morning to evening yoga meditation etc. This was so different. Many sight seeing events during the day and a few satsangs was carefully planned. This made the trip very effective and fun. The places for sightseeing were decided, largely to be with nature and absorb the high energies in these places.
Diet:
Parag introduced to me a method of diet he is following since a month, has lost lot of weight (and reversed his medical parameters which were slightly off) in a months time. This is an amazing insight. This inspires me to take-up similar action.
He also introduced me to an Online free Yoga program, something that he does every day.
The travel
The flight to Chandigarh from Mumbai was followed by a bus ride to the shivalik resorts.
At the resort. An amazing welcome drink of various flavours, to each of us, with a flower given to us in our hand, as we entered! What an amazing gesture. This itself showcased the meticulous planning by the organizers.
A nice veg lunch followed by sleep and we were ready for a small get together as more people joined from Dubai, Australia, India!
Anahata naada:
The anahata naada got louder and louder, looking at the hills, the evening, the breeze, the chai and the pakodas!
You can also listen to the anahata naada within by following these steps! Described as one of the 112 methods in bhairav tantra, this is the easiest way to anchor the mind and increase the level of awareness at all times.
Visit to a monastery:
The dedication of Tibetan people to rebuild what they lost as they migrated to India in the 1960s is amazing. Its true that you can take away someone's possessions, but can never take away someone's spirit. This is a replica of a Tibetan monastery and we came at the right time, when a 24x7 special prayer was being conducted, which happens once in a lifetime of the head lama! What a blessing!!
The chanting along with drums and gongs was creating a fantastic effect. As i closed my eyes, i did not realise, how much time has passed by, until i made it just in time for the group picture!
Meditation session:
The session of meditation in the evening was enlightening. The difference between relaxation and meditation by guruji was cleared for everyone. The importance of basic practises like cord cutting and energy ball was emphasized. The role of family life to complete the experiences of the soul was well understood. Mere presence of guruji and ma was enough to immerse all of us in their aura. This is the power of satsang. Whether they speak or not, the mere proximity does wonders.
Lot of questions got answered for participants. Three hours just went by!
Surprisingly i had no questions to ask. As i get the right guidance when i sit in silence through various sources which appear on their own! I have no where to go, nothing to seek, as i am clear about the two goals of life... As of now!
Jeevanmukti
Sarava loka kalyanam
Sharing of experiences by participants.
Participants shared some amazing experiences of healing at all levels, physical, emotional, financial etc. I cant share the specifics here, but it's nothing but a miracle, which was experienced by many. This is the power of healing!
Meeting Mr Garg:
Among other interesting friends, i met Mr Garg, the owner of the resort, as he was enjoying himself over a drink in the evening. We bonded instantly, as if we are buddies, long lost!
In our group, the participants were politely avoiding him, as he was having a drink and it is perceived in a negative way in general.
However, When i see Mr Garg, i see glimpses the divine in him, just as Shankaracharya saw the divine in a person in kashi who was drunk and was from the mahasmashana. This seemingly avoidable person was an incarnation of lord Shiva himself, to enlighten shankaracharya! ... Maybe Mr Garg appeared to teach me the same lesson to look beyond the physical domain, into the consciousness itself.
This short 5 mins video is a must watch.
What someone does, does not matter, as long as the intention or action is harmless. I see his having a drink in his own resort, happily, as a positive sign. He was very sharp and could see even a small bit of paper on the floor, which was immediately cleaned up.
I know that there are no positives and no negatives, as it's one consciousness, manifested everywhere.
Here I am playing the role of participant of samyama retreat, so my interaction has to be limited with him, thought I see only joy and happiness manifested when he meets me.
A successful, loving person, right now, under the influence of alcohol, is the external appearance. I wonder what is the pain, to forget which, he has to resort to alcohol, only to repeat the cycle next day... Often the laughter hides pain. I remember this shayari...
Deep within, i realise, i feel, i know, he is a pure soul blessed by osho...
He has a large library of Osho books and pictures in the resort. We had a brief discussion on this topic.
Here is how beautiful one of the corners of the resort looks.
Bus rides and jokes with music!
The organisers had split the group into 3 buses. Purple, blue and orange.
Our bus was called the blue bus and we were named blue birds! The number of jokes, singing and laughter we had in the travel and otherwise was unbelievable, thanks to the jovial nature of Parag, Hetal and Neenaji.
Train ride:
A narrow guage train ride followed... By some amazing goodies in the travel for munching in the compartment. Here we are at the station and then in the train!
This is a competition between me and Parag, on who does the Vivekananda pose better! Just for fun!
As i walked down, i saw a small boy. I just gave him a KitKat which was in my bag. The happiness on his face was priceless! He just smiled, his eyes lit up. The act was spontaneous and natural. He did not hide his expression. No wonder, kids are called manifestation of the divine itself in its purest form.
Reading blogs
Afternoons were spent studying the blogs of samyama. There is a lot of learn from here. Thank you Hardik to guide me into the reading.
Wine connection:
Kailash and his brother Ravi owned York vineyards in nasik, which was sold off to Sula some time back. We discovered a common connection sid Banerjee, who's my dear friend and founder of Apex wine club, India! Its a small world, indeed!
