Welcome everybody to Yoga der Stille retreat in Oberstaufen,
April 1 - 6,2010!



The hotel evviva! with its special atmosphere is a perfect place
to experience the first retreat 2010 with Madhukar in Europe.

At an altitude of 791 metres, Oberstaufen is situated in the county
of Oberallgaeu, close to Vorarlberg, Austria.
Oberstaufen has won several awards
for being the sportiest community of Bavaria.
Playing golf and tennis, hiking, and sledding on the summer toboggan run is a lot of fun, alone or in the group.
The gorgeous landscape invites us to meditative hiking tours.
Therefore it is imperative to bring along good walking shoes.

In the restaurant ecco! we are regaled with delicious vegetarian food. The aromatic scent of rosemary, parmesan and polenta
tells of mediterranean cooking.
But also specialities of the Allgaeu belong to the lovingly refined cuisine. For each guest the wellness area with whirlpool, sauna,
steam bath and fitness room are included in the price.
For the retreat please bring a floor cushion.

The retreat starts on Maundy Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 6 pm
with dinner. Satsang will be after dinner. Check in begins at 4 pm.
The retreat ends April 6, 2010 after having lunch together
at approx. 2 pm. Retreat language is German, when required also English.

Just have a look at the retreat place: www.evviva.de

Organizer of the retreat is Shivani: shivani@madhukar.org
But since she is untill 24.3. not available,
please contact Silke: silke@madhukar.org
for detail information.

Labels: Retreat

Dear Madhukarji!

Already since the first day of the Awakening retreat I have felt your support. Now and then you give me glances of encouragement and I feel a true friendliness when you look at me. It is as you wish to say: Come on Anders, what are you waiting for, it is so simple, it is so easy.

A thought, that maybe I was destinated to die here occurred several times, even before leaving Sweden for India. There seemed to be no fear maybe because of my strong determination to come to Arunachala and stay here in silence.

Now I am feeling better and better every day and more and more silent. When I found myself lost in thoughts or emotions, I focus on ‘who am I?’

Dear Guruji, thank you for giving me this opportunity to be here in silence under your guiding light.

Yours sincerely and devoted

Anders

Kumbh Mela (Kumbh = jug) and Mela (festival) is the greatest religious celebration of Hinduism and the greatest spiritual feast of the world. Every 12 years it takes place in four different cities in India, Allahabad, Hardwar, Ujjain and Nashik – each town having its own cycle of 12 years after which a Maha (great) Kumbh Mela is taking place. The purpose of the Mela is the “ritual bath” at a special time and special place.
For many Hindu orders the Kumbh Mela is the place of initiation and admission of disciples into the community. Celebrating Kumbh Mela (The Feast of the Jug) has its origin in the Hindu myth of creation of the “Churning of the Ocean of Milk”.

Gods and Demons quarrelled with each other constantly and as many of them died in the fights, they asked Vishnu for help. Vishnu proposed to the gods to ally with the demons to get Amrita, the nectar of immortality, from the Ocean of Milk. So they wound the serpent Vasuki around Mount Meru as a rope and turned it into a whisk. The gods pulled at the tail, the demons pulled at the head. For a long time there was no success and the mountain even was about to sink into the ocean. Than Vishnu manifested himself as a giant turtle (Kurma) and crawled under the mountain. On his back he slowly lifted it up out of the waters and supported it.

With the whisk of mountain and serpent the allies went on churning the water until it became as white as milk. Suddenly a horrible poison rising from the water threatened to destroy everything. Shiva hurried to help and drank the poison Hala-hala to the last drop. Since then his neck is “nil”, that means blue, and therefore he is called “Nilakanta” (the one with the blue neck).

The churning could go on and one after another different divine treasures and precious objects surfaced from the milk white ocean. Lakshmi too, the goddess of happiness and wealth, radiant and beautiful, emerged from the milk ocean on a lotus flower and was reunited with Vishnu.


Finally the shape of a dark young man emerged from the waters, ornated with jewels and a garland of flowers round his neck. It was Dhanvantari, the god of healing and source of every healing art. In his hand he held for what all longed for – a big jug filled with Amrita, the nectar of immortality.
Gods and demons who had cooperated until now, now started to fight again (which is said to have lasted for 12 days). Greedily the demons wanted to snatch the precious beverage. In this moment Vishnu appeared in the shape of a very attractive young woman, Mohini. Gently smiling the beauty offered to distribute Amrita to all of them. Using a trick, she gave the elixir only to the gods. The demons, distracted by their infatuation, didn’t get any of it.
But one of the demons, Rahu, was suspicious bad mingled with the gods to receive a drop too. Sun and moon gave him away and as quick as a flash of lightning Vishnu/Mohini cut off his head with a disc before the Amrita (he had just swallowed) could reach his body. Therefore only his head became immortal. The lifeless body fell down to earth.
Since then Rahu is seeking revenge trying to swallow sun and moon again and again. This is seen on earth as eclipse of the sun or eclipse of the moon.

Demons and gods quarrelled about the property of the jug until finally Garuda, the mount of Vishnu, flew away with the divine elixir. Doing this, four drops of the precious content fell on the four cities where the festival is celebrated. For twelve days the gods and demons fought about the property of Amrita. For twelve days the gods staid on Mutilock (earth). 12 days of the gods are 12 years for man, this is the reason for the 12 years rhythm.
Another version says that a bird (a crow) snatched the nectar from the demons and flew away with it, taking rest at the four places.

Dear Master Madhukarji!

I am at first time on your retreat. Near you I feel a strong stream of energy.
It goes upwards as if there’s a volcano inside of me. At this time I feel joy and my face smiles.

Thank you for your silence and peace.

With love,
Rita

Beloved Master,

Thank you for the days in Goa, which I was allowed to spend with you. You radically have shown to me how much EGO is still existing inside of me, and which conditionings keep me imprisoned.
I especially want to thank you for your grace, one word, which until then was only a word for me, and now it is something beyond all description.
In our meeting I felt free for the first time, and much more for which there are no words.
There was only this moment ….how wonderful or also mysterious.

Thank you thank you thank you

Your devotee