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| Monday, 25 October 2004 |
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The Retreat at Ramboda by Sivanandini Duraiswamy "Why can't man see the Divinity behind the ecstatic Artist who has painted this inspired beauty", are the words of the Master that came tumbling into my mind, as I watched the early morning changing scenes of nature from the Ramboda promontory. It was beautiful all around as nature unrolls her beauty on the canvas of the valley. I felt a voiceless majesty, a wordless song and a compelling charm surging through me and I was lost in wonder!
The temple itself was wrapped in the early morning mist. It clung to the temple tower, the vimana, like a pale thin blanket lending to it a faint whisper of unreality as if the temple, the valley below and the meandering rivulet had been blessed by the touch of God giving it a beauty, muted gentle and misty like a painting. We had just finished the early morning session of meditation, the first part of each day's programme in the Retreat at Ramboda nestling in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. A group of devotees, members of the Chinmaya Study Circle had come for a five day Retreat to Ramboda on a late autumn evening. We arrived to see the temple bathed in the white light of a full moon, each one of us eager to refresh our anguished tired minds. A retreat into a quiet place filled with harmonious vibrations and a pure salubrious atmosphere will help rejuvenate our tired psyche. A retreat is a period of withdrawal from, the hum drum of ordinary activities of daily life in order to mediate on God, seek a closer union with Him. In our mundane life we lead a very mechanical life moving from one day to another without respite doing what we have to do, more often being totally confused as not to know what should be done. A veil of smoke arises between our activities, clouding our discrimination and us. Though the present beckons us with the promises of peace, love and joy, we are not ready for them, because the pre-occupied mind loses the immediate wonderful moments, which are truly ours to act, work, earn and achieve. Instead of achieving we get agitated, often failing and feeling totally depressed. Time rolls on and we are tossed like a rudderless ship drifting in the sea of Samsara. Such a retreat becomes a time to introspect and retreat into a salubrious state for an effective means for spiritual renewal. The Ramboda retreats are essentially for the Chinmaya Study group members where each one weaves together the teachings and practices of Hindu traditions with the timeless themes of meditation, learning of specified texts, discussions, singing of bhajans, silent observation of nature and being one with her. The silence, openness and unspoiled nature of the landscape and purity of the atmosphere support all these practices creating a natural awareness. To watch and experience the beauty and majesty of nature increases the capacity to contemplate within ourselves. The retreats are conducted in an atmosphere of silence and contemplation for most of the day having specially prepared vegetarian food - less spicy yet wholesome. All these coupled with the sacred chimes of the temple bell, the gentle wind rustling through the leaves and the chirping of the birds, help us to shed our tired vasanas, chastening and purifying our psyche. As each day proceeds, the sattvic atmosphere created by us help to unburden the endless problems burdening us and these gradually evaporate through the mists into thin air. Retreats are organised under the guidance of the Mission Acharya. He provides a carefully worked out pattern of content and method which would influence the progress of the individual. The day begins very early. The accommodation may be rustic; however, after a quick hot water bath, dressed and draped with warm shawls, we walk silently into the prayer hall of the temple around 5.30 in the morning. This basement shrine is dedicated to Pujya Gurudev whose portrait seems to beckon us to withdraw into the inner silence. The prayerful invocations of the large number of devotees who come there for worship have given this place soft vibrations conducive for prayer, meditation and study. Our Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda has often chided us, saying, "Start meditation today. Right now put this sacred practice into your daily routine. There is no moment more auspicious than here and now for the spiritual practice. Japa is an easy method for ordinary people like you, kicked about and bullied by the world both within in and without". As the lights are dimmed in the prayer hall, an oil lamp lights up Gurudev's portrait - the flame is steady and clear for us to begin the session. We start with the chanting of "OM" the Pranava Mantram. We are quietly guided into meditation. We sit erect, breathing rhythmically and being mindful of the breathing. Gradually the chanting is lowered and the voice brought to a mere whisper. This soft inner whisper of OM mingles itself into the great silence within. "Be still, strain thy mind no more; close thine eyes. Come thou with me," speaks the inner voice guiding us gently into the shrine of silence, the cool and fragrant atmosphere soothens our anguished minds." Om is the sound symbol and by chanting this mantra sincerely and devotedly, our mind quietens becoming vigilant and alert. And with meditation comes a sense of peace and well being. Spiritual experiences could be had through mystical stillness - a silent power which controls the restless thoughts. Deep down in silence there is a great calm and one finds a sense of strength and fearlessness. The Upanishads say, "deep within the deepest folds of silence, there is God. Abandon all outer concerns and enter the inner chamber." Success in meditation depends on the peaceful life one leads feeling the purity and beauty of the entire day. At the end of the retreat, we have a special prayer, the padukka puja where one of the devotees performs the puja under the guidance of the Acharya while the other members chant the slokas. Finally with the singing of the shanti slokas, the curtain comes down gradually and as we leave Ramboda, we carry with us the experiences of a wonderful retreat feeling very quiet and peaceful within. We feel this calmness gradually manifesting within our personality in our love and service to God. |
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