2026 Fall Retreat in Kashmir, India
Date: September 27th - October 8th
Step into the Living Wisdom of Kashmir Shaivism:
A Transformational Retreat
Some journeys take you to new places. Others awaken something within you that has always been there.
We invite you to Kashmir—the sacred land where the timeless wisdom of Kashmir Shaivism has been illuminated for centuries. Rooted in the profound teachings of Abhinavagupta and Swami Lakshmanjoo, this Non-Dual tradition unveils the divine as ever-present, woven into the fabric of all existence—within and beyond.
This retreat is more than a journey—it is a sacred immersion into living wisdom, a path of inner awakening guided by the heart-opening teachings of Kashmir Shaivism.
Guided by John, Denise, and Shanna Hughes, George Barselaar, and Claudia Dose—dedicated students of Swami Lakshmanjoo—you will move beyond theory into direct experience. Through study, meditation, and sacred pilgrimage, this retreat will dissolve the sense of separation and awaken you to the limitless awareness of Kashmir Shaivism.
Guided by the teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo (1907–1991), this retreat brings the profound wisdom of Kashmir Shaivism to life.
We anticipate high interest in this retreat;
spots are limited.
(Nearly two-thirds of the spots have already been reserved with a down payment.)
Details
Date: Sept 27th-Oct 8th
Length: 11 nights/12 days
Location: Kashmir
Group size: Up to 45
Cost: (not including air)
Luxury accommodation:
Private Room: $4,000 per person
Shared Room: $3,000 per person
Basic comfortable accommodation:
Private Room: $3,200 per person
Shared Room: $2,500 per person (Queen bed, for couples or friends only)
Registration and exact dates for the 2026 Four-Day ONLINE Study Retreat (Date: Sept 30-Oct 3, subject to change).
Questions? Scroll down for past info sessions that may answer your questions...
Contact us here.
Pay in three installments:
1. Pay a $500 non-refundable deposit to reserve your space.
2. February 23rd, 2026 - 50%
Luxury - Private - $1750 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1820 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
Luxury - Shared - $1250 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1300 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
Basic - Private - $1350 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1404 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
Basic - Shared - $1000 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1040 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
3. July 13th, 2026 - 50%
Luxury - Private - $1750 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1820 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
Luxury - Shared - $1250 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1300 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
Basic - Private - $1350 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1404 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
Basic - Shared - $1000 paid via Zelle (310-837-0402) or Check OR $1040 paid via Credit Card or Paypal
What Awaits You in Kashmir
This retreat is timed to honor the Mahasamadhi of Swami Lakshmanjoo, the revered master of Kashmir Shaivism, whose life and teachings continue to guide so many on the path of Self-recognition.
In the yogic tradition, Mahasamadhi is the conscious and final merging of a realized being with the Absolute. It is not mourned—it is celebrated. Swamiji left his body on September 27th, 1991, and every year since, his students and devotees gather at Ishwar Ashram, Nishat, for a full-day fire ceremony in his honor. Led by the priest he personally appointed, this ritual is an offering of devotion and love:
Sacred flames consume wood, ghee, spices, and flowers, as ancient Sanskrit chants fill the air. The presence of Swamiji is tangibly felt—an undeniable transmission of grace.
At the heart of our retreat is this sacred fire ceremony. Around it, we weave a journey of study, meditation, pilgrimage, and community in the land where these teachings were born.
You will experience:
- A Four-Day Retreat offering an immersion into the living teachings of Kashmir Shaivism. Together we will study key Shaivite scriptures, explore yoga and meditation practices from the Vijnana Bhairava, sit in guided group meditations, share stories of Swamiji, engage in open question-and-answer sessions, and enjoy meals together on the peaceful grounds of his ashram.
- Meditations from the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, guiding you to rest in the pauses between breath, where your true nature is quietly revealed
- Gentle yoga, deep meditation, and soul-stirring discussions
- A pilgrimage to sacred sites, including:
- Shiva Rock, where the Shiva Sutras were revealed
- Abhinavagupta Shrine, where the great master attained liberation
- Living temples and ashrams still vibrant with centuries of practice
- Nourishing Kashmiri vegetarian meals shared in good company
- Glide across Dal Lake at sunset in a shikara as devotional hymns carry you into stillness
- And meaningful encounters with local devotees—those who have tended these teachings with love and devotion
What You Will Take Home
This journey is not simply about where we travel—it’s about what awakens within.
