Teens FEEL Alive at the Spiritualtouch Retreat 2023! Rooting young ones to their inner nature by connecting them to outer nature, the Spiritualtouch Summer Retreat 2023 saw teens from across the globe at the Ashram for three days of elevation, empowerment and empathetic action. Organised by Shrimad Rajchandra Divinetouch, the residential retreat welcomed over 1,000 teenagers from more than 15 cities across the globe between April 29 to May 1 for a life-changing experience. FEEL ROOTED Children grasped timeless wisdom through the study of Mokshmala, a text written by the spiritual titan Shrimad Rajchandraji. Conducted by Atmarpits, these workshops inspired them to lead meaningful lives whilst also nourishing their soft skills. Compassion in Action: Young ones realised the importance of being empathetic towards all forms of life – from animals to plants. These sessions also explained the need for humility and the source of true greatness. The Power of Alliance: Interactive sessions showed teens the significance of surrounding themselves with individuals who strengthened their innate divinity and positivity. Additionally, the power of truthfulness, self-restraint and reverence were highlighted. Journey to Forgiveness: Via practical learning, children understood the joy of a life enriched with forgiveness. They also inculcated the virtue of contentment by digging deeper into the nature of greed. Cultivating Happiness: These impactful sessions enabled the young ones to revisit their understanding of happiness and check whether it can be achieved through external possessions and achievements. Transforming the Mind: Children grasped the necessity of being in control of their minds to realise their dreams and goals and imbibed tips to strengthen their willpower. FEEL ENCHANTED A collaborative effort of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Faith for Earth Empathy Leadership (FEEL) is a specialised international certificate programme for children and youth, designed to make the environment an emotional and experiential affair. Marathon of Miyawaki: Making use of the Miyawaki method (a Japanese plantation technique), teens planted a medicinal forest through an exciting human chain race. Airdrop to Afforest: The scorching heat was no barrier for the youth as they contributed to local afforestation efforts by creating seed balls and dropping them on barren land using the seed bombing technique. Eco Triathlon: Comprising High Street Plogging, Segrelay and From Flakes to Furniture, this event witnessed children smartly picking, segregating and recycling waste into furniture that will be offered to the rural population around Dharampur. Boco Fest: Effectively reducing, reusing and repurposing coconut shells and banana peels, this activity inspired teens to creatively upcycle waste into useful and beautiful products. Embracing the Eco-family: Teenagers were taken to the animal shelter for a wholesome experience, where they affectionately bathed, milked and fed cows. FEEL MAGICAL Arousing feelings of amazement, joy and gratitude, the devotional evenings witnessed the enchanting presence of Pujya Gurudevshri. The youngsters also participated in exciting sports and activities. Funathon: Engaging in sporting events such as football, cricket and athletics, the youth were encouraged to push themselves to be their best. Joining in fun-filled neon games like pyramid-building and zorbing allowed them to work on their team spirit and sportsmanship attitude. Cultural Celebrations: The most-awaited part of each day was the mesmerising evening spent with Pujya Gurudevshri during the cultural celebrations. Experiencing never-felt-before emotions, teens danced, sang and performed their hearts out for the Master. During the convocation ceremony of the outgoing Spiritualtouch batch, the young ones were blessed to receive their graduation certificates from the Master Himself, in addition to a personalised autograph from Him! In a world overflowing with technology and machines, the gadget-free Spiritualtouch Retreat enabled teens to feel alive by fuelling them with deeper, stronger and higher emotions and values. As always, this retreat served as a testament to the unconditional love and grace showered by Param Krupalu Dev and Pujya Gurudevshri, drenching teenagers in torrents of positive meaningful experiences that have left them waiting for the next Spiritualtouch Retreat!
