Sharad Sangam 2014 November 5 – 10 Ranchi : & November 16 – 21 E very day you should increase the strength of your body, the strength of your mind, and awareness of your omnipotent soul by meditation, right thinking, and right activity. — Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda D ear Divine Atman, To all of you, our beloved Gurudeva’s family, we extend a loving invitation to join us for the Sharad Sangam which will be held in November at Ranchi. In order to accommodate the growing number of devotees interested in attending the Sangam at Ranchi, this year we are conducting two Sharad Sangams at Ranchi. Sangam-I will be held from November 5th to 10th and Sangam-II will be held from November 16th to 21st. However a devotee may attend only one Sangam. The happiness, peace, and all fulfilling love for which every human being yearns must be sought within, by cultivating a personal relationship with God, in the depths of silent communion. Yet amidst the many demands of daily life, it is not always easy to keep the mind divinely centred. Sangam offers a unique opportunity to reinforce our spiritual efforts, feel the presence and blessings of God and Gurus, and uplift our consciousness through meditation, prayer, and spiritual fellowship. Please note that only YSS devotees may attend the Sangam. Relatives of YSS devotees and children under 15 years of age are not eligible to attend the Sangam. Also, owing to the Sangam’s concentrated schedule of activities, we request devotees with fragile health or debilitating conditions not to apply. The procedure for registering for the Sangam is given on pages 5 and 6. Kindly read it carefully before filling in the Registration Form on pages 7 and 8. All devotees intending to participate in the Sangam may please prepare themselves well in advance, by regularly studying and practising Gurudeva’s teachings and meditation techniques. When 2 each of us makes the individual effort to be in tune with God and Guruji, it pleases the Great Ones and brings the blessings we seek. Gurudeva said, “Lasting comfort ceaselessly flows into the pail of your life when you squeeze the honeycomb of meditation and peace with the eager, powerful hands of will, and with ever deeper concentration.” Our prayers are with you for ever-increasing success on the spiritual path. In divine friendship, Yogoda Satsanga Society of India 3 Sangam Overview Gurudeva said, “By deep concentration in union with other seekers, a devotee transmutes his will into God’s will. Remembering his identity with God, he recovers his divine heritage of God perception.” The schedule at the Sangam will include group meditations, discourses, explanation of the meditation techniques, Kriya Yoga diksha, bhajan sessions, and video shows. The schedule will provide opportunities for personal spiritual counselling with the sannyasis and also time for rest and relaxation. Meditations Sannyasis will lead group meditations twice daily throughout the Sangam. Dhyana Mandir, Smriti Mandir, and Matri Mandir will be open for individual meditations. Yogoda Satsanga Meditation Techniques The techniques of concentration and meditation and also the Energization Exercises will be thoroughly explained and demonstrated. Classes will be conducted in English and Hindi. Discourses We endeavour to select topics that are of benefit to devotees for their threefold development of body, mind, and soul. Sannyasis will give talks on these topics based on the teachings of Gurudeva, to help devotees gain deeper insights and progress on the spiritual path. Kriya Yoga Diksha All Kriyabans attending the Sangam will have the opportunity to participate in the Kriya Yoga diksha ceremony along with new devotees receiving Kriya Yoga diksha. The Kriya Yoga diksha ceremony will be held on November 9th and 20th. Eligibility For Receiving Kriya Yoga Devotees who have completed the study of the first 52 Yogoda Satsanga Lessons are eligible to apply for Kriya Yoga diksha. If you 4 are one such, please send your answers to the questionnaires at the end of Steps I and II of the Lessons (enclosed with Lessons 26 and 52, respectively) to Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Math, Ranchi, before August 5, 2014. If your answers are found satisfactory, you will be informed of your suitability for the diksha. If you are eligible by the time of your attending the Sangam, you may submit, for consideration, answers to the questionnaires on your arrival. Volunteers Many of you have so enthusiastically served in different areas in previous years. Your devoted service helps to make the Sangam a success. As on earlier occasions, many devotee-volunteers will be needed this time too. Some of the areas where you can help are : Registration office, accommodation arrangements, audio-visuals, stage-arrangement, bookstall, decorations, kitchen, maintenance, medical, sanitation, security, ushering, etc. In