Inner Sound Meditation Retreat: Your Journey to Inner Peace in India
Begin a transformative 10-40-day journey of self-discovery through mantra meditation in the heart of India. Experience the profound silence and inner awareness that comes through dedicated practice in a supportive environment.
Reserve Your Retreat
Your Journey to the Ashram: Travel Logistics
Your journey to inner peace begins with the physical journey to our ashram. Most participants fly into Delhi or Mumbai, with Delhi being the recommended arrival point. From Delhi, you'll take a connecting flight to Indore, where our dedicated transport will be waiting for you.
Upon landing in Indore, you'll be greeted by our private driver who will recognize you easily (as you'll likely be the only foreign traveler on your flight). The driver will be holding a sign with your name and will assist you with your luggage.
The drive to our ashram is approximately four hours through the beautiful Indian countryside. While this might seem long after your international flight, we've found this to be the most reliable method of transport compared to trains or buses, especially for first-time visitors to India.

Travel Tip: Pack comfortable clothing for the taxi journey. You'll have the entire back seat to yourself, so you can relax during the drive. There will be a rest stop halfway where you can stretch your legs, use facilities, and perhaps try your first authentic samosa!
The private cab costs approximately €50, which is well worth the convenience and comfort it provides. While local buses are available for around $5, they can be challenging to navigate without speaking the language or knowing the system.
This carefully planned arrival process ensures you begin your retreat experience with minimal stress, allowing you to arrive at our ashram ready to begin your inner journey.
Financial Preparation: Navigating India's Banking System
India's financial system can present unique challenges for international visitors. Planning ahead will save you significant stress during your retreat and subsequent travels.
Bring Multiple Payment Methods
We strongly recommend bringing at least two different debit cards. Many international cards experience difficulties in India, so having backups is essential. Digital banking services like Wise and Revolut have proven particularly reliable for accessing ATMs and making payments in India.
Cash Considerations
You'll need to withdraw Indian Rupees from ATMs during your stay. Plan to make larger withdrawals less frequently to minimize transaction fees. Most retreat expenses are covered in your package, but you'll want cash for personal purchases, tips, and our post-retreat tour.
Mobile Connectivity
A reliable phone connection is important for both safety and convenience. We recommend purchasing a tourist SIM card before your arrival. These can be obtained in your home country (often the most convenient option) or upon arrival at Delhi airport. A pre-arranged SIM saves you from navigating India's complex telecom registration requirements.

Traveler's Tip: If purchasing your SIM card upon arrival in Delhi, look for the special tourist SIM providers at the airport. These are specifically designed for foreign visitors and avoid the documentation requirements of regular SIM cards.
While credit cards are accepted at larger establishments in cities, many smaller vendors and markets operate on cash only. During our tour after the retreat, we'll visit some remote areas where access to ATMs may be limited, so planning your cash needs in advance is advisable.
Remember that part of this journey is embracing a simpler relationship with material needs. The retreat itself requires minimal expenses, allowing you to focus on your inner work rather than financial concerns.
Dietary Journey: From Arrival to Completion
Your dietary experience forms an integral part of the retreat, designed to support your meditation practice by purifying the body and clarifying the mind. Our approach follows a carefully structured progression:
1
Arrival Day
We encourage you to explore and enjoy authentic Indian cuisine on your first day. This serves as both a cultural experience and a farewell to regular eating patterns before beginning your cleansing process. Indulge in the rich flavors of local dishes—whether you prefer spicy food or milder options like saag paneer, this is your opportunity to experience India's culinary delights.
2
Days 1-4: Fruit Cleanse
You'll transition to a diet consisting exclusively of fresh fruits. This initial cleansing phase helps to detoxify your system and prepare your body for the deeper work ahead. The natural sugars provide energy while beginning to lighten your digestive load.
3
After 4 days: Mata
The core dietary component of your retreat is Mata, a special preparation of cow's milk that has been naturally pre-digested through fermentation. This makes it digestible even for many who are typically lactose intolerant. Mata provides complete nutrition while being easy for your body to process, allowing your energy to focus on meditation rather than digestion.
4
Last 4 Days : Transition
You'll gradually return to eating fruits, preparing your digestive system for the return to normal eating after the retreat concludes. This transition period is crucial for integrating your experience physically as well as mentally.
