#20 - Dance for Universal Peace Retreat - Experience Memoir

A few days back, I saw a post from the DUP saying about a Caravan team of a few people travelling to different locations for a week & performing dances for universal peace. I was very much curious to join this but the price was so huge. Hypothetically, somehow if I can gather the money, I still can't take this many leaves from work to attend this. But then I saw another post a week back saying a 1 and half day DUP session with stay at the outskirts of Bengaluru. I thought, “Yes! Maybe I could afford this with both money & time. What a way to end & start a year it would be. Let’s book this”.

On the night of 30th December I went to watch a Tamil movie called “Sirai” which was so good & I came late & slept late. I got a very little sleep than usual & I woke late, got ready very quickly & started at around 09:15 AM & reached the venue by 10:30AM. This is the first time I am going through this road & to my surprise somewhere near “Art of Living” I saw a board “Elephant crossing zone”. I was totally wondered by it. And also happy at the same time because within an hour drive from the busy city where coding & lot of international businesses happen these might creatures would roam around. And on reaching the venue, it was so good that it was full of nature.

I then finished with my registrations & went to the dorm where few men were already there. Then, we had our first session at around 11:00 AM to 01:30 PM. What I liked the most is that there are no hifi speakers or sound system, just a person singing with a guitar & drums, then gradually all the 50 people singing & dancing along. There were foreigners too from the USA, France, Korea in this I think they were part of the caravan team.

Wow, this diverse people from different walks of life carrying a collective intention with uniqueness of all driven towards the oneness that is love, peace & harmony makes me realise that this is much needed for all humankind. The session was so good & soulful. I noticed that I am more inclined towards “Sufi” songs & those songs move me a lot. And at the end of the first session there was a little ice breaker session where I spoke with two people for a brief time then we all headed for lunch.

And lunch was so good & it had more healthy vegetables in it & it felt like home food which I was longing for in my PG. There was a dining area with dining tables & many people started to have conversations instantly but I was a little hesitant to initiate conversations with them. I was just sitting and eating, hearing & observing all the conversations around. Then while eating one of the organisers told us that we were in the wrong dorm that was supposed to be for women. So quickly after eating we went & exchanged the room. 

And at around 03:00 PM, the secret santa gift exchange happened, the one who initiated this thing explained all the rules of it & it was really fun watching all the gifts. The one I liked personally was the long Vulture feather. And there were other gifts too like a Christmas set, Annual planner, a plant, a buddha toy, “Forty rules of Love”, “A diet related book” etc.

After this around 03:30 PM, we went to another place where ice breaker games happened. In that the first game was “Find the murder in the village” it was a fun game & then the next was an improv acting where each team has to pick a specific scenario & act spontaneously to it. The scenario for my team was a mechanic garage & people were acting spontaneously, one of the guys from our team acted like pumping air to the vehicle where another guy was lying upside down. Another team did things like a Tea shop in a Railway station, then a DUP session at a cemetery, etc.

After this there was an evening snack break where bhajjis with sauce was provided. And, during that break one of the organisers was asking for yellow shawl or duppatta, then when we entered to the second DUP session at 05:00 PM all the white tubelights were covered with yellow clothes to make a warm tone ambience. And this session was also so good too. And the best dance in this session for me was “Ancestors sky people”  because it gave me genuine joy & happiness. I think it is because somehow this is making me to connect with all the ancestors with similar intentions I guess. And in this session I got 2 valuable things that are much needed for me one is “Let go of rigidity” & the other is “Accept the Suffering”. This was really a quote that I will remember daily.Then at around 08:00 PM we had our dinner & after that we went to the camp fire at around 09:30 PM.

This is the first time I am attending one at night around firewood burning. And I saw a lady taking a pic of the fire & the moon which was right above the fire, & the photo turned out to be so good. Then slowly people started to gather around & drum jamming was happening. For me the drumming sounded like some African beats & sounds. It gave us all high energy. Hearing this in that vibe made me travel backwards in time to lakhs of years of human evolution & made me think that this is how cavemen would have gathered around the fire with their groups after hunting & gathering, by just yelling & jumping around in joy thereby sharing happiness among them. 

Then, another guy sang an intro song in Kannada that would be usually played in street theatre. And then an American guy played guitar & sang so well. After that a lady sang some kannada aiyappan song. And a girl told a ghost story from Ruskin Bond I guess. And the French guy told a story which contained poop & the way he narrated made all of us laugh. By this time it was around 11:30 PM.