some of these areas a few volunteers will be required one week before the function and a few volunteers may have to stay up to 3 days after the function. If you would like to volunteer, please fill in the Registration Form accordingly. After receiving this information, we will select volunteers for various areas of work and guide them. Registration Information Programme The Sangam will begin in the morning of the opening day and end in the after-noon of the closing day. You may plan your arrival and departure accordingly. Except for volunteers, devotees are requested not to arrive earlier than one day before start of the programme, nor stay beyond one day after the closing. Accommodation Dormitory-style accommodation will be provided to ladies and gents separately. The accommodation will be within or near the Ashram. Family members may please plan and pack accordingly. 5 Devotees with special needs for accommodation or diet may please make their own arrangements. A list of nearby hotels will be provided on request. Allocation We will try to register the devotees as per their preferences. If the number of requests for registration is more than what we can accommodate, preference will be given to those who are attending the Sharad Sangam for the first time. Also, if the number of devotees applying for a particular Sangam is more than the number we can accommodate, we will try to register them for the other Sangam. Devotees who will make their own arrangements for accommodation may participate in any one of the Sangams as per their choice. Remittances The Registration Form along with a registration fee of ` 500 per person should reach Ranchi on or before August 5, 2014. A letter confirming your registration for participation in the Sangam will be mailed in the third week of August. We request you not to come without proper confirmation. Remittances should be made only by a Bank Draft on a Ranchi bank or by an At-Par Cheque or by I.P.O., payable to Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. Please do not pay by Money Order. Devotees visiting Ranchi, Dakshineswar, or Noida may submit their payment at any of these Ashrams. Please do not club any other remittances with the Sangam remittance. Please send your remittance along with your Registration Form, not separately. Meals Contribution for all meals will be `150 per person per day. This should be given on arrival at the Reception Office. 6 Registration form for Sharad SANGAM 2014 Please read the Registration Guidelines and other details before filling this form, and send it to the Ranchi address (see below) along with a registration fee of ` 500 per person, to reach us not later than August 5, 2014. (Incomplete forms may not be processed.) Name Lessons Gender Age Volunteer Date and Time Reg. No. (M/F) Yes/No of Arrival 1. 2. 3. 4. Registration fee of ` by crossed Bank Draft / At-Par Cheque / I.P.O. / deposited in cash. Dated Bank Draft / At-Par Cheque / I.P.O. No. Bank (Please do not send remittance by Money Order. Payment should be in the name of YOGODA SATSANGA SOCIETY OF INDIA.) This form, together with the payment should be sent to Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Paramahansa Yogananda Path, Ranchi 834 001, Jharkhand. If for some reason, I cannot be registered for Sangam, kindly allocate the above-mentioned registration amount to : (Please tick [ ] one of the following) The registration fee is not refundable or transferable after you are registered for the Sangam and if you are not able to attend. Renew my magazine subscription (English / Hindi / Bengali). (Balance amount, if any, may be treated as donation.) Return the amount to me by Cheque/Demand Draft. Send me the books/devotional articles listed separately. (Balance amount, if any, may be treated as donation.) 7 SANGAM OPTIONS I/We wish to attend the Sangam as per the following preference : (Please tick [ ] against the desired option) • 1st Preference : Sangam-I Sangam-II • 2nd Preference : Sangam-I Sangam-II I/We would like to stay at the accommodation provided by the Ashram. I/We would like to stay in a hotel. Please send a list of nearby hotels. (Bookings, etc., are devotee(s)’ responsibility.) DEVOTEES WHO WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER (If you cancel your programme, please intimate us immediately.) / / 2014 to / / 2014. I/We shall be available from I / We would like to volunteer for the following: (Please tick [ ] one of the following) Preparation for the Sangam (to plan to arrive around one week before the Sangam). During the Sangam (to plan to arrive one or two days before the Sangam). Previous experience as a volunteer (if any): (Medical doctors may mention their area of specialization.) Name : Address : Signature Tel./Mobile No. E-mail
© Copyright 2024