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| FEEDBACKS ON MEDITATION RETREAT, OCT 2008 |
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Our Guruji Shree Sanjay Aggarwal organized a meditation retreat From
Oct. 10th through Oct 14th 2008 , in Joshua Tree , California . Here are the experiences of some of the disciples who attended the retreat. |
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Feedback submitted by meghashru@yahoo.com
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Name:Shruti
Feedback:
Dearest Guruji,
|| OM SHREE GURUBHYO NAMAH ||
Pranaam Guruji,
Past few days have been extremely
peaceful and calming. They were full of spiritual energy and
experiences and love and blessings from Guruji and Maharishi
Bhrigu.
It feels very very fortunate to be able
to meditate under the guidance of Guruji in person. Guruji
poured his heart out in teaching us the meditation
techniques, motivating us and answering all our queries and
clearing all our doubts. He ceaselessly gave satsanga from
which everyone benefited.
Dolmaji, Madhu aunty and Rakhi, one
more time amazed all of us by their energy, eagerness to
make our life comfortable and feed us with the most
delicious satvik food.
Dolmaji was there in the kitchen
tirelessly, taking care of minutest detail and Madhu aunty
was ever smiling and working in the kitchen no matter what.
Rakhi's continuous trips to grocery
store to make sure that no compromises are made due to lack
of ingredients and taking care of kids with an ever smiling
face is unforgettable.
Dolmaji, Madhu aunty and Rakhi are
inspiration.
Raj Bhiaya was there to answer any
question and making sure that we have all that we need in
our rooms and in meditation hall and kitchen. He was always
eager to help.
It was a true ashram experience with
all the pariwar members helping each other and working
together for everything, it is that energy that made food
taste so well, days go by so fast and faces so happy and
calm.
As much as i was eager to come home to my daughter it was
hard to part from such a wonderful pariwar.
On my way back i savored the experiences all over again and
enjoyed the moments that are so sweet and calming.
I am extremely fortunate to be under the guidance of Guruji
and to be connected with all the members of the pariwar.
I have only one blessing to ask for and that is, " Guruji
please bless me that i be able to meditate every single day,
regularly with deep devotion love and faith"
i pray that i live upto my Guru's
teachings and become worthy of my Guruji's grace....... .
Into the Lotus feet of my Gurudeva....
.....
OM TAT SAT.
OM NAMO BHAGVATE VAASUDEVAAYA
Deepest Loving Regards,
yours,
shruti. |
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Feedback submitted by
sonibhagat@yahoo.com
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Name: Sonal
Feedback:
||Om Shree Gurubhyo Namah||
Dear Sanjaybhaiya,
Pranaam aur Charansparsh!
It is the love and blessings of
Maharishi Bhrigumuni that made this retreat happen. Many
thanks to Guruji, Dolmaji, Madhuaunty, Raj, Rakhi and all
the fellow ashram members who worked tirelessly and round
the clock.
It is heartwarming to read the experiences of my fellow
parivaar members; they help me re-live those cherished
moments. I too would like to share the soothing, calming
experience I had at the 2008 Maharishi Bhrigu Ashram
retreat.
After a drive of more than four hours
from Los Angeles, the tranquility at the Joshua Tree Retreat
Center was most soothing. The retreat center was like an
oasis in the desert. The pictures of the great Rishis in the
meditation hall inspired and filled us with devotion.
Meditating under the gaze of the gurus was a unique
experience. During the meditation sessions, many of us
actually saw those great rishis. There was peace within and
peace without. The meditation and Satsanga sessions
nourished our souls; the saatvik ashram food nourished our
bodies and minds. One of the enduring images in my mind is
that of the members of bhrigu parivaar eating together. My
four-year-old son told me yesterday that he has a very big
family...everyone he met at the retreat is his family.
The meditation technique taught to us is unique. It combines
the finer aspects of Praanayam, Concentration and
Relaxation. We are blessed to have received this great gift.
The meditation sessions helped us lose
sense of time and space. Some of us saw images of God in the
form of deities like Mahakali, Lord Krishna, Buddha and Lord
Shiva. Some of us felt as if they were floating/flying in
the air. Some of us saw a halo around the altar and a halo
around our dear Guruji. At one of the meditation sessions, I
saw a bright halo around our dear Guruji and a luminous
Shiva within him. At yet another session, I saw a fountain
of white light and rows and rows of diyas in the meditation
hall. I feel blessed after having seen images of Shreenathji,
Lord Krishna and Lord Jagannath during the meditation
sessions.
Many of us saw flashes of light. Guruji
explained lovingly that God is Light and God is darkness
too. He reveals himself in different forms to different
people. So it is better not to compare our vision with
someone else's vision.
