thanks for sharing the photos.
this may not make sense to anyone but me, but it is less stressful on my thinking seeing different faces…some that post here and went to the ayp retreat.
in my thinking sometimes it is like just one person as I read the posts…
I can laugh really at myself and see how incredibly off my thinking is…
also, everyone looks peaceful and accepting of what is from this perspective and the location looks beautiful and comfortable.
thanks for sharing…
sagebrush
Hey All,
Regarding the retreat:
WOW was it Awesome — and WOW was it unique, in my experience.
I’d like to add my whole-heart-felt 
gratitude to, and for, all who made the most wonderful retreat that I’ve ever been privileged to be a part of, possible.
Yogani, for starting it all.
Kami, for desiring-manifesting the retreat.
Shanti, for “infrastructuring like there’s no tomorrow” (which, of course, there isn’t … ) – as someone who pretty much continuously misplaces things (up to, and including, Carson and Cosmic … 
) - I stand in happy awe of the skill with which the well-oiled retreat machine hummed along in perfection – allowing the rest of us to immerse and enjoy. Thank you, Shanti.
Carson, Shanti & Katrine for being the coolest, kindest, wisest, most present, most aware and most-loving session/discussion co-leaders I could have never-imagined.
Reading posts from the four of us, it may seem as though we have very different styles and views.
IRL (In Real Life) — it was quite beautifully, harmoniously clear that we each and all simply express direct, ongoing experience of the Silence manifesting as Divine Love with the unique flavors that every “person” brings to any situation – and – at essence, we, and our ongoing experiencing, are consciously-presently One (with All).
Simply Put: the inherent and conscious wholeness, unity and harmony of our individual and collective experiencing was wonderfully clear, and helped to make all discussions “public and private” (we each had lots of 1:1 talks with various people) part of the “one beautiful taste” of the retreat.
Everyone got to see what “it” (whatever we may call the end-yet-never-ending result-cycling of ongoing practices-awakening-liberation-now) looks like — manifesting in the form(s) of four people, from all over the planet, originally - with backgrounds, personalities and tendencies about as diverse as could be possible to find in any four people.
Awareness
Presence
Love
Happiness
Peace
Acceptance
Fun
Stillness
Silence
But only 24/7, and only in every possible situation.
Am I saying that Carson, Shanti, Katrine and I exemplified these things?
Not exactly; I’m saying that the willingness of life itself, opened the four of us, over time, so that the Silence and Loving could shine through as those qualities – the qualities of the One that are equally available in-as us all, because at essence, “us all” is, of course, One.
Which brings me to:
All Participants:
Thank you all, so much, for your willingness to open to, and drop into, the Silence we each and all ever actually are now (whether Silent-Silence, or Silence-in-Motion, as form, sound, all-this) – that willingness, combined with that ability – is what created the beautiful, exceptionally powerful, shared experience of last weekend’s retreat, for us all.
As Katrine said: outside of our sessions, there were no leaders.
And as I said in our last session:
Many feel that those of us who’ve been at this a while, and are living the benefits of the results of practices, view those who “haven’t made it yet” in very specific ways – acutely aware of “where they are” in relation to the “final goal”, and so on – when exactly the opposite is true:
We know and see that there are no levels; no such thing as “not making it yet”, and we know and see the One shining through all of us, in and as regular life – and we’re living proof that everything promised in all the world’s sacred teachings are equally and fully available for us all — and that the realizations thereof don’t preclude regular life — they enhance, sanctify and beautify it.
This is because the “place we’re in now” is nothing more nor less than simple reality – that reality that we each and all ever actually are now, and which is simply veiled by the disturbances of limited-mind-dreaming – and which is revealed by practices and continuous opening.
This is the beautiful reality of it all, that everyone there seemed to have (at least) glimpses of, over the course of the weekend – and from where I stood, sat, laughed, etc.'d - many seemed to have a fair amount of true immersion in the easy flow of it all, as well.
We are all very much in this together; we all are this together.
The retreat was a weekend-long snapshot of what that can be like, for each and all of us, in experience, which some of us enjoyed in experience, and others enjoyed as a combination of observation and experience.
Every person there brought beautiful light and presence to the shared experience; I’m truly grateful to each of you, and truly enjoyed - and enjoy - “meeting and retreating” with each and all of you (and all, and each – if you’re reading this, you’re part of it all, now. )
I’ve truly never experienced anything like it, in a group setting.
Awareness
Presence
Love
Happiness
Peace
Acceptance
Fun
Stillness
Silence
… not just from the four at-times-leaders — but co-created as the AYP 2010 Retreat – by, for and as each and all of us.
