RETREAT:

On the days following Swami Lakshmanjoo’s Birthday Celebration, May 10th, through, May 13th, the Fellowship will hold its bi-annual four-day Study Retreat. This event is online.

The price for 4 days is $400 and includes recordings. Scroll down for more information or register below.

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Daily Schedule (subject to change!):

Each day begins at 8 am with yoga, followed by meditation and recitation of Sanskrit verses specially selected for worship (puja) by Swamiji.

Following this, using the sacred revelations given by Swamiji, we will examine a number of important texts central to the philosophy and practice of this great tradition of Kashmir Shaivism.

Texts we will cover during the retreat (subject to change!):

Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka, Chapter 6.

This chapter deals with the eight basic meditation practices pertaining to the individual who resides in the state of ‘anavopaya’; the first of the four-fold means (upayas) explained in Kashmir Shaivism. Meditation on breath, organs of the senses, mantra, letters of the alphabet, tattvas and internal and external visualization are some of the subjects covered in this chapter.

The Mystery of Vibrationless-Vibration in Kashmir Shaivism – Spanda Kārikā & Spanda Sandoha

A central theme of the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism is the highly esoteric principle known as spanda. Swami Lakshmanjoo tells us that the word ‘spanda’ means established stable movement. That is, it is movementless-movement, vibrationless-vibration. It is this secret, mysterious, and yet essential principle that Swami Lakshmanjoo clarifies and elucidates in his revelation of the two texts dealing specifically with this principle, the Spanda Kārikā and the Spanda Sandoha.

Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism by Swami Lakshmanjoo (video)

This treasure was one of the last works Swami Lakshmanjoo, the distinguished philosopher/saint from the non-dual tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, did while living in this world. When he began this translation he said it was his new revelation, revealing the supreme secrets hidden in the Kashmiri recension of the world-renowned scripture Bhagavad Gita, the Song of God. This revelation was a result of the state of Universal God Consciousness that Swami Lakshmanjoo was experiencing.

This translation is based on Abhinavagupta’s own commentary on the Gita, the Gitarthasamgraha, “The Essence of the Gita”. Here Swamiji reveals the unique and liberating teaching of Kashmir Shaivism which proclaims; “Freedom from all our miseries, as Abhinavagupta boldly declares, can neither be obtained through the renunciation of the world, nor by hatred of this world, but by experiencing the presence of God everywhere.”

Practical Meditations from the Vijnana Bhairava

In the Vijnana Bhairava, Lord Bhairava (God) clears the doubts about the essence of the path toward Self-realization. He explicitly reveals 112 meditation techniques for entering into the state of God consciousness. We will be sharing one of these practices each day.

Shanna will teach gentle but invigorating yoga classes in the morning: 

This class will interweave movement for strengthening and stretching the body, linking the breath with the movement, pranayama (breathing practices), and aligning the heart, body and mind in preparation for meditation.

COURSE LEADERS:

The discussions are led by John Hughes, Denise Hughes, and George Barselaar, all of whom studied directly with Swami Lakshmanjoo.

As a realized master Swami Lakshmanjoo (1907-1991) both understood and experienced the essence of this universal teaching. Throughout his lifetime he freely invited everyone to explore the means by which they could recognize and experience the reality of their own divinity.

Location:

Livestream online and recordings will be provided at the end of the day. Information will be sent to you upon registration. To join this retreat it requires you to have a computer (ideally) or a smartphone with the Zoom app, an internet connection, and a headphone set (optional).

Cost:

The cost is $400 for the four-day retreat from May 10th, through, May 13th. Scholarships are available on request.

Registrater now!

If you have any questions please contact us at info@lakshmanjooacademy.org or call us at +1 (310) 837-0402.

We hope you can attend the entire retreat to receive the full value.

Jai Guru Dev!
The Lakshmanjoo Academy
John Hughes and Family

(below from left to right: Denise, John, Shanna Hughes, and George Barsalaar)