Heritage park:
The temple in the park is very peaceful. Sitting in silence here was amazing. Again was called, when it was time to leave.
The shiva idol there had a light reflection at the third eye. Animish yoga (non blinking with half eyes closed) was done for a few minutes, before heading back.
We need more such parks that promote our ancient culture and traditions.
Shankhnaad at the resort.
Morning sessions were with shankhnaad in the room. As the anahata sound was high, the shankhnaad experience was at a different level.
Discussion with Hardik and Harsh
A late night discussion followed where hardik got to know of souls love and inner aum sound methods.
Hardiks experience with souls love.
Hardik had a pain in his shoulder and hence invoked the souls love healing method in the bus on the way to ropeway. By the time he got off the bus. He had no pain in the shoulder joint and could move his arm. He was amazed at its effectiveness!
Harshs and Hardiks experience with inner sound.
Both brothers could hear the inner sound almost in an instant as soon as they did the 4 steps! If the mind is silent, one can anchor with the inner om sound immediately. You can too, when you follow these steps and immerse yourself in anahata naada.
Visit to the ropeway after 1996
We came to this ropeway in 1996 during a trip to Himachal. I never thought, i would be back here after so many years! When i reached , I recollected the amazing memories. The breathtaking view from the ropeway is still the same!
Satsang at Timber trail:
Some of the key learnings from this satsang with mahayogi Madhukarji and ma Aaditiji. I have put what I have learnt into ( ).
The purification process has to be done, (which according to me is highlighted in yamas and niyamas in yoga, which are largely ignored). Directly jumping to meditation is of no use.
Selfless service or seva is the easiest way for purification. As it diminishes ego, gives without expectations of returns and is for all being of all. (I have transformed all my activities into loka kalyanam, a different perspective).
Following the spiritual path while fulfilling the family roles is challenging and only the brave, who have the courage to face things as they are, and the resolve to take action. ( This is possible when you know that the fear is associated to a desire which is linked to a role. And as you are the self and not a role, there is nothing to fear!)
Learn from the patterns in life, otherwise they keep repeating. (Important to learn and journal it)
Meditation can not be done. It happens. (I have yet to reach this stage)
The difference between relaxation and meditation by guruji was cleared for everyone. (the mind has more tricks with it, than one can imagine!)
The importance of basic practises like cord cutting and energy ball was emphasized. (Its time to make these a part of my daily routines)
Evening bonfire and dance:
Amazing energy and Josh with everyone dancing around the fire. There was a dance competition, which Alicia and Diva from Dubai won! They even had a dance on arabic number. Samyama is truly international and in universal!
Meeting Raja:
I noticed that, during the bon fire, Raja was not dancing much. He shared that his lungs capacity has reduced now.
Post COVID, Raja is facing this health challenge. Introduced him to shakhnaad to strengthen his lungs, shared my homeopaths number and some more information that would possibly help him. Taking action is in our hands. Results will follow with discipline and patience. I recalled a extract taken from skanda purana kashi khanda.
To read more about shankhnaad
Morning meditation:
Facing the sun, on the terrace restaurant, a solo meditation session in silence was done as per Guruj's guidance in one of the talks, where he advised to spend time alone, connecting to the divine energies in this region. Whenever I got a chance to do this, I did. This is a different experience as the energy in the Himalayas is entirely at a different level altogether. Higher the level, lesser the crowd, more the energy! I have to now list down places like these!
Gratitude:
Thanks to all the volunteers, Anishji, Hetalji, Ariptaji, Neenaji and many others for this amazing experience. Everything was so well planned and timely, i thought, i am in Japan!
All the pictures in this blog are courtesy Hetal. Thank you so much for capturing the precious moments.
Friends for life:
I have made some great friends for life, discussing issues, offering and taking advice, having meals together, laughing at silly jokes, discussing business opportunities and more!
Key learning:
I had largely ignored the energy domain, in my journey. Time has come up focus on the soul quality and purity along with effective energy management. The loka kalyanam projects through all the business are projected to grow 10 times in the next few years! My personal capacity to handle them will only come through effective planning, management and implementation of prana energy. A new perspective, a new direction to perform havans, something i am drawn to recently and will start soon.
Some more thoughts:
While Shiva is the truth a witness, Shakti is the energy, that manifests itself, as adi Maya to create the universe. To progress ahead, one engages with Shakti without greed and fear, after blessings from Shiva are bestowed, meaning the realisation of self, that there is no self is clear. It is only then that the dance of zero and infinity begins. Without clarity of self, engaging with Shakti is like playing with raw electricity without any insulation!
Our Devi devtas are symbolic.. Look at there they are pointing, through all the stories and get the message. Looking at their gross form is the beginning. Imbibing their special qualities is progress. Merging with the divine itself is moksha.
Blessing:
May you imbibe the energies of the Himalayan masters as you read this blog.
Action ahead:
Do explore samyama foundation and register for their next event, to heal, meditate and evolve as a soul. This is the greatest service you can do to your self! Keep in touch with samyama on their social media pages. Please look at their social media pages and follow them.
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A life transforming retreat!!