December 25, 2011 – Day 1

The 5th Yogi Youth Leadership Retreat began on Christmas Day in the divine presence of Shri Thãkorji Mahãrãj  Vratdhãri Santo and Vadil Haribhakto at the Allentown mandir. Forty-one youth from across the US, Canada, & UK gathered for this occasion! On this Christmas day, a holiday party was thrown and hosted by youth leaders. Local children from Allentown came and celebrated by eating cookies, playing games and singing Christmas carols.

The retreat officially began with the lighting of a deevo by Pujya Jayesh Uncle, Pujya Shreebhai, Pujya Vishnudada and one youth from each mandal of US, Canada, & UK.

Following the opening ceremony, the youth had an event called “Secret Santa”. The purpose is that each person is given a fellow youth member’s name and they then have to buy a gift for that person. Each of the 41 leaders was given a name and gifts were exchanged. The best part of the day came when a session was set up to video conference with Guruvarya Param Pujya Sahebdada. The youth were so lucky that not only did they receive Guruvarya Param Pujya Sahebdada’s blessings, but also blessings from Pujya Shantidada, Pujya Ashvindada, Pujya Harshaddada and Pujya Yagneshbhai & Pujya Pareshbhai. When Guruvarya Param Pujya Sahebdada spoke to the youth, the key concept he emphasized that soon became the theme of the retreat was “maitribhãv”. This concept means that you love each of your fellow youth members just as much as you love yourself. It means not to see negative in any single individual that we work with. Pujya Shantidada said this retreat will become a smruti and that we should remember all that we have learned when we go home and apply it in our lives so we can gain Guruvarya Param Pujya Sahebdada’s prasannatã. Pujya Ashvindada emphasized that in other places, retreats like this are given names like “personality development” or “team building” and even though this retreat was not given these fancy names, all of this will come by attending this retreat. Pujya Harshaddada reemphasized that out of all the youth, “… if bhagwan personally knows us, calls us by our name, showers love by putting his hands over our heads, listens to what we have to say, then who else is more fortunate than this?” The youth felt very blessed to be a part of this divine occasion.