We provide flexibility for individual needs—if you experience difficulties with Mata, we can adapt with fresh juices, spirulina, or other alternatives. Our priority is supporting your meditation experience, not rigid adherence to specific foods.
The simplicity of this diet helps minimize digestive energy expenditure, allowing your body to direct more resources toward the inner work of meditation and transformation. Many participants report increased clarity, energy, and intuition as their bodies adjust to this purification process.
Preparing Your Body and Mind
Preparation begins well before you arrive in India. Your readiness will significantly enhance your retreat experience, allowing you to dive deeper into the practices without unnecessary adjustment periods.
Physical Preparation
Begin transitioning your diet 1-2 months before the retreat:
  • Start reducing meat consumption in January (vegetarian diet)
  • Transition to a vegan diet in February
  • This gradual approach is ideal—don't worry if you need some animal protein during autumn and early winter
Your body's needs are unique, and we honor that. While some traditions might insist on strict dietary rules, our primary focus is on your meditation experience. Trust your body's wisdom while gradually preparing it for the cleansing process ahead.

Meditation Preparation: Build up to longer meditation sessions gradually. Aim for daily 1-2 hour sessions with occasional 4-hour sessions to build your capacity.
Building Meditation Stamina
The retreat involves extended periods of meditation, so building your sitting capacity is essential:
  • Establish a consistent daily meditation practice now
  • Gradually extend your sessions to 2 hours
  • Try at least one 4-hour session before arrival (ideally early morning, 4:00-8:00 AM)
  • Focus on comfortable posture and maintaining alertness
Don't worry if your schedule doesn't permit daily long sessions—consistency is more important than duration. Even 30-60 minutes daily with longer sessions when possible will help prepare your body and mind for the deeper work of the retreat.
Remember that preparation is about setting intentions and creating favorable conditions, not achieving perfection. Your commitment to the process is what matters most.
The Meditation Environment: Your Dark Room Experience
The heart of your 10-40-day journey takes place in a specially prepared dark room—an environment carefully designed to facilitate deep meditation and inner awareness. This darkness serves as a powerful tool for turning your attention inward, away from external stimuli.
Room Setup
You'll have a private room with a comfortable bed and meditation mat. The room is carefully sealed to eliminate all sources of light, creating a complete darkness that allows your visual system to reset and turn inward. Multiple layers of curtains and coverings ensure this darkness remains undisturbed throughout your stay.
Eye Mask Protocol
We provide high-quality eye masks, though you're welcome to bring your own if you have a preferred one. Keep your eye mask accessible at all times—ideally on your head—so you can quickly pull it down whenever the door opens. This prevents light exposure that could disrupt your deep meditative state.
Inner Light Phenomena
Many participants begin to perceive internal light phenomena during their dark room practice. This is natural and becomes part of your meditation experience. Your eye mask helps distinguish between external light leakage and the internal light experiences that emerge during deep meditation.
During your time in darkness, you'll meditate with eyes open—though in complete darkness, the distinction between eyes open and closed becomes subtle. This open-eye approach helps maintain alertness while allowing visual phenomena to become part of your meditative experience.
The dark room creates a container for your practice, eliminating distractions and supporting the natural inward journey. Without visual input from the external world, your awareness naturally turns to subtle internal processes—the beginning of the profound inner exploration that is the purpose of this retreat.
We maintain the integrity of this darkness carefully, only entering your room to check on your wellbeing and provide Mata. Each visit follows strict protocols to minimize light exposure and preserve your meditative state.
The Mantra Practice: Your Gateway to Inner Sound
Your meditation journey begins with mantra practice—a powerful technique that serves as the foundation for accessing deeper states of consciousness. We typically work with the mantra "All Love" (though other mantras may occasionally be used based on individual guidance).
The mantra functions as a focusing tool that gradually quiets the mind and attunes your awareness to subtler levels of perception. As you repeat "All Love, All Love, All Love" internally, your attention becomes one-pointed, creating the conditions for deeper experiences to emerge.