These sessions filled our souls with
peace. There were no thoughts...only a void...a void that
was soothing and calming. We could feel the dissolving of
the Self with the Supreme. The vibrations at the retreat
center were most positive. This in turn led to positive
thoughts, positive feelings and positive actions. The
Satsanga sessions helped to open the windows of our minds
and doors of our hearts. It would be so nice if we could
have more than one retreat every year. I sincerely thank
everyone who helped to make this retreat possible.
As Guruji has explained let the divine
light and divine love flood the entire universe. May we all
hear the 'Omkar'!
In the lotus feet of my Pujya Gurudev.
OM tat Sat.
Deepest loving regards,
Sonal
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Feedback submitted by
meena.jethva@yahoo.com
Name: Meena Jethva
Feedback :
Dear All.
Namaste.
I wish all of you are having a great
day. I would like share some of my thoughts on this year's
retreat.
I and my family feel very blessed that
we all got to participate in the retreat. It was truly a
magical experience for me. I and my family would like to
express our thanks to Dolma, Madhu Aunty, and Rakhi for
showing us all what selfless service really is. We would
also like to thank everyone who helped tirelessly to help
prepare and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner; we would
also like to thank Raj for all his efforts.
For my entire family, the retreat
helped reinforce the spirituality within us and made us more
conscious of it as there are more discussions taking place
between me, my brother, and my sister. I will never forget
one of informal discourses on Creation that Sanjay Bhai
gave; I was completely blown away, speechless and in awe. I
have heard these stories before but never ever in such a
manner where Sanjay Bhai makes you go, "Oh my God....this is
what this story really means..."
In conclusion, I would like to thank
all of you who attended the retreat, It was a pleasure
meeting all of you; I would like to thank Sanjay bhai for
showering us with so much wisdom, enlightenment, and giving
us the best spiritual tools; and paving a gentle path for us
to live and abide by. Now it is all up to us to really
"apply" the tools which will help us become our best. I
humbly down down and touch your feet.
Hari Om.
Meena |
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Feedback submitted by
minnie.malhotra@yahoo.com
Name: Minnie
Feedback :
Namaste Bhaiya,
I'd like to share my experiences at the
retreat with everyone –
I was very apprehensive/ doubtful
before the first retreat. Wasn’t sure if I should be going
or not. By the last day, all that had changed and having
found my Guru, I was very emotional. For the second retreat,
there was no question about missing it. We had to go. Even
the kids were so excited as they had a great time at the
first retreat too. Says a lot about the Bhrigu Parivaar.
Everyone is so loving and caring and helpful.
During the first retreat, I didn’t see
any light. I’ve been trying to meditate at home for the last
10 months thanks to Bhaiya’s constant motivation and my
husband Manoj’s support and inspiration (there have been
gaps in between) and still didn’t see any light. But at the
retreat, I definitely felt a lot of vibration and sound in
the meditation hall and (I think) I saw some light. (Still
not sure if I just imagined it). Meditation at home is
definitely not the same. At the retreat, there was a sense
of calm and peace within me. I had gone with a lot of
questions but over there, none of them surfaced. Now that I
am back, all my doubts and questions are coming back to me
and I’ll be bothering Bhaiya with them. Listening to
everyone’s experience about a lot of light, seeing halos,
seeing rishis – earlier I used to feel dejected and worry
about my past Karmas etc but not any more. As Bhaiya always
tells us – practice, practice and practice. And that’s what
I am trying to do. I thank God for whatever prasaad I get
during meditation and move on. Meditation, I realize, is not
just about seeing light or hearing sound. For me, its about
stilling my thoughts and finding peace and love. Its about
pulling out the weeds of negativity within me and generate
divine love for one and all. I have a long way to go but
Bhaiya’s satsanga keeps me going.
Having attended the retreat, I feel
more established in the practice and at ease.. There is no
question about whether I should be doing this or not – I
just have to do this. I do strongly suggest to everyone to
listen to the Gita Satsanga along with their meditation
practice. The satsanga helps understand the significance of
the meditation very well and motivates us to continue with
the practice.
I’d like to take this opportunity to
thank Bhaiya for always patiently and tirelessly guiding us.
Thanks also to Dolma for her selfless seva – you are a
source of inspiration to me. Thanks are also due to Rakhi,
Madhu Aunty and Raj. Finally, thank you to all of you for
your love and affection and help – its very touching.
