A Spiritual Living Retreat with Guest Teachers Naren K. Schreiner and Lopamudra Bose
“You are on a journey, stopping here for just a little while. Life is like a great caravan passing by. Your first interest should be to learn the purpose of this journey, and its destination. That destination is God. It could not be anything else.” ~Paramahansa Yogananda
The four stages of life (ashramas) were outlined in ancient India to give each person a balanced plan of life that was both personally fulfilling and also serviceful to society, while maintaining the steady goal of Self-realization. Each stage of life, like the four seasons, has a unique and beautiful purpose —each with a set of challenges!
Although modern life may seem to have gone astray, this Vedic wisdom can be applied to our lives today. Understanding this lifeplan can give you clarity of purpose for each stage, help you define priorities and how to balance divine duty with personal desire, and ultimately ensure a complete and satisfying life that results in divine illumination.
This weekend retreat is designed for all age groups of every stage of life. We will learn from the wisdom of Paramahansa Yogananda’s commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita and other writings, and you will have time to delve into your own lifeplan, your current stage and what lies ahead for you. Whether you are starting life and building a foundation for a future career or family, or wondering what your current purpose is and how to balance your work, your dreams, your relationships, your spiritual goals; or you have retired and are discovering your new purpose and how to balance age with spiritual practice; or you feel complete with life and ready to withdraw; this retreat will help shine light on how you can bring fulfillment of dharma (righteous duty), artha (family, prosperity and career), kama (love and happiness) and moksha (spiritual freedom, union with God).
Lodging Fee: By clicking the Register Now button, you’ll be able to pay for your lodging, which includes the cost of meals and the retreat fee.
Retreat Fee: $150 helps make these programs sustainable and will be included automatically when you register for your lodging. Dormitory-style lodging is available for those on a budget, with a sliding scale for those in need. Simply reach out to our office for sliding scale and partial work-trade opportunities.
What to Bring for Retreat:
-journal and/or notebook
-meditation shawl and a meditation cushion
Refund & Cancellation Policy
Four Stages of Life Weekend Schedule
Friday
2 – 4 pm – Check-in
5 pm – Dinner
6:30 pm – Welcome and Introduction to the Four Ashramas
8-9 pm – Guided Meditation and Chanting
Saturday:
8:30-9:45 am Guided Meditation and Chanting
10:00 am – Brunch
11:30 am – Spirit & Nature Contemplative Walk (approx. 90 min.)
1:00 pm – Snack available in Main House
2 pm – Hatha Yoga – Domes (90 min.)
3:30 pm – Workshop on Life Stages
5 pm – Dinner
6:30 pm – Q & A with Discussion
8-9 pm Guided Meditation and Chanting
Sunday:
8:30 – Guided Meditation and Chanting (beginning with simple yoga postures)
9:45 am – Closing
10:00 am – Refreshments available in Main House
11 am – Self-Realization Sunday Service Reading (75 min.) – based on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda
1 pm – Sunday Community Dinner
Click the button on this page to register
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