Abhyasis (Students of meditation) from California and nearby states have been congregating for the past 10 or more years for an annual camping gathering. The venue for the past few years has been at Lake Lopez which is near to San Luis Obispo. Two local prefects are the most enthusiastic among all of us and oversee the entire logistics and provide support and help for all the abhyasis who come to this camping gathering. They have been the hosts and I am very grateful for the affection and love they have shown towards all abhyasis welcoming them to the camping and making sure all the brothers and sisters are comfortable.
The place by itself is very beautiful. Our camp area is right beside Lake Lopez and it is surrounded by mountains. So when we wake up in the early morning and just look outside, you can see the shimmering water projecting the rising sun and the horizon is beautiful to see. This is one of the most popular camping areas and getting a reservation is very tough and it needs to be done exactly one year in advance when the booking starts. There are lots of activities – hiking, boating, sailing, swimming, water park, utilizing the open grounds for any kind of sports or having a barbeque. For me, the priority is meditation and maintaining a wonderful spiritual atmosphere that pervades the area during our visits. The spiritual atmosphere during this long weekend is really something to be experienced. The camaraderie between abhyasi brothers and sisters, the large group of kids and the families that come and the wonderful spiritual environment is something every abhyasi in North America has to experience. One visit is enough to make them believers. It is rejuvenation both for our soul and body.
This year, we had the opportunity to spend three nights and four days there because the camp grounds were booked from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon. I was lucky that I could go early on Friday and spend the whole three nights and be in that atmosphere. I have seen that in my two visits that there is no need to ask for volunteers here because everyone are so eager to participate and provide help in any activity. There were an enthusiastic group of abhyasis who helped in pitching tents for everyone. They became experts that each of the tents were assembled in an instant and then they moved on to the next tent to be set up.
Food was made by brothers and sisters and was served in the adjoining picnic area. Each center took turns to prepare meals and the preparations of the meals were more enjoyable than eating the meal itself! Again, sisters from all centers and few brothers prepared wholesome, healthy, tasty and divine food.
We had morning satsangh (Group Meditation) at 9 am and evening satsangh at 5 pm. The meditations are held in an open space and it is as close to nature one can get for a meditation. On Saturday, there was a preceptor workshop and in that time, the other abhyasis spent time helping in the cooking, assisting the brothers and sisters who were arriving from all parts of California and beyond. We had abhyasis joining us from Nevada, Arizona and even from Canada. We got to know more brothers and sisters and exchanged our own experiences of being with Master, sahaj marg experiences and more. On Sunday, again we had two satsanghs and in the morning session, we had group discussion based on the questions given to us. Some of those questions were profound and brought out meaningful insights into our spiritual life and also provoked me into going really deep and understanding what I am doing as an abhyasi. All of us used this opportunity to make commitments and this session provided momentum to take the next step in our spiritual endeavour. In the afternoon, we had a few activities set up, the abhyasis had opportunity to go on a boating cruise in the lake, hiking the steep mountains or swimming in the lake.
On Saturday and Sunday night, starting at around 8 pm, we had campfire and all abhyasis came and there were beautiful songs rendered, we had singing competitions, the kids were happy to eat marshmellows and the child in our hearts also came out during those sessions. There were songs in many languages which showed the diversity of people in Sahaj Marg. It lasted till mid night and even though we had a long day, most of us were there till the last embers of the bonfire was still alive.
Apart from interactions, one also remains in silence as there are no distractions from our modern lifestyle. No internet, no television, no radio, no laptops, no newspaper and even no electricity, after 8 pm all the lights go out and you remain one with nature. Also when we look up, one can see the beauty of the stars and the various constellations. It reminds that being in a busy life, we don't even have time to lift our heads and look up at the sky. It reminds me that we are living like zombies where we don't have time to appreciate nature and the magnificent awe of the planet we live in. This is the best place to bring any child and teach him about stars and nature. I think next time, one of us should try to bring a telescope and teach children or the child in every one of us about planets and stars.
We had a satsangh on Monday morning and it was time to get back to our own work and life. We all left with happy faces and also sad that these three days ended so quickly. Many abhyasis stayed back and helped in cleaning the place, making sure that nothing was left behind and also leaving the place atleast the way we found it. When I reached back, another abhyasi remarked that it was like that those three days were like eternity and now we have to really get back to the mundane world.
How can we close this article without gratitude for our Divine Master. As Master once said when an abhyasi complained that he is losing many friends when he started the practice of Sahaj Marg, Master replied that one may lose one or two friends that you may have but you gain thousands of brothers and sisters all over the world. It was an absolute truth that I have experienced during these three days immensely and all throughout my stay so far in the US. Thanks Master, for really providing us true brothers and sisters and pray that we all live up to your expectations and progress in our spiritual goal.
So I request all brothers and sisters to make it to this event next year in 2009 and experience for yourself what a true family spiritual gathering is in Sahaj Marg.
