| VIPASSANA MEDITATION RETREAT, Joshua Tree - August 2011 An extraordinary experience to sit 10 days in silent meditation that allows to sink into the depths of our godliness and ungodliness of the psyche, yet by the end of the 10 days I felt reenergized and spiritually nourished. The silence enveloped me like a soothing blanket and the energy of the group carried me through moments of distraction and resistance, truly a powerful experience that I shall repeat as often as possible. It is a cliche but true - silence is golden ! |
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YOGA OF SOUND AND HEALING - SIVANANDA ASHRAM BAHAMAS 2011 Not the first visit but this time the purpose was to learn and practice the healing effects of sound using voice and tuning forks. The setting of the Ashram, the daily kirtans, meditations and yoga classes are deeply soothing and provide a truly heavenly background for the workshop. We chanted, we sang, we danced, we meditated, we laughed and we cried as our hearts opened....and now we breath quietly, peacefully taking in the beauty of the vast ocean...... |
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| CHINA TIBET 2010 An extraordinary journey following the Silk Road to Tibet - incredible sights, smells and sounds to behold, experiencing Buddha's spiritual footprints in monasteries, caves and temples. It was not always easy to remember Buddha's teachings in the face of the strong Chinese military presence, however his first one did come to mind - all life is suffering. It was with a heavy heart we left Lhasa, grateful for the extraordinary experience but equally sad for their struggles. A trip that will remain deeply ingrained in my heart and mind ! |
          
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INDIA YATRA 2009 Darjeeling, Sikkim and Amritsar |
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Discovering another part of Northern India, catching a glimpse of the peaks of Mt. Everest, tasting delicious Darjeeling teas we experience tremendous spiritual peace in amazing Buddhist monasteries that abound in Darjeeling and Sikkim. This journey winds through lush mountainous landscapes to bustling small towns with friendly people to Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries, a delightfully rich melange of religions. At the end we return to the holiest places of the Sikhs, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where the vibrations of the ongoing chanting envelop me in a cloud of spiritual wellbeing, it truly is a divine experience ! |
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INDIA YATRA 2008 See the stunning sight of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, an experience of Kirtan singing and prayers sounding across the temple. Despite the constant movement of pilgrims and visitors walking in and out of the Golden Temple I felt surrounded by an amazingly peaceful and prayerful atmosphere. See local ladies join us in a Yoga meditation in Anandpur, the "holy city of bliss" . The power of devotional chanting, meditation and prayer throughout the journey kept all of us so uplifted we could not imagine being anywhere else at that moment - present, grateful and peaceful ! |
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"Bootcamp for Goddesses" My summer retreat 2007 Under the loving and knowledgeable guidance of the facilitator Sierra Bender I reconnected with my neglected and occasionally forgotten Inner Goddess. Away from the noises of the city we laughed, cried and meditated in midst the exquisitely peaceful setting at Mount Madonna. The final test for me - the first sweat lodge - was more profound and empowering than I could have possibly imagined. The power of the Spirit was all around and within us ! |
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AN EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY TO INDIA 2006 Enjoy the pictures from this Yatra to Hemkunt Lake at 15.000 ft in the Himalayas in the northern part of India - see the converging of two rivers to form the birth of the holy Ganges, the final steps leading up to the sacred lake, hiking in the Valley of Flowers, observing children getting ready for the Fire ceremony (Arti) at the Ganges in Rishikesh, listening to the chanting in a Gurdwara, I experienced a symphony of beauty, sounds and smells of nature and sacred settings as well as the cacophony of urban noise while keeping in mind the purpose of our journey - to remember, see and experience God at all times in all ! |
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"My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer" the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky. "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams." "The Alchemist", Paulo Coelho
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| One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.
In Awe I stand before You In Humbleness I bow my head In Gratitude I received Your Grace In Faith I give my mind and soul In Love I give my heart ! From "Devotions", Anonymous
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| On the Wings of Prayer By Helen Steiner Rice Just close your eyes and open your heart And feel your worries and cares depart, Just yield yourself to the Father above And let Him hold you secure in His love- For life on earth grows more involved With endless problems that can't be solved- But God only asks us to do our best, Then He will "take over" and finish the rest- So when you are tired, discouraged and blue, There's always one door that is open to you- And that is the door to "The House of Prayer" And you'll find God waiting to meet you there, And "The House of Prayer" is no farther away Than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray- For the heart is a temple when God is there As we place ourselves in His loving care,
And He hears every prayer and answers each one
" There is no glimpse of the light without walking the path. You can't get it from anyone else, nor can you give it to anyone. Just take whatever steps seem easiest for you, and as you take a few steps it will be easier for you to take a few more. When you look at things emotionally, you will not see them clearly; when you perceive things spiritually, you will understand." From 'Thoughts to Ponder" by the Peace Pilgrim --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once Chuang Chou dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't KNOW he was Chuang Chou. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Chuang Chou. But he DIDN't KNOW if he WAS Chuang Chou who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly DREAMING he was Chuang Chou. Between Chuang Chou and a butterfly there must be SOME distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things. Chuang Tzu, chapter 2 ( Watson 1968:49) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having a human experience" Yogi Bhajan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. LOVE THEM ANYWAY If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. DO GOOD ANYWAY If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. SUCCEED ANYWAY The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. DO GOOD ANYWAY Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT ANYWAY What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. BUILD ANYWAY People who really want help may attack you if you help them. HELP THEM ANYWAY Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. GIVE THE WORLD YOUR BEST ANYWAY Mother Theresa __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Saint Theresa's Prayer May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, Dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.
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