The primary purpose of the Retreat Ranch is part of Master's vision to provide places where abhyasis may remove themselves from the routine worldly life for a brief time for concentrated spiritual reflection in a retreat atmosphere. In speaking about the tradition of the spiritual retreat, Master tells us that, "abhyasis will stay for a minimum of three days, and for a maximum of thirty" and that "a RETREAT was for always the few, who needed to retreat from everyday life, and retire in seclusion to introspect, meditate, brood over one's inner condition etc. The purpose was to re-enter normal everyday life refreshed spiritually to face life with a renewed sense of purpose, to restore balance to one's life. A retreat could never be for the many or for the multitude."
Quotes from Rev. Master to serve as the guiding light
a RETREAT was for always the few, who needed to retreat from everyday life, and retire in seclusion to introspect, meditate, brood over one's inner condition etc. The purpose was to re-enter normal everyday life refreshed spiritually to face life with a renewed sense of purpose, to restore balance to one's life. A retreat could never be for the many or for the multitude."
"…abhyasis will stay for a minimum of three days, and for a maximum of thirty"
"So these retreat centers-this also came to me out of a vision, you see. Let us say Sahaj Marg has been a mining company-mining ore. You know, I mean in some way preparing that ore for smelting, for steel-making, etcetera. Now comes the second organization in the process which will put you through the smelting process, refine you, purify you, and give inside you not the steel of the metal, but the steel of integrity, the steel of devotion, the steel of determination that 'I shall achieve this goal within this lifetime.'"
"Group satsanghs ONLY for the residents undergoing the retreat will be held only once a week. A resident prefect will be available for personal discussions, and advice. Residents are EXPECTED TO MEDITATE INDIVIDUALLY IN THEIR OWN ROOMS."
"the Retreat Center shall be like a cave hidden away from public view and available only to those abhyasis who wish to improve their abhyas"
"… none of the birthdays, and other usual holy occasions will be celebrated formally in such retreats. Abhyasis in retreat must use the sacred and auspicious day in celebrating, in an inner way, and resolve to emulate the great lives of our Masters.
"... I hope you will make use of these centres for the purpose they are established. Come as you are, go away something else."
"So here we look into ourselves, find
ourselves as we are with the courage to look at what we
see, and to accept what we see, and then comes the boldness
and the determination to change what we see into what it
should be. That is the culmination of yogic practice."
