Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation
October 21-24 – Ely, Mn ~ Fall Immersion w/ Ben Vincent
Our annual Fall Immersion is intended for those looking for in-depth study and practice of yoga in a communal retreat setting. This immersion will delve experientially into Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation. We will integrate dharma teachings, holistic practices (asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, chanting, kriya, yoga nidra, self-reflection, etc.), meditative ritual, music and devotion. We’ll share laughter, tears, songs, stories, meals and the joy of sangha. We invite you warmly to join us for this sacred time of practice, teachings and ritual – with abundant time for yourself, in nature and community.
Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation
The ancient seers (rishis) of the Vedic tradition sought to understand the nature of life through carefully observing and cultivating the inner and outer worlds. According to Vedic Wisdom, life’s two co-eternal principles are Consciousness and Creative Energy/Power. Consciousness is the limitless source and field of knowing, which expresses itself as the universe through creative power. Consciousness endows every-thing with an essential nature (sva-dharma), and weaves them together harmoniously. Creative Energy/power is the dynamic force through which the web of life has evolved, from the subtlest aspects of the human mind to the physical world of the elements. Amidst the abundance, diversity and beauty of life, the rishis came to understand the human mind as a crown jewel of creation. To be born with a human mind, able to perceive, unveil and illuminate the sacredness of life, is a profound blessing. They called the mind Antahkarana – “the inner instrument”, and knew it to be a tool of incredible power – abridge between the seen and unseen, between the individual and universal. When awakened, the mind is a prism which can reflect and transmit the light of consciousness, and transmit four great powers:
- dharma shakti– the power to see and live in harmony with the sacredness of Life
- jnana shakti- the power to know and discern between what is True and untrue
- vairagya shakti- the power to release self-limiting identities and conditionings that cause suffering
- aishvarya shakti– boundless power to be and to become
When un-awakened, the four great powers of the mind can become adharma (ignorance of dharma), ajnana (inability to know what is Real), avairagya (inability to release that which cause suffering) and anaishvarya (inability to exercise the power to be and become). Under the sway of ignorance (avidya), the unawakened mind is the root cause of much of the suffering in life, on the levels of great nature, human culture and within ourselves.
The ancient seers saw clearly the power of the mind – to be an instrument in service of dharma, bringing freedom and fulfillment, or to ben an instrument of avidya, and cause further suffering. The considered an un-awakened human life to be the greatest loss. The science of yoga is intended to understand, cultivate and refine the mind – so we may make the most of the human birth, and be an instrument in service of life.
The Immersion will delve into:
- The Human Mind: Jewel of Creation – a prism between The Absolute and the World
- Awakening Antahkarana: Four Aspects of the Yogic Mind: Buddhi, Manas, Citta, Ahamkara
- Refining and Empowering Buddhi – The Faculty of Intelligence, Discernment, Wisdom
- Evolving and Dissolving Ahamkara – The Faculty of Identification
- Purifying Citta – The Faculty of Memory, Storehouse of Karma
- Calming and Clarifying Manas – The Sensory and Emotional Mind
- Essential Teachings from the Yoga Sutra for Healing, Awakening and Empowering the Mind
- Essential Practices for Awakening the Mind: Meditation, Mantra, Self-Study, Trustful Surrender
- Integrating Breath and Prana – Master Keys for healing and Awakening the Mind
- Restoring harmony in relationship of prana, nervous system and mind
- Yoga as Self-mastery of the fluctuations of the mind
- The importance of Practice and Non-Attachment in awakening the Mind
- Four stages of Vairagya – removing limiting mental conditions through meditation
- Samayama – Awakening power through meditation
- Ahimsa and the Yamas: uprooting and transforming harmful tendencies of the mind
- Brahma Viharas– Cultivating the “divine abodes” of friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity to purify the heart-mind
- Isvara – The Divine as the Supreme Self, source of all knowing, ever free and wise
- Self-Knowledge and Education for making a life
- Personal and Group Rituals for awakening the mind
- So much more…
The Place: Camp du Nord, near Ely, MN. A stones throw from the Boudary Waters, Camp du Nord is set amongst the pine, maple and birch forest alongside Lake Burntside. It has been a natural place of sanctuary, retreat, reconnection for more than 50 years.
