Managing Self in Challenging Times

May 26, 2012 - PRLog -- Our host near Tiruvannamalai, is the  Seshadri Swamingal Ashram, where Sri Joydip Ashram regularly conducts spiritual programs.

About  Arunachala and Tiruvannamalai

Arunachala is famous- as the abode of Lord Shiva on earth, who manifests Himself as the Agni Linga, at the holy Tiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu.

During the Guru Poornima , Arunachala who is considered as supreme Guru   always gives an divine experience . Million of people across the world visit to pay homage to Arunachalam and conduct Girivalam.

Arunachala is called Dakshina Kailasa – the abode of Lord Shiva in the south, for here the magnificence of the Lord is most felt – more than in Kailasa or Kashi itself!

This year, for the disciples and devotees of Sri Joydip, the Call was rendered even more special as Sri Joydip led us through a Spiritual Retreat programme called “Managing Self in Challenging Times” Program between 30th June and 3rd July 2012.

Around 150, will be blessed to accompany Sri Joydip to Arunachala, to witness the Guru Poornima on the 3rd July, and take part in the spiritual retreat. The months preceding the momentous event, should be spent in the intense Sadhana of listening to, assimilating and practicing the Tenets of Spirituality and the Guru Principle as laid down by Lord Shiva, which will be  most compassionately imparted by Sri Joydip.


The Guru Poornima was the crowning occasion to establish and consecrate these principles and the teachings of Guru firmly in our hearts.

Schedule and Program Structure :


30th June , 2012 – Saturday


The first day programs, at Arunachala will be spent with Sri Joydip, as he will explain the  importance of Arunachala during the starting of the workshop.

Sri Joydip will explain that why we had gathered at the holy place, to increase our well being, by managing ourselves better in a very challenging time, to increase our awareness ,of What We Are, and to tread the path of enlightenment , and live a stress free life.

Normally, we were all like damp firewood,  hard to be triggered by the spiritual fire. But at Arunachala, where Lord Shiva presides as the Agni Linga – the brilliant Column of Fire, at the southeast point of South India – we are like cotton which catches fire, the moment it comes in touch with it.

This is the place where all our problems related to stress , disease are reduced to ashes in the blazing fire of the Lord, and all our wishes – material and spiritual, are granted instantaneously by Him.


1st July , 2012 – Sunday


With Arunachala towering over the participants, benevolently in the background, Sri Joydip will power and charged each one of the participant individually, to calibrate our specific shortcomings and karmas, and to make us eligible to receive the grace of the Guru. For most of the participant, it would be  a defining moment in our lives.


The spiritual fervor will reach at  a peak, that evening as participants will all accompanied Sri Joydip, on the Giri-Valam – the circumambulation of the Arunachala. All concerns of age, health and discomfort will vanish  as the young and old among us geared up to walk the 14 km stretch barefoot.


It is  said that with each step, that we took along the path, our karmas would drop away one by one. And if we constantly had the name of the Lord on our lips, the Siddhas or enlightened beings, who come to pay their respects to Arunachala during the Guru Poornima, not just walk along with us, but also whisk us away on wings of air!

This was the experience of most of the people, had when they went through the 14 kms, singing bhajans, though trailing at different distances behind Sri Joydip, and they will complete the Giri-Valam between three-and-a-half to five hours.


2nd July , 2012 , Monday

Most part of the next day will be spent in Sadhana, as we engaged in serious meditation and japa.. The mood will be meditative as with an unhindered, magnificent view of Arunachala.


3rd July , 2012 ,Tuesday

Inside-Out

World is an expression of the consciousness we have. That is, why people who can effectively move to inside – have peace, bliss, knowledge – is constantly flowing from them. If we live in the outside world, we are subject to change, because we are ever improving and never contented. But a time comes in all our lives when we expect peace and contentment, for the fast lane of seeking pleasures and living in outside world is tiring, burning us out.”

“When the soul takes a lot of wear and tear, it says, go to Arunachala and bring me back to peace and happiness. This is the Call of Arunachala – when we heed the call and redeem and rejuvenate ourselves and come back to our natural state joy and bliss, like a newborn. Contentment is the Key”.

“When the Call comes, it knocks on the door of our soul, and the vibrations of Arunachala will start creeping into us. Then, layer by layer, all our negativity will be peeled away. In our first layer are all our vasanas, or tendencies/habits and mindsets of several lifetimes. The second layer consists of lust, greed and anger. The third is about our likes and dislikes. Under the blazing effulgence of Arunachala, all these unwanted layers start falling away like ripe fruit. Finally ,we get rid of them as the Guru Poornima –the supreme Guru Arunachalam graces us.That is when the supreme healing happens.

Guru is the divine embodiment which indicates all power and knowledge. So here, the oscillating mind becomes stable and still, like the Lord Arunachala”.

“… and when all the layers are peeled away, the enquiry begins – Who Am I – minus all the relationships of body, business and associations?” Then comes the real experience of spirituality , where oneness is the key . Through that oneness we can heal ourselves at the same time solve our problems and attain a better life both inside and outside.




Presenters / Panelists / Workshop Leaders include


Sri Joydip , Founder of Sri Joydip Ashram

Make your travel plans now with arrival Friday 6/29 afternoon and departure Wednesday 7/4 after lunch. Sri Seshadri Ashram is closest to Chennai Airport in Tamilnadu which often has the best prices as well. Public transportation exists, car rental is better.

We will help as much as possible to find rides and overnight  accommodations on Friday night to Wednesday , Night  so you can stay through lunch and fly Wednesday.

Per person rates for Four nights including vegetarian meals:

Category I : Non Residential Participants  Rs 4500
Category II : Residential Shared room Rs 5500

Category III : Private room and travel support and Bridge Courses (Offfline and Online) that one can be ready for the sadhana, of the retreat  Rs 12000

Please pay by check/draft  payable to “Sri Joydip Ashram”, or transfer the money in our Bank A/c Sri Joydip Ashram ICICI bank Current Account No: 627605500264 answer these questions by mail or email:

Names of those attending:

Arrival and departure times:

Details of transportation including flight numbers and if driving whether you have room for passengers:

Email, snail mail, cell phone

and send to:

Sri Joydip Ashram, Inside Swami Seshadri Swamingal Ashram, Tiruvannamalai- 606603 or
Sri Joydip Ashram, 4 N S Road , 1st Floor, Chartared Building ,Kolkata – 7000001
Sri Joydip Ashram, Itbhata Road, Burdwan – 713103

PLEASE SEND YOUR CHECKS BYJUNE 15TH. Contact us if you wish to pay in installments

Housing at Tiruvannamalai is limited. Rooms will be allocated in the order checks are received.

Donations to Sri Joydip Ashram in support of the Guru Poornima Retreat are needed and welcome.

Scholarships are available. Please contact us if you wish to apply.

Questions? Call Sri Joydip at 93-39-775464 or email joydip.chakladar@gmail.com.

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