We are deeply grateful for your support. 

sunset views from the property

For some time now, a vision has been quietly forming.

On our land in Oregon, we have a barn that looks out over a wide open landscape, big skies, and beautiful sunsets. We are planning to refurbish this barn and transform it into a meditation hall that will serve our community for years to come.

The space will be divided into two parts. One will be a large meditation hall with big windows and a sliding door that opens to the views and land. It will be a place where we can meditate together, practice yoga, listen to and watch Swamiji’s lectures, share meals, and sit in discussion and stillness. A small bathroom will also be included.

This hall will be used for the two in-person retreats we hold each year, centered on the teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo and Kashmir Shaivism.

It will also allow John and Denise to once again be part of these retreats in person. As they age, traveling around the world is no longer possible. For over thirty years, John and Denise, together with George, have been leading retreats in Los Angeles and Kashmir. In recent years, we have not been able to hold in-person retreats at home simply because there has been no suitable space.

As we began to reflect more deeply, we realized that this hall could also become something more. In addition to our biannual retreats, it would allow us to offer shorter silent meditation retreats throughout the year. It could become a place where people come to study together, to be still, and to deepen their understanding of Kashmir Shaivism in a living and embodied way.

After Swami Lakshmanjoo left his body, his disciples gradually established places of study and practice in different parts of India, including Jammu, Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai. Originally, there was only Swamiji’s ashram in Kashmir. These later centers arose naturally as students felt the responsibility to continue the study and preservation of the teachings. In creating this meditation hall, we feel we are answering a similar call by creating a place in the United States devoted to these teachings, held with the same care, reverence, and continuity.

The idea to refurbish the barn feels like a natural and meaningful next step. It allows the teachings, the community, and the lineage to continue gathering in a grounded and accessible way.

To make this possible, we are seeking support for the core infrastructure needed to create a warm, functional, and welcoming space. This includes insulation, drywall, flooring, a bathroom, windows, lighting, internet, and basic finishes. The total cost to complete the project is approximately $110,000.

To keep this process transparent, we have created a simple graph that shows how donations are progressing. You can view it below...

The Space Cleared. The Lumber Arrived

Last week we wrote to you about the vision of transforming our barn into a meditation hall that will serve as a home for the living teachings of Kashmir Shaivism here in Oregon.
This week, we are happy to share our very first visible steps forward.

The lumber has arrived. The truck pulled in and stacks of wood were carefully unloaded and carried inside. The initial framing has begun, and you can now see the outline of the walls and the separation of the meditation hall from the rest of the structure. What was once an open barn is slowly beginning to take shape as a defined and intentional space.

It is humbling and moving to witness this beginning. A vision that lived quietly in our hearts is now becoming tangible in wood and structure.
We have attached a short video so you can see the progress for yourself.

This hall will allow us to gather twice each year for in-person retreats devoted to the teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo and non-dual Kashmir Shaivism. It will also make it possible for John and Denise to participate fully once again without the strain of international travel. Over time, it will become a place for shorter silent retreats, study gatherings, and shared practice throughout the year.

When we first shared this project, we estimated the total cost at approximately $110,000. As we have moved forward, required city permits for sewer, plumbing, electricity, and related infrastructure have added to the overall expense. The updated total needed to complete the project is now approximately $120,000.

Every donation, whether large or small, directly supports insulation, drywall, flooring, windows, the bathroom, lighting, permits, and the essential infrastructure needed to create a warm and welcoming space.
If you feel called to help bring this meditation hall into being, we would be deeply grateful for your support.