Tag Archives: meditation retreat

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Good News from Ananda Dhiira

Homely feelings, nature, and hospitality attracted more and more people to the Ananda Dhiira Master Unit in Grass Valley, California, Los Angeles Region. Avadhutika Ananda Acira Acarya organized four small retreats in the last six months, and this helped the people to deepen their daily spiritual practices.

Didi Ananda Acira with Kai and her dog, Rudranath, and Anandii on the deck at Ananda Dhiira

The rainy season was long this year, and storms affected our property. Some fallen trees and erosion in some parts of our land needed to be taken care of. We started to clean up the garden, cultivate the soil and prepare for the plantation. We had karma yoga and took care of repairs daily with our volunteers. In this small retreat, we had four times Kiirtana and meditation, regular yoga asanas, sharing on philosophy and spirituality, being in nature, and giving a chance to do service by doing karma yoga. Of course, the participants also got their meditation lessons reviewed and personalized asanas. Even though a small retreat but everyone feels good energy and inspiration.

 

Avtk. Ananda Acira Acarya and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt. organized a beginner retreat at Ananda Dhiira Master Unit from March 29 – April 2, 2023, with the participation of sixteen people. Most of the people were new to Ananda Marga, and they enjoyed spending time in nature, classes, and other activities.

It was a very nice and inspiring retreat because even though the participants are of different nationalities, backgrounds, and cultural diversity, there is so much connection between us. A lot of laughter, sharing, enjoying nature, singing, and meditating together were unforgettable memories.

 

 

Collective photo at Ananda Dhiira during the meditation retreat from March 29 – April 2, 2023

We enjoyed delicious healthy sattvik meals during the retreats

Cultural sharing (RAWA) in the evening

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Good News from Ananda Girisuta MU, Atlanta Region

Collective photo during the beginner’s meditation retreat at Ananda Girisuta MU

Avtk. Ananda Acira Acarya and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt. organized a beginner meditation retreat at Ananda Girisuta attended by fourteen people from February 23 to 26, 2023. Six sisters and two brothers got initiation during the retreat, and those who were new Margiis got lesson reviews and new lessons. 

After the beginner retreat, the New York Sector Dadas and Didis had their annual RDS at Ananda Girisuta. The local Margiis joined us for Paincajainya and the evening Dharmacakra during the RDS. 

Didi Ananda Acira and Didi Ananda Hitaprabha help with filling the storage bags during the emergency food workshop.

On Friday, March 3, brother Jiivanmukta and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt. organized a workshop teaching how to create an emergency food storage (AMURT Store.) Bábá instructed us to keep at least one year of emergency food storage. Under normal storage conditions, the food would spoil within a few years. Jiivanmukta had purchased about two hundred pounds of bulk items that store easily, such as beans, lentils, rice, spices, sugar, coconut oil, and practical things such as lighters. We packed the food in 5-liter aluminum-coated bags (mylar bags) with oxygen absorbers and diatomaceous earth that prevents moths and bugs from damaging the food. The bags were sealed by ironing (melting) them together. Then, everything was packed in plastic barrels. The food can store for up to 35 years using these techniques. Emergency storage also should contain tasty items, so we included molasses, spices, and food-grade extra-virgin coconut oil. 

Dada Muktatmananda gives a philosophy class. The retreat followed the seminar format and covered all the seminar topics.

After the RDS, all the Acaryas joined a Margii retreat and seminar at Ananda Girisuta from March 3 – 5. Ac. Iishvarakrsnananda Avt., Ac. Muktatmananda Avt., and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt gave seminar classes on the seminar topics for the first phase of seminars 2023. We also had Akhanda Kiirtana every afternoon. On March 5, we celebrated Dadhichi Divas by observing half-day fasting and 6-hour Akhanda Kiirtana. The local Margiis joined the Akhanda Kiirtana and dinner. 

The second floor of the Rectory after Dada Pramoditananda installed the hardwood oak floor.

 

Ac. Pramoditananda Avt. stayed at Ananda Girisuta for a month, helping brother Dharmapala complete the Rectory’s upper floor. He installed hardwood oak floors and doors and finished the bathrooms. The lower floor of the Rectory is completed, and only the kitchen, mini-split, and appliances have not been installed yet for the upper floor. The completion and house-entry ceremony is planned for July 15, 2023.

Didi Ananda Acira and Dada Iishvarkrsnananda with Sonalii and the children that joined the retreat from March 3 – 5, 2023.

Dada Iishvarakrsnananda gives a seminar class during the March 3 – 5 retreat.

 

The domes of Ananda Girisuta Master Unit

The Rectory of Ananda Girisuta Master Unit

Collective meal during the March 3 – 5 retreat

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Beginner Meditation Retreats Summer 2022

This summer, 2022, New York Sector organized three new people retreats in the USA, with an attendance of over thirty people, and three retreats in Canada. The first program in the US was at Ananda Dhiira Master Unit in Grass Valley, California, led by Avtk. Ananda Acira Acarya and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt., the second one was at Ananda Kanan after the Summer Conference, led by Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt., Ac. Satyamitranananda Avt., and Avtk. Ananda Acira Acarya. The third retreat was at Ananda Girisuta MU in North Carolina. The beginner meditation retreats are essential for giving people who have started  Baba Nam Kevalam meditation and those who are entirely new to meditation a gentle way to experience Kiirtana, meditation, waking up early for Paincajainya, and enjoying delicious food and beautiful nature in our Master Units. 

Sudhiira guided the youngest participant in the meditation retreat, sister Liina during art class.

Sudhiira painting by the river during the outing in the meditation retreat

Dada Satyamitrananda giving class during the meditation retreat at Ananda Kanan

Picture by one of the participant

Picture by one of the participant inspired by the outing to the river

Didi Ananda Acira giving class during the meditation retreat in June at Ananda Dhiira

Collective photo during the retreat at Ananda Dhiira from June 10 – 14, 2022

Collective meditation on the deck at Ananda Dhiira

Yoga class by Didi Ananda Acira

Delicious and beautifully arranged food

Group activity during the meditation retreat at Ananda Girisuta

Lunch ready at Ananda Dhiira during the retreat

Delicious fruit and chia desert

Pesto noodles with avocado and tomoto decorations

Sudhiira gave Liina the picture he had made of her during the outing to the river. She is proudly holding it up for us. She was happy with the picture.

Liina with her mother

 

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