New York (USA): The 2019 Youth Retreat held at Peace Village Learning & Retreat Center was attended by youths from various Brahma Kumaris Rajayoga Centres including Edison, Queens, Boston, Virginia and Minnesota. The retreat was facilitated by BK Gokul from the Cinnaminson center and BK Aarti from Albany. The sessions were led by Sr. Kala, Sr. Gayatri, and Sr. Dorothy.
Sr. Kala, Director of Peace Village addressed the significance of our spiritual life on our daily life and how continuing down God’s path will only benefit us. This session was very practical where many of the youth were able to connect to it, and the reiteration of this idea is sometimes very important for the youth. The sessions were more meaningful to each one, and helped them on a more personal level.
Sr. Gayatri Narain, Brahma Kumaris Representative at the United Nations, New York gave a very insightful session on yoga and remembrance. She emphasized the importance of remembering God and how it is not just to remember Him, but it is to understand our emotions whilst doing yoga in order to use them to change ourselves for the better. This session was very deep, however, it allowed us to have a better grasp on meditation. Sr. Gayatri also made the youth practice some meditation exercises that employed this point.
Director of Programs of Peace Village, Sr. Dorothy’s session was very unique as she explained the significance of the mind. She explained that to accomplish anything we have to first envision that in our minds, and then do it to have better results.
For two days, BK Gokul advised the youth to wake up for amrit vela (early morning hour of nectar) from 4 am to 4:30 am. Speaking on behalf of all the youth, it was definitely challenging, but it did aid in beginning the day with a fresh start. Murli (God’s Version) sessions were also very memorable, as he would only read a couple of lines, but he would go so deep into the concept and make it very interesting.
Throughout the retreat, the youths were assigned a small project, where, in pairs, they had to create a video on a power. This was the first time everyone had to create such a video and it was very enjoyable to construct and view. All in all, benefit was shared by all on all levels.
