Past Retreats at SASP
2002
Tuesday,
December 31st, 2002
New Year's Eve
We celebrated the New Year with a mid-night meditation on December 31st. The get-together started at 10:30 p.m. and included a bonfire and snacks. A study group on the message for the New Year from the readings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo also was held..
Saturday,
December 21st 2002
Bhakti
This month our topic was Bhakti, which means devotion in Sanskrit. The activities centered around cultivating this spiritual quality and its role in the Integral Yoga. We brought quotes on the subject and shared them for the evening study group. As usual, we also had the regular retreat activities of collective chanting and meditation, karma yoga, potluck meals, volleyball, and children's activities.
Saturday,
November 16-17th, 2002 (Mother's Mahasamadhi Day)
Mother's Agenda
& Mahasamadhi Day Darshan
The retreat on this month took place over the weekend. The subject on Saturday was "Mother's Agenda", a chronicle of Mother's experiences and spiritual instruction which spans 13 volumes. We focused on the aspect of Mother's experience and sadhana of the physical transformation which she was undergoing especially in the later stages of her life. In the afternoon we had a retreat meeting to decide the course of future retreats. As usual, we also had the regular retreat activities of collective chanting and meditation, karma yoga, potluck meals, volleyball, and children's activities. On Sunday we started with a Darshan meditation at 6:00 a.m. and then tried to find a way to express our love and devotion and gratitude to Mother on this special day, through flower offerings, music, poetry, etc. The group dispersed after lunch.
Saturday
October 19th, 2002
Food and Consciousness
On this month our topic was food from a spiritual point of view. How is our consciousness affected by: the kind of food we choose, the consciousness with which it is prepared and eaten, the influence of food desire, the role of hygiene, health of the body, etc.? In the morning we had a small introductory talk and meditation which was followed up with a study group in the evening session in which we shared applicable quotes and passages from Mother and Sri Aurobindo on the subject. We attempted to prepare the collective meals this month with extra consciousness, and we tried to offer and eat the meals as well with concentration that it was prasad, absorbing as much spiritual nourishment as possible. As usual, we also had the regular retreat activities of collective chanting and meditation, karma yoga, potluck meals, volleyball, and children's activities.
