Chakra Meditation Retreats

December 6 - 17, 2010

According to India's ancient yoga tradition, the human body contains spiritual energy centers, known as "chakras." The seven main chakras lie along the sushumna nadi like beautiful lotus flowers strung in a garland. Although the chakras are naturally radiant and vibrant with divine energy, their beauty is veiled by our karma, which is like a thick layer of dust.

The accumulation of this blanket of dust over innumerable lifetimes creates barriers to the upward movement of the divine kundalini energy and prevents us from realizing our full spiritual potential. This karmic dust also acts on the chakras to create disease and commotion in our lives as the fulfillment of our negative karma.

During the chakra meditation retreat, Amma will be speaking in depth on the nature of the chakras in the subtle body and teaching specific techniques for cleansing them. The techniques received by each participant will depend on which chakra meditation retreats have been attended in the past. There is no prerequisite for attending the retreat this year.

The Benefits of Attending Meditation Retreats

Meditation retreats offer the sacred opportunity for performing many hours of meditation under the divine protection and guidance of Amma. Meditation is always a wonderfully purifying practice, but according to tradition, group meditation that is performed in the presence of a holy person is much more powerful than meditation done by oneself. During retreats, participants are encouraged to set aside their day-to-day concerns and dive deep into the ocean of the Self within. As Amma teaches, it is only when we look within through meditation that we find the true presence of Divine Mother deep within our inner hearts.

In the more intimate setting of a retreat, Amma is able to teach in more detail than she normally does during public programs. She often focuses her teachings on sacred chants and practices that help aspirants to make their meditation practice more powerful and profound. Learning these sacred Sanskrit mantras from Amma is more than just learning how to pronounce the words, it is really like an initiation. When Amma teaches, she pours her own energy directly into the participants. Many have experienced that it is much easier to pronounce mantras and practice various techniques that they have learned directly from Amma, rather than from a book.

"Bliss, peace, inner spiritual strength, divine love, and perfect knowledge of the immortal soul - these are the fruits of your true meditation." ~ Amma

Accommodations and Retreat Format

The venue for the India retreats is the beautiful surroundings of Amma's Penusila Ashram in Andhra Pradesh. Within this pristine setting, great rishis such as Viswamitra and Kanva Maharishi performed their tapas, or divine austerities. This is also the same Penusila Forest that has been sanctified by our beloved Amma's presence during her own 10-year period of austerities.

Amma has designed the retreat format for participants' maximum growth and purification. The day begins with meditation at 5 a.m. At sunrise, participants perform the sacred "Surya namaskara" practice, which involves offering flowers and water to the Divine in the form of the sun, while chanting sacred mantras. Sixty or ninety minute sessions of meditation are interspersed with teaching sessions with Amma.

Retreat accommodations consist of 12' by 15' rooms with beds, bedding and attached baths with solar hot water showers. Men and women will be housed separately, with a maximum of two participants per room. Sattwic Indian vegetarian food will be served.

What is Expected

Please be advised that Amma expects all participants to maintain verbal silence for the length of the retreat. As it is Amma's intention that everyone benefit as much as possible from her meditation retreats, she has made this request for verbal silence so that participants will experience deeper and more fruitful meditations. A great deal of spiritual energy is lost through speaking; only verbal silence allows us to preserve that energy and make the most of our precious time in the sacred land of Penusila.

Registration Application and Fees

Retreat Date Options and Fees:
Session #1:   December 6 - December 11                $ 333    
Session #2:   December 12 - December 17              $ 333
Session #1 and Session #2:  December 6 - 17          $ 666 (includes room and board only)

Please click here for application to attend the 2010 India Retreats. Only those who are accepted into the retreats may attend. Please plan to apply early to avoid being waitlisted. It is very important to obtain confirmation that you have been accepted into the retreats before purchasing airline tickets. Once you have registered, further information will be provided in a confirmation letter.

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