Spiritual Meditation Retreats

Living in Peace - From Me to We.
A celebration of the International Day of Peace
On this year’s International Day of Peace, we come together to reflect and celebrate the timeless value of peace. The theme “Living in Peace: From Me to We” reminds us that peace begins in the heart of the individual and expands to embrace families, communities, nations, and the world.
This gathering will be a space to:

• Share reflections and experiences of peaceful living
• Celebrate peace through music and meditation
• Leave feeling inspired empowered and filed with hope.

Join us in creating a collective atmosphere of peace where my inner silence becomes our shared strength. Together, we can shift from “me” to “we” and contribute to a world rooted in peace.
We warmly welcome you to be part of this meaningful evening.

Raja Yoga: Let us understand the secret of life

• In this three-day spiritual retreat, we will deeply contemplate the following topics:
• The true introduction of the soul and the Supreme Soul
• To know and realize the innate qualities of the soul
• Experiencing the depth of meditation
• The impact of thought power on life
• An opportunity to learn and understand the deep secrets of the law of karma
• Attaining the eight powers through Raja Yoga and applying them in spiritual life

Facilitators:

Champaben Patel
Champaben is a microbiology graduate who has practiced Rajyoga meditation for over 30 years. She coordinates activities for our Hudson Valley area center and leads meditations and classes in Hindi, Gujarati, and English. Her focus is on practical spirituality and inner transformation, and she is known for her warm and approachable style. She offers workshops on stress relief, anger management, positive thinking, and values-based living, inspiring others to live with clarity, strength, and compassion.
Monika Kalra
Monika Kalra’s artistic journey has been deeply influenced by spirituality. A student of Rajyoga Meditation since 2001, Monika began expressing her spiritual experiences through art in 2016. Her work reflects the inner journey of self-realization, meditation, and victory over the self. Her recent series, Rosary of Victory, explores inner transformation through geometric abstraction was selected for exhibition at the 2025 Program for the Evolution of Spirituality at Harvard Divinity School and Sacred Arts 2025 at Oxford. Based at Peace Village, she leads contemplative art workshops, retreats, and experiential Raja Yoga sessions, helping others integrate spirituality into their creative expressions.
Ekta Nandrajog
Ekta has been practicing Raja Yoga Meditation for over 20 years, experiencing its profound impact on her inner stability and personal growth. Her journey of self-transformation naturally led her to contribute to the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center in Boston, where she supports the planning of various activities. Professionally, Ekta supports several medical offices. She values a life of balance, combining spirituality and service in all she does.
Jigisha Pathak
Jigisha holds a Master’s degree in English Literature, is a gold medalist, and was awarded a national merit scholarship. She began her professional journey as a teacher in India, working across various educational levels. For the past 25 years, she has been practicing Raja yoga meditation. She currently teaches Raja yoga both in person and online, and actively supports a range of Brahma Kumaris activities including translation, transcription, proofreading, cooking, and gardening.

## Redefining Friendship, Closeness and Care

From Hurt and Expectation, to Healing and Love

In this retreat, we will explore how to redefine friendship, closeness, and care—so they arise from the spirit, free from attachment and expectation. What would it feel like to offer love from the heart, not because of what I receive, but because of who I am? When I see myself and others as souls—children of the same Divine Parent—these qualities take on a deeper, purer meaning. With spiritual vision and self-respect, I can connect with others in a way that uplifts rather than binds, and care in a way that is generous, not dependent.
Together, we’ll reflect on how spiritual love makes it possible to serve, support, and remain open without sorrow. Many of us have known friendship that turned to betrayal, closeness that brought pain, or care that felt self-serving—but these experiences do not define what’s possible. When I stop taking, I return to my natural form of giving—and in that, we begin to heal.
This retreat will include classes, interactive sessions, personal time, walks, and a chance for a new perspective on what is important in life.

### Facilitators

Tina Agarwal, Ph.D. has worked as a research scientist in an academic setting and has a Ph.D. in plant science. She has been practicing Raja Yoga Meditation for over 25 years. She currently serves at the Brahma Kumaris Global Harmony House Meditation Center in Great Neck, New York. Sister Tina loves to discover her inner strengths and apply spiritual concepts to practical life, staying in dignity and peace in all she does.
Zvika Zur has been practicing Raja Yoga since 1998 and has an infectious enthusiasm for learning and sharing spiritual concepts. He lives in the Boston area, is the father of adult twins, and always says that the wisdom he learned at the Brahma Kumaris made him so light in being a father. He works in the IT domain as a software engineer.
Susan Pollock began her study of Raja Yoga in 1985 in Boston where she worked for many years in the field of advertising and promotions. Now a resident of Peace Village for 16 years, she can often be found facilitating or assisting in retreats, creating healthy meals in the kitchen, or helping with various aspects of your Peace Village experience.

### Registration