Caitanya Vaishnava Retreat

[Nityānanda dāsa]

Radhe Radhe!

I've been having a discussion via email with Jagadish Dada about the idea of a CV Retreat. He was saying that the etiquette is that the participants go to where the elders are. The elders in this case being Jagadish Dada and Nitai Dada. So Jagadish was suggesting that a small group of people could attend something like this at his new place in Oregon. I'm not sure what he means by small. Six to eight maybe? 

Anyway, this idea has been discussed here on the symposium a number of times. I'm not entirely sure that this time will be the time it materializes, but at least we have a specific thread for potentially cultivating the idea. 

I was also perusing the nooks and crannies of this symposium and saw a topic mentioning the need to get deprogrammed after being in IGM. Frankly I think it's a great idea. Of course the term 'deprogrammed' has all kinds of bad connotations, yet it's a fitting word. One adopts the programming of IGM when one enters it. One takes on the lingo, dress, ideologies, heroes, enemies, etc. And interestingly enough there isn't a clear guideline that IGM follows in terms of helping it's members to shed any preconceived ideas or misconceptions a person has before joining IGM. Just the standard 'the material world is bad' etc. So once departing IGM, one likely has two sets (or more) of baggage that need to likely be tossed. How to toss your baggage? That's a great topic for the potential retreat! Of course I suggest that we start that learning here. And of course, it has to some degree already been discussed here on the symposium. Hard to compile it all in to one place. So many topics meandering and hiding and linked in with other topics! Even my writing this has pieces that can be split into multiple different topics (sorry!). 

Running out of gas on what else to write here at the moment. It would be nice to see this happen. It seems to me that if there were in existence an annual (or twice a year) CV Retreat/Festival, it would be a no brainer that I would give my all to be there. 

Jai Sri Radhe!

[Nityānanda dāsa]

Radhe Radhe!

As mentioned before, I've been speaking a bit with Jagadish Dada about trying to organize some kind of retreat. Here is something that Jagadish wrote up. There is no set dates or anything at this time. It is all potential-only at this point, but any feedback would be appreciated!

*************************
Caitanya Retreat 2021


Caitanya Vaisnav Retreat: (In a private retreat center on a river in Southern Oregon)

This is a retreat for those respectful and deeply interested in CV Tradition - studying, imbibing the Vaisnav qualities, and practicing it already – Diksa holders or not.

Any retreat would be in 2021 and possibly beyond into a yearly event. If this is the case then some of you might participate for 2 or 3 weeks and some of you for a 3 day weekend.

Ideally a retreat would be for Life, 12 years, or 3 years, or 1 year, or 6 months, or 3 months, or 21 days, or 14 days, or 7 days: anything shorter would not be worth gathering together, (I personally think that anything shorter than 21 days might not be worth the efforts).


Main Practices (Everyone needs to commit to):

SanKirtan: 4am to 6am; and 7pm to 9pm. If desired and agreed upon, then add one hour to each slot. (also can add 30 to 60 minutes at noon or afternoon).

64 malas of Japa (or more) with prem-bhakti-yogic (loving devotion concentration) - accomplished in-between the group practices on one’s own while sitting, and non-verbally within the Mind, or quietly to oneself. Indoors or outdoors or any combo thereof.

There are the following areas for japa, reading, etc. -- Balcony, porch, grass, mandir room, and later decks and/or gazebos, etc.

Bhog will be offered to Thakur 2 times a day. Prasad seva 2 times a day (my guess at 11am and 6pm. Fruit for morning time if one or more need it).

Attend Readings 1 to 3 times each day. (30 to 60 minutes).

1. Rasa Theory and/ or Sanatan Gosvamipad’s Brihat Bhagavatamrita.

2. The various Gitas in the Bhagavat Mahapuran

3. The stages of progress on the Path. And / or Vaishnav Achar/ Sadachar.


** Any participant that has the Living Holy Sacred Diksa will be obliged to do Mantra Smaranam at least one time per day usually done at 6am (or right after bath and morning sankirtan).

There will be no smoking, coffee, drinking alcohol, meat or drug taking (unless prescribed medication).

No sloth, ego-trips, abusive behavior, or dis-agreeable inter-actions with self or others.

[Nitaidas]

This is a interesting proposal. Jagadish and I have talked about it for years. Maybe even Mina was part of those conversations. Doing 64 rounds and kirtan together would be amazing. And to do it annually or biannually would be good for those of us who ordinarily don't have time for such extensive practices, or who do kirtan alone in the evening, one lone voice belting out the glory of Mahaprabhu and Radha and Krsna. To meet in a spirit of cooperation rather than competition would be divine.

My problem, I guess would be clinging to old traditions when we live in a vastly different environment. It is one thing to live in a hut in Vraja with no running water or bathroom or washing machines and another to live in the US or Europe where levels of hygiene and cleanliness are much easier to maintain. Sadacara can become an ego-trip and a source of criticism that can breakdown cohesion and fellowship. It needs to be thoroughly rethought to fit life in the modern world. There were good reasons for the Babas to do things the way they did. Those conditions no longer apply. Most of those practices were part of Indian culture, not part of Caitanya Vaisnavism.

Just some thoughts on things suggested for consideration during a retreat. No cow dung please or cow urine. They are what they look like: stool and piss. Nothing hygienic about them.

[Nitaidas]

Sorry. I don't mean to start off this adventure by being negative. It would be great to get together with bhaktas and chant 64 rounds. read sastra, and do kirtan. How many of the members here have ever done 64 rounds? Just curious. For the beginning chanter it could take eight to ten hours. Advanced chanters can do it in four, but that requires good concentration and doing most of the chanting in manasik mode, not vacasik or upamsu. I did it when living with Baba in Vraja, but it has been years since then. It is a powerful experience.

[service to Radha's feet]

Radhe Radhe! I am interested in attending such a gathering. I have been thinking in the last couple of months of visiting Dr. Nitai and Jagadish. I was not aware that Jagadish has moved to Oregon. It would be great to have this sanga. This was something we should have done years ago. Better late than never.

[JD33]

Nitai-Gaur, Radhey-Shyam; Hare Krsna, Hare Ram.

Depending on notice of interest I imagine 15 bhaktas can attend. I need notice so I can put in another full bathroom in a strategic place.

I imagine there might be fear of the unknown for some people. I am available for questions through the message service here, like 108108 used today. Kindy introduce yourself to me in the message first. Thx.