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Summer Ananda Marga Retreats in Altai Mountains
 
Every year in the end of the August Barnaul Yoga Center invites guests from different cities and countries to participate in unique event, Summer Retreat in Altai mountains. Retreat takes place in Chemal region of Altai Republic. The choice is well justified. Just calm your mind and try to imagine perfect blue sky, feel the air drenched with vital force and mixed with aroma of pine forest, listen to the sounds of tranquil nature and silverly silence of mountains... Imagine a place where you want not to acquire, to achieve or to compete, but to simply be, a place where you do not want to interrupt the joy of existence with a flow of meaningless thoughts, but feel completeness, fullness. We are going to the place like this. First day, 9 in the morning, our neighbors are baffled -where are these people all coming from? Buses are waiting already, we start a process of registration and boarding. If you happened to go for trekking, you should know that special feeling in the beginning of expedition. When your travel is started and everydayness is left behind. Ahead are few precious days when you may completely forget who you are, how old are you, where you work and to only be, exist and enjoy simplicity and spontaneity of life. After we made our 5 hours bus journey full of friendly discussions, kiirtans and site seeing we proceed to accommodation, light meal and then to opening ceremony, where participants are introduced to acaryas and to each other and also given handouts with rules and program of retreat. There is no chance to get bored, from the very first minute retreat you start to live in intensive schedule full of interesting events. Day starts with Paincajanya (special morning meditation). Five o'clock in the morning you hear tender mantra chant, which is calling you to embrace new day of spiritual journey. Vibrations of still sleeping tranquil nature conduce very special mood, which is coloring this new day consisting of so many things: four collective meditations, philosophy lectures, asana sessions, psychological games and trainings, excursions, evening performances, dramas. Such intensity is justified because usually chance to attend retreat for Russian margiis is only once a year. So during this week one has to be able to recharge himself with energy and inspiration for next twelve months.
Such intensive spiritual practice helps aspirant to come to better understanding of his inner world, to get inspiring spiritual experiences, enhance mind's sharpness and perception. Often effect is experienced during retreat itself, and sometimes it comes few days later. Two weeks after the program one of my friends wrote: "...to tell you frankly, I expected some extraordinary spiritual experiences, which never happened during retreat. I had wonderful time - good place, talks, lectures, food(!) were a great pleasure, but spiritual practice was quite normal. So I felt a bit disappointed because my priority was not a holiday, but spiritual growth. But when, in the train, after I slept enough, I started to do meditation, I suddenly realized how it is different from the one which I had just one week ago. There was rattling clarity and my mind would concentrate so easily and without effort. Now for few weeks already I enjoy remarkably peaceful and blissful meditation. Now I do understand that those early waking ups, pain in the knees from too frequent meditation, intensive schedule, all those temporary difficulties, as I see it now were no bigger then even one tenth of what I got. So thank you very much that you could convince me to come, will see you next year." Program of retreat is designed in such a way that it is interesting for both old practitioners and newcomers. This universality is achieved by having few programs running simultaneously in the camp - you can chose: whether to go to an advanced lecture or to a class for beginners or simply go to excursion to local sights. After seeing the sun off the horizon and having delicious dinner, participants gathering in the main hall for evening program. The very best time to laugh, get esthetic pleasure, experience mystical longing and to appreciate deep feeling of unity. One half of performances is planned and another half is pure improvisation, all those enthusiastic to perform participate in it, showing their talents in art of singing, dance, declamation. Beautiful spiritually meaningful dramas are staged, magic trickery is played. After evening programs specially durable ones go to night bonfire, where they will have songs, stories and stars. Perhaps food should be specially mentioned here. Every year organizers are striving to improve process of food preparation, feeding and menu itself. Knowing well how strongly food influences people's condition, we make constant attempts to find perfect balance of tasty-healthy food. Meal includes simple and exotic dishes and contains enough salads and sweets. Part of it is cooked by cooks from Hare Krishna movement, famous by their cuisine. And finally these few days passed, we proceed to closing ceremony. Prizes are given to all those actively participated, retreaters share their feelings and experiences and... we go to our towns and cities carrying with us light memories, warm feelings and great desire to live next year in a best way possible, to advance spiritually and do good to others. We will be happy to have you coming to our retreat!
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