Retreat for Self-Transformation

What you are looking for
Is what is looking.
St Francis of Assissi

In the latter part of April 2024 a small group of ‘Seekers after Truth’ were invited to spend six days and nights in a Retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland. They joined with psychologists Suwanti and Ron Farmer for an experience in self-transformation based on the book ‘Rediscovering the Road to Infinite Joy’.

Early morning yoga was followed by short presentations, inner reflections, long discussions and four hours of silence each day until 9.00 pm. Drawing on the most up-to-date research from the fields of neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology and clinical psychology interwoven with an array of ancient spiritual teachings, the presentations encouraged everyone to eschew the chimera of happiness as defined by the contemporary world and replace it with the pursuit of the Joy that accompanies knowing one’s true Self.

The Retreat program followed seven sequential stages along the Path to a more lasting, infinite joy. These stages are presented in this 7-minute video to invite the heart to connect with the One that always know the Way.

The essence of the Retreat was that Silence comes with an awareness of our Beingness, our ongoing unchanging existence. Awareness of our Beingness is like the mix of sugar and water that is syrup. The syrup, the silence, is Infinite Joy. It is an ancient truism that our true Self has all three qualities: Beingness, Awareness and Bliss.

We search for Joy
because we are Joy.
Sathya Sai Baba

The truest and deepest joy comes not only from recognising
one’s essential nature as joy, but in expressing that joy in
wise, focussed, radical action which implements justice,
harmony, balance, and compassion.
Andrew Harwey

Without exception, all 23 of us felt something shift within us during those special days together something deep, wise and loving that opened doorways to another level of a more lasting contentment and joy. This is evident in the selection of Testimonials that follows.

Words are inadequate to describe the experiences provided by my awakened yearning Heart, the result of intense spiritual focus and divine guidance drawn from the Perennial Philosophy across the span of six days at Joy Retreat.

On the ancient well-travelled path the Wise Ones have signposted, participants traversed through each of the seven stages to Spiritual Awakening, receiving transformative glimpses of who we really are.

Nestled in a valley lovingly nurtured by the peaceful landscape, our Teachers and each participant’s wise, vulnerable, courageous and nonjudgmental support, we journeyed as One in Love, ascending to the summit of Supreme Sacred Silence. Living in Presence and Purity for the six-day Retreat, imbibing group sharing and learning from our guided meditations, my Heart softened, opening ever wider revealing the hidden waiting gift of boundless sublime sweet unconditional Love- saturated Light. A sense of the Formless All was the culmination of the Retreat.

On returning home from the Retreat, unexpected spontaneous Joy burst forth when interacting with others, like a lighthouse beam flashing across the dark waters.

Unspeakable Gratitude!

My wife and I attended the Joy Retreat facilitated by Ron and Suwanti in Byron Bay, Australia 2024.The Retreat was based on their book ‘Rediscovering the Road to Infinite Joy’.

It was a week-long journey into discovering and uncovering the well of joy and love that resides in us all.

Each chapter of the book revealed deeper layers of wisdom and truth and Ron and Suwanti told their own stories relating to the book and also shared the wisdom and knowledge of the masters who have attained the highest levels of consciousness. I was amazed at the coming together of people from all over the world with varied backgrounds, through yoga, discourses, guided meditation, silence, music, dance, delicious organic food and the sharing of our own personal stories.

The highlight for me was being immersed in the love felt by all in a beautiful, natural setting. 

By the time the closing ceremony was finished it was clear that we’d all experienced amazing transformative changes. There is a confidence in knowing that we have the tools now to help us continue to grow and evolve on our own unique paths to infinite joy.

On Retreat together with Ron and Suwanti was an experience of rekindling pure inner bliss. I have been exceptionally privileged to spend a week in the midst of nature and go on a journey within. As a group we experienced the gift of Presence and the tools to assist us to reconnect with our inner potential and to guide us so that we can be brave warriors in this journey of life. We all have an inner warrior within us, which forms an inner voice from our higher Self who can guide us to live an authentic life. It is the voice of courage that picks us up in our lowest times; it is the face of fearlessness and radiance of beauty that shines from within. We were all encouraged to silence our minds and achieve stillness so that we can easily access this courageous inner warrior. It was so uplifting to be in the company of others and the love and oneness felt for all was so tangible.

