Christmas Weekend Retreat

Christmas Weekend Retreat
22 – 25 December
with Nayaswami Devarshi and the Ananda Monks

Join the Ananda Sangha family, along with the Ananda monks, for a traditional Ananda Christmas, much as Swami Kriyanandaji would lead over the years. Saturday and Sunday will include many family activities, suitable for all ages, along with discourses on Paramhansa Yoganandaji’s teachings on Christ.

Friday, 23 December, will be the annual Christmas 8-hour meditation, led by the Ananda monks. The All-Day Christmas meditation is a tradition Paramhansa Yogananda started in 1931 as a time to worship God as expressed through the life of Jesus Christ and to expand our awareness of the Christ Consciousness in our own souls. We invite you to enter into this meditation with an attitude of devotion and surrender, offering all that you are up to God and Christ. The 23rd is the very day that Yoganandaji chose for this blessed “spiritual Christmas” celebration. For nearly 50 years, Ananda Village has held their 8-hour meditation on this day, in communion with Yogananda disciples all over the world. This will also be the first long meditation held in our all-new “Temple of All Religions.”

“Christ is only suggested in social Christmas festivities, but He is seen and felt as an everlasting, ever-joyous fact in the cradle of divine ecstasy. Make the unknown Christ known within yourself by seeing Him born a second time as the ever-new, ever increasing joy of your daily deep meditation.” – Paramhansa Yogananda

Tips for the meditation:

• Come on time to participate in energization exercises and to be in place for meditation.
• Eight hours might seem like a long time, but if you sit still right away you can go deep into meditation, and beyond time and space. Almost universally the time passes far too quickly. Periods of chanting can help you dive more deeply within
• Be inward, move as little as possible, even during the chanting periods. Let the chanting take you more deeply within? don’t treat them as “breaks” but rather as a continuation of your experience of Christ within.
• Chairs are provided or bring your own meditation gear for floor sitting including a shawl or sweater. (Malas, aum boards, and earplugs if you use them.)
• Come for as much as you are able, leave when you need to. If you can arrange to leave at a break or chanting/reading, that would be serviceful to those around you.
• Dress in comfortable QUIET clothing—please no clothing that rustles loudly (nylon, etc.)
• Water, tea, fruit and light food will be available as needed

—————————  Schedule —————————

Thursday 22 December
4:00-7:00                Registration (also chai at 5:00-5:30, meditation at 6:00)
7:00-7:45                Dinner
8:00-9:00                Video: “A Christmas Satsang with Swami Kriyananda”

Friday 23 December
8:15-9:15 am          Light Breakfast (optional)
9:30-9:45               Energization
10:00-6:00 pm        All-day Christmas meditation
10:00-6:00 pm        Activities for kids, with games, music, crafts, and lunch at 1:00 pm.
5:00-7:00 pm          Chai and snacks, including hot cocoa
7:00-7:45               Dinner
7:45-9:10              Movie: “A Muppet Christmas Carol”

Saturday 24 December – Christmas Eve
7:00-8:30 am         Morning meditation
8:45-9:30                Breakfast
10:00-11:00 am     Registration, chai, and refreshments for late arrivals
11:00-12:30 pm     “Master’s Teachings on Christ”
12:30-1:00             Meditation
1:00-2:00                Lunch
3:00-4:30                “The Story of Christmas, and the Inner Meaning of Christmas”
5:00-5:30                Chai
6:00-7:00                Meditation
7:00                         Dinner, followed by Christmas carols, story telling, cookies ?   and hot apple cider

Sunday 25 December – Christmas Day
7:00-9:00 am         Group meditation, ending with video: Christmas message from Swami Kriyananda
9:00-10:00             Breakfast
10:30-11:15           Children’s re-enactment of the story of Christmas
11:15-12:00           Divine Mother gift exchange
1:00-2:00                Festive Lunch and farewells

Rates of Accommodations

For more information on Accommodation and reservations contact:

retreat@anandaindia.org or call 9011069792, or 7066028051