The schedule of the Meditation Teacher Training Course is designed to provide a balance between instruction, self-study, and extended experience of deep meditation. (You will also enjoy an immersion in the spiritual culture of this sacred region of the Himalayas; the Meditation Teacher Training Course includes all of the excursions and activities of the Meditation/Nature Retreat along the Ganga.) The knowledge of how to teach meditation is important, but it’s also vital that knowledge is rooted in your own personal experience. Having infused your mind and body with Being, pure consciousness, your teaching will flow naturally, with authority, and uplift and inspire your students. Thus, you should consider this an extended meditation retreat as well as a Meditation Teacher Training Course, as well as a chance to enjoy the spiritual culture of the area.
Note that this schedule is subject to change. Special activities, excursions, or needs of the group or teacher may require adjustments. On days that we are traveling to and from Gangotri, the schedule will be adjusted as needed. Participants in the Meditation Teacher Training Course will enjoy the full itinerary of the Meditation/Nature Retreat along the Ganga. In addition, after participants in the meditation/nature retreat return to New Delhi on October 19, we will continue to stay in Rishikesh, completing our final studies for teaching meditation until we leave Rishikesh for New Delhi on October 23. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Our daily schedule, except on travel days, will approximate the following (individual needs or needs of the group may necessitate departing from this schedule to some extent):
Waking to 7 am
Private* Meditation. Early morning is the ideal time for meditation.
7 to 8:30 am
Private* Yoga/Pranayama and Meditation practice. If you don’t currently practice Yoga, it’s a good idea to start, at the very least for the duration of the course. Yoga asanas will be taught, as will various forms of pranayama.
8:30 to 12:00 am
Bathing in the Ganga (optional). Breakfast (included), followed by instruction in meditation, group meditation, and meditative reading of scriptures. All participants will learn several highly effective forms of meditation. The first few days you will learn the meditation practices. After that, we’ll focus on the necessary knowledge to teach the techniques. The short scriptural readings here are meditative, but they will give essential background in addition to ripening your consciousness.
12:00 to 3:00
Lunch/walk/enjoy/study/afternoon excursions. Appointments may also be made to see Ajayan privately during this time when we are not doing other activities.
3:00 to 5:30 pm
Instruction/satsang and practice teaching. Group meditation and meditative reading of scriptures. Many topics will be covered in these sessions. (See Curriculum.)
5:30 to 7:00 pm
Dinner/relaxation.
7:00 to 9:30 pm
Private study/relaxation time.
9:30 to 10 pm
Time for reading scriptures, study, or going to bed. Lights out by 10 PM. Most will find the routine of this course requires extra sleep, as deep accumulated fatigue gets released. Going to bed early is conducive to clear meditation and to waking for a long early morning meditation.
days of silence
During the course we will have at least one, or, if time allows, two days of silence for diving deep into your personal practice of meditation. On the silence day(s) we will fast until dinner, maintain silence, and do extra meditation and yoga.
__________________________
*Most mornings that we are in Rishikesh, except on travel days, an optional early morning yoga class is offered. You may join this class, or practice privately.
