Self discovery in serene surroundings

Self discovery in serene surroundings

November 2023

Self-discovery IN SERENE  Surroundings 

Participants were treated to a wonderful  

soul-fulfilling experience at The Life  Positive Spiritual Festival held at Ramgarh,  near Nainital in July.

Navni Chawla reports. 

The weather in Ramgarh was cool and  pleasant in July. A perfect start for The  Life Positive Spiritual Festival that  began in full swing on the 9th, at the Aurobindo  Ashram there. Since many people had joined  this event from Delhi, coming to the Ramgarh  mountains was a huge relief for them from  Delhi’s harsh and hot July weather. 

The Aurobindo Ashram extended a warm and  heartfelt welcome to all its guests, exuding  an atmosphere of serenity, inclusivity, and  spiritual harmony. From the moment visitors  stepped onto the ashram grounds, they  were greeted with a sense of reverence and  hospitality, deeply rooted in the ashram’s values  and traditions. Here’s what the Aurobindo  Ashram’s experience was for its guests: 

• Tranquil entrance: As guests approached the  entrance of the Aurobindo Ashram, they were  welcomed by a serene and well-maintained  environment. The path leading to the main reception area was adorned with lush greenery,  fragrant flowers, and tranquil fountains. The  quiet atmosphere set the tone for a peaceful and  contemplative stay. 

• Warm greetings: At the reception area, guests  were met with warm and friendly greetings  from the ashram’s staff. These individuals  were not merely administrative personnel; they  embodied the ashram’s spiritual principles,  radiating a sense of inner peace and kindness. 

A person who deserves special mention here  is Ms Vijay Laxami, who was managing the  ashram at that time. She was very kind and took  a personal interest in making the stay of all the  delegates at the ashram a memorable one. 

• Orientation and information: Guests were  provided with orientation and information  about the ashram’s facilities, guidelines, and  daily schedules. This included details about  daily meditation sessions, yoga classes, and any 

Happy participants at the retreat

• Orientation and information: Guests were  provided with orientation and information  about the ashram’s facilities, guidelines, and  daily schedules. This included details about  daily meditation sessions, yoga classes, and any 

• Orientation and information: Guests were  provided with orientation and information  about the ashram’s facilities, guidelines, and  daily schedules. This included details about  daily meditation sessions, yoga classes, and any cultural or spiritual events happening at the  ashram during their stay. 

• Simplicity and respect: The ashram  encouraged a culture of simplicity and respect.  Guests were often requested to adhere to a code  of ethics, such as not plucking ashram flowers  or talking too loudly in the ashram premises or  meditation hall, which reflected modesty and  reverence for the spiritual environment.  

•Meditation and contemplation: The ashram  offered guided meditation sessions, open  to guests. These sessions allowed visitors  to immediately immerse themselves in the  ashram’s tranquil and spiritually charged  atmosphere. 

• Communal meals: Guests were invited to  partake in communal meals at the designated  dining hall, three times a day, according to  fixed time schedules. These meals were not  only nourishing for the body but also served  as opportunities for social interaction and  spiritual discussions. The food was typically  simple vegetarian fare, prepared with  mindfulness. 

• Reverence for Sri Aurobindo and The  Mother: The ashram held deep reverence for  its founders, Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.  Guests were invited to sit in The Mother’s  temple for daily meditations. This temple had  walls of glass, and it gave an open view of the  great Ramgarh hills. Sitting in this temple was  one of the most soothing experiences at this  ashram. 

On the first day, when all the delegates reached  the ashram, they were served a simple and  tasty lunch at the ashram’s dining hall and  then rooms were allotted to them. The guests  had taken long journeys, and some of them  had come from far-off places such as Mumbai,  Pune, and Hyderabad. Everybody rested in  the afternoon, and later in the evening, all the  delegates were gathered in a hall to meet each  other. In this ice-breaking session, the group  came closer and shared a lot about themselves  and their life journeys. This was followed by  

The guests having a gala time at the retreat 

the energising yoga session in the mornin gevening tea.

The first day was concluded with a  meditation at The Mother’s temple followed by  a scrumptious dinner. 

 On the second day, Life Positive had planned an  excursion for all the guests to the Neem Karoli  Baba ashram, which got cancelled as it had been  raining heavily since morning. It was unsafe to  travel on that day due to the high probability of  landslides occurring. 

After being disappointed by the weather, the  guests were cheered up by LP’s team, with many  planned activities, such as a movie screening  of Sri Aurobindo’s life journey, blissful and  contemplative walks in the ashram gardens,  flower watching, guided meditations, bhajan  singing, and storytelling sessions about how  The Mother turned an empty mountain into a  fully bloomed ashram. 

Although the guests remained happy and  entertained at the ashram, all of them were  very eager to go to Neem Karoli Baba’s temple.  Many of the guests ardently prayed for clear  weather on the next day so that they could  do the outdoor activities planned as per Life  Positive’s itinerary. 

