Avtk. Ananda Acira Ac., Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt., Brother Maungal Dev, and Sister Radhika organized a five-day Meditation in Nature program in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Most participants arrived at Ananda Dhiira on Wednesday, August 19, with the remaining participants joining the following morning.
The group reached the Loch Leven trailhead around noon and hiked to the first lake, where they camped overnight. On the second day, Brother Maungal Dev joined the group with his son and dog, and everyone continued to the third Loch Leven Lake. The following day brought a special adventure as the group hiked to Fisher Lake. With no established trail leading there, the participants relied on maps and teamwork to find their way through the mountain landscape. On the final day, they completed the return hike to the trailhead.
A particularly inspiring feature of the program was the extended morning meditation. Each day, participants gathered for Paincajanya on beautiful rocks beside the lake, beginning their meditation in the darkness before dawn and continuing until approximately 7:30 a.m. They then practiced asanas and shared breakfast at 8:00 a.m. The long meditation sessions in the peaceful mountain environment brought many beautiful experiences, which the Margiis shared with one another while hiking.
The natural surroundings strongly supported the group’s spiritual practices. Because the daily hiking distances were moderate, participants had ample time for extended meditation, quiet reflection, and appreciation of the pristine lakes and mountain wilderness.
