Discourse & Satsangs

Walking the Inner Path

Residential Retreat – Malaysia (24-28 January 2024)

                                                                         Sneha Shashikumar

[This year’s Enlightened Living Retreat with Nutan Swamiji at SIRD Malaysia drew participation from 13 keen seekers from Malaysia and Singapore. As there is no accommodation in the Centre itself, participants were housed in a lovely homestay less than 5 minutes’ drive from SIRD. 10 of the participants chose to stay in SIRD for the duration of the retreat, while the others preferred to commute from their own homes. 2 of those staying in offered to bring their cars so they could help ferry fellow participants to and from.

Sneha Shashikumar, a devotee from Mumbai, had come to be part of the Sadhana Shibiram volunteer team, helping with various aspects of the retreat and other programmes.]

The Retreat commenced after dinner on Thursday, 24th Jan 2024, with an introduction session to know the participants. All these participants shared their expectations, ranging from seeking solutions for anxiety, anger and depression to a desire for self-discovery and personal growth. Nutan Swamiji attentively listened to their concerns and questions, providing a platform for open dialogue. Following the introductory session, participants received a schedule outlining the activities for the 4-day retreat.

Morning Sessions with Nutan Swamiji

Each day began at 7.00 am with a “silent sitting” for 30 minutes, followed by morning prayers, which included the chanting of selected ślokas, Vishnu-sahasranāma, the 12th chapter of Bhagavad Gita, ārati and Upanishadic Shanti Mantras. This serene atmosphere set the stage for an introspective journey.

Subsequently, after breakfast, the participants got engrossed in looking within through a “guided introspection” session – approximately half an hour to reflect on a set of introspective questions inducing self-awareness. Then followed a Q&A session with Nutan Swamiji for 1 hour 30 minutes.

In the first Q&A session, in response to a participant’s earnest question on the art of sitting silently, Nutan Swamiji shared profound insights on how to meditate, encapsulated in the following principles:

• Sthira-sukham-āsanam (sitting comfortably): Quoting Patanjali Yoga Sūtra 2.46, Nutan Swamiji highlighted the significance of sitting in a poised, comfortable posture, letting go of all anxieties, as the initial step towards a state of external and internal silence.
• Prayatna-śaithilya (Effortlessness): Referring to Yoga Sūtra 2.47 and Kathopanishad 2.3.10-11, Swamiji explained the steps to inner effortlessness that takes us naturally to a profound experience of our true, infinite nature.
• Īśvara-praṇidhāna (Complete surrender): Explaining Yoga Sūtra 1.23, Swamiji stressed the importance of “surrender” and its supreme transformative power.

The central message urged participants not to fight with the thoughts but to shift their focus from the individual thoughts to the substratum on which these thoughts appear, which will take the mind naturally to the infinite silence within.

This interactive session not only addressed the participants’ initial inquiry but also laid the foundation for other seekers to come forward and ask questions, creating an environment of open dialogue and shared exploration. The openness to questioning became a hallmark of this Retreat, allowing each participant to engage actively in their quest for deeper understanding and spiritual growth.

Śloka Chanting

Following the invigorating morning sessions, Dr Aravindan led participants in a soul-enriching śloka chanting session, ensuring correct pronunciation. The positive impact of this practice was evident as many participants experienced gradual improvement in their chanting skills throughout the Retreat. The śloka chanting session seamlessly transitioned into the next segment, bhojana-pavitrīkaraṇam – a regular Ashram observance for the purification of food. Further, chanting of Chapter 15 from the Bhagavad Gita and the recitation of Brahmārpaṇam śloka created a spiritual prelude to the participants’ lunch.

Reading Sessions

Participants eagerly awaited the thought-provoking reading sessions facilitated by Sadhika Miru. These were held at 5 pm every day. These sessions provided a serene backdrop for participants to immerse themselves in the insightful writings of Nutan Swamiji in old issues of Vicharasethu, taken from various periods of his life in Narayanashrama Tapovanam. Sadhika Miru skillfully engaged the audience, weaving together episodes that carried the essence of Nutan Swamiji’s teachings and experiences, his own sadhana and the innate qualities he has which are for us to imbibe.

Participants were invited to reflect on and internalize the teachings through the lens of real-life incidents from Swamiji’s spiritual journey. Sadhika Miru facilitated an open forum where participants felt encouraged to share their own experiences and reflections.

