New to Sikhi

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Spiritual Retreat Birmingham England

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I am organising an Annual Spiritual Retreat here in Birmingham, UK for members of this site and our friends as a way for us to connect once a year and share and renew our Sikhi. Please join this group to help organise the retreat.

Members: 16
Latest Activity: Feb 4, 2013

1 member likes this

Dates: 29 - 30 October

Location: Sikh Nari Manch

Mata Tripta House
176 Streetley Road
Erdington
Birmingham
B23 7AL
United Kingdom (Google Map here)

Parminder is planning on running the retreat as a 1 1/2 day workshop, where we can all get together and meet and have some Sikhi related topics presented to us. The event will be very informal as it's also about us getting to know each other.

Parminder will work on putting together the programme over the weekend.

His outline programme is as follows:
The retreat will begin on Saturday 29th October at midday.
11.30am- 12.15pm - Welcome and registration
12.15pm - Lunch
1pm - Welcome Ardas, ice-breaker and introductions
1.30pm - First session - Our Journeys (how we found the Guru's gate)
2.15pm - Tea Break
2.30pm - Second session - Anything we don't know about Sikhi but would like to find out!
4.00pm - Split into Group Workshops with guests and rotate:
1. Turban Workshop
2. Making Parshaad demo
3. Nutrition and healthy eating awareness session for those wishing to go veggie
4. Learning Panjabi and Gurmukhi
5.30pm - Tea break
5.45pm - Group Rehras, ardas, hukamnama and keertan (learn and sing one shabad together!)
6.45pm - Dinner and opportunity to socialise
7.30pm - Reflections of the day, open forum for discussions / thoughts
8.00pm - Group Keertan Sohila and Close

Sunday 30th October
5.00am - Nitnem
6.00am - (Optional) Sadhana Yoga session
7.00am - Naam Japna and Meditation (using the sadhana chants)
8.00am - Ardas and Hukamnama
8.30am - Breakfast
9.30am - Session one - Introduction and information about some Sikh Rites and ceremonies
such as the Amrit Sanchar Ceremony, Sikh Naming Ceremony, Sikh 'Vows', Akand Paath, Gurpurbs, Engagement and Anand Karaj and Last Rites (cremation).
11.00am - Tea Break
11.15am - Final Session - Reflections and feedback of the retreat, ideas / suggestions for next time and closing comments.
12.00pm - Closing Ardas and Hukamnama.
12.30pm - LUNCH
1.00pm - Departure

The programme is subject to change based on the number of attendees we have and availability of facilitators.
There will be opportunities for anyone to 'receive' an individual ardas and Hukamnama if they wish.
And if anyone wishes to take a spiritual name - they may do so in the sangat.

ACCOMODATION:
People will need to make their own arrangements for accomodation, depending on what they can afford. You may either book a room at a local hotel (I will send a hyperlink for the local Travel Lodge), or you may 'camp' in one of the class rooms at Mata Tripta House. If you decide to 'camp' you will need to bring a sleeping-bag. Shower facilities are available for 'campers' and we can designate a male and a female 'dorm'.
In addition, some of the local sangat and NTS members who are from Birmingham, may wish to host people from out-of-town. If there is a lot of demand for this, we can facilitate / broker this.

COSTS:
There is no charge for the retreat as we are all participating as a 'seva' and I do not wish anyone to feel that they could not attend because of cost. However, any donations that people can make towards the costs such as food and sundries would be very gratefully received. I am suggesting a donation of around £25 per person for the retreat but people can give whatever they can afford large or small. If there is any money left over once costs have been covered, we will be happy to give this towards the running costs of NTS.

We can comfortably accomodate up to 20 people in the Retreat, which will be a good intimate number. Mata Tripta House is a very modest and humble venue but a very welcoming place!

All NTS members and their friends are welcome to attend the weekend, which I hope will be revinvigourating, inspiring and above all FUN! It will be great for our cyber-sangat to meet up once a year and build positive relationships and a support network which strengthen our spirit and build our courage!

