We are all looking for inspiration. Without it our life becomes dull and our spiritual practice stagnates. Attending a retreat is a great way to find inspiration and get a new perspective. The VIHE International Vaisnavi Retreat 2017 gave inspiration to more than seventy vaisnavis from all around the world and left a deep impression on me personally. I can still feel the warmth of holding hands and the sweetness of smiles on many faces. The sound of the tambura is still playing in my mind and Giriraja is still right there within a few steps. This was my first vaisnavi retreat and I didn’t know what to expect. It turned out to be much more than I could imagine. Just having an opportunity to see Giriraja every day felt surreal. Being engaged in service to all the devotees was a special blessing. Sharing responsibility with the wonderful team of staff created a bond which will stay no matter if we ever meet again.
The theme this year was the art, specifically painting for Krsna. Our special guest from USA, Mother Dhrti, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple, submerged us in an amazing world of Krsna art. The altar room became one colorful story depicting the Lord’s many shapes, qualities and pastimes, skillfully painted by various vaisnavi artists from around the world. Looking at those beautiful pictures made me really understand the name of the retreat “Windows to the Spiritual World”. I could feel wonderful energy flowing from those canvases right into my heart! I certainly saw some of the pictures before but I didn’t really “see” them until the retreat. Knowing who the painter was and what story was behind it made the interaction with the pictures very intimate.
Dhriti mataji’s story is unique and exemplary in terms of how destiny can unfold very early in one’s life. It was fascinating to hear how Krsna fulfilled her desire to study at one of the best art colleges in New York City where she met devotees and how right after getting her diploma she got engaged in the Caitanya Caritamrta publishing marathon along with Jadurani devi dasi. Most people, including myself, do not realize how much work painting a picture is. Somehow we consider art a very pleasant thing to do forgetting the other side of the coin which is hours and hours of sitting in front of the easel. Mother Dhrti did not just describe the process but gave us a hands-on experience of how to paint for Krsna during her workshop.
As the most important part of the retreat, associating with devotees was a great inspiration to me. I felt very comfortable and right in my place mingling with both senior vaisnavis and younger devotees. That really felt like being part of a joint family where several generations of women live together and take care of each other. Srila Prabhupada katha told by his lady disciples was so intimate and sweet. It was just like mothers telling their daughters stories about their grandfather who was a prominent personality. A special round of applause to “My Sakhi” activity which I personally felt was a great way to connect. Right in the beginning of the retreat all vaisnavis formed pairs and became each other’s sakhis. Throughout the retreat sakhis had a chance to take care of each other, give gifts and share realizations just like gopis in the spiritual world. Meeting and associating with my sakhi, who was one of Srila Prabhupadas disciples from USA, was very special and enriched me in so many ways. We still keep in touch by email.
I really appreciated the presentation on vaisnavi retreats around the world given by Mother Prasanta. The message to me was very clear that the ancient tradition of women sanga should be maintained for the greater benefit of all. Moreover, the focus should be not just on women but on vaisnavi sanga, as our main goal remains spiritual development. I felt greatly inspired by the idea of having many vaisnavi retreats all around the world where women of various ages could give support, nourishment and inspiration to each other in a safe and wholesome environment. As many attendees witnessed, the younger and older generations of vaisnavis could give each other so much, and such retreats are meant to provide a loving space for such exchanges. Sharing experience and love with the younger vaisnavis was something so natural for the senior devotees, just as caring for and learning from them was for the younger generations.
The apex of the retreat was a day trip to Ter Kadamba where we first had a class on the glories of the Holy Name from Mother Yasomati, and after lunch engaged in a wonderful kirtana which lasted until very late at night. There is always something special for me in vaisnavi kirtana but the experience at Ter Kadamba was simply amazing! I wished the sweet vibrations of the Holy Name would never stop and the flower abhiseka of Sri Sri Krsna Balarama would last forever.
The “Windows to the Spiritual World” have opened wide for me during this Vaisnavi retreat and I will cherish the memories. The goal of a retreat is to rejuvenate and feel inspired while getting away from the daily routine. As we all get back to our busy lives let us carry the spark of love in our hearts so that hundreds of sparkling hearts all around the globe could make a beautiful necklace worth offering at the lotus feet of the Lord.
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