You will return home with:
- A felt sense of the sacred—not as a concept, but as your own inner experience
- A deeper understanding of Kashmir Shaivism, not just through study but through transmission
- A set of living practices and meditations that support your daily life
- A sense of belonging to a spiritual community, sharing the path with fellow seekers
- Friendships, stories, and memories that become part of your own unfolding
- Moments of beauty—sunset silences, scripture reflections, shared laughter—that remain long after the journey ends
This is more than a retreat. It is a homecoming.
To Kashmir.
To Swamiji.
To your Self.
Please watch the introductory meeting recordings below before proceeding with registration.
These recordings will answer many of the questions you may have.
Spaces are limited, and interest in this retreat is high.
(Nearly two-thirds of the spots have already been reserved with a down payment.)
Feedback from past participants
The meeting and sharing with all these people going in the same direction from different departure points and experiences.
The discovery of Kashmir.
The clarification I got about some points, like the mirror analogy.
—Francine
Going to temples. It closed the loop, and made the spiritual more real and concrete. I feel connected more to the history and the place. Bhakti is very important, especially in an intellectual tradition such as this. Gopi Tirth and Gupta Ganga were very powerful experiences, as was the visit to Swami Ram’s ashram. Keer Bhavani was also very uplifting, as was singing with the soldiers at the aarti at Shankaracharya. I hope I balance out those who claim too many temples. There’s no such thing! People will always complain, but how can one complain about being in the presence of God?
—Alan Long
1. The people, getting to meet like-minded people from everywhere
2. The teachings and how they were presented
3. Our freedom to have choices in where the optional early morning meditation was
4. The open-air classrooms with just a blanket between us and Mother Earth.
5. yoga each day
6. The comfort of having Shanna know the language and her being so available to help translate & direct. Also, her care for us who have weak digestive tracts
6. George’s stories
7. Seeing the teachings written on the big screen as well as hearing the voices helped keep my ADHD mind focused.
8. Swami Ram’s ashram- overall, I had an ecstatic time, and it was life-changing.
—Heather
Stories of Swami Ji are always my favourite. Being in his ashram was a bliss with the support of all of you to be there. I also loved the Kashmiri food.
—Leanne
Meet your hosts
This retreat is led by John, Denise, Shanna Hughes, and George Barselaar and Claudia Dose. John, Denise and Shanna lived in Kashmir for over a decade and recorded more than 700 hours of Swamiji’s translations of the teachings of Kashmir Shaivism, the great non-dual Trika tradition that dates back to Abhinavagupta, 924 to 1020 CE.
Typical Daily Schedule (for the four-day study retreat)
Schedule subject to change
What to Expect Each Day
Our days begin by grounding body, breath, and awareness—through yoga, meditation, and the recitation of Sanskrit verses selected by Swamiji himself.
Midday brings focused study of essential texts in the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, illuminated by the oral teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo. In the afternoons, we shift into personal reflection and practice—through stories, scripture, and practical techniques that invite direct experience of the teachings.
Each day closes with a group meditation, ending around 7:00 pm.

Daily Practice: Meditations from the Vijnāna Bhairava
The Vijnāna Bhairava reveals 112 meditation techniques for entering the state of God consciousness. These dhāraṇās are concise, direct, and powerful. Each day of the retreat, we’ll explore and practice one of these methods together—offering a chance to move from study into realization.
Morning Yoga with Shanna
Morning sessions will be guided by Shanna, who weaves together movement, breath, and stillness. Her classes blend gentle strengthening and stretching, breathwork (prāṇāyāma), and moments of inward reflection through poetry and story. All levels welcome.
Recordings Available
Can’t join us live? All sessions will be recorded and shared with registered participants after the retreat.
Suggested Reading
Texts we may draw from during the retreat will be announced closer to the event. These will include core scriptures from the Trika tradition, especially those Swamiji emphasized in his oral teachings.