At this time, one of the organisers came to the center & shared a story that a recently married couple chose to go on honeymoon for this caravan thing. She then invited them to recreate their marriage. They both arrived near the fire holding hands & were having a very soulful conversation about their love. It was so lovely to watch a real couple sharing about how much they love each other. I have only seen this in movies. It was so good to witness it. Then they both exchanged chains & they circled around the fire. All around blessed & wished them. I thought I could have brought my book “The Gift” & should have gifted them, but okay it's fine. Hereafter I should carry one in my bag wherever I go, we never know when we meet a couple & it might be useful to them. Then slowly time was nearing, countdown went on and it was raining “Happy New Year” chants around. After that I went to bed. I rested peacefully.

And the next morning there were 2 different sessions on Taichi & Yoga happening simultaneously at around 07:30 AM. I thought if I woke up I would attend one. Luckily I woke up, so maybe I don't want to miss the momentum. I was confused on which one to go. I was already doing yoga, so I thought I would go there. I went 15 mins late. To my surprise there were only 3 people & I joined. This is the first time I am using stretch bands  to do yoga & she gave good instructions. After that we did pranayama meditation assisted by another guy & he explained it well too. On completing it I felt okay well begun is half done in terms of self care & health.

Then I freshened up & ate breakfast which had Thattu Idli & vada. And went on to the final DUP session. I was late & entered around 10:30 AM & in this session chart papers were distributed. We have to write something like a vision board. I was always bad at maintaining resolutions. That's when I saw a video saying “Set Yearly themes instead of Resolution” that actually worked for me. And a guy who conducted the retreat which I went some 6 months back randomly texted me all of a sudden with this message,

“Hello Senthil 🤍

Just a small reminder as we step into a new year tomorrow. Instead of setting goals, expectations, or big desires, I invite you to choose one gentle intention for the year ahead. Not something to achieve but a feeling you want to walk the year with. It could be ease, honesty, courage, softness, clarity, or trust. Let this feeling quietly set the tone for how you move, choose, and respond through the year. You don’t have to force it. Just sense it in your body and let it be your companion for the year. Wishing you a grounded and meaningful year ahead 🌿 "

So, I mixed yearly theme things with this intention setting for the year & I thought of it & wrote them. After this one of the organisers talked about the “Walking like God” and in that few people came & walked like “Hanuman” . After that people were called to walk like “Buddha” and few people went & started walking around. I didn't go, I thought I can't be Buddha. Because I am impure, I have biases, I have to unlearn a lot. But suddenly the thought of “Buddha & his Dhamma” popped in my mind & I felt okay let me be the “Buddha” that Ambedkar wanted and I started to walk with all the other Buddhas. I felt so responsible while walking & I thought that I have to be more empathetic, treating everyone equally & spreading love & peace. Wow !

Then the song “Blessing”, it made me happy too. And during this dance while changing partners few people were automatically genuinely smiling from the heart & on seeing their smile it becomes contagious & I also start to smile in genuine happiness. And then I wrote a few intentions & things to do for the year. 

At last, there was this end gathering where we can share our thoughts on the 2 day experience. Many started to share their genuine thoughts, some in tears too. I was wanting to say but was hesitant to speak even in the last 2 sessions. So, this time I thought lets stick with our intention of being courageous & okay to be imperfect. I started by articulating what I felt & people started clapping that made me encouraged to take a little bit more confidently. I talked about “Omnism”. And the flag there reminded me of that. 

I felt truly heard there. Thank you all for this wonderful opportunity. 

After that we had our lunch & I spoke with a few new people whom I have not spoken to in those 2 days & said good bye to everyone & I left the place. It was really a wonderful experience & when I reached back to Bangalore. I have already booked for the Cult’s dance fitness session. I was really tired but still showed up because not to give up the momentum & went around 07:30 PM & they played Spanish & Bollywood songs. Now I didn't feel any self consciousness, I danced like nobody cares, which was because I was dancing for 2 days. But still I want to go with this momentum for sure. Hoping for it, fingers crossed. When I came back to my room, ate & slept. It was the best sleep I have had in a very long time. 

Thank you everyone. Thank you so much.

Senthil Rajan V ☮️