Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma ...€¦ · beaches and good restaurants. Most...
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Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
Meeting . meditation . beautie . discover . 15 days to discover the roots of méditation (English & french)
As you will notice by reading the program below, the most important aspect of this trip is the element of meeting:
meeting India, and meeting ourselves.
We will meet Indian culture through the encounter with its population. We will go by foot or by bike to meet
villagers living outside the beaten tracks of tourism, we will visit children in schools, meet my music teacher and
his family, chat with Indians on the Ghats of Varanasi, as well as cook with a family and meet women who are
united in combating poverty...
And of course we will come to meet ourselves. We will practice meditation in the mornings and/or evenings
whenever that is possible and also develop together our capacity for introspection, our understanding of what
spirituality is, and seek to stay closely in touch with ourselves during the whole trip. Our day to day experience will
be where our practice takes place, and we will pay close attention to the inner movements that this trip will no
doubt stir up. India is the perfect place for this, and we will be particularly supported and inspired in this
undertaking as all of our destinations are spiritually important places dedicated to introspection, faith, self-mastery
and self-knowledge and the encounter with the ultimate.
We will certainly come out of this adventure with a greater knowledge of India, but also with a greater intimacy
with ourselves.
This trip is an invitation to slow down. To slow down the frenetic pace of our days by accepting to spend time
sitting still in silence. To slow down by taking the train rather than the plane, accepting to “see less” in order to
soak in more. To slow down in order to be in harmony with the Indian slowness that can bewilder, seduce, or
challenge, and which will remain alien to us if we visit the country in the western touristic style.
A meeting, once again, with a country of extremes, where the lethargic stands alongside the dynamic, where
“non-doing” is not completely devoured by activity, where materialism is far from the only priority, and where the
notion of emptiness takes on its full meaning.
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
04/11 Travel to Delhi, India
05/11 AM ≈ Arrive in Delhi
PM ≈ Afternoon visit to Mahatma Gandhi
Museum
Evening ≈ Introduction to meditation
On arrival you will be welcomed at the airport and taken
to the Cottage Yes Please for one night.
Introduction to meditation: we will start with a basic presentation,
followed by a simple guided exercise.
06/11 AM ≈ Meditation, walk in Old Delhi, vis it of the Jama Masjid
PM ≈ Departure by train to Rishikesh
Evening ≈ Arrival to Parmath Niketan Ashram
In the afternoon we will board the “Dehradun Janshatabdi express” for the journey to Rishikesh.
The train is by far the best way to travel in India. It gives us
the chance to slow down, and avoids rushing about by
plane from one site to the other. We get to feel what the
Indian rhythm is like. And it gives us enough time to meet in
depth with Indian travelers from different casts. Watching
out of the window or the open door is also a delight. We
can feel the timelessness of the countryside life.
Rishikesh is a small scenic town, located at the point where
the Ganges River comes down from the Himalayas. Rishikesh attracted huge attention from westerners
when the Beatles arrived on a visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram (now closed) in 1968, and the
town is still known as the World Capital of Yoga.
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
07/11 AM ≈ Meditation, optional yoga, visit of the ashram's area,
participation in satsang
PM ≈ Walk to the Lakshman Jhula, the next vi l lage, and free t ime
there.
Evening ≈ Aarti , meditation
Lakshman Jhula is a small village situated on the shores
of the river Ganges. It is quiet and pleasant with sandy
beaches and good restaurants. Most of the satsangs take
place here and there is plenty to explore in the vicinity.
Satsang: Rishikesh is famous for offering several satsangs.
Literally «meeting with the truth», it is a gathering of people
around a master who is explaining his philosophy and his
approach to practice.
Aarti is a spectacular fire ceremony dedicated to the Ganges. It is said to have descended from the
Vedic concept of fire rituals. People sing and play music with a deep sense of reverence, adoration, and
meditative awareness.
08/11 AM ≈ A day of Yatra to Neelkhant
Evening ≈ Free t ime
Neelkhant temple is one of the most revered holy shrines
dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a prominent Hindu
pilgrimage site, facing the Himalayas.
Yatra means pilgrimage. We will walk together in silence,
using our capacity for mindfulness and presence. The trail is
in dense forest, where we might see wild elephants and get
some views of the Himalayas. We will have to deal with wild
monkeys interested in our bags.
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
09/11 AM ≈ Meditation, yoga, satsangs
PM ≈ Free t ime, or attend one of the many possible activit ies in
Rishikesh
Evening ≈ Overnight train to Varanasi
You can get yourself a great Ayurvedic massage, a yoga class, an Indian cooking lesson, visit an
astrologer, take a raft on the wild Ganges, or go to a beautiful sandy beach...
10/11 AM ≈ in the train
PM ≈ f irst discovery of the city of Varanasi, stay at the Yoga Mandir
Evening ≈ Meditation
Varanasi – also known as Kashi or Banaras,
is the spiritual capital of India. Varanasi is a melting pot, an
often overwhelming experience of devotion and beauty
juxtaposed with the harsh realities of Indian life.
