January and February 2022
INDIA RETREAT
January 2022
After a year break we were very happy that John David offered in January again his annual India Retreat at the mountain Arunachala. With his guidance we focused deeply on the fundamental question of Self Inquiry: „Who am I?“, based on the teachings of Ramana Maharshi.
Over three weeks, the energy in the retreat became very strong and everybody could discover the Beauty of their own being and what doesn’t allow us to live this beauty in our everyday life.
The presence of the Mountain, visits to Ramana Ashram and other energetically strong places, meetings with Indian Masters such as Ma Devaki on the right, and spending time in spiritual India gave everybody an amazing support to connect deeply to their true nature beyond any dramas and structures.
Guests, Sangha members and residents of the Open Sky House feel very blessed and grateful for this extraordinary time.
Building Community
Enhancing Facilities for Residents and Guests
Tripillya
We finished a Reception and Volunteer Bedroom which completes the functioning of the community.
Denia
We have finished our new beautiful bathroom outside for mealtime and bodywork guests. We also rebuilt the Pool Bathroom and are ready to put a new roof on the managers room which is outside of one of our guest rooms Picasso.
Essential Extracts from the Aham Sphurana Manuscript
The Open Sky Press Team is currently strongly focusing on producing 2 new books on the bases of the Aham Sphurana Manuscript of Sri Gajapathi Ayyer, containing rare reports of Sri Ramana Maharshi and the Ashram in 1936. One Book will be a Selection of the entire 2000 page manuscript, the other one Volume 1 of a series of 3 chronological Editions of the Manuscript.
Q: So, is this state of consciousness steadily remaining merely as Itself, undisturbed by thought, called the Sahajastithi?
B: No. It is called Aham Sphurana.
Q: Then what is the Sahajastithi?
B: No description is possible. The reflected being — consciousness which is localised in a physical body — is destroyed; after this is destroyed, that alone remains which has always been. It is the Absolute Reality. It transcends dualities such as being and non-being, knowledge and ignorance, light and darkness, etcetera. It is THAT — WHICH — IS, that is all that can be said of it. That is what YAHWAH stands for in the Bible. Although He seems therein to be a personal God, guiding the destiny of the children of Israel, the Talmudic Prophets of Old knew the transcendental aspect, as did the Christ. God told Moses, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name, YahwAh, I was not known to them.” On the other hand, the term Yehwah occurs many times in Genesis. Is there a contradiction? No. Prophets before the time of Moses had known the personal God Yehwah, but Moses was the first to whom the transcendental, formless aspect was revealed. The earlier prophets knew the name but not its significance. They loved God and cherished his name but did not understand the meaning or import of the name.
The name means “I am that I am”. God revealed the meaning of the name to Moses, whereas the earlier prophets had only been given the name. The name means that one who is simply subjectively aware, without knowing any object, is absorbed or transformed into God. This is not an intellectual conviction or mental assertion. It is the blossoming of the Heart — lotus [Hridayapundarikam] of love from within.
Root out ego directly, persevere endlessly despite obstacles, and realise you never left the summit of pure Being.
Bhagavan warns that mistaking emptiness for Jnana is a deadly trap, delaying true realization and making recovery a challenging path.
Realization is simply BEing as you ARE. Through persistent vichara, Grace shines forth until seeker and seeking both dissolve.
Impressions of the Recent Vipassana Island Retreat and the Volunteers which joined the flow of the Community last week
Feedback volunteer week:
On our recent India Retreat we found 3 supremely nice honeys from the area around Arunachala Mountain: Neem, Tulsi and Herbal Plantage. You can bring the taste of India onto your next Sandwich if you haven’t been this year!
25 – 27 March
Satsang, Mantra, Herztanz,
Yoga, Active Meditation
Meditation is food for body, mind and soul in the hectic distraction of our everyday life. It helps us to draw our attention inwards, to trust life and to trust our intuition. In this weekend we explore different kinds of meditations and practices to open the heart and bring the mind into silence.
28 March – 3 April
Join the flow of the community and take the chance and discover how spirituality can be lived in every day life. Come one week for free as a volunteer, meet like hearted people and take part in the daily activities of the community. Each evening we will have a workshop and daily yoga, meditation and heart dance.
14 – 18 April
This retreat offers a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the energy field of Satsang. There will be daily Satsang with John David, Mantra singing with Live Music, Heart Dance, Yoga, Meditation and delicious vegetarian food. The Retreat takes place in the beauty of the Open Sky House Hitdorf, directly at the banks of the river Rhine where you can enjoy walks in the beatific spring nature.
25 – 27 March
This special Vipassana Retreat is a great opportunity to understand how your mind and body are operating and to meet yourself in a deep way.
You will spend a whole weekend with yourself, sitting in silence in the supportive energy of a meditating group and the Open Sky House Community which has been guiding people into their heart and essence for 15 years.
11 – 13 March
Satsang, Mantra, Herztanz,
Yoga, Active Meditation
Meditation is food for body, mind and soul in the hectic distraction of our everyday life. It helps us to draw our attention inwards, to trust life and to trust our intuition. In this weekend we explore different kinds of meditations and practices to open the heart and bring the mind into silence.
14 – 20 March
Join the flow of the community and take the chance and discover how spirituality can be lived in every day life. Come one week for free as a volunteer, meet like hearted people and take part in the daily activities of the community. Each evening we will have a workshop and daily yoga, meditation and heart dance.
25 – 27 March
This special Vipassana Retreat is a great opportunity to understand how your mind and body are operating and to meet yourself in a deep way.
You will spend a whole weekend with yourself, sitting in silence in the supportive energy of a meditating group and the Open Sky House Community which has been guiding people into their heart and essence for 15 years.
14 – 18 April
This retreat offers a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the energy field of Satsang. There will be daily Satsang with John David, Mantra singing with Live Music, Heart Dance, Yoga, Meditation and delicious vegetarian food. The Retreat takes place in the beauty of the Open Sky House Hitdorf, directly at the banks of the river Rhine where you can enjoy walks in the beatific spring nature.