On the third day, everyone’s prayers were  heard, and the weather was very supportive to  carry out the road trips as planned. Life Positive decided to make the third day a full-day trip,  with the first stop at Neem Karoli Baba’s  ashram, a stop for lunch in Garh Mukteshwar,  a visit to Mukteshwar temple, and the last stop  at the Bhalu Gaad waterfalls. 

Neem Karoli Baba’s Kainchi Dhaam ashram  was a profound spiritual experience for many.  Some of the delegates who were deeply devoted  to Babaji Maharaj felt as if it was a miracle  to be present at his humble abode. This day  was full of love, happiness, and excitement.

The delegates who were above 70  showed immense enthusiasm and courage by climbing up the temple steps and accomplishing  

the holy Shivji and Shakti Peeth’s pilgrimage  or darshan. “Main toh bilkul tript ho gayi (I feel  fulfilled and whole),” said Ketaki Jayakar, one  

of the delegates, after finishing her darshan.  

Many participants were too tired to visit the  Bhalu Gaad waterfalls and wanted to return to  the ashram to rest. So, only one taxi with about  

five delegates carried on up to there. On the way,  some guests stopped the car and bought locally  made honey, soaps, fruit jams, dry fruits, etc.  

One of the delegates insisted that she wanted to  buy the famous apricot oil which was specially  available in its purest form here.

The delegates who were above 70  showed immense enthusiasm and courage by  climbing up the temple steps and accomplishing  the holy Shivji and Shakti Peeth’s pilgrimageor darshan. “Main toh bilkul tript ho gayi (I feel  fulfilled and whole),” said Ketaki Jayakar, one  of the delegates, after finishing her darshan.  

Many participants were too tired to visit the  Bhalu Gaad waterfalls and wanted to return to  the ashram to rest. So, only one taxi with about  five delegates carried on up to there. On the way, some guests stopped the car and bought locally  made honey, soaps, fruit jams, dry fruits, etc.  

One of the delegates insisted that she wanted to  buy the famous apricot oil which was specially available in its purest form here.

Visiting the Bhalu Gaad waterfalls involved  a small trek for a few kilometres to the site.  

The Bhalu Ghaad waterfalls 

After seeking Neem Karoli Baba’s blessings,  everyone got into their respective taxis and  started for their lunch stopover at the Mystic  

Mukteshwar Lodge. The scenery on the way  was picturesque and magical. The weather was  cool as the temperature was dropping. Everyone  

took out their shawls and jackets as the taxis moved upwards on higher altitudes towards  Mukteshwar. 

The lunch at the Mystic Mukteshwar Lodge  was a delightful experience. The property was  beautiful, vibrant, and cosy. The lunch prepared by the host, Ms Manju, and her staff was full of  heart and love. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed  her presence, her food, chutneys, and tea, and  the interiors of her small and unique boutique  homestay. The guests left this place with happy  faces and tummies.  

Next, the taxis took everyone to the Mukteshwar temple. One had to climb many steps to reach  The picturesque valley 

At the entry ticket counter, the group met  their waterfall trek guide, Rohan. He was the  sweetest and most helpful guy ever; he made  sure that everyone was comfortable and even  helped by carrying bags. Mr SD Saxena was the  only 60-plus participant who came for this trek.  He heroically walked the uneven path leading  to the waterfall. Although this trek was a little  treacherous, it was well worth it—an adventure  to remember. Sitting in front of the waterfall  made everyone so alive, joyful, and happy.  Soon, the group headed back to the ashram to  reach in time for dinner. 

Ms Sonia Wadhwa and her assistant, Vinay,  reached the ashram for her workshop ‘The  Journey of 5 Senses and Ecstatic Dance,’  which she was facilitating at the ashram for  the participants. With her ice-breaking session,  Ms Sonia opened up a world of sensitivity  for all the participants. The yoga sessions,  guided meditations, open discussions on the  five senses, quality deep listening, mantra  chanting, and body movements created a wave  of learning and happiness among them. They  learnt to connect more deeply with their bodies  through the subtle, rhythmic, and mindful  body movements as taught by Ms Sonia to  the group. Her energy was infectious, and she  emanated good vibrations to everyone. She  divided the group into pairs and made them  do activities that helped them explore their  own sensibilities and imagination. She also  made everyone realise how senses were tools to  connect with each other. 

By the end of the fourth day, everyone had  fulfilled their purpose of joining the retreat.  Life Positive received beautiful video feedback  bytes from the participants, who captured their  experience so beautifully. One can truly say  that this retreat was a magical experience, full  of nature’s beauty, healing, love, and spiritual  progress. The event was successfully concluded  on the fifth day by gathering everyone in the  hall, dancing, and clicking pictures together,  with warm hugs. 

As guests prepared to leave the ashram, they  bid farewell with good wishes to each other  for their journey ahead. This parting gesture  was a reminder of Life Positive’s commitment  to fostering spiritual growth and inner  transformation. 

In essence, the retreat offered by the Life  Positive Foundation and the Aurobindo  Ashram embodied the magazine’s core values  of simplicity, spirituality, and community. It  created an environment where guests could  find peace and a deeper connection with their  inner Self.

Navni Chawla, a Delhi based writer has a heart brimming with passion for  life and loves capturing the beauty of the world through words.