Progression of Practice
Your practice will naturally evolve through several stages:
  1. Mantra repetition - Continuously repeating "All Love" internally
  1. Inner sound awareness - Gradually noticing subtle internal sounds
  1. Following the highest tone - Attending to the highest, most consistent sound
  1. Samadhi state - Eventually entering a state beyond sound where profound peace predominates

When you begin to hear the inner sound, always direct your attention to the highest, most consistent tone. This high-frequency sound serves as a doorway to deeper states of consciousness.
The final stage—where even the inner sound dissolves into profound stillness—is particularly significant. In this state of "no mind, no thought," you experience a deep peace and pleasure that transcends ordinary meditation. While this state may initially be fleeting, your practice during the 10-40 days is about learning to access and stabilize in this state of consciousness.
Throughout your retreat, guidance will be provided to help you navigate these stages. The mantra serves as a vehicle, not an end in itself—eventually, the mantra naturally falls away as deeper awareness emerges. Your task is simply to maintain consistent practice, following the natural unfolding of your experience with alert presence and gentle persistence.
Daily Routine & Support During Your Retreat
Meditation Schedule
Your time will be largely self-directed within the framework of continuous meditation. While there is no rigid hourly schedule, we recommend maintaining natural rhythms—meditating when alert and resting when needed. Most participants find they naturally sleep less as the retreat progresses, allowing more time for practice.
Regular Check-ins
We will visit your room several times daily to check on your wellbeing, bring Mata, and provide guidance as needed. These brief interactions offer opportunities to ask questions and receive personalized advice while maintaining the integrity of your dark room experience.
Processing Support
Deep meditation can sometimes bring subconscious material to the surface. If emotional processing becomes necessary, we offer supportive breath sessions and other techniques to help integrate these experiences. This ensures your journey remains balanced between deep meditation and healthy integration.
Instructional Guidance
You'll receive guidance from both our retreat leader (who will visit most frequently) and Yogiji (the ashram's master). While Yogiji may visit less frequently, his wisdom and expertise are always available when specialized guidance is needed.
The simplicity of this routine is intentional, creating space for the depth of your inner work. Without the distractions of scheduling, planning, or social interaction, your awareness naturally turns inward. This simplicity creates the container for profound transformation.
Your primary focus throughout the retreat is maintaining presence in the "no time space"—the timeless awareness that emerges in deep meditation. As you progress, you'll learn to recognize and stabilize this state, gradually integrating it as your natural way of being.
Remember that while the structure provides support, your inner experience is unique. Trust the process, remain open to guidance, and allow your practice to unfold naturally within the supportive container we provide.
Practical Packing Guidelines
Travel Light, Travel Right
One of the gifts of this retreat is the opportunity to simplify—beginning with what you bring. We recommend traveling with minimal luggage: a small suitcase and a backpack are ideal. This not only makes your journey more convenient but also supports the retreat's philosophy of simplicity.
Essential Items
  • Comfortable meditation clothing - Loose-fitting athletic wear, yoga pants, sweatshirts
  • Eye mask - High quality with good light blocking (we'll provide one, but bring your own if you have a favorite)
  • Cushioned seat pad - A compact inflatable seat cushion like the Clement V Seat or Therm-a-Rest
  • Neck support - For long flights and comfortable rest during the retreat
  • Two debit cards - Preferably from services like Wise or Revolut that work reliably in India
  • Tourist SIM card - Arranged before arrival if possible

Shopping in India
India offers exceptional clothing at reasonable prices. Rather than packing extensively, consider purchasing comfortable, locally-made garments during your stay. This supports local artisans and gives you authentic souvenirs of your journey.
For the return journey, you can purchase an additional bag in India if needed for souvenirs and new clothing. Airlines typically allow two checked bags on international flights from India.
The ashram provides blankets and basic necessities, so focus your packing on personal comfort items rather than trying to anticipate every need. Simplicity in your luggage reflects the inner simplicity you'll be cultivating during your retreat.
What Not to Bring
Leave behind unnecessary electronics, work materials, and excessive clothing. The retreat is an opportunity to disconnect from these everyday attachments. If you find you need something specific during your stay, we can usually arrange to purchase it locally.
Remember that the retreat environment is designed to support your inner journey—material simplicity is part of creating the space for this profound work to occur.
The Integration Process: Honoring Your Pace
One of the most important aspects of your retreat experience is the integration process—both during the retreat and afterward. Each person's integration follows a unique timeline and pattern, and we honor these individual differences.
