Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Ashram – Noida conducted a Sadhana Sangam from September 8 to 11, 2022. Around 250 devotees from across the country attended the Sangam. After almost two and a half years, the Ashram witnessed the vibrant presence of spiritual enthusiasts for this retreat programme based on the “how-to-live” teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.
The daily programme included the practice of Energization Exercises followed by group meditations, spiritual discourses on various topics, review classes on YSS meditation techniques, kirtans, spiritual counselling, and video shows.
The opening programme began with a prayer by Brahmachari Adyananda, followed by a brief talk by Swami Krishnananda on “Practising the Presence of God.” In his talk, Swami Smaranananda said that by meditation devotees can strive to reach a state of stillness or joy and then offer it to God. Swami Vasudevananda closed the programme with a short discourse. Using anecdotes from Autobiography of a Yogi the story of Kumar in Swami Sri Yukteswarji’s ashram, Swamiji encouraged devotees to expand their consciousness by overcoming the limitations put by the ego.
During the Sangam, devotees benefitted from the review classes on YSS meditation techniques; discourses on topics such as right attitude towards life experiences, Shraddha and Bhakti, motivation to remain steadfast in one’s sadhana; and devotional kirtan and chanting. A video show on the movie, “Awake: The Life of Yogananda” was shown during one of the evenings.
The Sangam came to a close with discourses by Swamis Pavitrananda and Vasudevananda encouraging devotees to meditate regularly and to get rid of all worldly attachments. This was followed by prasad distribution.
