saṃskāra
संस्कार

Samskara [IAST: saṃskāra] is the Sanskrit word from which we get our word “scar.” It means a deep impression.

Think of it as cellular memory or an imprint left from a time when we were unable to process the experience. We have a lifetime of these deep impressions, and until they are transformed or released, they are the source of Pre-Cognitive Commitments (PCCs). You will remember learning about these from your Foundations of Vedic Meditation course.

They build up in us [at earlier stages of our development] when we do not have a healthy way of processing them resulting in a backlog of cellular memory from stress. They express themselves as triggers and can be big or little. No matter how big or little, unresolved traumas are stored in our physical bodies.

We created computers as information processing machines and they are a perfect metaphor for our own mind and body. When information is not properly stored or processed, it can create a lag, much like the brain fog, many people complain of. Essentially, we are operating behind a distorted lens full of residue from unprocessed experience. The simple technique of Vedic Meditation helps clear and restore the lens of life, creating more ease and clarity in the experience of living.

What can we do about this backlog of stress memory?

STEP ONE: Learn Vedic Meditation
Dedicate 4 days to learning a simple technique of meditation that helps begin to unwind those knots of stress memory. Sign up for a free 1:1 Introductory Talk and learn how to join the Foundations in Vedic Meditation course. It is the most effective and efficient way to gently remove stress while providing our body and nervous system some respite.

It clears the lens through which we view life from inside. I think of this technique as an easy, mechanical process in the same way I think of our twice-daily habit of brushing our teeth. Once you let it become part of your regular maintenance and self-care, the possibilities are boundless.

Practiced regularly, we will move beyond our problem consciousness and discover that the source for everything we need begins with a journey inward.

STEP TWO : Go on Retreat!

Twice a year, we can go on retreat and do multiple rounds under the care and supervision of an experienced teacher. These are opportunities to be close to your teacher and create new connections with other students in the community. You’ll be able to relax and enjoy while letting the natural process of stress release unfold through Rounding. Going on retreat allows the body to release up to 6 months’ worth of regular twice-a-day meditation, so this is a perfect comparison to our regular dental cleanings: )

What is a Rounding Retreat?

Rounding retreats are designed to support a healthy clearing of stresses with the backdrop of a relaxing environment and simple sattvic foods to help balance the imbalances of rajas and tamas our lifestyles can create in our bodies.

This is break from the ever-repeating known, to go and clear the physiology. We proactively activate some Destruction Energy within a safe and supported space created by the hosting teacher. All Vedic Meditation teachers who have trained with Thom Knoles will have the same standard of experience to hold space and lead you through this concentrated stress-release. It takes special training to be able to anticipate and manage all that may come with this deep cleansing process. I always recommend only doing multiple Rounds under Supervision and Care.

The process begins with surrendering to the process, meaning we make a deliberate choice to un-plug and give ourselves the gift of surrendering to the experience created for you by an experienced Vedic Meditation Initiator.

A taste of what to expect on a Rounding Retreat with me:

Each day, we begin with early morning rounds and then break for a light breakfast. As you digest you can take a stroll on the grounds of just rest, whatever feels good for the mind and body. It is good to take away the normal everyday distractions, to turn inward and reflect as the body unwinds.

Observing and allowing time to take it easy will help smooth out any roughness as we clear out what is no longer relevant to our evolution. If we could charge rent for all the space that took up! Just think of the last time you just turned off your phone… we are living with constant distractions consuming our energy when there are many more enjoyable and relevant things we can give our attention to.

During the retreat, you’ll be able to give your nervous system some deep rest and a refreshed start, while also clearing off the deck of anything that is not necessary at this very moment. To support you in shifting gears, I’ll be there to take care of the necessities for you. All you need to do is show up and be willing to surrender to this gentle cleanse, with the intention of greater clarity and renewed purpose.

Why do we prefer Sattvic (pure and balancing) food and activities on retreat?
Digesting is a necessary process that helps us process food and experience in order to extract // gain nourishment from what we consume. This means everything we expose ourselves to in daily living. Often, there can be a sense of overwhelm or physical symptoms of a sluggish digestive system. During our Rounding protocol, it is preferred, especially if the physiology is already feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated (some symptoms that show this are anxiety, IBS, insomnia). If you have questions about what is best for you, please reach out for a Wellness consultation.

On retreat with me, I will curate a pleasurable experience, with less noise and distraction, so that you can fully enjoy the immersion into the Rounding process. You will leave with some simple re-entry directions and can plan for a follow-up private, included as part of the Retreat package.

Every Year, I host a Rounding Retreat in upstate New York near a little hamlet called Callicoon Center, near my land I have dedicated to the exploration of Self-knowledge and Exploration. It is always small and low-key and we will visit this open, raw land - plenty of space to meander and awaken your sensory perception.

#Samskara #deepimpressions #personalevolution #upstate #seedsofdesire

The open field with wild grasses in the fullness of Summer.

If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, please reach out : )

Originally posted May 19, 2022 - revisited for publishing June 2024.

Happy New Year!

Here is some recommended reading from my teacher, Thom Knoles.

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