A New Dawn for Mental Wellbeing in Waikaretu Valley

He Rā Ki Tua – there is a brighter day ahead, and the past weekend (November 16, 2024), that brighter day unfolded at the official opening of Vedanta Farm, a wellness retreat centre initiated by the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre. 

Located in the serene Waikaretu Valley, Vedanta Farm welcomed participants, leaders, and supporters from New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji on November 9th and 10th, 2024, to join in the journey towards mental wellbeing.

A Holistic Approach

This Wellness Centre, a 125-acre retreat space, promises a holistic approach to mental health through universal, non-religious, and deeply rooted meditation and mind management practices.

It is a place where, as the Māori proverb “Nāu Te Rourou, Nāku Te Rourou, Ka Ora Ai Te Iwi” reminds us, we all contribute to a collective good, strengthening our communities through shared wisdom and support.

With a mission to provide accessible mental wellness resources—podcasts, online courses, and on-site retreats, the Vedanta Farm stands as a koha, a gift to the community.

As Swami Tadananda, Spiritual Leader of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre and a Visionary Leader of the Waikaretu Valley Project said, “This Centre is here to serve, to empower, and to offer simple, practical tools for mental well-being.”

The event began at dawn with a powerful land blessing by both Māori and Vedanta spiritual leaders, followed by a public meeting and shared meals that enriched the experience of community and kinship. Attendees left with a sense of peace and the hope and encouragement that this Center may indeed be, as the name suggests, a Rising Sun for mental wellness in Waikaretu Valley and beyond.

It was indeed promising and heartening to see more than 200 attend the event, sending hope in the hearts of people to come together as a community to find solutions to problems of mental health in the sacred Maori land and be a torch bearer of global problems of scale.

Benefiting future generations

During the inauguration, Swami Tadananda expressed his gratitude to the Māori community for welcoming the Centre onto their ancestral land. He noted that, as with any endeavour of purpose, success requires the blessings of those who have come before. “A seed is sown here today and it is for us all to nurture it, so it may one day grow to benefit the future generations, especially the youth, who are the true beacons of light,” he said.

Highlighting the Centre’s founding principles, he quoted Swami Vivekananda, saying, “Three things are required: a heart that feels, a mind that thinks, and hands that work.”

With this spirit, Vedanta Farm opens its doors to everyone, from parents and teachers to health professionals and community leaders, inviting all to take part in a movement towards mental balance and resilience.

Waikato Mayor Jacqui Church and Deputy Mayor Carolyn Eyre praised the initiative, likening it to “dropping a pebble in a pond, where the ripples may grow larger over time.” She emphasised that both the smallest acts, like a smile, and the grandest initiatives contribute to collective unity and well-being. “Aroha, love, and unitedness are the threads that weave our community together,” she said, underscoring that the impact of these efforts resonates across all facets of society.

The Kaumatua’s call

In a moving speech, Kaumātua Russell Riki extended a call to the people of Waikato and beyond, urging them to join hands in this journey.

“Whatever your background, religion, or culture, it is essential to seize this opportunity to support one another,” he said.

He reflected on the parallels between Māori and Indian spiritual traditions, remarking on shared symbols like the Pūtātara (conch shell) and the sacred significance it holds in both cultures. “For the happiness of our children and grandchildren, let us walk this path together to find common solutions,” he said.

The two days brought many smiles, a few twinkling moist eyes and moments that touched the hearts of people deeply, reminding everyone of the deeper human connections that exist beyond all cultures, regions, religions, languages and more.

The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre and its devotees are deeply thankful for everyone who came along from far and wide and shared their knowledge, personal journeys, smiles, affection and love that enriched everyone present there. It was surely an eye opener for several present there.

What more can one ask for when there is a vision to empower minds and hearts of good intent willing to come together? Let us join hands to start spinning the wheels of the chariot that is set on a long journey to bring smiles to the faces of the next generation who can brighten the future like never before.

For more details, visit www.vedanta.nz, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Sarayu Govinda is a Contributing Writer. She lives in Auckland.
(sarayu.govinda@gmail.com)