The Retreat Program
We will be doing our first Sufi Pilgrim’s Retreat program at the end of August and so I would like to clarify the program here.
Goals: We have two major goals: 1) to provide optimal conditions for people to improve their intimacy with their Lord. This involves a peaceful, natural environment(The Gaia Wellness Centre is a particularly beautiful and uplifting site) and diminishing stress by having the least outward responsibilities possible(thus the cost of staff providing food and living arrangements)
2) to work on establishing a daily spiritual practice routine that people can continue after the Retreat. The psychologists call this process “generalizing” i.e. structuring it so that the effect of the retreat process continues over time.
NB It is understood that any actual “results”, whether experiential or behavioural, of the process is in the hands of God(or the Universe if you so prefer.) Our job is just to do our ‘”due diligence” effort-wise.
The basic time structure will be based on the Islamic protocol but non-Muslims are more than welcome and they will be given alternative practices according to their own needs. Also, the main focus will be on individual practice punctuated throughout the day with collective exercises as outlined below. There will also be individual meetings with the leader as needed to determine which individual practices are most appropriate for the specific student.
Approximate daily schedule:
4 a.m. Tahhajud (Night prayer based on the Naqshbandi formula-to be explained at the seminar)
5 a.m. Salat al Fajr followed by dhikr of the name
7:30 Breakfast (All meals are vegetarian because of the Centre’s orientation. For Muslims this can represent “azhod”(renunciation) but this is not inconsistent with Islamic attitudes. In fact, some of the more traditional retreats involved outright fasting during the day. We, however, are following the Middle Way.
8:30 a.m. Chi Gong in group followed by individual exercise programs
12:a.m. Lunch
3:30 P.M. Wird al Amm(to be explained) followed by Dhikr of the name and Mindfulness
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 Ted Talk on Sufism followed by the Wisal and questions arising out of the daily practice
10:00 lights out and silence.
N.B. The open times are to be used for nature walks, quiet contemplation and individual practice. There will be some rules around the use of technology so that it does not overly distract us but I haven’t figured that one out yet.
Ahlan and Salaams, Sufi Ibrahim