When I started construction of the Ananda Dehradun Meditation Camp in the Fall of 2018, I didn’t think much about what it would all lead to. It just felt like the right thing to do at the time. It didn’t occur to me that starting a large construction project in India as a senior might not be the most practical thing to do.
But having spent 12 of the past 15 years in India, mainly in cities, it seemed like the right time to get out into nature. Ah…to be a Himalayan yogi! I never even imagined it when I started on the path over 50 years ago.
From the very beginning of my experience at Ananda in the 1970’s diving deep in meditation was the foundation of aspiring to go from seeking God to knowing God. Our path of service and meditation began by being a lot of activity with sessions of sitting and staring into the darkness…not a whole lot of light.
Gradually through the practice of Kriya Yoga and lots of Grace, meditation began to include occasional experiences of deep peace and eventually profoundly meaningful communion.
Lessons over the years
Over the years I have observed that if one can just get through the initial training period that it takes to achieve a level of inner stillness, positive results of meditation will present themselves and the dividends will increase through your whole life as long as you don’t give up your practice.
Regular daily meditation for 30 minutes to 1 hour twice a day is basic training. To accomplish as much as can be done we must dedicate more time to our efforts whenever possible.
In the early years of Ananda we used to go as a group of 15 or 20 people into seclusion for 3 to 5 days. We would keep silence and chant/meditate for at least six hours a day. This was a great help to getting started with seclusion…doing it as a group. Once you have experienced the group energy in seclusion it is easier to achieve that flow on your own.
Understanding Seclusion
Personal seclusion isn’t just sitting around and not talking, it is a dynamic effort just like trying to climb a very tall mountain. You must give yourself completely and energetically to the task, but not so much physically as inwardly.
I once had the chance to be in seclusion with Swami Kriyananda for 3 months. We rented a house near Nishat Bagh on the northern side of Dal Lake in Kashmir. It was my first experience of the Himalayan foothills and deep seclusion with Swamiji.We each had our own separate places to meditate and created our own schedules, but there was definitely a sense that we were all doing it together, each in their own rhythm. Swamiji recommended that we try hard, not with tension, but with inner relaxation. As the weeks went by I experienced deeper and deeper inner stillness: life changing inner stillness.
I later found out that for a period of time Swamiji had been doing 750 Kriyas a day during meditations of over 12 hours a day. Not something that the average meditator can do or should even try. The idea is that during seclusion we should challenge ourselves to do more than our normal daily routine… much more. We should try our very hardest, but….don’t push yourself over the edge. This is something that experienced meditators learn over time, how much can you handle without doing too much and slowing yourself down. Meditating 6 to 8 hours a day during seclusion is very possible for most serious meditators.
I offer you a challenge and an invitation
My purpose here in India isn’t just to enjoy living as a Himalayan yogi for myself, but to share that experience with others. I have been pressuring myself to get the meditation camp open so that others can experience an opportunity to dive deeper into the ocean of Spirit. I had planned to announce being open for guests in the middle of March. My plans were perfectly in sync with the world closing its doors due to the Corona Virus!
Take this time during the social distancing of the Corona Virus and practice seclusion at home. I encourage as many people as possible to go deep in meditation during this time. Act responsibly as your circumstances inspire you, but also consider that the energy of life upheaval which many turn towards fear and suffering can be much more beneficially redirected towards blessing and upliftment. When we dive deep into the ocean of Spirit we uplift not only ourselves, but the whole world.
Take advantage of this unexpected opportunity. And when the travel bans are lifted and you feel ready, I invite you to come, as my guest, to the Ananda Dehradun Meditation Camp.
Of course everyone can’t come at the same time! So please be in touch with me to reserve a space (Click here to contact Ananda Dehradun). May the Masters bless us and bless the world through us.
15 Comments
Beautiful, serene, blissful!!
I am having 70 years of living experience on this planet. At this period in my life, I definitely know one thing, “that I do not know anything”.
Now in the process of discovering the world. Both inner and outer.
Like to experience the Himalayas.
Namaskaram.
Thanks, Brother Vijay!
Sir
You seem to be profoundly in meditation and Parmhansa Yogananda teachings as well Swami Keiyananda’s experiences. But I am ordinary person. How do we connect.
Thanks for sharing your story Vijay ji. It is really inspiring and guiding us to do more meditation and kriya and at the same time, with relaxed mind. I look forward to join you for a day or so once lock down is lifted. I also invite you to visit our town,Kurukshetra some day and give us opportunity to host you.
Regards,
Deepak Chib
Kurukshetra
Haryana
Thank you Ji for the inspiration on seclusion and doing more Kriyas. Hope to come over day soon for seclusion.
Thank you for the inspiration story. I’am new to your work if you can send me a quick explanation of Kriya meditation love to learn it.
Thank you
Thanks, Vijay. Great to see the pictures, too. Thanks, also, for writing and sharing. We keep seeing stories that the decreased human activity is allowing animals to come out more and the skies to clear (esp in India). Have you seen that there or is it already quiet and isolated enough to remain the same. Blessings upon your meditation camp! /s/hriman
All blessings to you, dear Vijay!
Thank you for guiding us, directing us so compassionately and nurturing our spiritual unfoldment. dear Swamiji. We feel so blessed to have spent those two short months with you. The love, peace and expansion of consciousness we felt then are quite vivid and bright in our hearts. The realizations sown then are still developing and deepening even now, over two years later. Master’s blessings.
Our deepest love and prayers will always be with you,
Vina, Müki and Joe
Vijayji, how beautiful the place is. It is wonderful that you have chosen to be in the lap of nature & also give others opportunity to experience that serenity. looking fporward to visiting your camp.
joy to you
Sumitra (Delhi)
Meditation and Kriya yoga Course
i belong to dehradun.But stuck in ghaziabad on account of corona virus.i am 76 years old retired from bank.i tried a lot but could not learn the art and science of meditation.as soon as lockdown is opened i shall be in doon.shall be grateful to be guided on the psth of meditation.regards
A Himalayan Yogi…the sound of it alone makes me drift to the Himalayan regions where nature is at its best. I’m sure the quiet lapping of the water against the rocks is a welcome sight for any Yogi who seeks solitude among the tranquility of nature and is one with Divine Mother.
Vijayji, your story is an inspiration for aspiring kriyabans who wants to go into seclusion and be one with our Heavenly Father and Divine Mother.
I hope I too would someday be a Himalayan Yogi whilst my physical body is still able to do so.
Sellam (Singapore)
Thank you, Vijay, for sharing your story. I will make plans to practice seclusion at home.