This is sometimes, when all goes well, exemplified by many (maybe) of the leaders/participants of a retreat --but I have never before seen it perfectly exemplified by all at-times-leaders and participants of a retreat – especially not for the entire retreat.
WOW.
Good job, all — and again:
Thank You, All.
/
Someone commented that this retreat was “Real, genuine.”
Yes.
Exactly.
No one with a fancy name, or followers — no organizational structure; no doctrines, no formal teachings ---- just Silence, Bliss Consciousness and Outpouring of Divine Love — outpouring as 22 friends, gathering for a weekend - and by letting Silence drive – enjoying a miracle, together, as One.
A miracle that’s as ongoing as we allow it to be, now.
A miracle than can manifest as each and all of us, now.
A miracle to which we are all always invited now.
The retreat has no limits in time.
The retreat has no limits in space.
Simply Put:
The Retreat Is In You.
/
Wholeheartedly,
Kirtanman
PS- And thanks to all, who offered so many kind words, at so many times, and in so many ways ---- the honor, joy, privilege and fun was all … well … ours, actually.
Although I don’t think I can say anything that hasn’t already been said, I too want to express my appreciation to the presenters and to everyone with whom I had the privilege of sharing silence. I wish I could give an award to Shanti for the delicious Indian dinner she cooked for those of us who came in a day early and for her having thought of everything in organizing this event. We were well cared for. It was a truly wonderful experience and I am very happy to see the energy around having more of them!
American Baba
(Formerly R108)
hahaha,
Richard nice!
I bow to the lotus feet of American Baba
So True!
Something happened to me outside the public library about a half hour ago that mirrors this truth.
I was waiting for the doors to open at 12 noon. Another person walked up, an African Amierican woman older than me. She was neatly, colorfully dressed. She talked loudly to strangers. It was a constant chatter. To one passing man she asked,“Do you think you are crazy?” And she kept talking. To a little child: "Oh you’re eating a starburst. I don’t eat those because I don’t want to get cavities.
That is when I saw my in. It was clear to me that she was a heart reader. My clue was that although I almost never eat starburst candy, I had eaten one that morning that I found on the sidewalk, and as I was sucking I noticed anxiety about my dental health. So I could relate. I told her the story. She asked me how many cavities I had, and I told her. I asked how many she had and she told me.
I was voluntarily joining this woman in what must have been seen by others as a bit crazy. But I had a goal. Insight! There were pauses in the conversation.
During the next pause, she said, in a very loud voice, with a cry of pain: “I prayed to Jesus for a miracle and all I got was silence.”
I looked in her longing eyes and I said, “there is silence and there is SILENCE. The second kind is a divine gift.”
Then she started talking about the time her “heart exploded” and she thought she was really going to die. I told her I knew what that was like. She said it scared her so she did not like to remember it. I said I could related and I always knew I could return to the second kind of silence. I noticed a little gathering of about 10 people watching.
The doors opened and we went in, and she went her way and I went mine. Later we were in another line together and she ignored me. Not impolitely. She was in silence. I was intrigued by her as an individual, and thought I would like to talk with her more. I told her, “I am intrigued by you.” She replied in a loud voice, “I’m intrigued by everybody… all people everywhere.”
That is when she taught me to let go of that particular relationship and return to my silence.
I left the library in grateful tears of letting go.
Beautiful bewell 
So great to have you posting here with some regularity again. You were missed
Love!
“I bow to the lotus feet of American Baba”
…as American Baba bows to the Guru in You - Namaste!
Hi bewell
This is another beautiful chapter in your neverending story 
I love this! I feel the same way, but without the pain. Silence is a miracle and a beautiful gift.
May all our hearts explode together in Love and Silence.
/
Love
cosmic
I would have loved to have been there and if ever a retreat is held on the west coast please count me in!
Pa is not out of the question for me as I have family in Philadelphia but it does take time to plan a trip out there. I would love to meet all of you face to face sometime!
Hi Victor:
Sooner or later we will be having AYP retreats on the west coast USA. We finally have planning contacts in SF, LA and Seattle, and someone just volunteered for Oregon. See the “Meditation Groups, Training & Retreats” link in the top left column of this page.
The Kripalu retreat in western Massachusetts next March will be a 5 day one (the biggest one yet), and would be worth the trip from the west coast. There is a link for it in the top left border here.
If you’d like to get involved in planning a retreat for the west coast USA, let me know via email. We now have the ability to provide leadership for AYP retreats (small or large) anywhere.
