Yoga for Inner Peace and Outer Strength
by Rajah Indran
23rd - 25th November 2012
Celyn Resort in Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia
Background
The Himalayan Yoga Science Society, has been functioning as ' Himalayan Institute for Yoga Science and Philosophy ' since 1990, as initiated by HH Swami Rama.
In complying with the requirements of the Registrar of Societies, we are now registered as the ‘ Himalayan Yoga Science Society ‘ Kota Kinabalu.
We have held retreats annually with the presence of Gurudeva Swami Rama, Swami Veda Bharati, Swami Ritavan Bharati, Swami Nityamuktananda Saraswati, Ma Gita Bharati, Ma Tapasya Bharati, and several others since 1990.
To ensure continuity and to provide an opportunity for aspirants, a special committee was set up to help organize this year's retreat. Invitations were sent out to Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, etc. to keep them informed of this event.
Participants
34 Adults and 2 children from Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia and Canada participated in this memorable event.
Welcome Dinner
The welcome dinner held on the 22nd at the City Vegetarian Restaurant was graced by 50 people, comprising Retreat participants, HYSS members and friends.
Certificates for HYSS Life Members were presented by Acharya Bhagaban Dev.
Program
Guest of Honor
We had the pleasure of hosting Acharya Bhagaban Dev, the President of Nava Prabat Trust, Orissa, as the special guest and facilitator.
Finance
Expenses for the retreat came from donations and participation fees.
Keynote by Swami Nitya
Swami Nitya blessed us with this keynote:
“ ‘Inner Peace and Outer Strength’ are like the in-breath and the out-breath. Both root in the Source, the Totality, the No-thingness, the Absolute – whether we clad it in this terminology or that. There is only One source of all existence, of all of creation, of all of Maya’s (Prakriti’s/ Shakti’s) doing. The labels come from different traditions, different conditionings of the human mind. We can even clad this in terms of most modern science and say: From within a unified –field, energy moves with intelligence into a multitude of forms.
From this Source with intention movement arises; we call it energy. In the first instance this energy moves out, it creates, like the out breath it reaches into the world. There it does whatever it has to do; then it returns back to its source, to renew, to drink from the fountain that is beyond manifest existence. The movement out into the world is called creation, is called evolution – the return journey to the source is called involution, dissolution or “Sadhana”!
Part of this cyclic movement is the rest in the Source, Stillness, Silence. From there we gather the strength to fulfil, to do whatever we have to do in the outer world before again we return to rest, turn inwards to peace. That peace becomes the strength that enables us to act appropriately in the world; it becomes the colour of every movement or activity; it becomes the well of the river that gushes to the ocean but on its way quenches the thirst of millions of lives.
Some call this cyclic movement of existence, a wheel, some call it the Breath of Brahman, in some scriptures it simply says: as inside so outside!
One energy moving as expansion and as contraction; a process of existence in harmony with itself, that empowers each part of the journey. The deeper our connection to the peace and the strength inherent in the source, the more effective our actions in the world, in the permanent flow from inside to outside. May you find the peace “within” that will give you the strength to act ‘without’ with love and conviction to fulfil the purpose of your lives!”
