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WoodDragon
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 11:09:24 AM
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I have just returned from the AYP Retreat in PA, USA and the experience has brought me to joyous tears both during and after. So much was learned, so much was experienced and the sharing was beautiful. My gratitude towards Yogani and the leaders of the retreat is unbounded. Thank you for all you have done for us.
About half way through the retreat, I found within me a knot in my heart which i had been ignoring for so long, always turning from my own pains with the idea that i was too busy helping all the others around me in life. The pain of this was intense and I went to be alone for a bit to draw (and got nicely lost in the process), after a while one of my new friends found me to tell me the next set of meditations was starting and I Woke. At that moment it was as if a bell had sounded deep within me and i ran off to rejoin the group. Later I found myself weeping and my heart melted, the knot within my heart collapsed and was replaced with an inner quiet and stillness that transformed itself into a tremendous joy and freedom I have never felt before. All my Love became unconditional and pure, my world had become clear and open before me. Looking around I found the faces of so many that I realized I now Love and were so kind, caring and loving.
I still hear the songs we sang in my head, my morning meditation was much easier to attain and it filled me with stillness and silence. My busy schedule no longer daunts me and I know that this experience at the retreat is the main cause for so much healing within me. I would encourage everyone to join in and be part of an AYP retreat, it surprised me and I am sure it will surprise you too. |
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yogesh
USA
153 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 12:02:45 PM
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almost brought tears to my eyes reading, you are blessed!
I hope to make the Malibu Retreat in November...
namaskar
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jeff
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 12:12:40 PM
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maheswari
Lebanon
2516 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 12:38:51 PM
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nearoanoke
USA
525 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 2:10:33 PM
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Great to hear your experience WoodDragon.
I hope the Los Angeles Retreat does the same things to me and everyone else ![](icon_smile.gif) |
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chas
USA
209 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 3:12:52 PM
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Divine WoodDragon,
Thank you for sharing :) Heart melting is being experienced here as well. Stillness and Love at the retreat and here now was and is beyond awesome!
Much Love and thanks to all my new friends and to Yogani ![](icon_smile_approve.gif)
Om
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mr_anderson
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 3:37:16 PM
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awesome :-) |
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Parallax
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 4:24:53 PM
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Hey Roomie!!! ![](icon_smile_big.gif)
All i can say, is that my heart melted with yours this weekend. And it was beautiful to watch you unfold as the weekend progressed. The inner change that occurred in you was visible...I saw a lightness and love and a comfort level with yourself that was revealed...and it touched something inside of me as well. I am humbled by the experience of it all...
I'm very grateful to have met you, and very grateful to have been in your Presence this weekend. Very much looking forward to the next time
What I feel toward you is Love ![](icon_smile.gif) |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 6:35:24 PM
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![](icon_smile.gif) Thank's for sharing this here WoodDragon. There were so many hearts that opened this weekend... and yours was beautiful to share.. the tears, the vulnerability, then the trust and letting go... it was/is all so beautiful to experience and share. _/\_ |
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Pheel
China
318 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 8:34:05 PM
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bewell
1275 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 10:46:57 AM
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quote: Originally posted by WoodDragon I found myself weeping and my heart melted, the knot within my heart collapsed and was replaced with an inner quiet and stillness that transformed itself into a tremendous joy and freedom I have never felt before. All my Love became unconditional and pure, my world had become clear and open before me. Looking around I found the faces of so many that I realized I now Love and were so kind, caring and loving.
That is so, so wonderful, WoodDragon! I found myself tearing up as I read.
For me the inner experience of the retreat was marked by a new level of stillness, a clear still emptiness of sensation in the center of my spine and flowing outward through my body. The friction of conductivity evaporated when the stillness flowed. The outer retreat was filled with so many lovely, warm encounters, sometimes silly, sometimes deeply serious, insightful human encounters. It might have been overwhelming except for the stillness Heartbreaking joy with an odd absence of ache. |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 10:55:28 AM
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Thank you for sharing the stillness with us Bewell.
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jeff
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 3:56:08 PM
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Bewell,
Great to hear... I knew I should have stayed longer...
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faileforever
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 4:31:36 PM
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This whole post is inspiring and beautiful and ..i cant wait until i can experience a retreat!!![](icon_smile_big.gif) |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 7:14:35 PM
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quote: Originally posted by jeff
Bewell,
Great to hear... I knew I should have stayed longer...
