Fall Four-Day Online Study Retreat
Date: October 1–4, 2026
Join us online for our annual four-day Fall Study Retreat, broadcast live from Kashmir, India, and immerse yourself in the living oral tradition of Kashmir Shaivism as revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo.
Held in the days following the Mahasamadhi Celebration of our beloved Gurudev, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to study these profound teachings together from the very land in which they were preserved.
Everyone is warmly welcome, regardless of previous experience with Kashmir Shaivism.
Details
Date: October 1-4, 2026
Location: Online
Cost: $500 (one-time payment or two monthly installments).
Scholarships: Limited scholarships are available. Please contact us here. Scholarship applications close two weeks before the retreat, on September 17, 2026 (midday Pacific Time).
Register here
The retreat teachings will be led online by John Hughes, Denise Hughes, and George Barselaar, all of whom studied directly with Swami Lakshmanjoo.
Joining us live from Kashmir will be three additional panelists: Pran Nath Kaul, a longtime devotee of Swamiji; Ramakant Angiras, and Alka Tiyagi. They will share insights, answer questions, and offer perspectives from the living tradition and the retreat taking place in Kashmir.
The retreat is hosted by Shanna Hughes, with technical support provided by Claudia Dose.
Drawing from Swamiji's oral teachings, we will study important texts central to the philosophy and practice of Kashmir Shaivism. Each session includes detailed commentary, discussion, and opportunities for questions, helping participants integrate these timeless teachings into their own lives and spiritual practice.
Daily Schedule
Each day begins at 7:00 a.m. and includes:
Yoga (1 hour)
Meditation (30 minutes)
Breakfast (30 minutes)
Morning Lecture (1 hour)
Tea Break (30 minutes)
Puja — recitation of Sanskrit verses selected by Swami Lakshmanjoo for daily worship (1 hour)
Lunch & Rest (2 hours)
Stories of Swamiji (1 hour)
Afternoon Lecture (1 hour)
Tea Break (30 minutes)
Dhāraṇā — guided meditation from the Vijñāna Bhairava (30 minutes)
Meditation (1 hour)
Dinner
The schedule is subject to change. A detailed retreat schedule, including session times, will be provided closer to the event.
Online Participation
The retreat will be livestreamed from Kashmir, India.
If you are unable to attend live because of the time difference, recordings of each day's sessions will be made available shortly after the livestream concludes, allowing you to participate at your own pace.
Upon registration, you will receive all participation details and Zoom access information.
To participate, you will need:
- a computer (recommended) or smartphone
- an internet connection
- Zoom (download and update before retreat)
- headphones (optional)
Course leaders:
The retreat teachings will be led online by John Hughes, Denise Hughes, and George Barselaar, all of whom studied directly with Swami Lakshmanjoo.
Joining us live from Kashmir will be three additional panelists: Pran Nath Kaul, a longtime devotee of Swamiji; Ramakant Angiras, and Alka Tiyagi. They will share insights, answer questions, and offer perspectives from the living tradition and the retreat taking place in Kashmir.
The retreat is hosted by Shanna Hughes, with technical support provided by Claudia Dose.
Swami Lakshmanjoo:
Born in 1907, Swami Lakshmanjoo was the last in an unbroken lineage of masters of Kashmir Shaivism.
From an early age he was devoted to the direct realization of God and dedicated his entire life to preserving, teaching, translating, and commenting upon the most important scriptures of Kashmir Shaivism. Today he is widely recognized as the foremost modern authority on this profound spiritual tradition.
Swamiji left his physical body in 1991.
Throughout the retreat, we will listen to recordings of Swamiji's original teachings while studying alongside their transcripts and commentaries.
Ready to Join?
We would be honored to have you join us for this four-day online retreat from Kashmir.
Register for the Fall Four-Day Online Study Retreat
