Sri Aurobindo Integral Yoga Retreat: July 2010

by Narad

Imagine, if you will, a time in your life when all worries, concerns, obligations, fears, challenges, etc. were gone, almost instantaneously, because you were in the presence of something so pure, so beautiful, and filled with such love and light, that no negativity, no hostile entity could enter into that force-field of absolute power, peace and calm, that atmosphere of purity and consecration. "This was the experience of many at this year's retreat in South Carolina." It was the Presence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother felt each day as Their blessings and Grace filled the rooms and our hearts.

Set in the beautiful atmosphere of Furman University with its magnificently landscaped grounds, its comfortable accommodations, courteous staff, a spacious dining room offering an eclectic cuisine, and, with everything centrally located, it would inspire anyone to walk and meditate among the large trees, the gardens and especially the clear lake with its graceful swans and colorful mallards.

Yet, those who attended the retreat came for a different purpose and once inside the main halls, the transcendent miracle occurred for which our souls so deeply yearn. "A higher force came through the various presenters, especially Ananda Reddy and Sraddhalu Ranade, as often they spoke heart to heart of personal experiences with the Mother, aspects of the Integral Yoga, sensitive and attuned to planes above the mind. Many in the audience were brought to tears, psychic tears, coming to the front of the being and aspiring to absorb Her Love, Her tenderness and Her Grace." The OM Choirs that were held touched deep chords and brought down waves of the New Music.

I have attended a number of AUM Conferences, Integral Yoga Retreats gatherings of disciples in the various Sri Aurobindo Centers in America, numerous talks in the Ashram, many of which have moved me deeply, but the Sri Aurobindo Integral Yoga Retreat was unlike anything I have previously experienced. At the end of the program people left surrounded by a light that suffused these five days and aspiring to keep it safely within.

This experience is so rare that one should hold it as long as possible in the consciousness helping the flame to grow stronger and brighter. "Personally, I witnessed moments of the blossoming of love in people I had met for the first time." On leaving the Retreat, a woman came up to me and said that for her devotion and consecration had always been something outside of herself and now she understood it with her inner being. And as she spoke, the tears flowed in cataracts down her cheeks.

I had just returned from the AUM Conference in New York, and was very grateful to have been able to attend both events even though they took place only a few days apart. "How often is it that we can have the closeness, the satsang, of those called to the path by Mother and Sri Aurobindo?"In the future let us pray that these regenerating events can carry us through the difficulties we face in our daily lives, knowing that They are with us, lifting us after every stumble or fall and guiding us infallibly towards the Light and the promised transformation of earth and humanity.

Our next Sri Aurobindo Integral Yoga Retreat will be on June 22^nd till June 26^th, 2011.

With my love and prayers to all.