AYUDH Retreat 2008

"Children, one of our priorities should be to preserve nature. We must put an end to the practice of destroying the environment for money, for our selfish short- term needs. Each family should grow trees and plants in their yard. When the ancient sages enjoined that we should worship the trees, they were teaching the world the necessity of preserving and protecting nature. Our traditional practices of growing flowering plants and lighting oil lamps serve to purify the atmosphere." - Amma.

Preservation and protection of Nature is an important aspect of Amma's humanitarian work.

The 2nd annual AYUDH Youth Meet held at the M.A. Center in San Ramon, California saw the arrival of young people from all over the country to participate in a 3 day program led by Br Dayamrita. Themed “Compassion in Action,” the retreat delved into the complex meaning of compassion, and explored the ways that we can be compassionate to each other, our communities, and our planet. Upon their arrival to the M.A. Center, retreatants were split into groups to explore the 120 acre M.A.Center grounds.

Br. Dayamrita led participants in a discussion on the practical meanings of compassion in action. Groups were given real-life scenarios that individuals had faced, and were instructed to act out solutions to the problems that were the most compassionate. It became clear that the compassionate act is not always the easiest, or the most readily apparent. The first day’s program culminated with the weekly Saturday program, which the youth managed from beginning to end. The program began with a short video presentation that highlighted the group’s activities from the past year, followed by satsang given by two active Ayudh members, and finished with prayers led by the youth.

The second day of the program involved a visit by all of the young participants to the new M.A. Center permaculture project to take part in a mass tree planting. Project leaders from Common Vision, an Earth education and ecological awareness group, spoke to participants about the ideology of permaculture and the ideas that had informed the project, and also instructed us on how to properly plant the trees to ensure their survival and longevity. Retreatants spent a number of hours on a lush green hill overlooking the M.A. Center grounds, planting trees that would eventually contribute to a new, thriving mini ecosystem. By the conclusion of the retreat, 100 trees had been planted by AYUDH members. Later in the day, participants enjoyed a presentation by Toastmasters, an international public speaking and leadership promotion group. A Toastmaster leader led retreatants in various activities that helped individuals improve their ease and comfort in speaking in front of a large group of people.

In the afternoon retreatants were able to spend some quality time with Br. Dayamrita in an informal question and answer session. A wide scope of questions were asked during this time— relating to how to maintain one’s values and beliefs in the outside world, and how to negotiate interpersonal conflict. This time allowed participants to share some of their own experiences while benefiting from Br. Dayamrita’s insights.

At the conclusion of the program, youth engaged in a discussion of the efforts of the past year, as well as goal setting for the following year. 2007’s goals were met and exceeded; this year we aimed higher. We pledged to plant 1008 trees by Amma’s visit in June, meet monthly for some kind of activity, and continue doing local bakesales to benefit Amma’s Farmer Relief Project. All retreatants received the 2009 Calendar of Change, which detailed month to month activities for individuals to participate in. Each month had a different social service oriented theme, with suggestions of specific activities that individuals can do that pertain to the theme. Individuals pledged to perform four activities from the list each month, and report on their progress to the AYUDH website. Youth also made individual pledges to themselves, which they wrote on small paper doves, the international symbol of AYUDH. The doves were mounted and hung in Amrita Hall, a symbol of our promises to ourselves, each other, and to our beloved Amma. Indeed, the dove is a fitting symbol for AYUDH: with Amma’s Grace, Amma’s youth can soar to the heights of spiritual bliss, and become emissaries of Her peace to the entire world.

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