Upcoming Retreat
2012 National Summer Retreat
June 29, 2012 starts 5 pm, - July 5, 2012 ends 2 pm
Franciscan Spiritual Center
609 S.Convent Road
Aston, PA 19014
(20 minutes from Philadelphia airport)
The Franciscan Spiritual Center is located in Aston, PA which is about 20 minutes from the Philadelphia airport. There is a beautiful campus for contemplative space and walking. It is handicapped accessible. Some rooms have a private bath and some are shared. Most of the rooms are doubles. We will accommodate single requests as possible.
Single: $522
Double: $492
If attending less than full-time:
Double: $82 x number of days attending
Single: $87 x number of days attending
European guests receive discount
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 19, 2012
Questions: Contact Mary Horne-Porter
Peacebypiece1@att.net
(317)831-7470
Theme: You want to know the truth: Are you ready?
Retreat House
“I want to find God.” That is the question in the hearts of each and every one of you. You cannot find God, but God finds you if you are ready. The seed can only germinate if the ground is fertilized and made ready; then can the seed only germinate. So the seed is that divine force, and you are the ground that you have to cultivate in such a way, through your spiritual practices, that the seed germinates….Be ready – so that the seed of divinity impregnates your entire existence. (US 84-15)
On this 6 day retreat we will discuss deeper teachings of Gururaj relating to what cultivating the ground really means, discriminating illusion from reality, and the spiritual strength that it takes to stand firm in our resolve.
Time will be given to meditations, chanting, walking meditation, introspection, yoga, Tai Chi, Yoga Nidra, study of teachings, discussion, relaxation and fun. We are still planning a rich agenda for you including kirtan.
Lorietta tells us the following: This chant and response music is a natural addition to our years of practice. It brings out the “bhakti bhav” the deeply flowing love we experienced in the presence of Gururaj. And he did love music! Chanting these ancient mantras can…well, let me quote the words on the back of David Newman AKA Durga Das’es recently released CD, ‘Stars’:
Warning! (kirtan)….”may cause the following symptoms…Open heartedness, optimism, gratitude, devotional bliss, abiding happiness, tears of joy, inner peace, delight in the present moment, a spontaneous desire to sing and dance raison d’etre, receptivity to grace and a keen sense that every thing is just perfect as it is.” If symptoms persist, please pass it on!
Let’s have a kirtan! If you play an instrument that you can carry, please bring it!
