Yoga in Daily Life Retreat in Vép, Hungary
This summer, Yoga in Daily Life practitioners and spiritual seekers gathered once again in Vép, our cherished spiritual home in Hungary, for a one-week retreat filled with profound yoga practices and spiritual exploration.
For 31 years, Vép has been the heart of our summer seminars, offering participants a serene environment to immerse themselves in the teachings of Yoga in Daily Life.
The retreat provided an intensive practice of all aspects of yoga, including Gyana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Nada Yoga, and Karma Yoga. Surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warmth of our international yoga family, participants experienced a week of deep personal growth and connection. Each day was rich with learning and practice.
In his lectures, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vivekpuri Ji offered insights into achieving inner peace and freedom through the consistent practice of yoga and personal mantra received from the guru, independently of good or bad luck, or external and internal circumstances. MM Swami Vivekpuri Ji emphasised the importance of living in the present moment, but learning from the past. He said we should not blame anyone, not even ourselves, but when planning future actions, we should consider not only our interests but the interests of other living beings around us.
Swami Madhuram Puri Ji, who arrived all the way from New Zealand, via YIDL programs in Indonesia and Scotland, led Nada Yoga meditations and meditative music and chanting sessions, using classical Indian ragas to facilitate a deep connection with the inner Self. His teachings underscored the transformative power of bhakti, or selfless love, through heartwarming stories and musical performances.
Morning and afternoon Raja Yoga classes were led by Swami Umapuri Ji. These sessions were focused on the Yoga in Daily Life book 'Yoga for Joints', now available in Hungarian, guiding participants in the physical and pranic purification exercises necessary for spiritual growth.
Kriya Anusthan was guided by Niranjan Puri, providing a sacred space for practitioners to approach the divine Inner Self, through more intensive meditation practices.
Participants could also engage in selfless service, reinforcing the principles of Karma Yoga in daily activities of the summer retreat, led by long-term Hungarian YIDL teacher and devotee, Abhayanand.
The youngest participants were lovingly guided through yoga practices, ensuring a nurturing and joyful experience under the guidance of Anandprakash Puri.
Evenings were filled with joyful singing of bhajans and kirtans, creating a harmonious and uplifting atmosphere for all.
A special highlight of the retreat was the unveiling of the first printed volumes of Vishwaguruji's autobiography. This inspiring book invites readers to journey alongside Vishwaguruji from his childhood, in a traditional Indian village in Rajasthan, to his spiritual quest as a sadhu (renunciate) and early years in Europe, until 1984. The autobiography offers an intimate look into the life of a true Yoga Master and his profound relationship with his teacher, Hindu Dharmsamrat Paramhans Sri Swami Madhavananda Ji, respectfully and affectionately loved as Holy Guruji.
This week in Vép offered participants not just a retreat from the stresses and responsibilities of daily life, but a transformative journey toward their true Self, enriched by the wisdom and practices of Yoga in Daily Life. As we continue to walk this spiritual path together, we look forward to the next gathering in this sacred space.
