Day 1 Video 1: Introduction to the Retreat (3:16:10)
Shar and Tamara are holding the first half of this day. Shar greets attendees from all over the world and introduces the theme of this Retreat: “Unlocking the Power of the Gourasana Meditation Practice®.”
Tamara tells us the plan of the Retreat. She gives us the background of why the GMP® is essential to our lives (spiritually and materially). In the same way that we can be in meditative action all the time, this Retreat is structured with no “breaks” – it is a continuous focus on God while we do what we do.
Vince leads the second half of the day with vital information about releasing feelings, avoiding wallowing, defeating laziness, and welcoming the transformational energy.
Toward the end of Day 1, Tamara introduces the RE Book. You will be using the notebook/binder and tabs you brought with you. Follow the directions Tamara gives to create this book.
- Notebook – any size; with removable pages, if possible
- Index tabs – moveable, erasable
- REmember List, if you have one; available from the Bookstore
Use this notebook for your morning and evening programs, and bring it with you to each day of the Retreat.
Day 1 Video 1: Shar’s Introduction to the Retreat and Tamara’s Introduction to the Content
Shar welcomes everyone, asking how we all did with the Retreat preparation on “Calm”. This experience will be useful in our meditation work over the next 5 days. She continues by playing audio clips of Gourasana speaking about the GMP® – one of the main gifts He brought with Him when He came into David Swanson’s body.
Tamara begins her part with a quote from Gourasana. She talks about our “predicament” – being a fragment of spirit, brought into the material plane in a body with a mind, body, emotions and senses. Our opportunity in these 5 days is to become aware of where we are not in control, where we are triggered, and how we can use tools to master those areas, relieve our suffering, and be responsible for our own consciousness to get closer to God.
Handouts from this day can be downloaded by clicking on “Materials” at the top of this page.
When instructed, do the following exercises when Tamara announces them:
Exercise: In your notebook, list 3 material and/or spiritual problems you are currently facing (Gourasana gives a 4th: Laziness), which you can address during this Retreat. Choose things really important to you. Keep these in mind for action when the leader guides you to do that.
Exercise: When “morning exercise” is announced, do whatever exercise you would normally do for the 30 minutes allotted to this. Or do something different! Go for it!
Talks in the Bookstore
Click on the links below to be directed to the bookstore to purchase the talks played during this day of the Retreat.
“You Are Not Your Shoe – Part 1” – Kalindi, The Simple Path to God series, March, 1995
“You Are Not Your Shoe – Part 2” – Kalindi, The Simple Path to God series, March, 1995