If anyone would like any further info - please feel free to contact me. If everyone can confirm whether or not they can attend - I will be most grateful as it will help to plan the catering and materials and accomodation.

Discussion Forum

New to Sikhi Retreat - Vaisakhi 2012

Started by Parminder Singh. Last reply by Parminder Singh Mar 24, 2012. 3 Replies 1 Like

Gurfateh everyone,In October some of us got together at the first New to Sikhi Retreat in Birmingham, UK. By Guru's Grace, I hope we can meet again and meditate at a Vaisakhi Retreat. The retreat…Continue

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Comment by Danka on March 19, 2012 at 19:40: Hi to all! Here is a link to Parminder's Post - New to Sikhi Retreat - Vaisakhi 2012

Comment by Parminder Singh on November 6, 2011 at 22:04: Gurufateh dear NTS Retreat attendees,

We joined in ardas twice and Guru Ji spoke to us at the retreat through the wonderful Hukamname that we received.

I thank Amardeep for stepping forward and reading these on the day and I thank Guru Ji for blessing us.

The first Hukamnama:

Hukamnama%20retreat%20opening%20%20Guru%20Arjan%20Dev%20Ji%20in%20R...

The second Hukamnama was amazing as it was like a 'plenary session' at a conference and summed-up all the discussion that we had and questions raised by attendees.

Hukamnama%20Guru%20Arjan%20Dev%20Ji%20in%20Raag%20Maaroo%20on%20Pan...

Amardeep Ji - I hope you will keep stepping forward and have greater confidence to take the Hukamnama in the future.

I would be very interested to read all your reflections on the Hukamname that we received.

Best wishes and Chardi Kalla to everyone,

Parminder

Comment by GoraSinghUK on October 31, 2011 at 22:26: I would be really great if more people attend next year, from other areas of the UK and abroad. It was definately a day I will remember forever. I couldn't ask for better sangat. I will always hold Danka Jee, Parminder Jee, Amardeep Jee, Andy Jee and Angad jee close to my heart. Vaaheguroo!

Comment by Danka on October 31, 2011 at 22:06: We have done it! What a day! Hopefully next year we will have more people. If you missed, read about it here!

Comment by Parminder Singh on October 28, 2011 at 23:19: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa - Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Dear NTS Sangat members in UK,

Finally, the retreat is here!

We will begin the retreat from miday tomorrow. The retreat will be for ONE DAY only so you don't have to stay over-night. We have 6 people attending including Danka Ji.

If you still haven't decided to attend - then you still have 12 hours to make a decision and you will be most welcome to join us!!

Look forward to welcoming you tomorrow.

Best wishes and Chardi Kalla,

Parminder

Comment by Parminder Singh on October 27, 2011 at 13:05: Sat Sri Akaal dear NTS sangat,

Thank you to Ross Ji and Andy Ji for sending their completed Joining Forms.

I would be grateful if others could also send in their forms to me ASAP.

Also, those of you who haven't decided to attend yet - please take a leap of faith and come along for whatever time you can! This is our first event so lets make it successful and spiritually uplifting by bringing the sangat together!

Best wishes and Happy Diwali / Bandi Chorr Divas to everyone!

Parminder

Comment by Danka on October 26, 2011 at 23:27: Good news! I have booked tickets from Ireland and I'm definetely coming. Family is staying at home but I'm coming.

I'm arriving to Birmingham to the coach station at 5am this Saturday morning. What should I do? Anyone could meet me and show me around? Thanks.

Comment by Parminder Singh on October 26, 2011 at 22:10: Sat Sri Akaal dear NTS Sangat,

Please find attached a form to register for the NTS Retreat on Saturday 29 October.

I would be grateful if you could complete this and return to my email address which is: parminder@blueyonder.co.uk

New%20to%20Sikhi%20Retreat%20Joining%20Form.doc

Thank you and Chardi Kalla,

Parminder