Meditation Retreat
Blenheim New Zealalnd
This is an intensive time beginning evening Friday 4th Jan with a shared meal at around 7pm.
The Setting
The opportunity to spend time together in extended meditation together is a rare one and worth adhering to guidelines likely to promote better opportunity for best possible meditation.
Simple food and drinks will be provided and prepared without payment, costs are met from a donation fund. The value of meditation is greatly enhanced by some very simple guidelines influenced by the Master Kirpal Singh.
Spiritual teachers are generally classified as follows:
Avatars
Avatars are world teachers. They come here to make the planet a better place, to support those who understand the higher intenion of why we are here and to address disturbing influences and support constructive infuences. These teachers sometimes address negative trends directly
Param Sants
These are teachers like Kirpal Singh, Maulana Rumi, Kabir etc who operate from the viewpoint that this worldly existence is a stepping stone to something much higher, a place of being where it's not necessary to lug a body around with you.
The difference, put simply:
- An avatar visits a prison - he takes with him comforts and supplies. His intention is to make the prisoners comforable and happy inside the prison
- A Param Sant is here to tell us that our home is not the prison but that we are really timeless, conscious spirits, with no long term need for anything characterised by matter, energy, space and time. Their interest is freeing us happily from the prison and getting us to our real home.
Guidelines
Here are some simple guidelines for making the best of the weekend:
- Talk as little as possible - stay silent if you can.
- Before the weekend, eat lightly. This will reduce drowsiness and help keep your attention high.
- All shared food will be provided by the group. No donations are needed
- During times between meditation periods use the time to read from some of the many talks from Kirpal Singh and even get in a bit more meditation. There will be opportunity for personal sessions around helping factors towards addressing meditation and relationship issues
- It's best to focus on just the teachings offered, debates and discussions are not really useful in this kind of setting. Socialization and sharing personal stories, sharing of ideas are better saved for other times. "pass the salt", "where's the loo" are just fine
- When the retreat ends then it's best to avoid socialising, comparing notes etc. The longer that a person can hold that meditative state the better the results normally are.
- Best to avoid heavy recreation / or social activity after the end of the retreat for as long as feasible. Try to assimilate your experience and make adjustments to your lifestyle and relationships while the freshness of the retreat is still present.
Program
Friday
7pm: Shared meal, food provided.
8pm: Introductory talk.
9pm: Meditation
Saturday
Something like (possible adjustments):
3am: Wakeup, reading, dip in the lake, meditation instructions
4am - 7am Meditation
7am - 8am Study, meditation, silent walk
8am - Simple breakfast (provided)
9am - 10am Study, quiet walks
10am - Noon Meditation
Noon - 1pm Lunch (provided)
1pm - 3pm Study, quiet walks, help with meditation technique
3pm - 6pm Meditation
6pm - 6:30pm Dinner - (provided)
6:30 - 7:30pm Talk
Sunday
Something like (possible adjustments):
3am: Wakeup, reading, dip in the lake, meditation instructions
4am - 7am Meditation
7am - 8am Study, meditation, silent walk
8am - Simple breakfast (provided)
9am - 10am Study, quiet walks
10am - Noon Meditation
Noon - 1pm Lunch (provided)
1pm - 3pm Study, quiet walks, help with meditation technique
3pm - 6pm Meditation
6pm - 6:30pm Dinner - (provided)
6:30pm - 8:00pm Talk
Bring
- Walking shoes
- Swim gear towel
- Insect repellant
- Personal meds etc
- Some fruit
- etc
Coordination
- Install Telegram on your phone
- Message @shabd771
- We will connect you to the retreat chat
Book downloads - Please download books from Telegram channel