OM TAT SAT
At thy feet…
Minnie . |
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Feedback submitted by
chetana_kalva@yahoo.com Name:
Chetana
Feedback :
Dear Guruji,
Charansparsh,
Coming to the retreat was like coming
to the world of virtues.. Iwas exposed to the virtues like
devotion, love, faith, obedience, discipline, trust towards
guru who is the epitome of divinity. Meeting bhrigu members
was like giving form and figures to the names and thoughts,
which they were sketched as in my mind. Likewise I am sure
God is in and out there, its matter of re-treating mind and
body to perceive it in its magnificent and splendor name and
form.
Guruji if i can imbibe even one of the
above virtues, I would get rid of the kleshas in the mind
and body, and the dosh in my vision would be gone. There is
so much to take in and grow but the mind and body needs more
tilling and getting rid of weeds which is prevailing in
abundance. Despite my ill failings you have given me the
tools to uplift myself, the knowledge to value the tools
given. I hope I develop strength and determination to stick
to my sankalp and leave the rest to Guru and God.
With love and affection to you and your
family,
Om Tat Sat
Chetana |
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Feedback submitted by rkonkimalla27@hotmail.com
Name: Raj Konkimalla
Feedback :
Dear All,
Namaste.
I am still in the retreat hangover and
would like to pen down my experience about this year's
retreat. This was my first time to attend the retreat
conducted by Bhrigu ashram. It was a unique experience as I
was a participant as well as helped Guruji organize the
retreat. I had a heard a lot about last year's retreat and
was very eager to attend this one. The whole experience was
really very relaxing and spiritually reinforcing. Being
totally cut-off from the day to day mundane activities and
being totally immersed into the disciplined schedule laid
out by Guruji and being fortunate enough to attend all the
meditation and Satsanga sessions was indeed a blissful
experience. Also, meeting most of you folks in person was a
very nice experience too. I truly feel very good to be a
part of the Bhrigu Parivar. Thanks to Dolma Ji and Madhu
Aunty who managed the kitchen so well and put the food on
the table with such punctuality that everything seemed like
an act of god. Also, everyone from the Parivar helping out
with various tasks with seva bhavana made the whole
organizing efforts so easy and manageable.
According to Lahiri Masaya one of the 5
guidelines of simple living is to leave the worldly duties
and go to a retreat at least for 3 days (if not a month or a
week) and enjoy the solitude. The experience at the retreat
reinforces what Shri Lahiri Mahasaya said.
Best Regards.
Aum Tat Sat.
Raj. |
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Feedback submitted by
paromita48@yahoo.com
Name: Paromita
Feedback :
Dearest Sanjay Bhaiya and
All:
Namaste and CharanSparsh.
Sharing my experience at
the retreat with all of you below:
The first day of the retreat during the puja,
felt a tremendous feeling of calmness and peace
and felt spiritual energy all around me in the
meditation room.
The next day during the morning meditation, felt
strong vibrations all around my head and
especially in my forehead area. It was a
powerful throbbing sensation that felt
especially in the third eye area. After
meditating with bhaiya, felt my eyes were
flooded with hazy white light and the throbbing
feeling in my head continued.
Felt extreme bliss and peace.
Unfortunately was not able to be at the retreat
all four days once again but felt truly blessed
to be able to go the first two days. My heart
was still at the retreat after had left. Bhaiya,
feel so blessed to be under Your guidance and
only hope that can be worthy of Your grace.
It felt wonderful seeing everyone from the
retreat last year once again and also meeting
new people. Once again, feel like am part of a
loving spiritual family.
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA
OM TAT SAT
With lots of love,
Paro |
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Feedback submitted by
akrishnajee@yahoo.com
Name: KrishnaJee
Feedback :
I just want to submit my feelings about the
meditation retreat 2008. At the outset i wish to mention that i
feel that it is a great blessing of Maharishi Bhrigu that i
could participate in the retreat.
The profound impact of the guided meditation
is only to be experienced and difficult to describe. The
participants have attended meditations and satsanga discourses
so punctually and with devotion. The discourses have deep
philosophical content and require deep thinking to understand.
Sri Sanjay ji has taken untiring efforts to
elaborate and explain and taken keen interest that all are
enlightened individually by clarifying the concepts.
The historic venue has added serenity for the meditation.
I felt at home and a member of large Bhrigu
family( from babies in arms to 70 year old) and with love and
affection that prevailed among the members in the retreat period
speaks enlightenment of all.
The efforts of some participants working as a
team under the leadership and guidance of Mrs Dolma and Madhu
aunty ji who gave variety and tasty food from breakfast to
dinner and deserts is really commendable. The meticulous
planning and preparation deserves all praise.
All participants are indebted for
arrangements including the selection of the venue and efforts
put by Sri Raj and others under the able guidance of Guruji.