22nd, Thursday, evening
Welcome Dinner :
- Introductions
- Dinner
- Presentation of certificates to Life Members of HYSS
Day 1, Friday, 23rd
8.00 am: leave Kota Kinabalu for Celyn Resort
11.30 am: room allocations, settling in,
12.00 noon - introductions, ground rules,
12.30 pm: Lunch
1.30 pm: Digestive Breath
2.00 pm: Practicum/Session with Acharya Bhagaban Dev
3.00 pm: Session (Yoga Philosophy) with Datuk Rajah
4.00 pm: Hatha Yoga with Datin Judy
5.30 pm: Rest
6.30 pm: Dinner
7.30 pm: Practicum/Session with Acharya Bhagaban Dev
9.00 pm: Guided meditation
9.30 pm: Silence
Day2, Saturday, 24th
5.00 am: Rise and Shine
6.00 am: Lemon Cocktail
6.30 am: Joints & Glands Exercises , followed with guided meditation
8.00 am: Breakfast
9.00 am: Group Discussion on specific topics
10.00 am: Hatha yoga with Datin Judy
11.00 am: Panel Discussion/Q & A
12.30 pm: Lunch
1.30 pm - Digestive Breath
2.00 pm: Session (Silence for Inner Peace) with Datuk Rajah
3.00 pm: Hatha with Acharya Bhagaban Dev
4.00 pm: Hatha Yoga with Datin Judy
5.30 pm: Rest
6.30 pm: Dinner
7.30 pm: Practicum
9.00 pm: Guided Meditation
9.30 pm: Silence
Day 3, Sunday 5tth Nov. 2012
5.00 am: Rise and Shine
6.00 am: Lemon cocktail
6.30 am: Joints & Glands Exercises, Hatha Yoga followed with Guided Meditation
8.00 am: Breakfast
9.00 am: Practicum/Session with Acharya Bhagaban Dev
10.00 am: Hatha Yoga with Datin Judy
11.00 am: Panel Discussion, Q & A, Closing Remarks
12.00 noon: Lunch
1.00 pm: Departure for Kota Kinabalu
Facilitators:
- Bhagaban dev
- Datuk Rajah Indran
- Datin Judy Rajah
- Gunenthiran
- Yvonne Pang
Feedback (based on returns of evaluation forms)
Content and overall satisfaction (24 of the 34 participants responded).
Eighty-three per cent rated the retreat as being good to excellent. Seventy-nine per cent rated the retreat as good to excellent in meeting their expectations. Eighty-three per cent rated the training method as good to excellent in contributing to achievement of the retreat objectives. Ninety-five per cent rated facilitators’ knowledge of the subject as being good to excellent. One hundred percent rated the facilitators conducting the retreat in an organized way as being good to excellent.
Participants indicated that they would like more yoga philosophy, meditation, and hatha yoga in future retreats.
Suggested retreat topics for next year's program provided:
- Youth Camp
- Like this year’s theme,
- More group activities,
- More Hatha Yoga,
- Breathing techniques
- More time needed to digest what have been taught
- Thank you for going along with the crowd
Suggestions for our improvement:
- More vigorous activities
- Need two groups (for different languages)
- Explanations for beginners
- Continue your good work
- Maybe more days
- More fresh air than air-conditioning
- Not loud enough
- Print wordings for food prayers
Appreciation
Thanks are due to:
- special committee comprising Datuk Rajah, Datin Judy Rajah, Gunenthiran, Datuk Hiew T C and Yvonne Pang ,
- Jenifer Poh for designing and printing of certificates and posters
- Donors ( Datuk Hiew, Catherine Ong and Tan Sri Datuk Dr Mohan Swami )
- Jenny and Mabel for the meditative dance
- Datin Judy Rajah for hosting Jenny and Bhagaban Dev while in Sabah
- Lina for hosting welcome lunch on the 22nd November 2012
- Ramesh and family for preparing meals for Bhagaban Dev during his stay in KK
- Those who were not able to be present physically but were with us in spirit.
- Swami Nitya for providing the Keynote
- All others who have assisted in one way or another
Conclusion
In spite of the shortage of manpower and time, the retreat turned out to be a very successful event.
Requests have been made for more regular events of this nature. This provides an opportunity to train more people.
The light that Gurudeva lit when he was here in 1990 continues to light other lamps.
Report by Rajah Indran (Organising Chairman)
Editor's Note
Nava Prabhat (New Dawn) Public Charitable Trust. This school takes in children who would not normally have enough money to get a good education, and gives them a good education that includes teaching them English, Sanskrit, computers, and preparing them to be fully functioning members of the world.
For more information about this project:
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