I really like this camp because it's like a balance between spiritual things, meditation, and sports.
It's the best camp I've ever been to.
To me what's so special about this place is the learning. The learning, it's fun. It's nice. It's real spiritual.
I think that meditating here is different than just meditating at home because you're surrounded
with people who also are meditating and they've been doing it for such a long time it's nice to be around those
who can teach you also. And you just feel a sense of peace and it's good to be here.
It really gives that balance and it really teaches you about Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings
and still letting you have fun.
It's like you took a school, mixed it with some type of spiritual temple and you get this fun temple.
It's really nice.
Willpower was our theme for this week, so we're coming at it at all angles,
and all of our lessons and all of our activities reinforce that idea. Well, we try and make it fun.
We're using this as an example of setting yourself a goal and making continuous effort towards it.
We have a course called "Spiritualizing Sports" that we spend a couple of hours on, and it's a lifelong skill that
they can use that would be different in this camp than a summer day program in other regular camps.
Yesterday we went to Master's Hermitage, and we got to go to his house.
So we watched a little clip from the movie, and it was Master, and we saw him walking around, and it taught us
a little about the place
And with the growing number of monastic disciples, enjoy the beautiful grounds
and hours of quiet meditation.
We're going to walk on that grass, just where Yogananda's walking.
Yep.
Today we're able to bring the seven year old boys to the Hermitage and for me it's an absolute joy.
You can feel undoubtedly that they are experiencing the soul much more naturally and much more fluidly than
than most adults that you'll ever spend time with.
We went to the Hermitage and there are huge gardens in the back and there's a beautiful view where you get to
look out over the ocean. It's really peaceful there because Master was there.
One thing I've seen here is that I think the boys feel like they're with kindred souls, people that it's OK to talk
about God, it's OK to meditate, to try to think that God is the most important thing in your life.
So that's, I think, one of the main things we provide, besides Master's teachings,
is an environment that it's OK to make God part of your daily life.
Oh, it's really important that he comes here. He's much calmer, he's easier to get along with, kinder,
It makes a huge difference for my family.
Well, I came last year, and at first I thought it was pretty boring, but I got used to the meditation techniques
and everything and it was a really fun experience, so I decided to come again.
So far, it's just that even in two days, I've learned a lot about willpower
and it's just amazing how much you can learn.
I mean we also talk about how environment is stronger than willpower, so we got these roses, white roses,
and we put red food coloring in the water and the roses turned red. That was pretty cool.
Once you start getting into this camp you just kind of inherit that mindset about following Master, and
once you understand it, though, it's very beneficial in that you can use it in your everyday life and it's just a formula
for success because these concepts, that, if you apply them to daily life, you will see the difference.
Before, my Mom would try to have me meditate five minutes a day at least, but I wouldn't. I'd skip it.
Now I think when I go home, I think I'll do better.
And I'll do it ten minutes, or fifteen minutes, or twenty and I'll keep pushing the limit.
This camp helps me to center myself so I can be calm whether it be in small situations or big difficulties.
Through meditating it also brings your mindset to a whole other level and makes you happier.
You feel the difference when you come here.
Yes, definitely coming back. I love it.