Summer Retreat at Madhuban: A Report

Dear Friends and Well-wishers,

A Summer Retreat was organized jointly by Overman Foundation and Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Trust, Kolkata, from 27th May to 2nd June 2017 at Madhuban, a unit of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch, situated at Talla Ramgarh, Uttarakhand.

The retreat began in the afternoon of 27th May. Ms. Tara Jauhar of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch, inaugurated the session and spoke about the history and current activities of Madhuban—a most picturesque place and living example of Sri Aurobindo’s immortal words : “All can be done if the god-touch is there.”

The days at Madhuban commenced with yoga sessions before breakfast.

Mr. Partha Sarathi Bose, Managing Trustee of Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Trust conducted three sessions on “Relationships: Its Problems and Solutions in the light of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother” on 28th and 29th May while Mr. Anurag Banerjee conducted three sessions on “Stress Management”, “Tension Management” and “Anger Management” on 29th May and 1st June.

Every evening, before dinner, documentaries on the lives and works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother were screened in the auditorium.

On 30th May, the participants were taken to Nainital where they shopped for some time. Then they were taken to Ban Niwas, another property of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch, situated at Bara Patthar, for lunch where they were cordially received by Ms. Tara Jauhar.

The participants, after spending a delightful hour in the serene ambience of Ban Niwas, were taken to the Monk’s Retreat, the Himalayan campus of the Gnostic Centre, situated at an altitude of 7200 feet surrounded by oak forests in Tonk Dehra, village Loshgyani, Tehsil Nathuakhan. Here the participants were warmly received by Ms. Ameeta Mehra and Ms. Ritika Goyal, Chairperson and Treasurer of the Gnostic Centre respectively and taken on a tour of the heavenly campus which is organically cultivated.

Ms. Mehra also informed the participants about how the Monk’s Retreat was developed and its future as envisaged by her. Following a delightful evening meal lovingly served by the members of the Monk’s Retreat, the participants returned to Madhuban.

On the penultimate day of the retreat, a cultural programme was arranged after dinner where all the participants showed their extra-curricular talents through songs, dance-recital and recitations.

On the concluding day, the participants were taken to Tapogiri, the very first Centre of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, in the foothold of the Himalayas. Post-lunch, the participants dispersed with heavy hearts and lingering memories of the seven days spent in the lap of the Himalayas.

With warm regards,

Anurag Banerjee

Founder

Overman Foundation.

ADDENDUM

Remarks from the participants:

“We have enjoyed very much our stay here at Madhuban. The hospitality extended by the authorities and staffs of this Centre has made us overwhelmed. Our joy knew no bounds when we met our beloved Taradi.

“We pray to Sri Ma and Sri Aurobindo that this Centre may prosper more and more in the years to come and remain such a peaceful resort for all the devotees of Ma and Sri Aurobindo.”

Dilip Kumar Chatterjee and Mita Chatterjee

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“I came here to join a spiritual camp conducted by Mr. P. S. Bose and Mr. Anurag Banerjee. As I stepped here it seemed I was in the lap of Nature—it was a heavenly paradise. The stay here was very soul-fulfilling. It was a blissful experience. I am going back to my routine-life with the battery of soul charged, energized with positive energies. I am very thankful for the service rendered to us at dining hall. Dining together with healthy, nutritious food was a happy experience. The flower garden of the ‘Retreat’ is marvellous with bright, healthy blossoms, fruits hanging on branches. The background music was played by birds. The play of the butterflies was eye-catching. I will never forget Tipu—a very obedient creature. The prayer hall needs special mention. It is full of intense vibration which calms one’s mind quickly. I would like to visit the place again and give a little bit of service. Thanks everybody for everything.”

Urmimala Ghosh

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“Sitting in the arms of Mother Nature, given the amenities of city life, food for the body and soul, penning a feedback is next to impossible. The staff at Madhuban deserves praise for their services, for which I am grateful to them. Candle-light talk with Tara-di and afternoon walking with Tara-di are golden moments in my life. The tour organized was great. Something inside has pinpointed my limitations on which work has already started. I thank the organizers for this retreat.”

Sanjoy Kumar Mullick

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“Queries haunted my mind regarding the topic “Practical Spirituality”. I felt an urge to move out from the drudgery of my day-to-day life and  delve within. While coming to this Kumaon Range, Madhuban, and after reaching, I felt sure this was the right place for me.

“The experience here was rejuvenating. The warm welcome I received from the organizers as well as the inmates boosted up my spirit. The ambience here, the walks through the paths, the joy of being surrounded by the blossoms, the trees, the hills, the sky-above and the deep valley below—all are mesmerizing.

“The interactive sessions were quite heartening and interesting. This gave me an opportunity to introspect, analyze and evaluate my weaknesses initially, then my strengths. They have opened the gateway for self-improvement, progress and self-realization in the light of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The periods of meditation here in the divine prayer-room has a significance of their own. That too is an inner realization sitting vis-à-vis the Master and the Mother.

“A growing consciousness is there in me presently that besides this life I’ve lived in my past, there is still a greater purpose in my life which needs to be fulfilled before I receive the ‘call’.”

Dr. Arundhati Chatterjee

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