What I Carry Home

Thank-yous, and logistical suggestions, and Brendel on the piano.

A man suggests that so many magical things have happened during the question-and-answer sessions that he'd hate to see that format abandoned, as was suggested earlier, to move to a meditation-only format. Rupert suggests they have one question-and-answer a day, and the audience is in happy agreement.

A man asks if in the new retreat format the meditations would be guided. Rupert responds 'yes'.

A woman says she loves the retreat but found it overwhelming to come as a newcomer to a group that has already bonded. She found it challenging to jump straight into the teaching without any orientation.

A woman, who is a newcomer, says she found the question-and-answer period to be useful in learning how others were using the understanding in their everyday life, which in turn created conversations during meals and freetime, allowing her to get to know people better.

A man seconds the comments of the previous newcomers' statements, in that the question-and-answer period helps immensely. He says he had so many questions in the beginning, but by the end no more questions.

A woman comments on the size of the retreat, which she feels is helpful at around the 150-participant level, which helps to keep the feeling of community . Rupert speaks to the trade-off between having a small group and allowing this understanding to be available to more and more people. The teaching needs new people to avoid the creation of a cult. Rupert explains that he needs the challenge and disagreement put forth by both newcomers and old-timers.

A question is asked about the creation of WhatsApp groups for each retreat. Neil explains how they are formed and indicates that he will share a link in an email.

A man weighs in on the size of future retreats, which he feels will create a sense of community even if there are greater numbers. He and Rupert also discuss the length of the meditations, and it is agreed that an hour and a half is the right length.

A man says that during the Mandali meditation-only retreats, there is a sense of being steeped in the teaching, without the question-and-answer periods.

A man suggests that the length of meditations became sweeter at the Mandali meditation-only retreats, and he confesses to enjoying that format.

A man says he loves the idea that Rupert is getting and considering feedback from the participants around the format. He reiterates that there is something powerful about the smaller-group size.

The woman, who is a manager at the Vedanta Retreat Centre, comments on the suggestion for more comfortable chairs. Rupert suggests getting the specs for the more-comfortable chairs at the Mercy Center. She also talks about retreats in India that were quite large, but that did not sacrifice intimacy. Rupert explains the progression of retreat size from the first group at 23, and how it has evolved from that number to the hundreds being considered now.

A woman asks if there will still be the question-and-answer sessions on Zoom, because she found those to be very special. Rupert agrees that there is something special about the livestream audience calling in with questions. They are different from the questions and answers that happen live. They're very touching.

A woman suggests that the Zoom question-and-answer sessions are precious because there are so many young people who make an invaluable contribution. Rupert says the average age of participants has come down over the years, and he would love to see it come down even further.

A man comments further on the size of the retreats, and proposes holding smaller live groups augmented by livestream groups together in various places around the world. Rupert agrees this is a nice idea, and he likes this idea.

A woman, who is a first-timer, says she had difficulty with all the noise. Rupert responds that as Vedanta grows, the dining areas will be larger, and noise mitigation is being considered.

A man suggests that if there is a quota on attendance, he might be reluctant to sign up if that meant taking the place of someone who could otherwise not attend.

A woman says she loves the free time between sessions and wonders how that would be impacted by more meditation sessions, and if there would still be free time? Rupert gives this suggestion consideration.

A man relates previous experiences he had with retreats and that he did not undergo a change in intimacy, and perhaps we could try the larger groups to see if this is the experience.

A woman says she is currently retreat-hopping and mentions the larger groups she's been involved in where the size did not diminish a sense of community. She feels it's more the quality of the teaching. In the beginning, she was quite put off by the already existing bonds between the old-timer groups. She says she and another participant burst into tears with all the talk of love for community, because they didn't feel that way.

A woman offers to be the designated hugger for anyone who comes and does not feel accepted. She would rather have the larger groups than have to turn people away.

An old-timer participant asks if it is possible to have a piano someday. Rupert suggests donating a piano to Vedanta, and immediately gets an offer of a piano as a gift.

A woman asks if pointers are always available and not just when we notice them at retreat. Rupert suggests, that in this particular case, your life is one of just giving, such that you find it difficult to receive love. Let yourself receive love. Surrender more and more fully into God's being, and see everything as a gift from God.

A man suggests having a space with no chairs, for those more comfortable sitting on the floor. Rupert shares that at other retreat centres, there is always room for mats and for people to sit on the floor.

A woman says she was afraid to come to the retreat because it is hard to return home after encountering all the love in community. She thanks another participant for her careful guidance of the choir, which is what she will take home with her. Rupert agrees that the choir is something special. It is what he watches, rather than the question-and-answer sessions, when he returns home.

Which part of me controls my attention? Rupert responds that it is just your mind, like a torch directs the light. The separate self is a belief within the mind. You cannot have a separate self without a mind, but you can have a mind without the separate self. Don't battle between the movie and the screen; the 'I am' is shining in the movie.

A woman comments that when awareness looks at itself without a blindspot, that seems dualistic because we are all awareness. Rupert responds that with limited time left, perhaps this question can wait until she comes back.

A woman expresses her gratitude for another participant for being her anchor during the retreat.

A woman reads a quote from Marcus Aurelius, 'Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.' She says this is how it makes her feel while at these retreats. Rupert brings up another retreat participant's song, titled, 'Everyone Here is Going to Die.'

A man, who also works in the organisation, speaks of being drawn into his own aloneness, and yet he has found such value and beauty in the openness that the community engenders that it is like magic. He expresses his gratitude. He reads a quote that expresses this openness to love.

A participant thanks Neil, one of the hosts of the retreat, for helping him when his visa didn't come through. He says he's never experienced such a 'wildfire of kindness.'

A woman speaks of her appreciation for the silences in the meditations. Rupert thanks her and ends the retreat.