My heart swells with gratitude for the very special moments we all got to share. My heart was opened, and my soul was overflowing with the grace that was awakened within each one of us during this Retreat. Since then, my journey has deepened as I embarked on an adventure moving to the UK. The tools learnt in this retreat were like a lifeboat to hang on to, getting me through the challenges of life and also giving me the gift to help others in my profession as a doctor. My sincere love and gratitude to Ron and Suwanti for bringing us all together to experience this joy so we can all be a beacon of light and spread this light in the world.

The Joy Retreat explored global teachings and gave practical lessons on the possibility of finding the divine harmony of heaven within yourself. Our group was selected by Ron and Suwanti and it immediately became apparent that each of us was perfectly united at that moment in time to assist in each other's journey within.

The week immersed in prayer, love and deep learning, changed perspectives completely. It awakened authentic souls united in trust and companionship. Sharing organic meals, Yoga at sunrise and the encouraging of spiritual transformation in the rolling, ancient rainforest of Byron hinterland. In search of myself, I found the ‘I’ that was searching; as a bubble on the ocean bursts and realizes it is the entire ocean.. It is an experience that will be forever part of who I am.

Thank you, thank you.

I wish to thank you Ron and Suwanti so much for giving me the opportunity to participate in the ‘Rediscovering the path to infinite joy’, Retreat. I feel so blessed to have been invited and to gain a deeper understanding of the ancient wisdom teachings alongside the latest research findings. Wybalena was the perfect setting; every yoga session was really enjoyable; the food was deliciously nourishing; and I loved meeting everyone and sharing the same experience.

I feel so nourished and am inspired to embed their teachings into my life. I look forward to embracing the Silence and aim to walk a more loving, spiritual path.  My heart is full of gratitude.

Life often presents us with moments that lead us to question our existence and purpose. These crossroads can be a time of deep introspection and transformation. Sometimes we need a little guidance to help us reconnect with our inner selves. Attending the ‘Rediscovering the Road to Infinite Joy’ Retreat came at just the right time for me. What follows below are some of my thoughts on what we were reminded of, and then practised, during the six days we spent together: External influences can pull me away from my true Self. It can be helpful to recognise and set aside these distractions to focus inward. My inner soul self is pure awareness, pure consciousness; it has accompanied me through every incarnation and life experience. It waits patiently as I navigate life’s highs and lows, understanding that each experience is a lesson.

Forgiveness is one of the keys to unlocking my inner treasure. I start by placing my hands on my heart and saying, “I forgive myself for the mistakes I have made.” This act of self-compassion leads me into more self-acceptance, which grows into compassion and love for others. This transformation allows me to set gentle boundaries and affirm my right to live my truth.

I know that the inner Treasure is always there, patiently waiting to lovingly guide me. More and more I am trusting it’s wisdom and allowing it to lead me to a place where my heart sings. Embracing the inner journey of self-discovery is opening up a whole new world of joy and purpose for me.

The Infinite Joy retreat was a week of inner discovery, connection of mind, body and spirit and a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded souls. After living in the fast pace worldly life, it was a real treat to be able to slow down and connect in the beautiful surroundings in Byron Bay. We were deeply nourished with yoga practice, delicious meals, words of wisdom from wise souls from all walks of life, reflections and deep connections with people all wanting to experience the infinite joy that we long for. The silence period in the afternoons, joyfully singing together, as well as nature walks, meditations and learning from nature, all brought moments to experience our own personal connection with joy. There were plenty of laughter, tears, moments of awe, creativity and new perspectives on life. It was an awakening that grounded us and prepared us to return to daily life with a greater sense of gratitude and awareness. The nourishing week allowed us to deep dive into the vastness and simplicity of re-discovering the infinite joy that lies within us all.