So about the meditation retreat

SO it was twenty days of silence, no one speaks- the workers that serve and support the community or the meditators. The whole atmosphere is DEEPLY contemplative. One is woken up with a gong at 4:30 am. One proceeds to meditation hall. I have been practicing for some time so as a practicing student you can meditation on your own or you can join the group meditation. The entire day is meditation 45 to 50 mins at a time until 8:30 pm with breaks for meal, shower and such activities. I am usually extroverted and i believe the only reason i can sit and keep the silence is because EVERYBODY is doing so...

The meditation retreat was stormy for the first three days - yes i brought in baggage - but once i got into the groove the next several days were like clock work. I was able to be in the contemplative space, get in touch with the silence inside me and also enjoy just being in the present moment..... I was housed with a wonderful lady Puja, who also has been practicing for a while. She is a wonderful person. I did not get a chance to get her email but i hope our paths cross some day.

Back from India

I just returned after a two and a half months of work/play in India. Went to a Vedanta retreat, visited a few Biotech Businesses and also had a chance to catch up with old friends. Another wonderful thing that came out this was sort of by chance. It so happend that the initial reason for being in india for this long a time was because i was on the program committee of a conference which was to commence Dec 5th (fice days prior to the Taj and Oberoi bomb blast). This left me with some extra time. I used that to later during my stay go to Igatpuri and spend 20 days at a meditation retreat center. MMMMMMMMMM it was heavens.