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I wish you could have stayed longer... but your short and sweet presence was deeply appreciated Jeff. Thank you.![](icon_smile.gif) |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 7:16:55 PM
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quote: Originally posted by faileforever
This whole post is inspiring and beautiful and ..i cant wait until i can experience a retreat!!![](icon_smile_big.gif)
This retreat was filled with stillness and heart. amazing how many hearts opened. I am truly blessed to be a part of this beautiful unfolding. Thank you, All!!!!![](icon_smile.gif) |
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Kirtanman
USA
1651 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 9:43:13 PM
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Thanks, WoodDragon -- a beautiful and inspiring overview; I feel privileged to have participated in the retreat with you, and with everyone who attended. I also very much enjoyed our conversations over the course of the weekend.
And thanks to everyone else who has commented so far, as well -- and to everyone else who attended (and, of course, to Yogani, who has made all this possible) - it takes all of us to celebrate the One That's Us (or however that goes .... ).
There was much depth and silence, and also much fun; thankfully, in AYP, we know that these are not at all mutually exclusive.
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Something very powerful happens at retreats -- and specifically at AYP retreats, in my experience. And, while the "flavor" may vary a bit, retreat-to-retreat, the underlying power is there at each retreat.
My sense of it is: openness, sincerity and simplicity are part of what attracts us all to AYP, and when people with that sense of things gather for the purpose of opening further --- "magic ensues" -- in reality.
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Thanks very much to all; I just wanted to "Say Hey", and say Thanks!
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Edited by - Kirtanman on Sep 22 2011 05:55:14 AM |
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JuZen
Canada
8 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2011 : 9:46:37 PM
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Wow that's beautifull WoodDragon![](icon_smile.gif) |
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Rattan
South Africa
41 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 07:43:34 AM
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Some photos to remember this Retreat:
http://snipurl.com/aypretraet |
Edited by - Rattan on Sep 22 2011 07:45:51 AM |
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WoodDragon
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 1:15:20 PM
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Many thanks to those who were there, many thanks to those who posted replies here. My heart is open and Love flows forth in stillness and peace. Beyond words. Beyond meaning. Beyond thought. |
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Kirtanman
USA
1651 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 6:53:13 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Rattan
Some photos to remember this Retreat:
http://snipurl.com/aypretraet
Thanks, Rattan -- these are awesome! |
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trip1
USA
739 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 8:21:01 PM
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I'm still working with what I experienced at Mench Mill (and likely will be for some time), but just wanted to say thank you to everyone who was there. I will never forget the radiant love that permeated the retreat from beginning to end, and continues to manifest as stillness since my return home.
It was a joy meeting old friends for the first time, making lots of new ones, and following a bit of a struggle, finding my way back to a place I had been away from for some time. Thank you all for being an inspiration.
Brett (the other tattooed guy) ![](icon_smile_big.gif) |
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Radharani
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2011 : 01:43:17 AM
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Dear WoodDragon, that is so beautiful, thank you for sharing your experience! And you also, Bewell and others. I can't tell you how much joy it gives me to read such wonderful reports. We may, just possibly, be putting together a retreat here in Florida next year. All my Love to you. xoxo |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2011 : 08:35:48 AM
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Thanks Rattan for the pics.![](icon_smile.gif)
It was wonderful meeting you Brett (the other tattooed guy ). I have always considered you the guru of retreats so having you with us was very special. Thanks.![](icon_smile.gif) |
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WoodDragon
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2011 : 10:18:58 AM
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trip 1 (Brett), it was an wonderful pleasure meeting you and sharing the retreat with you. Your presence was a true gift! Thank you! |
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kami
USA
921 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2011 : 10:03:45 PM
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WoodDragon! What a lovely sharing - thank you. Your presence made this retreat truly special.
This was my second AYP retreat, and of a different flavor, as Kirtanman would say While the last one resulted in tremendous emotional release, this one caused a "settling" of the Silence.. Expansion, bliss and heart opening.. The power of the collective Silence was awe-inspiring; deep meditation seemed to happen spontaneously in the stillness of the group.
It was incredible for those of us who had met last year to see the growth in each other And bonds forged last year were strengthened while new friendships emerged.. For the last few days, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude - to the retreat leaders who are the most magnificent human beings, to everyone for giving so much of yourselves and of course Yogani for making this happen! In many ways, I feel a stronger connection with you all than people I've known all my life ![](icon_smile_big.gif)
Jeff, wish you had stayed longer - your limited presence had an immense impact here; thank you.
Much love to all, kami |
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