The full experience typically unfolds over 15-40 days, with the initial breakthrough often occurring during your 21-day retreat. The remaining time involves integrating and stabilizing this new state of consciousness into your everyday awareness.
Personal Integration Timing
We understand that you may need additional integration time after your formal retreat ends. To accommodate this, we recommend:
  • Arriving 1-2 days earlier than others to create a buffer at the end
  • Using these additional days for gentle transition activities
  • Avoiding immediate immersion in regular activities after completion
During your integration period, you might choose to enjoy some gentle Ayurvedic treatments, receive massages in town, or simply rest in the peaceful environment of the ashram. This creates a middle path between the deep silence of the retreat and the stimulation of normal life.
"Integration isn't about rushing back to 'normal'—it's about allowing your new state of awareness to become your new normal."
We coordinate everyone's completion date (March 15th) to facilitate the post-retreat tour, but we structure individual start dates to accommodate personal integration needs. Your awareness of your own integration pace is valuable wisdom—we honor this self-knowledge and adjust accordingly.
Remember that integration continues long after you return home. The seeds planted during this retreat will continue to grow and flower in the months and years ahead, gradually transforming your everyday consciousness in subtle but profound ways.
Post-Retreat Tour: Experiencing Sacred India
After completing your transformative 21-day retreat, you'll have the opportunity to join our optional post-retreat tour—a carefully curated journey through some of India's most sacred and beautiful sites. This tour serves as both a celebration of your inner work and an opportunity to experience India's rich spiritual heritage.
Tour Structure
The tour will last approximately 7-9 days following the March 15th conclusion of the retreat. This flexible timeline allows for deep exploration without rushing from site to site. We'll travel primarily by air when possible, using trains or buses only when necessary to reach places not served by airports.
Transportation & Logistics
You'll arrange your own international flights, while we coordinate internal transportation. The tour cost will be reasonable and cover all shared expenses. Rather than employing a single guide for the entire journey, we'll engage local guides at each destination, providing expert knowledge without the constraints of a permanent companion.
Potential Destinations
While the specific itinerary will be finalized closer to the date, potential destinations include the magnificent temples of Khajuraho, the sacred city of Varanasi on the Ganges River, and the incomparable Taj Mahal. Each site offers a unique window into India's spiritual and cultural heritage.
This tour is designed to balance structured exploration with personal discovery. Unlike commercial tours that rush through sites, we'll allow time for contemplation and integration at each location. The meditative awareness you've cultivated during your retreat will enhance your experience of these sacred places.
The small group size (4-5 people) allows for intimacy and flexibility—we can adjust our pace and focus based on the group's interests and energy. This post-retreat journey offers a gentle bridge between the profound silence of your dark room experience and your return to everyday life.
For many participants, this tour becomes an integral part of their integration process, allowing insights from the retreat to be embodied through interaction with India's living spiritual traditions.
Your Transformative Journey Awaits
As you prepare for this profound journey into the heart of meditation and self-discovery, remember that every aspect of this retreat has been carefully designed to support your inner exploration. From the practical details of travel and accommodation to the subtle guidance of the meditation practice, each element creates the container for transformation.
The Invitation
This retreat offers a rare opportunity in our busy modern world—10-40 days dedicated solely to inner awareness, free from distractions, responsibilities, and the constant stimulation of everyday life. In the nurturing darkness of your meditation room, supported by simple nutrition and expert guidance, you create the conditions for a profound shift in consciousness.
The mantra becomes your companion, leading you to the inner sound. The inner sound guides you to samadhi. And in that state of pure awareness, you discover what has always been present—the peaceful, loving awareness that is your true nature.
The journey from mantra to inner sound to profound silence mirrors the journey from seeking to finding to being. This is the heart of meditation—not an achievement, but a recognition of what already is.
Whether this is your first extended retreat or you're continuing an established practice, trust that you will receive exactly what you need. The process unfolds according to its own wisdom, unique for each person yet universal in its essence.
We look forward to welcoming you to India, to our ashram, and most importantly, to the profound journey of self-discovery that awaits within. The outer journey to India is just the beginning—the real adventure lies in the infinite space within.