Ananda Boston

Yoga and Meditation on Boston's North Shore
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Additional Info on 90th Anniversary Talk & Retreat

If you ended up here but are looking for the details on the talk & retreat 9/17-19, head to our retreats page.
 
Map of the Espousal Retreat Center:  click here (PDF file)
--BOTH the Fri 9/17 talk at 7:30pm and the retreat activities will be in the Retreat House in the Guild Room.
--As you drive up the Espousal Retreat's driveway (the "main entrance" from Lexington St.), there is a "Y" intersection, bear to your right and head to the top of the hill.  The Retreat House is the large building on the right.  There is a parking lot just beyond it.
 
Items to Bring/Read:  click here (may take a while to download--MSWord format, or just see schedule below)
This document gives suggestions on the things you may want to bring/read with you on the retreat.
 
Retreat Schedule:  click here (again, may take a while to download--MSWord format, or see the schedule below)
This document is our tentative schedule for the weekend.
 
Google Directions
to the Espousal Retreat at 554 Lexington St., Waltham, MA
 
 

“In the Footsteps of Yogananda”

Celebration of 90 years of Yogananda bringing Kriya Yoga in the U.S.

ANANDA PILGRIMAGE RETREAT, SEPT 17-19, 2010

Led by Nayaswamis Devarshi & Maria, at the Espousal Retreat Center, Waltham, MA

Fri, Sept 17

6pm on

Registration/Check in at the Retreat House if staying overnight Fri (at Y intersection on retreat land, stay to the right, go to top of the hill, parking available beyond Retreat House on the right—see Espousal Retreat map on website & directions)

7:30pm

Free Talk by Nayaswamis Devarshi & Maria at the Retreat House, in the Guild Room, sharing inspirational stories of Yogananda bringing Kriya Yoga to the West (See above for location info.)

Sat, Sept 18

5:30-7am

OPTIONAL early-bird, long meditation

6:30am

Wake up call will be provided from the hallway….

7-8:30am

Morning Sadhana*

8:30am

Breakfast

9am

Registration/Check in for those arriving Sat

10-12pm

Welcome & Class on Yogananda’s bringing meditation to Boston (and the U.S.) in 1920, including stories of Boston sites

12-12:30pm

Lunch

12:30-1:30pm

Carpool (1/2 hr) & Walk (1/2 hr) to Pilgrimage Sites near Copley Square

1:30-3pm

Group led experience/meditation at Trinity Church & Boston Public Library

3-3:30pm

Walk from Copley Square to the Y (1/2 hr)

3:30-4/4:30pm

Group led experience/meditation at the Greater Boston YMCA Chapel

4/4:45pm

No later than this time, carpool back to Espousal Retreat (1/2 hr)

4:30-5:30pm

Evening Sadhana* (we may opt to do this at the Y rather than the Retreat)

5:30pm

Dinner

7pm

Class on Yogananda and his disciple Swami Kriyananda (and preparation for satsang  with Kriyananda,incl. any questions for Swami; smart casual dress)

8pm

LIVE, 2-way video satsanga with Nayaswami Kriyananda in L.A. (his health permitting)

 

 

Sun, Sept 19

 

 

5:30-7am

OPTIONAL early-bird, long meditation

6:30am

Wake up call will be provided from the hallway…..

7-8:30pm

Morning Sadhana*

8:30am

Breakfast (1st 20 minutes in silence) & free time

10-10:30am

Purification Service

10:30-12:30pm

Sunday Service (an optional offering is taken), including Discipleship Initiation** and Nayaswami Pilgrim Vows**

12:30-2pm          

Lunch & Goodbyes

* Sadhana, or spiritual practices, will include Energization Exercises, some Ananda Yoga, Chanting, Meditation

**If you are interested in participating, please let Tracy know.

 


 

ITEMS TO BRING/READ

90th Anniversary of Yogananda Bringing Kriya Yoga to the West

Pilgrimage Retreat

 

General items to bring

Toiletries

Water bottle if you need one

Sturdy walking shoes, hat if needed, and some warmer layers for walking in downtown Boston Sat. afternoon.

Comfortable, non-restrictive, non-revealing clothing—sweats or yoga type clothing for yoga & meditation

Less casual/nicer clothes for Saturday Satsang with Swami, Sunday Purification/Sunday Service

Optional offering/donation for Sun Service

Yoga mat or other hatha yoga items, if you have them (if not, feel free to just bring a towel to use of the floor)—(we’ll do only a small amount of any Ananda hatha Yoga)

Cushion to sit on floor or chair (a bent spine is the enemy of Self-Realization!)

Any other additional meditation supplies (a shawl, kriya beads, etc.)

Notebook/pens for notes or journaling

Optional:  camera, mp3 player w/headphones.  WiFi is available if needed.

FYI, linens and towels are provided, as is a unique wake-up call in the morning a half hour before sadhana—bring an alarm clock only if you want to wake up earlier.

Reading for the Short and the Long Term

The Rescuing Yogananda book by Swami, just written days ago, will be on his mind for our Saturday two-way, video satsang with us.  It would be great if you have a chance to get familiar with it before Saturday.  Books, music, and other items may be purchased at the Ananda boutique at the retreat, or you may read many more books and free meditation info on-line.

Rescuing Yogananda book link and “My Spiritual Birthday Anniversary” letter from Swami

Read on-line at www.ananda.org (there is a wealth of info on this site!!!)

The book is only 19 chapters—many of them quite short.

 

Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhansa Yogananda, published by Crystal Clarity

Read on-line at http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/books/ay/

The New Path, by Swami Kriyananda, founder of Ananda, published by Crystal Clarity

Read on-line at http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/books/path/

For Those Newer to Meditation and Good Review for Everyone!

Some principles and practices of meditation are online at http://www.ananda.org/meditation/.  These are resources available to you either before or after the retreat.

See “Learn to Meditate” on that page for a description of the key points for meditation.

See ‘Free Meditation Support” on that same page for many additional resources.

See a free 51 min video of Swami on “Meditation for Starters”—see link on the right side of the page.

See link to Ananda On-line classes re meditation—see link on the right side of the page

On-line Classes and Community

Sign up for a free one hour “webinar” on 9/24 with Asha on Yogananda and Meditation (satsang), 10/21 with Lila Devi re Flower Essences, and a HUGE list of prior webinars are available to view—see list on right column. 

Also, there are free How to Meditate and Kriya Yoga courses, and other classes with interactive support! 

And, check out the option to  join Ananda’s Virtual Community On-line! You can also find all these at http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/

 

We look forward to seeing you!

Joy to you!