Introduction

“Lead lives imbibing spirituality, only then will it become meaningful, full of joy and beauty.” - Amma

  • About "Outwitting the Planets" Retreat

    Is our destiny written in stone? Can we change our future or are we forever under the control of the heavenly bodies? Are we mere puppets in the hands of the cosmic puppeteer, always at the mercy of our fate? If so, why make any effort to change? Can mantra chanting and meditation unshackle the chains of our karma? What is the role of the Guru in all of this? As the saying goes, “God helps those who help themselves.” If that’s so, why do we need the Guru’s help?

    Join us as we take a deep dive into these time-immemorial questions, to gain clarity through the power of Satsang, self-introspection, reflective journal writing, pranayama and meditation. This clarity will ultimately enable us to reside in our one true abode as pure consciousness.

  • Benefits

    The Walking the Path: Navigating Life’s Journey with a Spiritual Perspective series aims to bring spiritual concepts into our minds and hearts. By gaining a spiritual perspective on the various aspects of life we are able to face the everyday challenges that life presents with a sense of calm and composure, knowing that the divine is with us and guiding our development every step of the way.

    Each retreat in this series will focus on a particular theme aiming to bring in spiritual understanding at a practical level that we can easily employ and integrate into our lives. We can gain more peace and progress on the spiritual path even while living in the world, provided we put our spiritual understanding to use.

  • Enrollment Details

    Enrollment is open! Enroll now and start streaming this self-paced online retreat.

    Please see the "Suggested Schedule" below for more details on content.

    ‘Walking the Path’ is part of the AVA Membership.

Suggested Retreat Schedule

* Please watch the Retreat Orientation in advance.
Morning Sessions Time 
Satsang 1 - Is Destiny Written in Stone? 10:00 - 10:30 AM
Yoga, Pranamaya & Meditation 10:30 - 11:10 AM
Journaling Session 11:10 - 11:20 AM
Break 11:20 - 11:30 AM
Satsang 2 - What Can We Do to Change Fate? 11:30 - 12:00 PM
Yoga, Pranayama & Meditation 12:00 AM - 12:40 PM
Journaling Session 12:40 - 12:50 PM
Lunch Break and Self Reflection
 12:50 - 3:00 PM
Afternoon Sessions Time 
Satsang 3 - What About Guru's Grace?
 3:00 - 3:30 PM
Yoga, Pranayama & Meditation
 3:30 - 4:00 PM
Journaling Session
 4:00 - 4:10 PM
Q&A Session 4:10 - 4:45 PM
Feedback and Conclusion 4:45 - 5:00 PM

Get the Most Out of the Retreat

Our instructor, Brahmachari Yoga Chaitanya, recommends the following:

  • A quiet space where you can immerse yourself in the satsangs and practices.

  • An asana (meditation mat): You may wish sit on an asana. You may also sit on a chair.

  • A notebook and pen.

Brahmachari Yoga Chaitanya

About the Instructor

Brahmachari Yoga Chaitanya’s spiritual inclinations germinated during his college years. This would lead him to learn yoga and meditation and begin to develop an earnest practice. He soon realized the limitations of his own efforts on the path and embarked upon a search for a Guru. In the year 1992, his investigations lead him to Amma, an encounter that would eventually lead to him leaving his IT career and joining the Amritapuri Ashram permanently in 1997. In 2006, at Amma’s behest, a new chapter commenced in his spiritual life as he became an Integrated Amrita Meditation (IAM) instructor. He travelled the length and breadth of India giving IAM classes, while also teaching many of Amma's Western devotees in Amritapuri.

In 2013, with Amma’s blessings, he started giving Vedic Astrology consultations in Amritapuri and more recently on-line. His Western upbringing coupled with his Indian background has made it easy for Br. Yogji Chaitanya to bridge the gap between the two cultures and be of assistance to Amma’s children.


Our Enrollment Process

  • Create an Account

    Create an account with Amrita Virtual Academy. It is free to do so. Afterwards, you can enroll in the Amrita Virtual Academy Membership or any of our à la carte programs using your Amrita Virtual Academy log-in ID.

  • Secure Check-out

    Enroll using our secure, encrypted payment system. We support most international credit cards through Stripe. Prices are in USD.

  • After Enrollment

    Check your e-mail for a welcome letter and sign in to your Amrita Virtual Academy account.

  • Visit Your Student Dashboard

    All retreat content is hosted on the Amrita Virtual Academy e-learning platform. Simply visit your Student Dashboard. Here you can also access meeting links and orientation materials.

  • Enjoy Your Retreat!

    Stream anytime from computer, mobile or tablet without limit. The timing is flexible and self-paced.