All the best!
The guru is in you.
Dear All,
My Heartiest gratitude for such a wonderful gift of ecstatic inner silence! I would trade anthing for a similar experience again. I really feel very fortunate to be a part of the retreat and so early in my AYP journey. As Yogani says," Nothing will look the same after retreat". It is so true! I have to share my practice sessions have reached a new dimension and I don’t have words to describe it.
I felt sheer joy being in “inside dialogue” with you all in so many different ways. Through those loving glances, giggles, laughs, chanting, crying and just the presence of each one of you.
And looks like we are having another one on 2nd weekend of Dec in NJ, if we have Shanti and Kirtanman to lead us.
Love & Peace,
Putity
one word permeates if i sit still for long enough: “grati-opene-silencelove.” okay, four words. it’s like wakeupneo said, looking for the way to put it, i fall silent.
my heart is still glowing. love to you all.
dan
Hi Everyone who led and participated in the retreat,
I am so happy to read of the amazing experience you had in the first AYP retreat. This is giving me a lot of encouragement to put in more efforts to organise the first such retreat in India in 2011. I hope I can borrow ideas from the organisers/leaders of this event.
Krish
Hi all,
Just wanted to give an update…
Three weeks later, I’m still riding the “high” wave.
What is so astonishing to me is this - I’ve been at this (spiritual transformation) in one or other form for years. Even after practising AYP methods for a year or so (the “full plate”), I did not think I had made much progress. Reading about people’s experiences on the forum drove me to frustration at times. So much so that I stopped visiting the forum for a while.
When I landed at the airport in PA, I had not had the time in the weeks leading up to it to think about the retreat. For a change, there were no expectations. Perhaps the thought was that I would leave feeling unfulfilled, like I had on other occasions.
But, was I in for a MAJOR surprise! At the retreat, I didn’t have energy surges or such experiences (I did have a profound vision of my ishta during the Saturday evening session). What I did a LOT was cry -this began on Saturday at lunch and continued into the following week. Have not the faintest idea what this was all about. Being the devotional type, I loved the kirtan sessions. And even though I had no prior knowledge of Insight Dialogue and didn’t feel any openings during the ID sessions, I know now that they did happen (BTW, that book/teaching is exactly what I needed - thank you Katrine). When I left PA (with a raging sore throat, which I was told was purification), I thought it would be back to normal as soon as I landed home.
But was I in for a bigger shock! It seems I have forgotten what “normal” is. The first two weeks, I went about my days in an altered state of mind - like I was here, but not really. I felt (very pleasantly) withdrawn from everyone, did not feel like talking much (a big shocker to those who know me ), and immersed in the bliss of expanded silence enveloping me on all sides and from within. A minty feeling appeared in my heart area and stayed constant for days, now migrating up or down my spine at random. I couldn’t wait for my practice sessions twice a day - between practice sessions, I made it through, just waiting to get back to my meditation seat. I had two profound experiences of a buzzing/vibration in my spine that was ecstatic, once in the middle of the night after a daylong fast and the other at the temple on Diwali day. Last week, I finally began to feel more “connected” with people. Throughout this time, I’ve had a surreal sense of witnessing - everything happening on a movie screen.
Since the retreat, I’ve had loss of motivation to pursue various things, but I know this will pass. I’ve begun to question (without actually making an effort) the importance of so many things I do. This too might pass…
Mostly, I’m completely flabbergasted that all this could’ve happened after ONE retreat - how is this even possible? Especially because I was so “under-sensitive” before this. I feel more “open” (for lack of a better description), like surrendering happened at some level in that meditation room at Mensch Hill without being conscious of it… because everyone was so accepting and loving. Perhaps it is because of that surrendering that everything else followed. Whatever the cause, I can say that that retreat has made the most difference on my path. Clearly, the combination of activities at the retreat was “just right” for me.
While I don’t know how long this will last - the silence, the bliss, the “minty” spine, I will live in it while it is happening . AT LAST!!
kami
Hi Kami,
I’m getting minty again just reading about your minty-ness…
That weekend was honestly the most powerful experience I’ve ever had…no joke…ever
Peace
Hi Kami
Thank you so much for sharing this Kami.
You are always with your Self - that’s the beauty of it
Your sharing…I keep seeing this long journey of the seed in Mother Earth…so much growth happens without us being aware of it. And then one day…the sprout sticks it’s head out of the soil and meets the sun, the rain, the air firsthand.
That can never go back you know…I am so happy for you Kami
thanks for sharing Kami. really inspiring