I hope and seek the blessings of Maharishi
Bhrigu to bless for giving the future meditation retreats. I may
suggest in view of availability of all facilities that the same
venue be selected for the future retreats if available.
krishnajee
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Feedback submitted by
rakhstrrr@yahoo.com
Name: Rakhi Kakkar
Feedback : OM SHREE
GURUVE NAMAH
Dearest All,
Namasteji.
For days now I have attempted
to write my feedback about the retreat. However,
I would find it very frustrating and difficult
to articulate my words as I realized that I do
not have the right words which would capture the
essence of the amount of peace and clarity of
mind that was felt at the retreat. Three weeks
have gone by since the retreat but the serenity
still lingers on with me today. This only goes
to show the power of spiritual energy.
On the first night during the
Guru pooja, I could feel my head being massaged
by the vibrations of Guru and Maharishis. This
made my mind go blank and I felt as if something
very heavy were lifted from within me.
Through out the retreat a lot
of my experiences revolved around crows. While
driving to the retreat I saw a random crow
flying against the gusty 50 mph winds. The first
thing that came to my mind was Guruji's words "a
yogis energy flows in the upward direction
unlike normal people's whose flows downwards."
Later on in the retreat I had two visions of a
crow, both at different times during meditation.
The first time I saw a crow distinctly, I could
only see the side of his face and it was as if
he were looking at me from his right eye. The
second time I saw a crow, I saw a magnificent
crow and could hear it croak. On the last day
when I walked out of the last meditation hall
and looked up to see this crow circle around and
croak once telling us of a beautiful ending.
Often times during the
meditations there would be this floating
sensation, or I would feel like I am getting
taller. At one point I felt the presence of a
person standing next to the gong. Almost as if
he were watching all of us as we were
meditating. I would also see some light coming
and going. It is easy to say that "oh I saw this
and I felt this" etc. but the truth is, it was
Guruji that allowed me to experience all these
wonderful things. So please excuse the use of
"I" in my writing. Without him, his teachings,
his blessings, etc. there would be no way to
have felt so much peace in such a short amount
of time.
I pay my humble regards to
Guruji/Bhrigu Maharishi and pray that through
his grace we all are given more opportunities as
such to serve him and all the Maharishis. My
humble regards to Dolma Bhabhi, who is a major
driving force behind Bhrigu Ashram. She is surly
the embodiment of love, devotion and sacrifice.
Thank you Raj Bhaiya for all your efforts. This
year's retreat made my desire to meditate even
stronger. I thank God/Guru for inviting me to
this retreat.
Into the Lotus Feet of Gurudev,
OM TAT SAT
Lots of Love,
Rakhi
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Feedback submitted by
xxnivixx@hotmail.com
Name: Nivedita
Aggarwal
Feedback :
Namaste Sanjayji and the
fellow ashram members,
For me the Retreat at Joshua
tree with the bhrigu parivaar was a very moving
experience, as this was the first time i ever
partook in meditation, let alone going to any
retreat. For me this was a very spontaneous
decision of coming to palm springs two days
before the retreat, and may I add a very wise
decision. I had no idea what to expect. But to
my amazement, this retreat was a very peaceful
and relaxing experience that I underwent. I had
come with much restlessness in my mind, and I
just wanted an abode for my mind to be
tranquiled. I was very excited every morning and
evening for the meditation sessions lead by
Sanjayji, and yes I did not see any images of
rishis, or gods and godesses, or any light like
many others, but I found myself at peace, i
found the tranquility and serenity I was
seeking. I found myself more at ease. I also
truly enjoyed the discourses on Geeta and
creation, lead by Sanjayji. I never knew how
each epic ties to one another and what is the
true meaning behind many stories that we have
heard before and how they tie to the philosophy
of Hinduism. I know there is alot more that
exists, but its nice to have some basic
fundamentals which were beautifully laid out at
these discourses.
I was also very humbled by
seva bhav and genuinity that members had among
them, especially when it came to preparing the
meals, or just with each other. It was very well
organized by Dolmaji & Madhu aunty, and rest of
the members helping out in the kitchen. And much
thanks to Rakhee who was always willing to go
anywhere whether for grocery shopping, or going
to the airport with me, or buying toys for the
kids, or just helping out everyone. And Rajji
who was another helpful member who made sure if
everything was going as planned. Despite being
away from my family, I did not feel that I was
an outsider, yet was welcomed by the members as
one of the member.
I know that in order to be
truly healthy and wealthy, you have to be
healthy from mind which brings physical health
and thus prosperity, and if we apply the basics
of meditation the way we were taught by Sanjayji,
we could attain all our goals. The only main
thing is discipline.
I truly enjoyed myself at
this retreat, and look forward to many more. I
won't know how it could be improved, as I found
this one to be perfect.
-Sincerely,
Nivedita
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