Being with Mohanji – Retreat in Virginia, USA, August 27-30, 2018 : Part 1

— Mohanji USA Team

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The spiritual retreat held in Virginia in August 2018, was absolutely fascinating and filled the minds of all its participants with such joy and bliss that no one really wanted to leave the pristine sanctuary of the Sevenoaks retreat center in Madison or part with Mohanji’s company at the end of it.

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After a brief introduction on the first day, Mohanji let everyone get to bed early with the promise that he will make sure that everyone is purified and emptied of various blockages – mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual, ready to be filled with total bliss, paving the pathway to liberation.

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The first level of purification began in the early hours of day 2, before the sun had risen, as the participants gathered around a ceremonial fire.  As Mohanji lit a lamp and offered prayers before lighting the sacred homa fire amidst mystical chants and prayers, the magical power of transformation had already begun.  The participants symbolically offered dry coconut, with faith and surrender, representing the offering of all negativities and blockages, which the sacred fire swallowed and turned into ashes.  As the ceremony was culminating, the sun rose flooding the area with brilliant rays filling every heart with warmth and joy and content having gone through this magical homa.

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After the purification by the fire element at the fire ritual, Mohanji took all of us beautifully and with great love through various other processes of cleansing.  The yoga, meditation, chanting and the Q&A sessions were all so fulfilling and Mohanji took everyone through a journey of contemplation and realization which resulted in absolute silence and bliss. 

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The conscious walk to the nearby river was very refreshing after a lovely vegan lunch.  But what no one  expected was the mid-afternoon session in the river, which is used for tubing!  As soon as everyone walked down the narrow steps to the fresh water of the Rapidian river, it was fun and joy all around. 

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We crossed all barriers of age and everything else and were just a bunch of kids playing in the water and splashing water at each other! It was amazing.  With Mohanji talking, laughing and joking with everyone, those were moments of pure love and joy. 

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Being with Mohanji in the exclusive retreat center amidst of the natural surroundings of the beautiful Blueridge mountains of Virginia was nothing less than being in paradise! Let’s read the first-hand experience of some of our participants.

An Avatar in Jeans and Sweatshirt – Laina Rey, Sedona

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As we waited for Mohanji to make his appearance at the airport, I realized I had never felt such intense anticipation (without any expectations) before. Only a few months previous to this event, I never heard of Mohanji, yet as we waited I knew Him. I felt him approaching. I hadn’t felt that kind of energy before. I said ‘hello, Mohan.’ It didn’t sound like my voice but, a voice deep within, like I had waited a very long time for this moment indeed, and this voice recognized him. As I reflect on him saying just four days later, he said ‘I love you.’ Did I dare to ask for the experience of perfect, divine, infinite, unconditional love of him? I felt like crying but, was too taken- in by the moment. I was meeting this avatar in his jeans and sweatshirt too. No formalities for this holy man. I was relieved, as I don’t know very much about formal Indian protocols.

 

Mohanji was speaking in Bethesda, Maryland, that evening. Again, as I waited in anticipation for his

appearance. I felt that energy coming. Even though I had my eyes closed, I knew where he was. He was passing this energy over everyone in this auditorium. I wasn’t going to leave this bliss. I didn’t open my eyes through most of the event. I don’t think I could move and I didn’t want to. A few minutes before the end, having been totally cognizant of everything in these proceedings in bliss, I slowly opened my eyes. 

The retreat started the very next day in Madison, Virginia. The first day was homa, a fire ceremony when everyone burns blockages they don’t want. This was also a first for me. I didn’t have a clue what to expect but, it did happen! I felt relieved and lighter after this. This ceremony took a while; Mohanji was totally focused on every detail the whole time. We all had personal time with Mohanji at this retreat in between ‘conscious walks’ to the Rapidan River, yoga and other scheduled events. Sevenoaks is a unique place with

its 300 ft. well water, organic garden and wild life on 120 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I found a great little sanctuary in the woods, where I spent my free time. It was the perfect place for me to assimilate all of this. 

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I learned specific techniques for meditations and quieting the mind, some of which were personal and individual over the next 3 days. Every event was more blissful than the previous one. The people from Sedona had a separate interview with Mohanji of which I attended, being a Sedona resident. He gave his blessings for an ashram here. This was getting better and better! Shakti path, given by Mohanji, has to be experienced as words would be too difficult here.

As we said good- bye after a miraculous four days he said, “I Love you” in perfect, divine, infinite, unconditional LOVE.

– Laina

 NOURISHMENT THAT FED OUR SOULS – Andra Baylus, Virginia 

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What an experience…and what a pleasure to be with the Spiritual Master Brahmarishi Mohanji! 

From the moment we entered the Seven Oaks Retreat grounds through the long entrance road, we could feel tranquility descending upon us like the dove, the spiritual symbol of peace mentioned in the Bible. It was as though we were driving away from the material world transitioning into the realm of a spiritual oasis located in the magnificent mountains of Virginia replete with lush greenery, as far as the eye could see, and beautiful butterflies of every color escorting us to the Registration area.  We were warmly welcomed by Mohanji’s devotees happily giving out name tags and a canvas bag carefully packed with everything they knew we would need. They thought of everything! …a map of the grounds and buildings we would be frequenting, information about the Seven Oaks Retreat Center and, of course, a notebook and pen to capture the spiritual information Mohanji is famous for sharing.  We were so excited and felt so cared for. 

