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UK News
Retreats 2008
Review: Cleeve House Summer Retreat from 6 to 8 June
This was my first Amma retreat, although I go to the Minchinhampton satsangs regularly. First of all Cleeve House is a wonderful setting and we were blessed with sunshine throughout the weekend. This enabled a delightful group eco-meditation, led by Sue Bharati, which included 20 minutes of walking meditation. Other meditations and yoga sessions were held throughout the weekend, interspersed with lovely tea breaks and fabulous meals. The food really was gourmet organic vegetarian, and supplies that had not been used were sold to the departing retreatants, thereby raising even more money for Amma's projects!
There were only a couple of dozen people there, so it felt like a cozy family gathering. Seva chores had been efficiently organized for all, so all you had to do was look at a time slot on the printed list and find your name and your assigned task. Sharing the work was jolly, to say the least. For me, coming together for early morning chanting and mid-day and evening bhajan sessions were the highlight. The sound quality was perfect and the singing by all was joyous as well as - dare I say - accomplished! The sense of peace and aliveness increased incrementally throughout the weekend until by the end, I felt like I had truly come home and just wanted to stay forever! Can't wait until the next one.
A thousand thanks to Sue Bharati, Sue Vimala, Michael Dinesh, and Roz for their incredible hard work in pulling the whole thing together and being on duty for the whole weekend, and yet somehow appearing relaxed and stress-free! - Chrissie O'Keeffe
Retreat report - January at Cleeve House
Approaching Cleeve House on a crisp and beautiful January afternoon, I had a sense of deja vu - memories of last year's retreat flooding back, and a wave of anticipation as to what this one would have in store. Though we were early, we were by no means the first to arrive, and there was a quiet buzz of activity as the final touches to the altar were put in place and pictures of a radiant and welcoming Amma put up on the walls. A few hours later, when everyone had arrived, the opening bhajans brought us all back together in that wonderful feeling of being with Amma. What was different this time was that it was such a relatively short time since Amma had actually visited, and some in the group had just returned from their annual pilgrimage to the ashram.With the fire roaring and everybody wrapped up warm, there was a nurturing cosiness to the place, one that lent itself quite naturally to being in retreat, of going within. This was also helped by having the option to wear 'In silence' badges, which several people did over the course of the two days. The food was organic, so wholesome and tasty; and it was such a pleasure to watch people fully absorbed in breakfast, before the morning silence came to an end.
As the weekend unfolded, there were so many special moments, that it's only with a few weeks of hindsight that I'm able to pinpoint why it was one of the most special retreats I've been on. As always, it was wonderful to hear people share their experiences with Amma - a few people were invited ahead of time to prepare a talk and share; and then the floor was opened to anyone who wanted to come forward. Several did, and it struck me that it is such a wonderful way to get to know people, and at the same time bring us closer to Amma.
Without a doubt, the bhajans were a highlight, with people feeling free to come forward and pick up Dinesh's guitar; or play on Sue Bharati's harmonium; the devotion in the singing was so beautiful and climaxed in a highly energetic Mata Rani, thanks to Arvind. The Saturday evening was the equivalent of a 'Bhajans Unplugged', with everyone contributing in an ad lib way, and Dinesh rising to the occasion to find the chords.
That night I had a vision of a 'Bhajan-fest', a celebration of Amma and Her teachings in an open space, with a marathon bhajan that would be much like what we had experienced that Saturday evening - only for about 12 hours! I think this would be a wonderful way of promoting awareness of Amma by having it in a public place, free to whoever wishes to stop by, and to collect donations. It would involve quite a bit of organising though - finding a venue, scheduling the music, producing leaflets etc; and I can't take it on by myself! If this is a project you'd like to be involved in, please contact me on 07748 113538 or at
ammas_aparna@yahoo.co.uk
The sharing, the bhajans and a beautiful walk through the Wiltshire countryside, along the Avon & Kennet canal all contributed to a wonderful retreat, as well as some magical moments looking for fairies with young Maisie in the garden, picking our way between the snowdrops and spying into their houses. But above all, what made this retreat so special was the fact that everybody gave so much of themselves, contributing in many different ways to making it a fun and nurturing time; and we were all genuinely sorry that it was so short. - Aparna
Watch the fun on YouTube: Mata Rani Ki Jai! and Varuvay Varuvay