Mark Twain wrote of Varanasi :"Older than history, older
than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as
old as all of them put together»
Varanasi is one of the world's oldest living cities and it is
still characterized by its medieval atmosphere. This city is unique in India and impossible to describe
accurately. It has to be experienced!
We will have enough time to absorb the atmosphere of the
Ghats, allowing ourselves to be amazed and moved by the
thousands of details that reach us every moment.
The Ghats are a unique embankments that are actually
long flights of wide stone steps leading down to the river
where people can take a holy bath. But there is much more
to these Ghats than just bathing and cremating. Each of the
eighty-four Ghats of Varanasi holds some special
significance. On these Ghats, the rituals of life and religion
play themselves out and one can feel that one could sit
there forever, watching Saddhus taking holy baths, local
people performing their own rituals, children playing,
laundry washing, pilgrim’s devotion towards the Ganges,
and so much more.
Yoga Mandir litteraly means « Temple of Yoga ». Located
on the last Ghat of Varanasi, it has an amazing view on the Ganges. It is a great place to stay, because
of its garden and quietness, so hard to find in Varanasi !
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
11/11 AM ≈ By boat to the Krishnamurti Foundation, introduction to his
teachings & Meditation
PM ≈ A Walk back passed al l the Ghats of Varanasi, or return by
Rickshaw
Evening ≈ Aarti , Meditation
Krishnamurti was born in India in 1895 and died in the
United States in 1986. He spoke throughout his life in many
parts of the world to large audiences and individuals,
including writers, scientists, philosophers and educators.
Asked to describe what lay at the heart of his teaching, he
said, "Truth is a pathless land. Man cannot come to it
through any organization, through any creed, through any
dogma, priest or ritual, nor through any philosophical
knowledge or psychological technique. He has to find it through the mirror of relationship, through the
understanding of the contents of his own mind, through observation and not through intellectual
analysis or introspective dissection..."
The Rickshaw trips that we’ll have the opportunity to take will be without
doubt a highlight in our trip !
12/11 AM ≈ Mindful walk on the Ghats
PM ≈ Visit to the old city, shopping
Evening ≈ Meditation
During the mindful walk, we will practice a way of being
present that gives immediacy to what we see and feel,
enabling us to engage with our moment to moment
experience rather than remaining in our thoughts and
judgments. This way, we can realize for ourselves how much
living in the moment can enliven our experience.
Shopping in India can be a challenge! We’ll go together to
narrow streets with thousands of small shops. We will not go
into shops where the guide receives commissions on
everything you buy! You’ll be left alone in the madness of
the old city (you can of course stay with me too). You’ll be
given some tips on how bargaining is not a tense argument
but rather a very nice way to meet with the shopkeeper.
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
13/11 AM ≈ A day in Sarnath. Visit of the Alice Project
PM ≈ Visit of the Sarnath holy site
Evening ≈ Ganga Mahotsav concerts
Sarnath : After the Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, he walked to the village of Sarnath.
There in the Deer Park, he delivered his first sermon on the four noble truths. Sarnath is thus considered
as being the birthplace of Buddhism. We will spend the whole day in this peaceful place. A guide will
bring the place back to life for us. We will also meditate there
and have some free time
Alice Project : The philosophy of the schools following the
Alice Project is one of universal spirituality, welcoming
students both of any faith and of no faith. The students are
encouraged to explore their inner lives based on their direct
experiences rather than through theories and dogmas.
Instead of encouraging them to change, the students are
encouraged just to be.
We will have a morning of meditation and optional yoga with the children. An amazing experience!
Ganga Mahotsav concert : We have chosen the dates of
this journey to fit with this festival. It is a 4 night festival of
classical music and dance, where we’ll get the chance to see
the best artists of India, performing outdoors on the Ghats,
on a truly magnificent stage as Indians can do so well.
Indian classical music: The Khial music from northern
India is known as reflective and meditative music. It is
composed to absorb our attention, leaving a sense of peace
of mind. The most famous instruments are the Sitar and the
Tablas.
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
14/11 AM ≈ Morning bath in the Ganges, Visit of temples
or Indian cooking lesson
PM ≈ Preparing Dev Divali
Evening ≈ Dev Divali , Ganga Mahotsav concerts
Morning bath: This day is holy in India. It is considered as
the day where the Gods descend on earth. Early that
morning, devotees take a holy dip in the river while chanting
mantras and bowing to the Sun-God. Those of us who feel
like it will join them. That can be a moment of deep sense of
connection with oneself, where one can be very moved, and
understand clearly what really matters.
Cooking lessons : Those who wish to will have the chance
to cook and eat with my friend Pradeep’s family, on a
rooftop with a fantastic view on the Ghats.
Many Hindu temples of Varanasi are famous all over
India. We’ll get the chance to visit some of them, with a
local guide.
Dev Divali is a celebration of light which signifies
enlightenment, existence of life, sign of immortality and
victory of good over evil. On the festive eve, the entire
riverbanks of the city are decorated with thousands of
brightly-lit earthen lamps ('Diya') amid chanting of Vedic
hymns, as a symbolic welcome to the Gods as they descend
on Earth. Thousands of lights float down the Ganges.
