Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 … · 2017-09-22 · Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016 07/11 AM

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.


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.


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.


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 !


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


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.


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.


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.


15/11 AM ≈ Free morning, recovering from the festival

PM ≈ Lunch in my tabla master’s vi l lage


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.


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


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


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.

Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 … · 2017-09-22 · Roots of meditation : a journey to India with Dharma Nature . 4-20 november 2016 07/11 AM

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