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The Living Spirit of Kashmir Shaivism 2009 Summer Retreat
By participating in the retreat, we lived with purpose and joy. Everything was dedicated to opening the heart, illuminating the mind and working the body. There was a wealth of spiritual practises on offer and many chances to help with the ashram cooking, maintenance and gardening.
The days began with a short chant and meditation. The hall filled with people and music and then the meditations were so still. We centred ourselves before the work of the day. The ashram was vibrant with activity. Reeds were pulled from the dam, the marquee was given a spring clean, and there was great excitement in the kitchen as the midday meal was readied.
At midday it was time to go within again. We divided into two groups: Devi Ma led Self Inquiry sessions and Utpal taught a meditation course. It was illuminating to spend reflectional time in the middle of the day’s busyness.
The afternoon Hatha Yoga classes were another highlight. Taught by recent graduates of our yoga teacher training course, the classes were popular and it was blissful to experience their knowledge. It was also very helpful for our own practise to be exposed to a different teacher each day.
On alternate afternoons, we had chanting practise and Ton Glen sessions. Jo helped us learn the Sanskrit verses of the various ashram chants, and Girija Ma taught us the practise of Ton Glen, a Buddhist practise of offering compassion by digesting the suffering of the world. On Friday in Mt Eliza Village, we enjoyed a laid back session by the Mighty Shiva Band at Pop and Selma’s Cafe.
In the evenings, Swamiji conducted a five night short course in the Pratyabhijnahrdayam (The Heart of the Doctrine of Self Recognition), a sacred text of Kashmir Shaivism. Swamiji showed that the Pratyabhijnahrdayam illustrates very practically how to recognise our own true nature within ourselves. He taught it as a narrative: the scripture begins by describing cosmic consciousness in its expanded nature; then it details the limitation of consciousness when it is embodied; and finally, the text shows that by undertaking spiritual practise, consciousness returns to its true expanded nature. Swamiji used the Kashmir Shaivite commentaries of his guru, Baba Muktananda, and other various Shaivite scholars as a springboard for discussion. Through a combination of these, as well as anecdotes, reflections and short spiritual exercises, Swamiji made the Sanskrit verses come alive in our hearts.
And on the final night of the course, we danced. A group of musicians sat in the centre of the room while everyone chanted, forming a giant moving circle. The women and men took turns to dance, and to finish the session we chantedan invocation to Bhagawan Nityananda, the Nityananda Arati, at the top of our voices.
The Intensive was a whole day Satsang; an opportunity to spend extended time with Swamiji and Devi Ma, and a time to go deep within. Swamiji remembered his guru even more intensely on this day, as the Intensive format was created by Baba. In his talk, Swamiji expanded on the teachings of Kashmir Shaivism and the Pratyabhijnahrdayam to help us meditate deeply. Many people had never received Shaktipat before, so we had to quickly reconfigure the seating in the crowded marquee, so that Swamiji would be able to move around with some ease.
The day rolled on as if it were timeless. Amid the meditations, long lunch breaks and chanting sessions, there was no hurry. And so it was a bit of a shock when the time came for us to line up and meet Swamiji and Devi Ma for one final blessing. Before the sun set it was all over, leaving us to reflect and live it within ourselves.
Earlier, in the afternoon question and answer session, Swamiji had said, ‘by studying Kashmir Shaivism, we’re not seeking to replicate life in Kashmir from 1000 years ago. We have to bring these teachings into our lives now and make them work for us.’ The retreat showed us how to achieve this goal.
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