In the afternoon, we will spend time watching the children
and adults on the Ghats, preparing their fire madalas, with handmade “candles”. And we will also make
our own fire Mandala !
In the evening, we’ll join in the festival, both viewed from a boat on the Ganges, and on a walk along
the candlelit Ghats. Then we’ll join the concerts.
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
15/11 AM ≈ Free morning, recovering from the festival
PM ≈ Lunch in my tabla master’s vi l lage
Evening ≈ Meditation
My tabla master (Guruji ) is the man who taught me to
play Indian Classical Music for 10 years. He and his wife will
welcome us for lunch in their house, in a village outside of
Varanasi. We’ll get the chance to take a walk in the
countryside, creating surprise and interest among the
villagers, totally unprepared to see foreigners…
16/11 AM ≈ Early train to Bodhgaya, stay at the Thaï Monastery
PM ≈ Visit of the Bodhi tree and free t ime
Evening ≈ Meal in small Tibetan restaurant
Bodhgaya is the birthplace of Buddhism. About 2,500
years ago, Prince Siddhartha Gautama (born in 566 BCE) sat
down under a pipal tree and received the enlightenment
that would inspire one of the world's greatest religions.
Situated in Bihar, the poorest state of India, Bodhgaya
remains the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destination
on Earth. Here we will experience the stark contrast
between the beauty of the pilgrim's chanting under the
Bodhi tree, and the harsh reality of the lives of the people in that area
Bodhi tree: After six fruitless years of seeking the ultimate meaning of life, Siddhartha Gautama sat
cross-legged under the pipal tree and entered a deep meditation. During the course of the night he
attained enlightenment (Nirvana) and became the Buddha (the Enlightened or Awakened One).
There is still a huge pipal tree at the same spot, together with a vast temple. This place is filled with
colour, incense and devotees chanting in all languages. Of course, that is where we will spend time,
visiting, meditating, soaking in the atmosphere.
17/11 AM ≈ Meditation, meeting with women’s group in vi l lages
PM ≈ Visit of the Mahakala caves.
Evening ≈ Meditation
Women’s group: India has a long way to go to reach gender
equality. My friend Sister Mary - who died two years ago - spent
her whole life teaching groups of women to address the problems
of violence, poverty and corruption. Sister Manisha - another Indian
nun - is now continuing her work with 80 groups of women. She will
take us to surrounding villages to meet these women who will
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
explain to us how they fight corruption within the police, arrange loans with the bank and find solutions
for hungry families. You will be moved by the difficulty of their circumstances and their amazing
strength.
The Mahakala (or Dungeshwari) Caves are located in remote, almost desert-like surroundings on
the far side of the Falgu River, 12km northeast of Bodhgaya. It is where Buddha did the severe penance
that resulted in the familiar image of him as a skeletal, emaciated figure. After years of extreme self-
denial at Mahakala, he realized its futility and walked down to Bodhgaya, where he achieved nirvana. A
short climb from the base of the impressive cliff leads to a Tibetan monastery and the small caves. A
Buddhist shrine inside the main cave is run by Tibetans, although a Hindu priest has set up in
competition. We will meditate there, and discuss the Buddhist texts on the middle path.
18/11 AM ≈ Cycle tr ip in the country
side
PM ≈ At leisure
Evening ≈ train to Delhi
Cycle tr ip: We will get some old Indian cycles, and ride in
the country side. Another chance to see the morning village
life, and meet with local people.
19/11 AM ≈ Arrival and rest
PM ≈ Shopping at Paharganj and Hauz khas vi l lage
Evening ≈ Last meditation,
overview of the practice.
The Main Bazaar of Paharganj is a long rambling street
with hundreds of shops bursting with goods from all over
India.
Hauz Khas vi l lage, located in the suburbs, is a place
where we will find art exhibitions, smart shops and high
quality restaurants. It is a very pleasant village to spend time
in and a relief from Delhi's hustle and bustle.
20/11 Transfer to international airport
Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016
COST & FORMALITIES
We negotiated the price and it 's cheaper than last year. To prepare well this tr ip we
al low you to book early and get a small discount. Price doesn't include the tr ip to New
Delhi.
COST
1 494 € for the early Bird registration before june 30th
1 594 € for registration after june 30th
REGISTER
Contact [email protected]
THE COST INCLUDES
- Meditation practices and Teachings by Denis Robberechts.
- Internal transportation
- Daily Breakfast on all the Hotels.
- All arrival/departure transfers, long drives and sightseeing
by a chauffeur driven private air-conditioned coach.
- Services of a local English-speaking representative for all
arrival and departure transfers to assist you at the airports
and railway station.
- Entrance fees to all monuments during sightseeing as specified in your itinerary.
THE COST DOES NOT INCLUDE
- International Flights to India.
- India visa fee.
- Any expenses of a personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, beverages, gratuities etc.
- Camera fees at monuments and other places of interest.
- Travel Insurances.
Indus Discoveries Pvt. Ltd. is our
tour operator.
Indus Discoveries is members of
IATO (Indian Association of Tour
Operators) and the NTA (National
Tour Association), and is
registered with Jammu & Kashmir
Tourism.