Want to host a Japa Retreat?
If you’re feeling the need to connect more with your real self and direct your focus towards the supreme reality, then please take advantage of these services and host a retreat in your own country or somewhere near your home. Many have done so previously and have felt greatly benefitted. Please contact the facilitator at bvtridandi@gmail.com while considering the following.
Facility
Best is a hired place, small hostel, retreat center, small holiday units etc. These are a couple of examples we’ve done retreats at www.shekinashram.org in Glastonbury, England. And www.caheroyanhouseathenry.com in Galway, Ireland.
The dynamic is different in someone’s house because phones may ring, people may drop by, and the host won’t feel completely free to participate in the same way. It can be done, but it’s certainly preferred in a hired place.
At least minimum 2 toilets and shower must be available, (men and women). |
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Location
Best is a rural location with convenient quiet walks to chant.
City can of course be done, but not as conducive as the country.
Not too far from a town or city to do sankirtan on the final day.
Number of participants
There should be no more than 25 max.
10 minimum.
Around 15 is comfortable size group.
Cost
Obviously we like to keep the cost low, but it should have reasonable standard facilities.
So far we have averaged out at around 150 Sterling, 250 Euro, 150 NZ$’s etc. for the 7 days. These have all been very nice places.
Participants are obliged to make a deposit before hand to demonstrate commitment and secure the facility.
Cooking and suggested menu
A pure vegetarian, vegan (optional), wheat free (optional), and of course, karma free diet.
The purpose is to keep our meals as simple, wholesome and healthy as possible, without excessively exciting the senses.
2 main meals a day.
Breakfast at 10.30am.
Consisting of a buffet style arrangement of dried fruits, muesli, nuts and seeds etc. with rice or soya milk and yogurt. (see list below).
Evening at 5pm.
Brown rice, with a fresh, organic, vegetable (subji) soup, preparation. (see list below)
During the day fruits and nuts should be available.
The facility cannot have ever been used to cook meat unless the host is prepared to really
facelift the kitchen. Certainly no pots that have been used for cooking meat can be used.
Approximate Bhoga (unoffered) requirements for 15 people for 7 days
Breakfast
Wheat Free Muesli or Crunchy Oat cereal 5-10kg
Dried Fruit e.g. Figs, Dates, Raisins, Apricots, Goji berries 5kg
Nuts Seeds e.g. Sunflower seed, Pumpkin seed, Brazil nut 5kg
Rice/Oat/Soya milk 20 cartons mixed
Soya Yoghurt (optional) 10 cartons
Fresh Fruits e.g. Bananas, Oranges, Apples, Kiwis 20kg
Fruit/Herbal Teas mixed, at least 300 tea bags
Brown Sugar 2 kg
Honey 2-3kg
Fruit Juice 15-20 cartons
Dinner
Brown Rice 15kg
Dahls/Lentils e.g. Split Mung, whole Mung, Split Channa, Brown Lentils 5kg
Vegetables e.g. Bocolli, Sweet Potato, Cabbage, kale, Squash, Aubergine, Peppers 20kg
Salads e.g. Tomato, Cucumber, Lettuce, Celery, Beetroot, Parsley, Fennel,Herbs 5kg
Tinned Tomatoes 10 tins (Tomato Puree 2 tubes)
Olives 2kg
Olive Oil 2Litres, Sunflower Oil 2Litres
Fresh Ginger ,Fresh Chilli, Fresh Coriander, Creamed Coconut, Tahini
Spices e.g. Cumin,Tumeric,Hing,Cardomen,Coriander,Salt,Pepper,Paprika,Bay,Curry leaf