Archive: Past retreats at SASP
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Friday, December 31st
New Year's Eve
We had our annual bonfire this New Year's Eve in which we offered our aspirations for the coming year. To bring in the new year we all rang bells at the stroke of midnight which was followed by a short meditation with Mother's Music.
Saturday, December
18th
Birth of the Light
Our retreat this month was close to the Winter Solstice and Christmas, a time when the days start to get lighter and warmer, when there is a symbolic lifting of the darkness and the "birth" or "rebirth" of the Light. We tried during this retreat to cultivate an attitude of joy and gratitude for the Grace of the Divine and the renewal of life and light. The activities focused around this theme included an original play put on by the youth, a collective reading of Savitri interspersed with Sunil-da's Savitri music, some storytelling, and the regular volleyball and karma yoga work projects.
Saturday,
Novemer 20th
Remembering
the Mother
In this month of Mother's Mahasamadhi, our theme was about remembering Her. There was a conscious effort to "remember our remembering" through some focused exercises and during the day in our work projects and mealtimes, etc. Additionally, we had a flower arranging project with Mother's spiritual significances which turned out all very beautifully around the altar. We also had the regular retreat activities of karma yoga, collective chanting, volleyball (weather permitting), children's activities, pot-luck meals, etc.
Saturday, October
16th
Creativity with Mother's Music
On this month our focus was on opening to the Mother's Music and expressing our connection to that music through art, poetry, and other forms of expression. We did some work of painting the fence, working on our barn roof, harvesting olives and walnuts, and other tasks. In the afternoon we appreciated everyone's art, including the childrens 'Wonder Town.'
Saturday, September
18 & Sunday, September 19th
Auro-Family Reunion
We had our second Auro-Family Reunion on
this weekend. We dug lotus ponds, hauled away the brush pile,
and worked on other important projects like garden transplanting,
laying a cobblestone walkway, and doing a mailing.
Some of us participated in a little creative
storytelling around the fire saturday night and on sunday we had
an interesting group discussion about future auro-family reunions.
Narad Eggenberger joined us for a day focused on Service. He shared some wonderful stories about his work with the Service Tree in the Pondicherry Ashram courtyard and in the Matrimandir Gardens where Mother asked him to work when he was in Auroville. Through his simple, hearfelt and magical narration we could see a world where one exists only with the aspiration to serve the Mother.
Friday, July 16th
- Sunday, July 18th
The Life Divine Upon Earth
This year's annual camping retreat was
held at the Sanborn Park near San Jose. We had long hikes through
the hilly forests and enjoyed the many wonders of being alone
in nature. Our special guests, Dr. Nadkarni and his wife, spent
a day with us.
Friday, June 18th
- Sunday, June 20th
Savitri Immersion with Rod
Hemsell
Rod Hemsell joined us from SALC in Baca, Colorado and led us on an intensive journey of Savitri readings, complimented by readings from Mother's Agenda. Our intention was to become fully immersed in the mantric power of Savitri as a means for the consciousness to reach a higher state.
Saturday, June
5th & Sunday, June 6th
Auro-Family Reunion
We had the first Reunion for those interested in Auroville and Mother's city of human unity. It was an occasion to honour our dearest June Maher and her work for the cause, beside being an enjoyable getting together and working together. Among several projects we dismantled the shed and started raising the barn roof- the initial phase of the process of expanding the ashram complex. It was especially gratifying to have some of the original pioneer-workers from the Auroville foundation.
Saturday, May 15th
Secret
of the Veda
A triune Veda presentation in May covered 1) Vak (the sacred Word ) of the Veda; 2) the aim of the Vedic Rishis and their path, the gods and their function in the inner sacrifice, and the Sun of Truth; 3) the experience of the Vedic Agni. We were also joined by Shantanu Bhattacharyya, a renowned classical Indian vocal artist connected with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch, who performed Vedic chanting. Other regular retreat activities of karma yoga, volleyball, children's activities, pot-luck meals, etc. took place as usual.
Saturday, April
17th 2004
Surprises
of the way and Its Only Demand
We were happy to have Ron Jorgensen from
the Lotus Center in Washington state join us this month for a
unique presentation on 1)Surprise in Difficulty, 2)Surprise in
Ease, 3)Surprise in Kairos (fulfilled time) for Chronos (measured
time). We explored each of these surprises of the Way so that
the One Demand (asked of us by Sri Aurobindo) can be met. For
this we explored the actual conditions and examples all and any
of us face. Whatever you braught to the weekend was welcomed in
our work together. We also had the regular retreat activities
of karma yoga, volleyball, children's activities, pot-luck meals,
etc. during the rest of the day.
Saturday, March 20th 2004
Perfection
of the Instruments: mental - vital - physical
This month, Debashish Banerjee from the Sri Aurobindo Center of Los Angeles joined us to give a talk and follow-up study group on the subject of the mental, vital and physical manifesting instruments of our being, what would constitute their perfection and how we can use our everyday lives as opportunities for self-perfection.
Participants brought quotations or passages that they found helpful or inspiring on the subject. As usual wel also had the regular retreat activities of karmayoga, volleyball, Children's activities, and pot-luck meals, etc. and a Retreat Meeting.
Saturday, February
21st
Mother's Birthday Darshan:
A New Birth
February 21st in The Mother's birthday. This month we were very happy to welcome Lynda Lester from the Sri Aurobindo Circle of Boulder, CO to be with us on this special occasion. Lynda gave a visually dynamic presentation on The Mother in two parts. Throughout the day we invoked Mother's Presence in various ways, trying to become more conscious and receptive to Her workings. As usual we had other regular retreat activities of light karma yoga, volleyball, children's activities, pot-luck meals, etc.
Saturday, January
17th
Spiritual Poetry
In this retreat we explored the yoga through poetry. We had a presentation and discussion of Sri Aurobindo's view of future poetry and together wrote a collective poem exemplifying this type of poetry in the morning session. In the evening we read and discussed various poems selected by the participants related to yoga or spirituality. Other regular retreat activities of light karma yoga, volleyball, children's activities, pot-luck meals, etc.went on as usual.
