JAI MA


Here is a look at how it would look with times and such posted by a friend on just this question.


Public Programs

Morning Program:
Amma arrives usually about 10 am, guides everyone thru a mini meditation. Then She starts giving darshan maybe at about 10:15 am and continues till the afternoon, just never know how long that will go, just depends on the tokens given out to recieve darshan. sometimes She has been known to leave at 5:30pm to only come back at 7:30 pm.

During the morning program there is still a question line available and a name line available. And there is still beautiful bhajans in the morning from Amritatmananda Swami etc..

Once Amma is finished she leaves to come back at 7:30 pm.


Evening Program:
Amma arrives at about 7:30 pm. There is a Satsang (spiritual talk) given by either a Swami, Swamini,Brahmachari /Brahmacharini etc.. and usually followed by a satsang from Amma. uless She is observing silence. Also sometimes there is a question answer session at a public program instead of satsang. After satsangs their are glorious and ecstatic bhajans ;o) ;o) ;o). (divine music that totally rocks the house). Followed by Arati (champhor offering to Amma), short meditation followed by closing prayers. All of this i believe end at about 10 pm or so. And then Amma is off again giving darshan, which goes till the morning hours. Usually, lol,, usually anywhere from 2 am till 4 or even 5 am (at times).

During the evening darshan time there are bhajans sung by either Swami Amritaswarupananda or Rama Krishnananda Swami also the local satsang groups sing( sometimes they sing in the morning programs too.

sidenote:
There is food that is offered in the morning/day/ evening, which requires a fee.
There is also a snackshop with yummie pizza and cakes cookies etc..and India food snackshop etc.. with yummie fine indian foods, sometimes a sprout wrap shop, and many other coffee bar, smothie options etc..which also require a fee.

Then Amma finishes darshan for the night/ morning and leaves for the next day..

So that is pretty much the typical public program experience. It is very full and offers alot for anyone who cannot attend a retreat.

Retreat: 1st day:

Retreat falls on an evening, there is an orientation etc.. given.

Evening program with Amma, satsang, bhajans, meditation darshan all remain the same as the evening program from a public program.

Tokens are given out and there is no cutoff, anyone who wants darshan is able to get a token, at a public program sometimes there is a stop and you are not able to get a token, and you may be asked to come back the following program. etc.. With newcomers i think you can still get a token if you have never recieved darshan, though you may also be asked to come back, not totally sure on that one, maybe someone else can answer that better.

Morning Program 2nd day of retreat:

First there is breakfast offered that is included in the retreat fee between certain morning hours. Yummie oatmeal, granola, yougart etc... if you can peel yourself from your pillow to get there in tme. ;o)

Before Amma comes in the morning there is a satang given by Swami Amritaswarupananda usually about an hour or so before Amma arrives. Really great satsangs.. If you miss this morning satsang you can purchase a copy of it in the bookshop and it is also offered for view usually after darshan, ask someone for specifics if you are interested.


Morning meditation and darshan with Amma remains the same..

After morning darshan ends there is the morning satsangf video offered, there is also a bhajan practice class. which is nice. One of the Swamis lead you thru learning how to sing a new bhajan.

Later this day Amma gives another guided meditation followed by a question and answer session, which is really sweet. Sometimes She will also sing a bhajan or two..

Then there is prasad dinner given. Amma hands EVERYONE a special cooked indian dinner for all to enjoy. Then She sits by the children after handing out dinner and sits with them, feds them, giggles with themeats afew bites of food herself and then leaves to go get ready for the evening program..




In Love and Light

Pritam