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The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes in the northwestern Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. The lakes are situated between 2,100 and 2,500 metres elevation above sea level. They are named according to their shape: Tear, Eye, Kidney, Twins, Trefoil, Fish Lake and Lower Lake. The waters of the lakes flow into each other and give rise to the Djerman River In the weekend, lakes are accessible by a lift service, operating from 09.30 to 16.30. Alternatively, you can hike from Panichishte for about 2 hours. Summer is the perfect time for a walk to the lakes - June, July, August. Spring and autumn are also good. In winter the route is suitable only for experienced mountaineers. Make sure to take warm clothes, a waterproof jacket with a hood, comfortable shoes and a hat.

Rila is a sacred mountain for the followers of the Universal White Brotherhood, who come to the Seven Lakes to welcome the rising sun. Every year on August 19th they gather for the sacred dance Paneurhythmy - the Supreme Cosmic Rhythm. Hundreds of people from all over the world dress in white, form enormous circles and dance under the sunrise, close to the Kidney Lake. The ritual combines movement, music and words performed to achieve inner balance and harmonization. It was invented by the Bulgarian philosopher and spiritual teacher Beinsa Douno (Peter Deunov).

Deunov's "New Gospel" of mystical Christianity is now recognized as a separate religion in Bulgaria. Its teachings emphasize love, wisdom, truth, justice, and virtue as attributes of Jesus Christ. The disciples of the teaching also follow a special diet, replace medicine with drinking hot water, meditate, and perform physical and musical exercises. Deunov has adopted several key elements of Indian religions such as karma, reincarnation, breathing practices and meditation. As these principles are completely contradictory to the Christian doctrine, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has renounced Deunov's teachings. Some scholars believe that Petar Deunov had a prominent role in convincing king Boris III to ensure the preservation of the Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust.

Deunov has developed numerous occult practices that help adepts to "experience Christ through the wholeness of the human being." Some of the major methods used by the Universal White Brotherhood to practice and reinforce their beliefs include: meditation, music and singing, contemplation, respiration, spiritual gymnastics, and Paneurhythmy.

- Direct visit
- Virtual visit: Watch excerpts from the videos and the photo galleries in the media resources section.
- Classroom activity: Use some of the musical examples to engage students in phenomenological inquiry and reflection. For detailed instructions, refer to 'Using Music in Religious Education' (https://bit.ly/2jMP1KC)