Thank-yous, and logistical suggestions, and Brendel on the piano.

A man suggests that so many magical things have happened during the question-and-answer sessions that he'd hate to see that format abandoned, as was suggested earlier, to move to a meditation-only format. Rupert suggests they have one question-and-answer a day, and the audience is in happy agreement.

A man asks if in the new retreat format the meditations would be guided. Rupert responds 'yes'.

A woman says she loves the retreat but found it overwhelming to come as a newcomer to a group that has already bonded. She found it challenging to jump straight into the teaching without any orientation.

A woman, who is a newcomer, says she found the question-and-answer period to be useful in learning how others were using the understanding in their everyday life, which in turn created conversations during meals and freetime, allowing her to get to know people better.

A man seconds the comments of the previous newcomers' statements, in that the question-and-answer period helps immensely. He says he had so many questions in the beginning, but by the end no more questions.

A woman comments on the size of the retreat, which she feels is helpful at around the 150-participant level, which helps to keep the feeling of community . Rupert speaks to the trade-off between having a small group and allowing this understanding to be available to more and more people. The teaching needs new people to avoid the creation of a cult. Rupert explains that he needs the challenge and disagreement put forth by both newcomers and old-timers.

A question is asked about the creation of WhatsApp groups for each retreat. Neil explains how they are formed and indicates that he will share a link in an email.

A man weighs in on the size of future retreats, which he feels will create a sense of community even if there are greater numbers. He and Rupert also discuss the length of the meditations, and it is agreed that an hour and a half is the right length.

A man says that during the Mandali meditation-only retreats, there is a sense of being steeped in the teaching, without the question-and-answer periods.

A man suggests that the length of meditations became sweeter at the Mandali meditation-only retreats, and he confesses to enjoying that format.

A man says he loves the idea that Rupert is getting and considering feedback from the participants around the format. He reiterates that there is something powerful about the smaller-group size.

The woman, who is a manager at the Vedanta Retreat Centre, comments on the suggestion for more comfortable chairs. Rupert suggests getting the specs for the more-comfortable chairs at the Mercy Center. She also talks about retreats in India that were quite large, but that did not sacrifice intimacy. Rupert explains the progression of retreat size from the first group at 23, and how it has evolved from that number to the hundreds being considered now.

A woman asks if there will still be the question-and-answer sessions on Zoom, because she found those to be very special. Rupert agrees that there is something special about the livestream audience calling in with questions. They are different from the questions and answers that happen live. They're very touching.

A woman suggests that the Zoom question-and-answer sessions are precious because there are so many young people who make an invaluable contribution. Rupert says the average age of participants has come down over the years, and he would love to see it come down even further.

A man comments further on the size of the retreats, and proposes holding smaller live groups augmented by livestream groups together in various places around the world. Rupert agrees this is a nice idea, and he likes this idea.

A woman, who is a first-timer, says she had difficulty with all the noise. Rupert responds that as Vedanta grows, the dining areas will be larger, and noise mitigation is being considered.

A man suggests that if there is a quota on attendance, he might be reluctant to sign up if that meant taking the place of someone who could otherwise not attend.

A woman says she loves the free time between sessions and wonders how that would be impacted by more meditation sessions, and if there would still be free time? Rupert gives this suggestion consideration.

A man relates previous experiences he had with retreats and that he did not undergo a change in intimacy, and perhaps we could try the larger groups to see if this is the experience.

A woman says she is currently retreat-hopping and mentions the larger groups she's been involved in where the size did not diminish a sense of community. She feels it's more the quality of the teaching. In the beginning, she was quite put off by the already existing bonds between the old-timer groups. She says she and another participant burst into tears with all the talk of love for community, because they didn't feel that way.

A woman offers to be the designated hugger for anyone who comes and does not feel accepted. She would rather have the larger groups than have to turn people away.

An old-timer participant asks if it is possible to have a piano someday. Rupert suggests donating a piano to Vedanta, and immediately gets an offer of a piano as a gift.

A woman asks if pointers are always available and not just when we notice them at retreat. Rupert suggests, that in this particular case, your life is one of just giving, such that you find it difficult to receive love. Let yourself receive love. Surrender more and more fully into God's being, and see everything as a gift from God.

A man suggests having a space with no chairs, for those more comfortable sitting on the floor. Rupert shares that at other retreat centres, there is always room for mats and for people to sit on the floor.

A woman says she was afraid to come to the retreat because it is hard to return home after encountering all the love in community. She thanks another participant for her careful guidance of the choir, which is what she will take home with her. Rupert agrees that the choir is something special. It is what he watches, rather than the question-and-answer sessions, when he returns home.

Which part of me controls my attention? Rupert responds that it is just your mind, like a torch directs the light. The separate self is a belief within the mind. You cannot have a separate self without a mind, but you can have a mind without the separate self. Don't battle between the movie and the screen; the 'I am' is shining in the movie.

A woman comments that when awareness looks at itself without a blindspot, that seems dualistic because we are all awareness. Rupert responds that with limited time left, perhaps this question can wait until she comes back.

A woman expresses her gratitude for another participant for being her anchor during the retreat.

A woman reads a quote from Marcus Aurelius, 'Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.' She says this is how it makes her feel while at these retreats. Rupert brings up another retreat participant's song, titled, 'Everyone Here is Going to Die.'

A man, who also works in the organisation, speaks of being drawn into his own aloneness, and yet he has found such value and beauty in the openness that the community engenders that it is like magic. He expresses his gratitude. He reads a quote that expresses this openness to love.

A participant thanks Neil, one of the hosts of the retreat, for helping him when his visa didn't come through. He says he's never experienced such a 'wildfire of kindness.'

A woman speaks of her appreciation for the silences in the meditations. Rupert thanks her and ends the retreat.