Retreats - Testimonials

Retreat: retreat from october 31 to november 11, 2022

 

I arrived without many expectations about what I would find, only many about what I was looking for. The absence of speech, for me, was not difficult, since I have always been a quiet person. The problem was when the constant silence of speech met with the constant chatter of the mind, which screamed and threw stones at the lining, like a parakeet, along with this, maintaining body awareness was no easy task.

The mind, which I thought before was a companion for adventures, proved to be extremely controlling, I felt it wanting to usurp my life, it was desperate, but at least I had the opportunity to look at it and know that I am not it.

Did I find what I was looking for? Of course not! One walks the path, and I am just at the beginning of mine.

Being here, in the City of Angels Ashram, brought me a North, a guideline full of truth and hope about which path I came to coexist. The work is luminous, intense, very committed and is an act of giving.

I am very grateful for the opportunity of this retreat in this sacred place, I felt very safe and welcomed.

God bless!

 

Retreat: retreat from october 04 to october 15, 2022

 

With the end of innocence, faced with a challenging world, I tried to face it. My goal was to become strong, physically and mentally. I dedicated years, decades of my life to developing my mind and body. The body through physical training and fighting, the mind through academic training, philosophy, and meaningful reading. I came in contact with meditation, but with the focus of controlling my emotions and directing my will. In the end I was able to reach my goals and accomplish my objectives. However, after so much time, so many techniques, so much effort, an emptiness remained. An emptiness that afflicted me, no matter how hard my mind tried to explain it, there was no coherence. The goals, all created, no longer satisfied me or managed to distract me. Among the goals I had created was to go on a meditation retreat. And at the most desperate point, the path revealed itself and God acted. Inexplicable coincidences arose and the opportunity to immerse myself in a silent and meditative retreat emerged. Demanding from me a decision, a surrender.

During the retreat I learned about Kriya Yoga, meditation as a path to God. But all the effort to build a strong body and mind would not be in vain. During the retreat the internal war was fierce. The surrender for meditation requires a renunciation of the mind, of the body. It would not be easy and it was not. I was able to experience some moments of surrender and awakening to this new world. This time, not just superficially it, but surrendering to it. Diving without fear, greed or any other feeling. Just surrender.

Something has changed, I don't know what it is, and this time I won't try to mentalize in an attempt to find out and "control" it. I will just be.

Thank you to the Ashram;

Thank you Swamini Anandamayi Ma, Swami Sankara, Gaya and Swami Ram;

Thank you Sriman Narayana!

 Thank you to my path brothers who lived their internal battles and dedicated themselves fully. You have my deep respect!

 

Retreat: retreat from october 04 to october 15, 2022

 

It was ten days of retreat, silence, and meditation. A difficult and challenging task. A grandiose and transforming journey that is only possible with discipline, determination, and firmness of purpose. A paradisiacal place, beautiful mountains, a symphony of birds, and generous nature. The monks are attentive and kind. At the end, I returned home with my soul washed, bubbling over with gratitude, love, and joy.

Retreat: retreat from october 04 to october 15, 2022

 

I am grateful for this opening in my sacred journey, for the welcome of all the residents with much love and care for everyone. It was a great challenge to be here, but I managed to accept everything that came in the meditations, because of the noise of the mind. Letting go of everything that does not favor the straight path. A giant restlessness, but I always came back to the technique. Gratitude for everything. May God bless each one of you.