LIVING IN GRATITUDE AND GRACE

Thanksgiving Shaktipat Retreat

November 19th – 26th, 2011

In this empowering spiritual retreat, we will be guided by Shunyamurti, the spiritual director and founder of Sat Yoga, into profound states of meditative stillness and serenity to realize the fullness of our inmost Being. The thoughts in the superficial ego-mind will be washed away in the purifying stream of shaktipat (divine energy) that only the guidance and energy field of a spiritual master can transmit.

We will fill our days—and renew our organism—with prana, life energy, through joyous immersion in asana classes, breathwork sessions, and experiences of the glories of Nature, during walks in the sacred forest, bathing in the waterfalls, and eating healthful, delicious fruits and vegetables from the ashram's organic gardens. You will flow in a continual state of wonderment—while observing the fascinating rare birds, caring for the gorgeous flowers, and watching breathtaking sunsets and star-filled night skies. One delight will follow another! Life's simple beauty, shared with other loving souls, living in openness and joy. What more could we ask for?

What you can enjoy on this retreat

• 7 nights shared accommodations in our elegant bhavans (peaceful abodes)

• 3 healthful vegetarian meals a day plus morning chai (tea) and snacks

• Illuminating teachings and profound discussions to achieve Self-realization

• Daily meditation practice three times a day plus morning asana (physical yoga) classes

• Rejuvenating hikes in Arunachala & excursions to the sacred river Gangaji

• Guided tour of permaculture projects with produce harvesting

• Creative writing classes

• Pranic healing sessions

• Pranayama (breathwork) exercises to release blockages

• Sacred Singing and Nada Yoga (spiritual chanting) classes for opening the heart

• Joyful participation in the ashram community

Cost

In order to make our retreats accessible to spiritual seekers with diverse financial resources, we use a three-tiered contribution structure. This allows people with limited means to cover the basic costs of the retreat and those with greater financial capacity to kindly sponsor participants who could not otherwise attend. Please carefully consider the amount that you can give and remember that the Benefactor level contributions make it possible for us to maintain our Ashram and continue its development. We depend on donations to build housing and a future library and temple; to grow food, care for volunteers, and sustain our free wisdom school and meditation center in Escazu; and much more. If you feel inspired to make an additional donation, beyond what we have suggested, it will be received with deep gratitude.

Keeping with the tradition and giving spirit of an authentic Ashram, our visitors are all expected to share in the daily karma yoga (egoless service). Those paying at the Limited-Income tier may be assigned to extra duties and occasionally will be asked to sacrifice participation in a planned activity if needed.

□ $1500 - Benefactor

□ $1200 - General

□ $975 - Limited-Income

Active Sat Yoga community members please inquire about a local price.

Prices include: all retreat meals and snacks, accommodations in shared rooms/bathrooms, meditation gatherings, teachings, asana classes, various transformational activities, karma yoga and nature walks. Transportation is not included in this price.

A Sample Day at a Sat Yoga Retreat

5:00 Sunrise meditation gathering with daily inspirational teaching

6:00 Enjoy morning chai in silence or in light conversation

6:20 Moving yoga (asana) class overlooking the valley

7:15 Breakfast of fresh fruits, cereals, toast and delicious hot dishes

8:00 Personal time

8:45 Morning activity: hikes, guided meditations, river excursions

10:45 Personal time and refreshment

11:30 Meditation and wisdom teaching

1:00 Gourmet vegetarian lunch

2:00 Personal reflection time

4:00 Tea time with dessert

4:30 Evening class and meditation

6:30 Light nutritious dinner

Accommodations

Nestled among flourishing gardens and panoramic mountain views, our six comfortable bhavans (spiritual abodes) offer the ideal space to embark on a transformative inner journey. Each simple yet tastefully designed room provides comfortable sleeping space for two*, a private balcony and large windows that overlook the natural beauty of the surrounding environment. The soothing sounds of nearby streams and sweet songs of native birds create the perfect conditions for deep meditation and relaxation.

*All prices are based on same-gender shared accommodations.

Meals

Karma Yoga

A Sat Yoga retreat has the power to make us whole. This power comes from the combination of meditation (dhyana), spiritual teachings (gyana), and service to the spiritual community (seva). The meditation leads to transcendence; the spiritual teachings to a paradigm shift in perception; and the seva brings about divine self-transformation. This makes service to the spiritual community the most important component of them all. To be authentic seva, however, the work must be done in a state of karma yoga, egoless and joyful spontaneity and gratitude. Karma yoga is action done while consciousness is immersed in Sat, the Supreme Presence. It makes all work effortless. Only when a community is filled with karma yogis, and the love of karma yoga is spread by example, can an Ashram be sustainable.

We invite all visitors the Sat Yoga Retreat Center to feel the blissful experience of being part of a true ashram community through daily participation in karma yoga.

For more information or to register please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .