Eco Meditation Archives - Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

Weekend Retreat in Mt. Fuji
3 Oct 2009
Swami Purnamirtanandaji’s retreat was held on the shore of Lake Saiko, one of the 5 scenic lakes at the base of Mount Fuji. In an area boasting some of the most pristine forests in the country, greenery and wildlife abound, and provide an ideal environment for people to refresh their body and mind. Over 100 devotees made the two-hour journey from Tokyo to spend the weekend with Swamiji to recharge their spiritual batteries in this idyllic setting. The retreat began with Swamiji’s class on the Mrityunjaya Mantra, followed by a class on Navaratri Puja. Retreat activities on the second day included archana, yoga, eco-meditation, and talks.

Program with volunteer students in Kyoto

Each year, over 100 students from Japan comes to India to join in Amma’s ongoing charitable activities. After the tsunami disaster, over 150 students joined in to participate in Amma’s reconstruction efforts. They also help during Amma’s visits to Japan every year.

The students invited Swamiji to give a talk in Kyoto, which is the headquarters of their activities in Western Japan. Swamiji spent over 2 hours with the students, starting with a spiritual discourse, and then conducting Q&A. The session seemed as though it would not end before the hall closed. The program was concluded on the final note that Swamiji would again return next year!

The students were also very interested in Amma’s new orphanage and school in Kenya and looking forward for an opportunity to take part in the project.

Program and morning meditation in Kanazawa (Hakusan)

13 Oct 2009

The Main Conference Room in “Hakusan People’s Exchange Center” was full to capacity and the air in the hall was thick with suspense, as the attendees were getting their first opportunity to hear Swamiji speak, that too on a very timely and intriguing subject – “How to Transcend Life’s Challenges.”

In am hour long lecture Swamiji spoke about elucidating how we can utilize life’s challenges to propel us even further and more rapidly on the spiritual path. He also emphasized the importance of meditation in developing inner strength, then conducted a flute meditation in order to give the program attendees an immediate experience of what he meant.

Swamiji’s flute meditations are extremely popular in Japan. It was followed with a Q&A session, and distributed prasad to all present.

Early the next morning, at 6:00 am, Swamiji conducted a guided meditation for the Kanazawa Ethics Research Society. The meditation was set in a very tranquil and scenic location: a hall nestled in the midst of a vast grape vineyard.

20 Oct 2008, Nagano, Japan

Location of the 1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano is a mountainous area that receives large amounts (over 3m!) of snow each winter. This idyllic rural location became the backdrop for this year’s Japan retreat, with Swami Purnamritananda held at the Beech Meadows in the Nabekura Highlands. Despite the remoteness of the location, the retreat was full – even overbooked.

The retreat began with a preliminary program for the children, where Swami Purnamritananda taught them how to play the bamboo flute, and each child received his/her own flute (from India) to take home! Meanwhile, the adults went on a nature walk with Br. Shantamrita, stopping in the middle of the beech forest for meditation.

Atma Puja was performed on the first evening of the retreat. Swamiji guided the retreatants through the steps of the ceremony, where they meditated and offered flower petals to Amma’s Yantra while Swamiji led Amma’s 108 names.

The following morning began with Mahaganapati Homa at sunrise, held in a peaceful grass field surrounded by forest, pampa grass, and a gurgling brook. Everyone commented on how ideal the surroundings were for the ceremony – one could imagine that such places might have been used by the ancient sages, as well. The homa was followed by walking meditation, and eco-meditation in the beech forest. After lunch, the participants reconvened in the main hall for a Q&A session with Swamiji, followed by a meditation class.

At the conclusion of the retreat on the second night, many people were shedding tears, and had to force themselves to go home, in order to attend work the following morning.

The first Nagano Retreat was a grand success, and the unanimous feedback was to hold next year’s retreat in the same location – but this time add an additional day!

– Kusumita

watch photos here