Lodging & Meals: Our lodging will be communal in modern wooden cabins, beautiful and simple. Each cabin features a full kitchen, indoor bathroom, fireplace, living & dining room, bedrooms, sleeping loft and wireless internet. You will be responsible for your breakfast and lunch. Dinners will be communal, each participant will be part of the cooking group for one evening meal. We’ve done this for years, and it works wonderfully. Preference for lodging requests will be given in the order in which registrations are received. To view one of the cabins, please click here
Activities: Hiking, Canoeing + Kayaking, Sauna + Lake Plunge, Massage, Relaxing lakeside and fireside and the occasional hootenanny singalong ( *massage not included in the price of the retreat)
Daily Session Schedule:
- Weds. Oct 21: Check-In 4 pm, Dinner 5 pm, First Session 6:30-9 pm
- Thursday Oct 22: 9-12 am, 3:00-5:30 pm
- Friday Oct 23: 9-12 am, 3:00-5:30 pm, 7-9 pm
- Saturday Oct 24: 8-11am – Option to stay to Oct 25 if available (more info below)
Chanting and Silent Meditation M-W from 6-7 am (recommended, but optional)
Transportation, Arrival & Departure
It is about a 4.5 hour drive from the Twin Cities. You are responsible for your own transportation. We encourage carpooling, and will assist in finding you a carpool if you like. For Directions, click here
Arrival time is anytime after 4pm On Wednesday October 21. We’ll have a group meal at 5pm, and the immersion will begin officially at 6:30p. Teaching and group practice will end Saturday Oct 24th around 12. There may be the possibility of staying an extra day until Oct 25. to rest, integrate and enjoy, as space allows. Please inquire when registering if interested.
Your Investment (Early Registration discount/ Full Rate):
- $675/ $725 – Twin bed in a communal Loft Space
- $795/ $845 – Shared bedroom space (2 people/room, twin beds or queen bed for couples)
- $975 – Private bedroom space (queen bed)
**As of Aug 1, all loft spaces have been reserved – there are shared and private rooms still available. If you are interested in joining immersion, but the shared or private room rates are prohibitive, please email ben@vincentyoga.com, and we’ll do our best to make something work.
Early Registration Discount- Receive $50 off the shared bedroom or loft rates when you register and pay in full by August 7. Early registration discount does not apply to private rooms or cabins.
All rates are per person. This is a small group immersion and space will be allotted in the order in which registrations are received.
Rates are inclusive of:
- Lodging: For more information on accommodations and activities, visit the fall retreat page.
- Immersion Tuition
- Use of Camp du Nord facilities (sauna, hiking trails, canoes + kayaks, etc.)
Massage will be available during breaks. Please note meals are not provided. Each cabin has a fully equipped kitchen for all your cooking needs. We will plan to eat dinners communally, with groups taking turns preparing food if the group size accommodates eating/cooking together.
To reserve your space: please submit registration/waiver form + payment at the same time
- Fall Immersion Registration + Waiver
- Submit a $350 deposit (per-person, non-refundable)or payment in full. Payment are preferred through Venmo (@vincent-yoga), and can also be made through PayPal (bvrocksteady@gmail.com), check (see directions below), or CC. Venmo is free when paying as a friend. There is a 3.5% fee for paypal, CC or when paying for “goods and services” through Venmo to cover costs. Contact us directly to pay via CC or paypal.
All payments are due by Sept 20. There will be a $50 fee for payments, payment plans and registrations received after Sept 20. For those unable to pay-in-full before Sept 20, payment plans are available through paypal credit. All payments are final, there are no refunds unless the retreat gets cancelled. The non-refundable $350 deposit covers the costs to camp du Nord in the event that the retreat should have to be cancelled for unforeseen reasons. Other discounts and scholarships are not available.
Please contact us with any questions or inquiries
Testimonials:
“I have attended several fall immerisons. Each one has been an enriching, nourishing, and powerful experience through Ben’s thoughtful, insightful, and poetic teachings. The most profound aspect of this sacred time is shedding the noise of the outer everyday world of tasks, to-do lists, and responsibilities to focus on the quietness of the inner self and life for a few days. I leave with a deeper understanding of my practice that I have carried forth in my everyday life and that continues to unfold. Every fall I look forward to reuniting with the astounding beauty of the north woods (especially Burntside Lake!) and the warm, welcoming community.”
“I can still feel such an expansive heart, and such a deep feeling of peace. It was like a horizon of peace, so steady and real, and heart all around me. I can still feel how I felt sitting in circle, laughing and crying, and feeling so grateful to be feeling so deeply.I can still feel the love and support of sangha, totally in awe that it’s possible to feel so known. I can still feel you holding us in that space, trusting us and what might be. I trust you too. I’m still totally in awe that the experience we just had is possible. That it’s possible to connect with one another and with life in such a deep way.”
“The fall immersion was powerfully healing for me. Life had crowded out and overwhelmed my sadhana. I needed a reset and I got one. Thank you!”