Evening sessions on ‘Bhakti Yoga’

Each evening unfolded a profound session on Bhakti Yoga, where Nutan Swamiji shared illuminating insights and guidance with the participants. Before immersing into the discussion on Chapter 12 of Bhagavad Gita, Swamiji dedicated a substantial amount of time to elucidate the essence of true devotion and how it transforms the internal state as well as the interactions of a devotee.

While many may link devotion to activities like doing pooja, visiting temples, chanting ślokas or reading scriptures, true devotion goes beyond all these external practices – it is a comprehensive inner note of surrender and refuge, as depicted in Bhagavad Gita 18.65-66 (“man-manā bhava …” and “sarva-dharmān parityajya …” ).

Additional verses quoted by Nutan Swamiji further accentuated the call to maintain unwavering focus on the divine, giving supreme reality the supreme position in life, which in practice means non-expectation or acceptance of everything that comes. The profound teachings emphasized by Nutan Swamiji showcased the path of devotion as a transformative journey under the guidance of one’s Guru.

While Arjuna had Krishna to surrender to, Nutan Swamiji addressed a pivotal question: to whom should we surrender? With wisdom and reassurance, he emphasized that individuals could surrender to the invisible Divine but the surrender becomes real only in the presence of a Realized Guru. This underscored the profound significance of finding a spiritual guide to navigate the intricate path of devotion.

Nutan Swamiji explained that surrendering to a realized Guru means entrusting oneself to a spiritual mentor who has transcended the usual egoistic limitations and is in tune with the universal consciousness. Such a Guru serves as a beacon of light, guiding seekers through the labyrinth of self-discovery and spiritual evolution.

By encouraging participants to surrender to a Guru who has realized the universal ‘I’, Swamiji highlighted the intimate and sacred bond that can be forged between a seeker and a spiritual Mentor. This bond becomes a source of strength, inspiration and guidance in the journey of devotion.

With these foundational concepts established, Nutan Swamiji transitioned into the discussion on Chapter 12 of Bhakti Yoga from the Bhagavad Gita. He illustrated how Arjuna’s inquiry about who is a perfect yogi – one who worships the form or the formless – initiated a profound exposition by Krishna. This exposition eventually led to the enumeration of the qualities of a true devotee.

Swamiji meticulously elucidated the qualities and characteristics that define a genuine devotee, drawing upon the wisdom imparted by Krishna to Arjuna. Through various illustrations and episodes, the participants were guided through the nuances of devotion, fostering a deep understanding of the qualities that lead one towards the path of true devotion.

Conclusion

As the retreat concluded, participants were invited to choose their favourite śloka from Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita and chant it. The culmination of this practice was a beautiful expression of devotion, with participants forming groups and recording their chants in various scenic locations within the Centre. This not only reinforced the teachings of Bhakti Yoga but also served as a personal, heartfelt offering by the participants in gratitude for the transformative experience of the Retreat.

As the curtains drew close on the Malaysia 2024 Retreat, the concluding act unfolded with a feedback session that echoed the sentiments of the participants. A collective resonance emerged as most attendees expressed their eagerness to return, signifying a shared desire to continue the enriching journey of inner adventure.

Participants openly shared their thoughts, emotions, and the profound insights gained throughout the four-day spiritual journey. The atmosphere was one of gratitude and camaraderie, with individuals expressing not only their appreciation for the teachings but also their personal growth and introspective revelations. Concluding the feedback session, each participant received prasada from Swamiji.

A few feedbacks from the participants

• This Retreat gave me a clear understanding of the Gita verses, and how to apply the concepts to my daily life.
• I did not come just to attend; I came to seek. Along the way, I enjoyed the company of the other participants…I enjoyed the whole programme …
• I was a wandering soul waiting to be guided, and Nutan Swamiji has excellently guided me into the spiritual realm.
• My mind has been further broadened to identify my own defects.
• I learnt to be more calm and to LISTEN (a great tool) with patience. To go within is still difficult, but I was able to see the thoughts as a train and not delve into them. I still have a long journey ahead and I look forward to it.
• The Malaysia 2024 Retreat not only provided answers and wisdom, but also bestowed a tangible reminder of the spiritual nourishment that accompanies the sincere pursuit of inner growth and devotion.

Jai Gurudev