Our accommodations were so comfortable regarding our sleeping quarters with beds so beautifully prepared with clean sheets, towels and washcloths provided for each one of us. We happily unpacked and made up our beds and freshened up. 

The highlight of the day was when we had an opportunity of really BEING WITH MOHANJI. So many of us came from so many parts of the US to be with Mohanji for these few days and were so excited when that time finally came. With great anticipation, we entered the circular sanctuary building listening to Natesh quietly playing his guitar and chanting mystical sanskrit words in preparation for the meditation. It was a guided meditation recorded by Mohanji himself who is gifted with a magnificent speaking voice having a resonance that purified our minds and hearts. 

Towards the end of the meditation, when we opened our eyes we saw that Mohanji was already seated on a platform adorned with beautiful flowers and lighted candles looking radiant in his white sadra. Mohanji began sharing his spiritual insights reminding us of our divine origin and encouraging us to  be who we really are, expressing our unique gifts and talents to not only care for our families but more importantly to move away from the I, my, me and mine to be compassionate and loving beings and bless the world. He teaches the consciousness of compassion and the importance of caring for all life forms. Mohanji walks his talk and lives that sensitivity himself. He actually feeds all life forms around his residence wherever he stays before eating himself. It brings tears to my eyes being in the presence of someone with such great love who is willing to sacrifice his own comfort for the welfare of other beings. 

There is no need to share his teachings in this blog for, hopefully, you will have an opportunity to hear them if you are fortunate enough to attend one of Mohanji’s amazing retreats…or to listen to his many you tube videos, so expertly organized so that each video captures the essence of his response to questions posed at the various retreats he has held around the world. I will share that, as he spoke, Mohanji spoke with such sincerity, without ego, hoping to assuage every person’s concern about life’s myriad of challenging circumstances we face in daily life. It is laudable that he wants so much to provide clarity to life’s conundrums helping to speed our evolvement in consciousness on the “Journey of the Soul”.  

It is being with Mohanji and his beautiful expansive energy of love that has a transformational effect on each person in one way or another.   

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In the early hours of the next morning, before the sun rose, we gathered around a fire and felt the invitation of the Divine to release whatever concerns that were causing blockages on our spiritual path. All of us felt that magical power of transformation as Mohanji led us through an authentic Homa Ceremony with mystical chants and prayers. Each one of us had a chance to physically participate adding our own contributions of powders and herbs to the fire. Keeping the fire flaming seemed to be so beautifully orchestrated by Mohanji so that all of us felt part of creating this special Homa ceremony. Mohanji gently encouraged us to take the paper where we had recorded our areas of emotional blockages and through( throw ??) it into the sacred fire to be given up. We felt so much lighter and more connected to our divine nature free to express who we really are.

These special spiritual moments were balanced with caring for the physical needs of our bodies by our enjoying a fabulous vegan dinner that would satisfy anyone’s palate!  Truly, we couldn’t ask for a more conscious retreat center!  We were delighted to know they had an organic farm which provided the fruits and vegetables used in the many delicious recipes they served. Also, you cannot imagine the joy of drinking fresh clean pure water from their deep well of spring water…coming from the tap!  This retreat was truly living, for a moment in time, close to nature…. and close to God. Having the gift of being in the beautiful auric field of Mohanji and experiencing his emanation of pure love was the nourishment that fed our souls.  

The peaceful setting of this truly marvelous retreat center set the tone for the wealth of wisdom we received from Mohanji. Each Satsang, covered many topics and we experienced the pleasure of being with a real spiritual master who is so humble. He said that, rather than creating devotees, his mission is really to create Masters. There is no doubt that he empowered everyone who attended to be a better person in every regard and to progress with more awareness on the spiritual path.  

Following Mohanji’s spiritual philosophy, we will have a more harmonious, loving, compassionate and peaceful world if we each can focus on observing our own behavior, living more consciously, not criticizing others and accepting ourselves for who we are as Divine Beings of Love.

I left the retreat with renewed energy and enthusiasm to be natural, more accepting of others and to find ways of giving back to society, the earth and to its beings. This responsibility is sacred if we are to be co-creators in building a more loving compassionate world.   

I see now the value of a retreat such as this, to connect with nature and who we really are. Most importantly, I see the value of having a Guide like Mohanji to mirror for us how we can unfold the Divine qualities we were blessed with by birth…and, in turn, “Bless the World”. 

— Offered by Andra

The presence of God – Ketlie Laurenceau, New Jersey

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I believe when you are sincere, God will mysteriously show that He is with you. Going to the retreat wasn’t an accident.It was meant to be. When my friend Thea told us and with no hesitation I answered (we’ll go) my daughter Walda was surprised and she couldn’t believe it.

And meeting the Beloved Mohanji was the surprise that God had for me; seeing Mohanji I felt the presence of God, the electricity on the bottom of my right foot was intense and I still feel it when doing my meditation. Mohanji ‘s presence is still with me. I’m calm, happy and no more have anxiety. We must keep the faith and never doubt God or Our Beloved Mohanji.  Love, Ketlie.

While Laina and Ketlie were meeting Mohanji for the first time, Andra had met Mohanji in 2014.  The excitement and joy of all the participants, old and new to the M family, was insurmountable.  We will be sharing more experiences of the Virginia retreat soon.

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||JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI||

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