Skills For Awakening

By the beginning of September, the monsoon (rainy season) is generally over and the fall/winter season gradually begins. During the day the temperature is very pleasant, blue sky with occasional showers. The temperature drops gradually during the afternoon. The evenings are cool, perfect for a light sweater or shawl. It will get a little cooler towards the end of the month. We suggest you to bring a umbrella for those rainy days.

In our plan retreats during May/June the weather is pleasant and warm. The early mornings are cool and the sun comes up over the mountains at around 10. Remember, we are in the mountains, so always bring something to keep warm.

Each Immersion will be limited to the capacity of the hotel. At present, it can host 24 people. We will all stay together at the hotel.

This retreat is more about “being” than “doing”, and there is one key for that: to simply continue dropping into your Heart at every moment you find yourself out of it. In the “down times,” when there is no an activity at the retreat home or at the ashram, we have the greatest chance to observe and befriend ourselves more intimately. There will be plenty of time to spend on your own. You may choose to journal, enjoy the nature around the retreat home, read, make new friends, contemplate, exercise, play, etc.

It is our intention to offer a daily Satsang, an informal gathering to share the experiences, insights, challenges, joys of the day. A time for reflecting, learning from one-another, for questions and answers, a time to relax and continue to be the witness for our private and common process. A time for singing and friendship. There might be also opportunities for seva (service) at the ashram.

Although this is not a Yoga (asana) retreat, Durga will offer a daily Hatha Yoga class you can join. It will include Pranayama (breath work), Asana (physical work), Mantra practice and Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation). This will take place in the meeting room/lounge of our retreat home. During our retreat, this space will be fully private to our use. If you want to do your Yoga, or Tai chi, or Qigong practice individually, you can do so in this room during the times there isn’t a guided class going, or in your own bedroom if you prefer. Please don’t do yoga asana or other physical practice is in the ashram/temple grounds.

We invite you to:

1. Read about Maharaji Neem Karoli Baba. Several books have been written about his life, miracles, teachings. A few options are: Be Here Now, Be Love Now and Miracle of Love by Ram Dass; and the last publication is a wonderful compilation of stories from a few Westerners who met Maharaji in the 70’s, “Love Everyone” by Parvati Markus.
2. Practice the HeartSourcing skills from our website. If not familiar with HeartSourcing, get to have a feel of what we will be practicing to support our process of being in Kainchi.
3. Listen to kirtan, particularly by Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Bhagavan Das and others. Listening to devotional music/chanting, and perhaps singing along, is a powerful practice that prepares our heart to receive. It calms the mind, gives us joy and deepens our devotion.

Kainchi Valley and the ashram of Neem Karoli Baba are a sacred gem in the Kumaon area of North India. Surrounded by high hills, river, forest preserves is a natural beauty that merges with the sacred energy of a land visited by sages and saints. You will have the opportunity to spend time in the ashram meditating or chanting or contemplating, or simply being. You can also participate on the daily ashram activities, such as aarti and puja to the different deities and, if and when Siddhi Ma (the mother of the ashram and the saint of this part of India) gives darshan, you will be able to be on her presence.

Back at the retreat home, you will have the change to dive deep into HeartSourcing and other powerful practices to deepen your experience. Skillful Self-effort makes us into capable recipients of grace even while all spiritual practice is upheld by grace. Here are some of the sadhana activities we will offer you:

• HeartSourcing Meditation, to nurture yourself deeply from the inner Source of all-encompassing love, the seed of true happiness, the true sad-guru, which is within you always
• Satsang with Ramgiri & Durga, to connect and strengthen your heart, support and help each other, get answers to questions, or more questions to answers, and celebrate the presence of the guru in each other
• The Work of Byron Katie, to clear the habitual stress of the mind and find the peace that a deeper truth can bring
• Open Attention, to bring harmony to your emotions, live in the unburdened present and learn the precise use of Self-love as the best medicine
• Yoga Asana, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, for its original purpose: to make the body pliant, able to absorb Shakti and grace and to feel resilient in periods of inner absorption
• Bhakti Yoga practices, such as kirtan (devotional chanting), Hanuman Chalisa practice (a prayer to Hanuman the monkey god), opportunities for seva (service to guru), temple worship and more. Devotion opens us to all-encompassing love, to the peace and the exhilarating compassion and wisdom of our hearts. It helps us live in loving awareness.

Please NOTE You can participate in these offerings as much or as little as you feel drawn to do. We trust your wisdom mind’s ability to guide you in that.