Archive: Past retreats at SASP
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This month our retreat theme was on Joy, and we delved into the subject in order to discover what true joy, delight and happiness are all about. We reflected on it and brought our thoughts and any quotations or passages that we found helpful or inspiring on the subject.
Saturday,
November 15th
Auroville:
The Mother's Legacy
As November is the month of Mother's Mahasamadhi Day (on the 17th), we took a look at Auroville, the City of Human Unity, that she worked on as one of the last great manifestations of her life. Bhavana, a long-time resident member of Auroville since it's early days, was with us to discuss Auroville from this special viewpoint. Some of shared an experience of auroville or gave a quick overview of a project that we had participated in there, that was helpful for the evening discussion and sharing circle. We also proposed a voluntary donation that could be offered to Village Action, or Matrimandir, or the Land Fund, as our way of showing gratitude to the Mother.
Saturday,
October 18th
The
Mystic Fire and The Mother's Force
This month we were happy to welcome once again Karunamayi, the accomplished singer from Delhi Ashram. Karunamayi has made vocal music the medium of her spiritual sadhana for most of her life. She lead us in a collective endeavor to invoke the inner fire of aspiration and the answering Force of the Divine Mother through mantra and music. In the evening there was a talk by Rick Lipschutz on Agni and the Divine Mother and a discussion on what helps to build one's own aspiration, and what opens one to the Mother's Force. Some brought an experience to share, a passage to read or a poem, painting, etc.
Saturday, September
20th
Teamwork
Once a year we have been delighted to have
the children volunteer to organize the retreat. Ranging in age
from 3 to 13, these kids are regular participants of the retreats.
This month the focus was on TEAMWORK. We needed a youthful energy
as many of the activities were going on outdoors. We pondered
about teamwork in a yogic sense and how it relates to our own
experience. We had a story-telling session in the evening on the
subject. We also had the regular retreat activities of karma yoga,
pot-luck meatls, etc.
Saturday,
August 16th
Darshan
Day: Sri Aurobindo's Birthday
As August is Sri Aurobindo's birthday month,
we focused our retreat around Sri Aurobindo, his life, and his
place in our lives. In keeping with the spirit of our retreats,
we all tried to come prepared to consecrate the day to Him in
any and all forms that we could. We brought our reflections and
insightful quotations. This month we also held our regular planning
meeting to determine the course of the future retreats and collective
activites, so our feedback and ideas were welcome and essential.
We also held regular retreat activities of collective chanting,
meditation, karma yoga, children's projects, pot-luck meals, volleyball,
etc.
Friday - Sunday
July 18th - 20th
Camping Retreat at D.L. Bliss State Park
(near Lake Tahoe)
This month we held our 3 day annual Camping
Retreat at D.L. Bliss State Park in N. California (on the southwest
side of Lake Tahoe, about 100 miles from Sacramento).
Saturday,
June 21st
Nad Brahman: The Seach for the Divine
through Music
This month we were truly blessed
as Karunamayi, the accomplished singer from Delhi Ashram, was
with us. Karunamayi has made vocal music the medium of her spiritual
sadhana for over 40 years. She lead us on a collective journey
to find the Divine in sound through the instrument of our joined
voices. In the evening there was a sharing of musical expressions
of aspiration and devotion, so participants brought with them
songs or musical instruments fit for the musical soiree.
Saturday,
May 17th
Our Practice of Collective Sadhana
This was a retreat for introspection
on how we practice the yoga in the collective setting at the retreats,
and how we can deepen this practice. Why do we come? What do we
receive and what do we bring? Can the collective and individual
consciousness be raised? How can our collective practice become
more sincere?
We brought our reflections and any helpful quotations. We also
had our regular retreat activities of collective chanting and
meditation, karma yoga, children's projects, pot-luck meals, volleyball,
etc.
Saturday
& Sunday, April 19th - 20th
Sri Aurobindo's Symbol
This month, the retreat took place over 2 days as there was a major renovation project with the Sri Aurobindo Symbol garden. The work was seasoned by several short meditations on the symbol and its aspects and meaning as given by Mother. Participants were asked to bring a quotation or image of one aspect of the symbol that particularly appealed to them: Sat, Chit, or Ananda of the descending triangle, and life, light or love of the ascending (aspiring) triangle.
Saturday,
March 15th
War, Peace and World Harmony
At this retreat we tried to understand the reasons why nations fight and the conditions Sri Aurobindo says are necessary for everlasting peace on earth. We had readings from a variety of sources to help us gain Sri Aurobindo's perspective on a subject that is so relevant today in light of the present world happenings.
Saturday,
February 15th
Beauty
The Mother has said that, in the Physical, the Divine manifests as Beauty. This retreat we focused on this Divine aspect of Beauty, present and future, and how more to make beauty a part of our daily lives. There was a hands on project to create something of beauty and a slide show in the evening of Huta's Savitri paintings along with Sunil-da's music. Some brought inspiring quotations to share on Beauty.
Saturday,
January 18th
Poetry in the Integral Yoga
This month we explored the realm of spiritual poetry and the ascent of consciousness with readings from poems of Sri Aurobindo and other poets. The relation of music and poetry was also explored. Participants brought a sample of some poetry that they liked to share with the group. We had a chance to write poetry as well in the afternoon session.
As usual, we also had the regular retreat activities of collective chanting and meditation, karma yoga, children's projects, volleyball, pot-luck meals, etc.
