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 $120,000.

The Space Cleared. The Lumber Arrived

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.

This week, the structure is beginning to take shape.

The interior wall framing is now built into the barn from the inside, and you can clearly see the outline of the future meditation hall. The ceiling framing has also been completed, giving the space its first real sense of form and proportion.

Outside, work has begun on the bathroom infrastructure as well. The excavation for the sewer connection is underway, and the groundwork is being prepared for plumbing and the small bathroom that will serve the retreat space.

What was once an open barn is now slowly revealing the skeleton of the meditation hall. It is both moving and inspiring to watch the space emerge step by step.

We have recorded a few short videos so you can see the progress for yourself.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already supported this project. Your generosity is helping this vision come to life, and we are deeply grateful.

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.

Progress so far
Thanks to the support of our community, we have now raised $92,000 of $120,000 (76.7%) toward completing the meditation hall.

Each week, we continue to see this shared effort grow, and it is deeply encouraging.

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 fully into being, we would be deeply grateful for your support.

The windows are in. Light is beginning to enter the space.

Over the past two weeks, we have watched the meditation hall begin to take shape from within — the walls and ceiling forming the structure of the space.

This week, something new has arrived.

The windows are now in place.

With their installation, the space has shifted in a noticeable way. Light is beginning to enter the hall, and the connection to the surrounding land and open sky is becoming real. What was once an enclosed structure is now opening outward, allowing the landscape to become part of the experience of the space.

Standing inside, you can begin to sense how the hall will feel — a place of stillness, light, and quiet gathering.

Work continues steadily, and each step brings the meditation hall closer to completion in time for our upcoming retreat.

We have recorded a couple of short videos so you can see the progress for yourself.

Progress so far:
$96,300 of $120,000 raised — and growing each week.

The space is taking shape, and we are moving steadily toward completion.
We are now in the final stretch.

If you feel moved to contribute, we welcome you to be part of bringing this space fully into being.

Inside the Meditation Hall — Drywall Installation

We have now raised $101,925 of $120,000 — and each week this shared effort continues to grow.
Only $19,075 remains to complete the hall.

This week, the meditation hall has moved into its next phase.

With the windows now in place, work has shifted to the interior. Insulation is being installed, and drywall and plastering are underway. The space is beginning to feel more enclosed, more defined — and closer to becoming a place that can hold warmth, quiet, and gathering.

What was once an open structure is now steadily becoming a finished interior. Each step brings the hall closer to being ready for use in the coming retreat.

The space begins to feel complete

We are now in the final stretch — $106,000 of $120,000 raised.

With painting underway and the carpet being installed, the meditation hall is beginning to feel warm, grounded, and ready to receive.

Light enters through the windows, and the connection to the surrounding land and open sky is becoming more present. You can begin to sense how this space will hold us — in stillness, in study, and in shared presence.