The Brahma Kumaris at Wilton live in a spiritual community creating and maintaining a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere for everyone to experience personal benefit and learn practical skills to live peacefully in a sometimes-chaotic world.
The Centre can accommodate up to 40 participants for residential retreats. The attendees benefit through Brahma Kumaris’ core curriculum Raja Yoga Meditation courses and a variety of workshops, talks and one day programs. A retreat day can start with morning meditation before breakfast, meditation experiences, group activities, personal reflection time and conversations with other like-minded people.
The Brahma Kumaris offer freshly prepared vegetarian meals, cooked in a state of meditative reflection and served in an atmosphere of peace for all registered participants. Gluten and dairy free special diets are also catered for. Pssst did I mention wood fired pizzas!? Recently I had the pleasure of gorging down a scrumptious pizza straight out of the oven, followed by creamy passionfruit ice-cream made by Brother Mathew. Cheers to that!
The gardens are a much loved feature of Wilton, and during every retreat the veggie garden, orchard and grounds are enjoyed by all who come. The reception/shop houses an impressive collection of self-help tools and products. BK Di helped me pick an awesome t-shirt in black ‘No Problem’.
I met BK Peter who at the moment is working on his photo exhibition focusing on the BKs and volunteers. He shared, “Living in the Wilton Retreat Centre is a very satisfying experience on many levels. Serving the community through teaching meditation and offering courses offers an insight into our own lives. Working together in this small community is a way of sharing our skills and allows us to see the value of each person.”
We attended an interactive, performance-sprinkled, toe-dipping exploration into what we know and what we may not know about love. From the personal to the Divine, poetry, live music, visuals and moments of silence, BK Joseph (coordinator), Christine (Viola), Louise (harp) and Tasmin (poetry) took us on a journey into the noble and sublime, heroic and majestic drama called love.
During the interactive session many a questions were raised, brainstormed and reflected upon by the participants.
*What is love?
BK Philipa, Maura, Margaret, Dave and I brainstormed that love is unlimited, beautiful, eternal, accepting, warm, all encompassing, equal to the truth, the essence of our very being.
*It is said that, ‘Love changes everything’, how does it do that?
By being patient and compassionate.
*What does Love do?
Love flows through me and is able to uplift, heal, and sustain others and me.
*What does God/Divine mean to us? What may His/ Her role be?
God is pure, the light that guides us, healer, omnipresent, non-judgemental, altruistic and the source of love.
*What might stop us from connecting with God?
Trust! I may not trust because we feel dichotomy ~ separated as we are in physical for and God just ‘is’. We need to take a chance and trust that we ‘can’ connect with God and have love flowing into us and out to the world.
Naville found the interactive session to be relaxing and enjoyable. Simon felt peace of mind. Rita found the perspective of others to be helpful. Marion shared, “I seem to have moved on from where I was when I came here today”. Sangeeta found her first ever interlude with the Brahma Kumaris to be, “Super beautiful and peaceful. I feel very warmly welcomed by the Brahma Kumaris. Great place for meditation and to connect with God and nature”.
During the break BK Tracey fed us freshly made buns with butter and the tastiest chai I have ever had, cooked by BK Brother Matthew.
We all took part in the World Meditation Hour by connecting with the Divine and sending out love and healing wherever it is required the most.
The connection I felt with the Divine, the space, those around me and the self was deep and I am grateful for that.
For more information on the centre or upcoming day and weekend retreat please visit:
https://brahmakumaris.org.au/new/illawarra-meditation-retreats/
