UK News & Events

Two Retreat Days Planned for May and June

These two days (one half-day retreat and one full day) are to encourage us to learn more about Amma and to share our love and understanding of her. They are open to all whether you’ve only recently met Amma, been involved for some time or anything in between.

Saturday 14 May
10.30am Shekinashram
Glastonbury, Somerset

A full day to include: a film on Amma’s Love in Action with questions and answers, Walk to the Tor, Eco Meditation, and Evening Satsang with bhajans and Aarati. If you are unable to make the full day programme, please do drop in when you are free or just come for Satsang at 6pm.

The suggested donation to cover costs for the day is £10. Please bring vegan food to share for lunchtime. Limited accommodation is available at the ashram as well as at local B&Bs in Glastonbury. Camping is also available and possible other budget options. Please contact Vandita at vandita.amma@gmail.com for further information and to register.

Saturday 4 June
1pm (with option of overnight stay)
Sunningdale, Berkshire

This half-day retreat will include a number of different sessions through the afternoon - drop in on all, or just come to one. Sessions include: Music Workshop, IAM® Refresher Course*, Sharing our Understanding of Spiritual Practice, Eco Meditation, and an informal Evening Satsang which will include singing and meditation.

The venue in Sunningdale, Berkshire (around 20 miles West of London close to the M4) is very peaceful and has a wonderful garden. It is also near Sunningdale train station on the Waterloo-Reading line.

The cost for the day is £10 to include food and refreshments. If you wish to stay overnight, there will be an additional charge of £15 which will include accommodation (you will need to bring your own mat and bedding) and breakfast.

To help us plan the event, please register your interest as soon as possible by contacting Ian ianmacw27@gmail.com and note which sessions you wish to attend

* IAM® Refresher Course: In order to take the Refresher Course you must have completed the full course at some point in the past, either here or abroad. This course allows you to go back over the steps of the meditation, check that you got it all right the first time round and to make sure that you are doing it correctly. There will be lots of opportunities to ask questions and resolve any doubts that you may have. Doing it as a group also helps re-energise the practice and renew your commitment to it. Amma recommends that people take the refresher course periodically simply to give their practice a boost. The course lasts a couple of hours so you will be able to stay on to join in the session on spiritual practices and the bhajans if you wish.

NEWS

A joyful retreat at Maitreya House 2010

To view photos click here

'Our retreat at Matreiya House was all that it promised to be. From the beautiful setting and the warmth and strength of the House itself, to the love and support of the organisers, Pat and Surya, all retreatants’ needs were met. Physically and spiritually we rejoiced, through communing with nature, through meditation, through singing bhajans and most benefically, through chanting our beloved Mother's 1000 Names.
 
We shared the peace and quiet, the clear skies, the trees and plants and the food we all brought was used to make the most wonderful meals. Everything blended, including those who came seeking restoration of mind and spirit.
 
Have you listened to a tree? I did - and heard the movement of the wind and the rustling of the leaves of the young silver birch I held my ear against. Magical - and leaning back against the trunk of another sapling, I was cradled and rocked to the rhythm of the wind that swayed its branches. We laughed for joy as we all communed with nature through these lovely trees.
 
If you need spiritual refreshment, if you need uplifting and restoring, if you want to feel close to nature and want to share all this with like-minded people then book a retreat at Matreiya House.' -- Eleanor

Precious, powerful moments spent with  beautiful like minded people surrounded by the breath taking landscape and energy of Maitreya House. This was a retreat with a difference, amazing synchronicity, and most of all an abundance of love and wisdom, Amma shining through Pat and Surya which had us all feeling warm, secure and therefore able to fully engage and enjoy our time together. 

Celebrating life and love through song and dance, working together in complete harmony, overcoming inhibitions through sharing and caring. So much experienced in just 3 days with each moment being as precious as the next.

To pinpoint  the highlights would be impossible as each and every moment was truly significant in shaping the whole adventure, learning to make a dream catcher was personally special :)
Working on each others meridians upon the hills was particularly healing and fun!

The closing ceremony was most beautiful, our spiritual family although sad to part, each left revitalised, reconnected, filled with Love and looking forward to our next reunion.' -- Kat